AN: Well, here I am again with another story for you. The majority of these chapters will be written for various LiveJournal challenge communities so some chapters may be short if there are word limit restrictions. You have been duly warned. Several oneshots and drabbles are complete so I will post those over the next few weeks, but after that I make no promises about an update schedule.
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Everything that had happened over the past year - all the planning, late nights pouring through magazines, interviewing coordinators – all of it led to this day.
Storm clouds darkened the skies outside the church, but no amount of pouring rain or pounding thunder was going to dampen her spirits despite the old wives' tales. It was their day, one that she'd dreamed about since she was a seven.
Hair was done, makeup perfect. Now she swished around the room in her silk robe, envisioning her first dance with her soon-to-be husband. Thunder and lightening crackled outside the stained glass window of the bride's room, but still Kagome continued to hum…
Goin' to the chap-el and we're gonna get maaaried,
Goin' to the chap-el of looove!
Her best friend and maid of honor giggled at her as she crooned out the Dixie Cups classic. "There's practically a typhoon outside and you're still singing!"
"How could I not, Sango? I feel like my whole life has led up to today. Do you know how long I've waited for this?"
It was a rhetorical question, of course. Sango, Kagome, and Miroku had been inseparable since their first day of kindergarten. Inuyasha had joined their small pack in second grade when he'd transferred to their school.
For Kagome, it had been love at first sight. It had taken slightly longer for the grumbling boy to admit his feelings. Kagome blushed as she remembered that first shy kiss four years later. Her reverie was interrupted by her cell phone, blaring out its tinny version of Free Bird.
"Oh! That's Yash!" Snatching the phone from her purse, she flipped it open with a giggle, "Hi, honey!"
"Hey, babe! Houshi…the way…! …ten…"
"Yash? Say that again. I couldn't hear you!" she yelled into the phone, fighting to be heard over the static.
"Sess… ing… love.."
"Yash?"
Static… and then nothing.
"Damn! The line went dead."
Kagome hit speed dial, but instead of Inuyasha's voice, she was greeted with, "All lines are currently busy. Please hang up and try again later."
"Double damn. I guess things are down because of the storm."
"What did he say?" Sango asked.
"There was a lot of static, but I think he said he and Miroku are on the way. Something about Sess, too, but I didn't catch it."
Sango stood from where she lounged on the plush sofa. "Well, Ms. Bride, if they're on their way, it's time to get you dressed!"
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Sesshoumaru checked the clock on his dashboard, cursing the unmoving traffic. He knew they should have left sooner. Even though church was only about 10 minutes from his apartment, at this rate he was going to be late and Kagome would have his head. She'd vowed to emasculate anyone or any thing that dared ruin her big day. No excuse would be good enough and no one would be left blameless, least of all the best man.
'Better to be early than face an angry Kagome.'
Despite his exasperation at his current predicament, he smiled, as he often did when he thought of his brother's fiancée. Inuyasha had certainly met his match in the blue-eyed beauty and Sesshoumaru found their relationship a source of amusement when their like temperaments came to blows. Being several years older than his brother, he'd mostly ignored the tempestuous girl Inuyasha had befriended after they'd moved. He'd had his own issues to deal with transferring to a new high school, but as she grew older, he'd come to admire Kagome's fiery strength.
"Finally!" he breathed when he and his fellow drivers inched their way forward as the heavy rain continued its onslaught. Through the downpour he could emergency lights flashing against the buildings. "If you people would just drive instead of gawking we might get somewhere!" he growled at the other cars. Despite his complaint, he couldn't help but glance over as he pulled near the accident.
It looked like one of those SUV monstrosities had plowed through the intersection, wrapping its victim around the light pole. Golden eyes widened in horrified recognition and Sesshoumaru leapt from his car. Horns blared; drivers yelled profanity into the pouring rain, but he suddenly didn't care if he was making the traffic jam worse.
"Sir! You can't be here! Sir!" A uniformed officer moved to block his path.
"Get out of my way!" he growled, grabbing the man's shirt front and pushing him to the side. "That's my brother's car!"
What he saw next would haunt him for the rest of his life. Blood splattered across shattered glass. The entire passenger side flattened until it was one with the driver's seat. On a gurney next to the car, a body was being zipped into an ominous black bag. He caught a glimpse of distinctive silver hair just before it closed. Sesshoumaru, a man known to be in constant control of his emotions, nearly fell to his knees.
"Sir?" another man, this one in a suit, stepped forward. "You know the victim?"
Sesshoumaru nodded mutely.
"I'm very sorry for your loss."
"The driver, Miroku, is he…?"
"He survived the accident, but he's been taken to County General."
Silence stretched as Sesshoumaru grappled with the reality of the situation.
"Sir, is there anyone we should contact? Other family members?"
Kagome! Her name flashed through his mind, forcing him out of his stupor.
"No," he choked out. Clearing his throat he tried again. "No, thank you. I will tell his fiancée."
xxx
Kagome paced as best she could with her train flowing behind her, glancing for the umpteenth time at the clock. She was normally an upbeat, positive kind of person, but it shouldn't take an hour to get here from Sesshoumaru's apartment.
"Something's wrong."
"I'm sure everything is fine," Sango replied, smiling just a little too brightly. "You know how Yash is. Probably thought he had time to stop for ramen." She was keeping a positive front, but inwardly, she was worried, too. Guests were starting to arrive. The ceremony was due to start in twenty minutes, the groom was missing and they hadn't been able to reach anyone's cell phone.
A soft, but firm knock sounded. "Kagome? Can I come in?"
It was Sesshoumaru. Sango hurried to the door to let him in, stopping short at the pained expression on his face. Sesshoumaru motioned Sango out of the room where Kagome's cousin stood waiting to tell her about Miroku. Stepping through the doorway, he entered, closing the door firmly behind him.
"Sess? What's going on?" Kagome paled as she took in his rain-soaked appearance. Something was definitely wrong. Sesshoumaru never had so much as a hair out of place.
"Kagome…" His voice cracked around her name as he reached out to embrace the woman he already considered family. He couldn't say it. Saying it would make it real.
"Sess?" Her voice was a frightened whisper and still he could not speak. He could only hold onto her, this woman who had been so precious to Inuyasha
White knuckles gripped his sodden clothing and he felt Kagome's tiny body begin to shake as the truth dawned in her mind.
"No, no, no…"
She tried to push him away, as if doing so would make it untrue. But he only gripped her more tightly, feeling helpless for the first time in his life as she screamed her agony.
xxx
AN: This opening one shot was written for the LiveJournal community dokuga_contest and their prompt, Horror. It stands at 1226 words. Originally posted April 12, 2010