At What Price

SUMMARY: A sad look crossed Kagome’s face for a bare moment. Sango saw the despair there that it made you want to cry. Something is wrong but why didn’t Kagome tell her. Maybe she was trying to protect her, but from what? That seeped into her thoughts, but from what?

Author's Note: I don't own Inuyasha etc. However, I wish that you enjoy the next chp. Until then, on with the saga. A BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED!!! YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

CHAPTER 19: BRIDAL BOUTIQUE BLUES
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Kagome and Lynne entered the store in a quiet revelry. Kagome thought that that the bridal boutique was breathe taking. Inside there was hundreds of elegant wedding dresses displayed on manikins, stylish tables with places setting of different styles the show floor, and much more. It overall, screamed that the rich and fabulous only shop here.

Suddenly the door swung open behind the two women scaring them.

“Kagome! You better start explaining and I mean now!” Sango bellowed in angry tone.

Kagome jumped up in surprise and shrieked before she turned around to face her best friend. ‘Oi,’ her brain shouted, ‘she is pissed.’ “Sango!” Kagome laughed worriedly “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same.” Sango retorted bitterly.

A sad look crossed Kagome’s face for a bare moment, and if offered Sango a glimpse of the despair there. It made Sango want to cry. ‘Something is wrong, but why didn’t you tell me, Kagome? Maybe she was trying to protect her, but from what?’ That seeped into her thoughts and echoed very loudly, ‘but from what?’

“I will explain everything later, but not right now. Please.” Kagome’s voice pleaded. “For now, just help me pick out a wedding dress.” Kagome was trying to regain some of her regal and sophisticated demeanor, worthy of being Sesshoumaru's fiancee, but found it rather challenging.

Sango almost fainted at those words, almost. She all but complied with Kagome’s wishes. ‘Later,’ she told herself, ‘I will get some answer for your strange behavior Kagome.’
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Kagome and Sango never returned back to work that day. No, they were to busy getting the wedding dress, and other various things done. The partners in crime hadn’t even thought about work truthfully.

Lynne left the two women, in a large dressing room, leaving them to debate over three dresses that Kagome had tried on, and finally narrowed it down too. She could tell the friends were struggling silently to keep there emotions under rigid control, and from talking about the current situation, under which Kagome was getting married. Lynne smiled at her next thought. ‘Sesshoumaru, you have chosen well my friend, but…’ Lynn’s mind wondered, so many questions kept popping in her mind, as she left the girls to do some major heart to heart talking.

“Kagome, please what is going on?” Sango asked.

Kagome was standing on a pedestal, looking into a three-way mirror at her reflection.
She smiled at Sango before talking. ‘Well,’ Kagome thought, ‘where to start? Sango was never one to beat around the bush like I was, so I'll be blunt.’ Kagome cleared her throat. “Did you know that Inu-Search Inc. was in danger of a buy out?” Kagome question cautiously, however; she wasn’t sure if she should divulge to much information.

Sango nodded her head. “I heard rumors, but they are just that, rumors. We are not in any danger. Another company just backed us at the last moment, giving us the leverage we needed.” A puzzled look came to Sango’s pretty features, as she knit her brow. “Why do you bring this up now, Kags?”

Kagome nervously fidgeted with the satin material of the gown, which she now was wearing. “I, um,” she sighed deeply before continuing on with her explanation, “I made a business deal with the man that owns the company, backing Inuyasha’s.”

A strangled gasp came from her best friend. Sango looked at Kagome's reflection in the mirror with skepticism. “You know the person? How?! What was this business deal Kags?” Sango was ranting like a shrew. “What were you thinking?.....” She continued with her interrogating, questions fired rapidly at Kagome, until she saw her friend lift her hand up in a command for silence.

“I will tell you Sango, but bare with me.” Kagome glanced at the bottom of the dress as she started the epic tale of her and Sesshoumaru’s business deal.

Sango listened in disbelief at what Kagome was telling her. She willingly made the decision and agreement to marry Sesshoumaru to save Inuyasha’s company. The tears threatened to spill down Sango's face at the loyalty of her best friend’s love for her ex. However, during the recollection of the past two weeks event when she talked about Sesshoumaru there was something that Sango picked up on. But, she wasn’t sure what it was. Sango waited patiently for Kags to finish before asking any questions.

“Kags, I am assuming that Inuyasha doesn't know what you did," there was that all to telling, blessed pause of silence where Sango had her answer, "so, how do you plan on keeping from him? Or, were you going to tell him?"

"No. Inuyasha doesn't know, and that is part of the deal. Sesshoumaru's company, was to remain anonymous. Meaning that, Sesshoumaru can't tell Inuyasha about our business deal, only I can. However, I get the feeling there is more to this then Sesshoumaru is letting on. Honestly Sango, don’t you think that would raise a red flag?" Kagome laughed lightly. “But, its better then Naraku buying the company, so whatever Sesshoumaru secrets are I don’t care.” She explained in a soft, question tone, almost like a summer breeze.

"One thing Kags,” Sango interrupted. “then I will not speak about this any more. Are you sure about this? Do you know what you are doing? Because, I will support you either way.”

Kagome gave Sango a feeble smile. “I have thought it through Sango, and I have come to the conclusion that I have made the right choice.”

Sango accepted what she said, although the turmoil was building within. “All right then,” she paused. “Now, for picking out your dress.” Sango gave her a devilish smile. “You can’t wear that one, it’s too modest.” she laughed out loud.

Kagome smiled. “Yeah, you are right. I like the first one better.” With that she stepped off the pedestal onto the floor. “Sango, would you do me the honor of being my maid of honor?”

Sango ran to Kagome and gave her a bear hug. "Yes Kags!"

For some reason Kagome had a weird look marred on her face. "Sango, don't you normally go out to eat with Miroku for lunch?"

Sango nodded. ‘Why was Kags asking her this?’

"Did you drive here then?" Kagome asked, as she saw Sango shake her head ‘no.’ "So then, where is our beloved biology professor at?"

Sango had a horrified look on her face. "OH no! I forgot I left him outside." She made a mad dash for the doors to go find her boyfriend. On her way out, she heard Kagome's laughter trailing after her.
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“Hello?” He answered his cell phone.

“Mr. Masurau, sir, your fiancée just left the boutique and will be home shortly.” Came the friendly voice of Lynn Weiss. “I…” she stopped before saying anything.

Sesshoumaru noted Ms. Weiss’s hesitation and could tell that she wanted to say something else but held back.

“What is it, Weiss?” he said in a distant tone.

“Well, sir, Kagome is something.” Lynne commented. “I believe that you have chosen well.” She said with embarrassment.

He smiled at her well planned and thought out words. ‘Yes, I have chosen well,’ he thought. ‘Maybe a little too well’.

“Kagome has picked out the wedding dress, and a few other items and things. I must say that she surprised me though.”

Sesshoumaru heard the bewilderment in her voice. “Why is that?”

“Because of what she picked out from the store, I tried to tell her, price was no object.” She faltered a little before continuing. Talking about how much money a client spends, is a very taboo thing to discuss. “However, Ms. Higurashi said, that your money was not the reason she is marrying you. She said, that there was something about you that was…” Lynne stopped so she won’t laugh.

“Well?” asked Sesshoumaru, now curious as to what Kagome had said.

“She said that you were drawn to her out of desperation, and that from that desperation, she felt the undying desire and need to be with you.”

Sesshoumaru all most laughed at the idiotic statement Lynne just told him. He instead snorted.

“Well, I thought it was romantic. I mean, she obviously doesn’t care about your money, but you.” Lynne was now feeling awkward for even saying anything to Sesshoumaru.

He shook his head. ‘No,’ Sesshoumaru mused, ‘she cares for an undeserving half breed that will never now the sacrifice she was willing to make for him. Pity.’ Sesshoumaru, all of a sudden, felt jealousy at this, but quickly brushed it aside. ‘This, Sesshoumaru does not get jealous about any human woman!’ Little did Sesshoumaru know that he let out a growl. “Send me the bill, Weiss.” With that he hung up on her.
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ATTENTION ALL READERS! IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THAT YOU THINK I'VE PLAGARIZED THIS STORY. LET ME TELL

YOU I HAVEN'T! I ALLOWED DARKSHADOW TO POST THIS STORY ON A SINGLE SPARK. IF YOU STILL DON'T BELIEVE ME CHECK ON

HER AUTHOR BIO!!! SHE GAVE ME CREDIT FOR THE STORY, AND THEN CHECK ON ANIMESPIRAL, THE STORY IS WRITTEN AND

COMPLETED!!! THE DATES, AS YOU WILL NOTICE ARE VERY DIFFERENT, THAT WAY YOU WILL SEE THAT I HAVEN'T PLAGARIZED AT

ALL!!!