New story? I would never! Super cliché? NO MA'AM NO!

Except... yeah!

Political Arrangement

Part 1

"I'll do it."

The words slipped out of her mouth. Her jaw slacked open, her fingers crisped around the handle of the door, and her chest heaving with each breath she took. A gulp echoed through the quiet room as she swallowed loudly, her grey eyes unfocused. She should not have been listening to her mother's private conversation, but she had. She had not heard her mother's response to the offer, but she did not need to; she knew the matriarch of her family would refuse it. Her mother would never sell out her own family to save the shrine. There was no material possession that was worth her children's happiness. Except, that answer came with a great cost; their family home. She refused to let it happen. Her mother had sacrificed everything for her. Her brother was too young to be homeless. Her grandfather needed care.

"I'll marry your son."

She watched while her mother's eyes widened, a hand rising to meet her lips. Words were lost before they were spoken. She paled. "Ka-gome."

However, her mother was not whom she was focused on; he was. Unlike Miku, a smile beamed on his face as he chuckled. "A confident woman, I like it. Very well, my lawyers will draft up the contract and bring it over tomorrow."

Her mother rose to her feet in protest, but Kagome stepped in front of her, the tremble in her arms hard to ignore. "I'll be here." Each of the words got stuck in her throat before she spoke them.

It was simple; she married this politician's son, and they gave them the money to keep their shrine turned inn running. It was a win-win for everyone involved. As a youkai running for office, he needed to show he cared about humans and what better way than to marry his only son to a common human woman? And they would keep their home, the one where she was born, her brother was born - the one that was their father's final resting place. She had watched her mother raise two kids on her own, move in to take care of her grandfather, and she had turned the shrine around on her own. She refused to let all of her hard work go to waste.

It was fine.

The man was walking away, proud to have obtained what he sought, while Kagome could barely manage to look her mother in the eyes. She didn't want to see the plea, the desperation in them. This was the best solution - she had to understand.

"Kagome, you're not doing this."

"Mom, it's fine."

"The shrine is not worth your life Kagome." Her husband had dedicated a lot of years to the prosperity of the shrine. It had been in his family for generation and after he passed away, she had done her very best to keep it going. It was a heritage she wanted to leave to her children, something that connected them to the father they never got to know. But - she knew her husband would have never picked the shrine over his children, and she would never even consider doing that either.

"Mom, you, Souta, GrandPa, you're everything to me. This is nothing."

"Kagome -"

"Mom, I've already agreed."

"We will call them and tell them you made a mistake…"

"Mom." Kagome had never raised her voice at her mother before, but this situation warranted it. "I'm not having this conversation anymore."

She could hear her mother's protests as she began her ascension of the stairs, but she chose to tune her out. Her heart sank heavy in her chest as her fingers glided across the wooden ramp of the stairs. It was fine.

She could do this.

-P-

"Wait."

"I'm sorry Miss, which part do you not understand?"

All of it… was what she wanted to scream, but she pinched her lips together. "It's just—a huge document."

"It is a contract," he specified, disdain spilling from his tone. If it were up to him, his employer would have never gotten into such an arrangement. A human - was it really worth it to sacrifice his only son to have a human? There were other ways to get politic powers… plus this inn was not worth the investment. It would go under again, and then what? They would keep bailing it out?

"I understand that—but do we need… to cover all this?"

"Yes," Hiroki answered. "I believe you might have misunderstood my intentions yesterday. This is not a gift. This is not a favour. I require something and in exchange, I have agreed to save your inn. That does not indicate that you may behave in any way you wish."

"I understand that –"

"My family's future and reputation are at stake, and I must protect them. You are being given a great honor here and I am uncertain you realize the magnitude of this opportunity. He is my only son."

"Yes –"

"If you wish to save your inn and obtain the multitude of benefits that comes with being his wife, you must adhere to these rules."

"All right."

There was no point in talking, there was no point in trying to get more information or to attempt to clarify this situation. He was not about to let her speak. This quite resembled the discussion she had with her mother the previous night - if discussion was even the right word. Despite's Kagome resolve, her mother had come to her, trying to talk her out of it. Obviously she had tried everything to convince her this was a bad idea, and that there was another way, but Kagome had refused to listen. If there had been another way, they would have done it by now. There was not. This was it; the end of the line. If it hadn't been, her mother would have never agreed to meet this gentleman in the first place. The fact that the meeting took place showed how desperate the situation was. So there was no room for discussion. She had agreed to marry his son and there was nothing else to it.

"Now, if we continue under the heir section."

The what now?

"You must provide an heir within the first two years of the marriage. Failure to do so will lead to a separation."

Her eyes slightly bulged as she read the line repeatedly—"Wait. So I have to…"

"Did you think this was a mere formality? I am not convinced you are taking this seriously, Miss Higurashi. You will not be married for show. You will be married. As husband and wife. Our family line will not end with my son. Are you not prepared to go through with this?" He had not twisted her arm; she had made the decision on her own. Humans were such fleeting creatures. Why did she even agree to this? Why was she going to waste all of their precious time if she did not intend on going through with this?

"N-no I am." Her heart was racing while she licked away at her bottom lip, her tongue feeling pasty. So she would have sex with a complete stranger. No big deal. She could do that. Right? Her fingers jittered around the paper, causing it to wave. "But—so if we can't do it within three years?"

"Then my son will have no choice but to leave you. As I stated; our family line must prevail. If this marriage ends, my funding and our deal will suffer the same fate."

"But that's not fair!" she exclaimed, slamming the piece of paper down. "It's out of my control."

"Then you best pray you are fertile. Money is not an issue here. If you wish, we will add a fertility work up to the contract."

"No – it's fine."

She leaned back into her chair, her throat clamming up; her mother was right. She did not understand the type of man she was getting involved with here… What was it he was gaining from this? Why them specifically?

"Add it," he said, disregarding her wishes.

"Yes, sir." The lawyer leaned forward, scribbling on the document. This couldn't be good. "Behaviours," began the lawyer as he lifted his head again. "I expect you to behave properly during events or in front of people outside of your immediate family. You must provide no one with doubts that this is not a real marriage."

"So I have to lie and pretend I'm in love?"

"Yes. You will be briefed about the story concerning your relationship with my son. It will cover everything from meeting to engagement."

Lie? She was not a good liar. "I—what if I can't convince them?"

"Then I suggest you take acting lessons. If anyone discovers the charade, it's over."

Every single line on that contract that was a way to control her, an ultimatum lurking in the corner, waiting to tank her family's inn and take away their survival. She felt the tears pooling in her eyes as she tried to keep up a facade. This was a lot. A lot more than what she thought she was agreeing to originally. Could she do it? Could she agree to an entire life of faking, pretending and bedding a man she did not know? She had never even met him. What if he was horrible? No. She had to focus on what was important; her family. Her mother had sacrificed everything for them, and now it was her turn to do the same. She pushed aside her doubts, her mother's words.

She could do this.

"W-when will I meet your son?"

"At the wedding."

"What?"

"My son is quite popular with the media. It would appear suspicious if they suddenly saw him with you. You will read the details of your relationship in the binder later. We have decided that it would make more sense if you were only revealed to the world on your wedding day. We will say we kept the entire relationship secret to avoid any disruptions. It is not all who are in favour of human and youkai relationships."

She would meet her husband… on her wedding day.

"When is it? The wedding, I mean?"

"A week from today."

"But I'm not –"

"We will cover every expense. Someone will assist you with your dress and the planning."

"I assumed I don't get a say?"

"That is correct. This wedding must represent a high standard of luxury. You may offer suggestions for colours and flowers to help it reflect your personal favourites, but nothing more."

Then again, did she even want to plan this wedding? There was no joy, no excitement. They did this out of necessity and nothing else. "All right, then. A week it is." The quicker she was married, the quicker they would have the money.

This had to be her only focus.

-P-

"Come on, this is your last night as a free woman," Sango protested as she filled up her drink once more. "You gotta enjoy it!"

Kagome had signed a contract stating that she could not share the real story behind the marriage with anyone. Obviously, she had made the personal decision that it did not apply to Sango. She was like a sister to her, and she trusted her with her life. Plus, someone needed to know because she needed a confident, someone who could keep her sane while her whole life would spin out of control. Sango had clarified that this was perhaps the stupidest idea she ever had and spent countless hours trying to talk her out of it. Eventually, it became clear that it would not happen - especially when Kagome pointed sacrifices Sango had made for her own family. So instead, she was throwing her a bachelorette party. Joyful.

At least she got to have an evening with her best friend.

"There isn't enough alcohol in the world for me to be ready for this," she said as she picked up the drink and downed it in one shot. Three down, a million to go.

"So what do you know about your future husband?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"I don't know much about youkai politics—and he said his son was popular with the medias… which doesn't give me a good feeling." Popular in the media was usually a nice way of saying he was a club hopping playboy and honestly, the prospect of spending her life with someone like that was not that appealing.

"So let's look him up!"

"I'd rather not."

"Why not?"

"Because I know what popular with the media means. I don't need to go into this wedding, a million of paparazzi on me, thinking the worst. I won't be able to pull it off."

Sango sighed. "Fair enough."

It had taken a lot of willpower, but she had resisted the urge to find out about her husband to be. Already, her opinion of him was not very high, and she didn't want to make it worse. The medias loved to amplify stories; it would not be fair if she got a bad opinion of him for no reason. He knew nothing about her, so she would know anything about him. It was just one more day. It would be easier to start their lives together if they got to know each other on neutral ground. At least she hoped it would be. Though, she had to wonder, why would he even agree to something like this? What had his father said to twist his arm?

"You know what?" Kagome said as she looked at the empty pitcher. "I think we need more."

"You're rich now, it's on you," Sango said with a smirk.

"Correction, my future husband is rich. I'm still poor. But I got it."

She did not want to owe them more than she already did. His money was his money, and she did not want any of it. She was taking what they owed to keep the inn alive, and the rest was out of her hands. Kagome had a job, she could provide for herself with no help. She did not need a man to take care of her and provide for her. There was too much out of her control already, and she did not want to add to that list. She grabbed the empty pitcher from the table and headed for the bar, her feet dragging with each step she took. She had not read every single line of the contract, but she had a feeling she would need permission to have an evening out like this. Her entire life was about to be entirely out of her hands and she would relish her last day of control. Maybe she should have read it.

"One more, please!" she asked as she put the empty pitcher down on the wooden counter.

"Lot of alcohol for a tiny lady like yourself."

She turned her head, finding a man leaning over the counter, a small shooter glass in his hand. He downed the honey liquid in one swift motion and dropped it, causing it to land sideways. He leaned his head to the right, his ponytail swinging over his shoulder, and then flashed her a grin.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm just wondering what the occasion is."

"Freedom," she said as she turned around, avoiding the intense gaze coming from his blue eyes.

He nodded. "Are you gaining freedom or losing it?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Just curious."

She could feel his eyes on her, causing her to shift uncomfortably. Why was he still staring at her? "Can I help you with something?"

"Sorry, it's hard not to stare at you."

"What?"

He stepped off his stool and then took a few steps in her direction, making her feel the difference between their heights as he towered over her. "What I'm trying to say is that you're beautiful."

She chuckled. "Is that how you pick up women? Has it ever worked?"

"What makes you think I do this all the time?"

"Right, I'm the first woman you've ever hit on."

"Maybe."

"Right," she said with a roll of the eyes. She heard him chuckle and saw from the corner of her eye that his whole body was slumped forward. There was something thick and heavy about the aura he was emanating. "What are you celebrating?" she asked, facing forward.

"I'm mourning."

Great. Now she felt bad. "I'm sorry - I didn't. Who did you lose?"

"Me."

"You… died?"

He shrugged. "Might as well have."

"Here you go, Miss."

The bartender put down a refilled pitcher in front of her and Kagome reached out for her pocket, trying to retrieve her money. Before she could do so, she saw a pile of bills being dropped in front of her. "I got it," the stranger said with a smile. "Consider it my contribution towards your celebration. Someone should have fun."

"I'm not -"

"Not taking no for an answer," he said as he picked up two full to the brim shooter glass from the counter. "If you get lonely, my pity party is open to you," he added with a wink.

Kagome watched him leave, her lips parted but words failing her. He was a strange one, she would give him that. Oh well, she was about to marry a complete stranger - she could accept a gift, right? It was her bachelorette party, and a bride to be should be spoiled. She resigned herself and grabbed her pitcher from the counter, carrying it with two hands. "Thanks I guess," she mumbled to herself.

However, what she had not planned on was Sango's interest. By the time she was back at their table, Sango's chin was resting in her hand and she was giving her a huge grin. "So, anything you wanna tell me about dark and mysterious over there? Who bought us a pitcher?"

"You saw that."

"Hard to miss."

"He - he was just trying to hit on me."

"Maybe you should let him."

"Excuse me?"

Sango threw her hands in the air. "All I'm saying is - you're about to get married tomorrow. You're gonna lose all control over your life. Why don't you use your bachelorette party to do something you want? You're not betraying anyone. You don't even know your future husband."

"And what makes you think he is something I want?"

Sango laughed. "Yes, because who would want a tall, dark-haired, blue eyed, mysterious stranger? You're right, I sound insane."

"I'm not gonna hook up with a perfect stranger because he's good looking."

"So you think he's good looking?"

Kagome groaned. "You're missing my point entirely."

"Listen, I'm not saying to go have sex with him in the bathroom. But you could enjoy yourself. Talk, dance, kiss a little."

"I thought a bachelorette's party was all about the bride to be?"

"Trust me, I'm saying this for you." She wiped her phone out of her pocket, sliding the screen open. "Go. I can text Miroku and he'll be here in two minutes. That way you don't have to worry about me."

"Sango -"

"The last time you let a boy near you, it was Inuyasha. Before that, it was Hojo. Neither of them looked like that. And we don't know what the hell you're getting stuck with, so please."

Despite every argument her friend was making, Kagome remained grounded in her seat. He had tried to hit on her two seconds after she caught his eye. She wanted to enjoy her last night of freedom; she did not want to turn down a man repeatedly over the span of the night. It was not quite her idea of fun. Plus, who knew who he was, or if he would see her wedding in the media and come forward to ruin it all?

"I see we're going about this the hard way."

"What?"

Kagome squealed as Sango grabbed her arms, yanking her out of the booth. "Remember, I'm doing this because I care about you."

Her resistance was futile; Sango's physical strength outmatched her by a lot. Kagome was like a rag doll being dragged along as Sango pulled her in direction of the stranger. He was sitting at the opposite side of the bar alone, silently swiping through his phone. The clacking of shoes attracted his attention, and he lifted his gaze only to be met with an amusing sight.

"Pitcher girl."

"Hi," Sango started as Kagome hid behind her. "This is my friend Kagome."

Kouga leaned backwards, trying to make eye contact with her, but she would not have it.

"Do you mind if she hangs out with you for the rest of the night?"

"I don't think she's interested," he pointed out.

"She's just shy," she dismissed with a wave of the hand. "Anyway, this is Kagome - and you are?"

"Kouga."

"Well, Kouga, Kagome, you two have fun." Sango grabbed Kagome's shoulders pushing her until she was in front of the booth. "I'll be over there if anyone needs me," she added, as she pointed to their old booth. Before Kagome protested, Sango hopped away, leaving them alone.

"Your friend seems nice," he said as he watched Sango walk further from them.

"I think the word you're looking for is ex friend," she said with a sigh as she resigned herself. It was not like Sango would let her join her back. She could try to leave, but she had a feeling her friend would stop her, and honestly? Sango was a lot stronger than she was. No reason to make a scene. She didn't want to be known publicly before her wedding. She sat down on the edge of the seat, keeping as much distance as possible between them.

"Am I such horrible company?"

She stared at him this time, his cocky grin nowhere to be found. His icy blue eyes were shining, locked on her face as he awaited her answer. Crap. Now he made her feel bad. "Look. It's not you. I don't know you. Maybe you don't hit on every woman you see. Maybe you're a nice guy. But I'm not exactly having a good evening."

"I thought you were celebrating."

She scoffed. "Sarcasm. I guess you could say I'm mourning too."

The girl was not wrong about him; this was not his usual hang out location. But it was the most secluded place he had found - one where nowhere would think to look for him. He was supposed to be out and about - actually; they kept texting him and waiting for him to show up to his big party. People had to see him celebrate, photos had to be taken. It was all part of the big charade that was planned for him - for the rest of his life. But before he played the game, he needed one last moment by himself. He hadn't meant to interact with anyone, but there had been something about this girl's aura that had pulled him in… and he had to turn on the charms. Which was not working, but that in itself was amusing. He was trying for one last flirt, and he failed.

He pushed one of his shooter glass closer to her and lifted one in his hand. "To mourning then."

How could she not cheer to that? She took the drink and without thinking twice about it; she gulped it down, allowing it to burn as it made its way down her throat. She would hate herself tomorrow morning - but did it matter at this point? Maybe being hung over would help her forget it was happening. She slammed it back down, her finger remaining tightly crisped around the glass.

"And I thought I was having a bad day," he said with a chuckle before drinking his own.

"I don't think your bad day could trump mine."

"Try me?"

"I can't." She had already broken her agreement once. She wasn't about to do it twice - especially not with a stranger.

"Then how about another shot?" He wanted to press, but he wouldn't. He would not share the details of his mourning and he would much rather if she didn't ask. For the next thirty minutes, he would be himself and not who he was supposed to be. There were worst ways to end his life than by spending a few moments with a beautiful woman. At least this time, it was his choice, not someone else's.

"That I can do."

This time, he did not have to hand her the shot; she took it herself from the small tray and did not wait before drinking it. This was unusual behavior for her, but since it would not be acceptable to be drunk at her own wedding, this was the best she could do. She didn't regret the choice she made; she would not backtrack - not that she could considering the iron-clad contract they made her sign - but; it didn't make any of it easier. The thought of what she would have to do - of what they expected of her… for a lifetime? It was enough to send a chilly feeling down her spine, making her shiver in fear. Her life was no longer her own. This was her last moment of freedom, her last chance to be Kagome with no restrictions or rules. This was it. And she was sitting across a stranger, drinking his alcohol. Oh well.

"This is your plan for the night?" she asked, putting the glass down. "Drinking here alone?"

"I'm not alone anymore," he said with a wink.

"I'm not here by choice," she pointed out.

He chuckled. "Gotta buy your friend a drink to thank her." He grabbed the last shot glass that remained and downed it, throwing his head backwards at the same time. "Actually, plans were made for me."

"Is that the whole mourning thing?"

"Yup." He slid his phone closer to his field of vision, turning it on. "I've got about 5 minutes of freedom left before I gotta go." If it were up to him, they would have to drag him out of here kicking and screaming but… he knew all too well what would happen if he made a scene. Not only that, but it was a sure way to attract the attention and again, that wouldn't lead to anything good for him. A few years back, he would have fought him more, but he still had permanent marks to remind him he should do as he was told. It was all part of the deal he had made. What a foolish fucking cub he had been - and now he was paying the price.

"Oh." It wasn't like it mattered to her if he stayed or didn't stay. He could do what he pleased. He was a stranger to her. Although, she almost wished someone was as miserable as she was right now. But apparently, he was about to move on from it all.

"You'll miss me?" he asked with a smirk.

"I think I'll survive."

"I can leave you a little something to remember me by if you'd like."

"W-"

But before she could ask her question, she felt his lips on hers. His hand grabbed the back of her head, pulling her in as he gently sucked on her bottom lip, filling her mouth with the taste of the different alcohols he had drunk during the night. It strung her tongue as she returned the kiss, her own hands staying by her sides. His fingers tangled up in her hair, gripping at her, filling her chest with a feeling of weightlessness. A fire grew within her belly and she responded as aggressively as he was. This was it. Her last reckless moment. Her last chance to do something because she wanted to and not because they forced her to do it. She allowed her control to slip, gripping him by the collar of his shirt, not letting him walk away just yet. One last time, one last chance to be stupid before it meant something.

He smirked against her lips when she kept him in place, but he never stopped the motion of his lips. A few more beats passed before he pulled away. Her eyes remained half open as she started at him, his lips glistening from their kiss.

"Now you're almost making me wish I could stay."

He couldn't. If he did anything stupid, it would be the end for him. But he was tempted, and she was delicious. Maybe a little walk in the dark and the cold would help him calm down before he got picked up and dragged to his death.

"Thanks for the kiss beautiful."

It was the last words he spoke to her before he got up from the table, leaving a pile of bills on the table - probably a tip. Kagome held her breath, watching him walk away, feeling like it was her life evaporating, disappearing from her. She didn't make it a habit of meeting strangers in a bar, but if she had wanted to, she could have. That was no longer an option. She brought her hand to her lips, enjoying the warmth that was vanishing.

A kiss from a stranger before she had to kiss her husband to be.

How depressing.

-P-

The music began, showing that it was time for her to begin her march down the aisle. Kagome felt her heart stop as she ran her tongue across her lips, probably ruining the beautiful, expensive lipstick that was put on her mouth. Her dress felt too tight, as though it was impossible to breathe. Her mind was buzzing, and she could barely focus on what was in front of her. It didn't help that there was a pounding in her head from all the shots she had taken. Still, to the outside eye, she looked like the perfect bride. They had spent hours on her makeup, her hair… all of this, and there she was. Unhappy, holding back a wave of nausea that was threatening to wash all over her.

"Are you ready?"

Since she did not have a father to give her away, her father-in-law would act as a replacement. How touching. After all, he was about to play the role of a second father, pretend that he cared for her and loved her like a daughter. What better way to show the world than by escorting her down the isle like she was his own? It made her stomach flip.

"Yes," she whispered, afraid that if she spoke any louder, she would shatter.

"Then hurry, the music has been playing for far too long now." He snaked his arm around hers, putting his best smile on. "Don't forget, this is the happiest day of her life," he reminded her.

There was a grin on his face, but she didn't miss the threat behind his words. If she couldn't convince the world of how happy she was, she was done for and so was her inn. There was no doubt about it. She took a deep breath, hoping her face would stop twitching, and stretched her lips into a giant smile. She could do this. One long moment in front of the cameras, and then she would find refuge in the limo… until it was time for the reception. But she could do this - she had to do this. One of the women in charge of her make up walk to her and put down her veil. The giant wooden doors opened for them, letting them walk through, and Kagome tried to keep her gaze forward. At least the veil was blocking some of her vision and it was shielding her face from the crowd. She didn't know a single person who was there.

She could only pray that somewhere in there was her grandpa, her brother and her mother. She was craving familiar faces. Unfortunately for her, there were too many people. It didn't matter how hard she tried to find them; they were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, she felt a small tug and realized her father-in-law had stopped walking; they had reached their destination. He grabbed her hand as he released her from his grip and he leaned forward to press a kiss to her veil covered cheek. "Don't forget to smile," he said through gritted teeth. How could she forget?

Kagome kept her gaze low, her focus on her future husband's black shoes, unable to find the strength to look at him, to glimpse at the rest of her life. She went up the three stairs, reaching his side, standing right in front of him. The sudden appearance of his hands startled her as he grabbed the edge of her veil, lifting it and tucking it beneath her head. This forced her to lift her gaze and look at him - and then heart stopped.

Nope.

It couldn't be.

Because the world wasn't that small.

Because it wouldn't make any sense.

Because there had to be a logical explanation for this - or else…

The grin on his face grew as he watched the shock take over her features. He was barely holding back a laughter. He pinched his lips together, vaguely aware that the priest had talked. Their eyes met, but no words, no expression adorned her pale, shock stricken face.

He was - it was him.

She saw the flashes coming from the camera; she knew it meant her expression should be something different from what it was but she struggled to willed her face to obey her. He leaned forward - wait, was he supposed to do that - and he whispered, "Looks like I'm about to get a repeat, pitcher girl."

The guy from the bar.

The flirty, cocky guy from the bar… was her husband to be.

Fuck my life was the only thought she could summon.

-P-