Confessions of the Heart

By: Hopeless Romantic

hope_parker@yahoo.com

Rated: Nc-17 / Hentai

 

 

Chapter One

Feelings

           

The youkai was a large snake-like one.  It took both Inuyasha and Sango to take it down.  The group’s reward was 3 shards.

            “Ooh, I am exhausted,” Sango said, as she flopped next to the tree that Inuyasha was sitting in.

            “Yeah,” Inuyasha mumbled in response.

            “Hey! Where is Kagome?” Sango called up to Inuyasha.

            Inuyasha popped open his eyes and nearly fell out to the tree.

            “What do you mean? She was…”  Inuyasha began getting flustered.

            “Right here,” Kagome said, walking toward the tree where Inuyasha and Sango were.

            Anger, protectiveness and fear welled up in Inuyasha all at once.

            “Where in the hell were you!” Inuyasha shouted, leaping at Kagome.

            “I went to the river to get us fresh water and I caught us some fish,” Kagome said, holding up a water bottle and a stringer of fish.

            “That’s all well and good, but you could have said something to either me or Sango. You could have…” Inuyasha said, trailing off at the end, not wanting to think of the horrible possibilities that could have happened to her.

            “What! I went and did this for us while you were resting. Besides, it’s not like you really care.  You are only concerned about finding shards so that you can become a full youkai and…” Kagome screeched stopping herself before she revealed her worst fear.

            “Yes, I want to become a youkai, but what is the other reason that you think I want to have the Shikon no Tama?” Inuyasha asked, growling.

            “It doesn’t matter. You still treat me horribly,” Kagome said, nearly in tears.

            The look on Inuyasha’s face looked like he lost his best friend.

            Kagome instantly regretted what she had said, when she saw the hurt in Inuyasha’s eyes.  For a brief moment she thought she saw a tear, but it was instantly gone.

            “I care a lot more for you than just as a shard detector, and you know it, if that is what you were implying,” Inuyasha growled softly.

            “Do I? The only thing you want me for is to find those damn shards. You have made that clear to me many times,” Kagome said, pouring every amount of hurt she could into the statement so she could get it out of her.

            “Kagome… Here, let me take those and we can talk later when both of us have calmed down a bit. That way we won’t say things that we don’t mean or that we will regret later. Ok?” Inuyasha said, taking the fish and water from Kagome and turned toward the tree where Sango already had a fire going.

            Inuyasha walked on ahead of Kagome, figuring he would leave her alone, so as to not upset her anymore than he already had.

            Kagome was left to her thoughts.  She wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not. ‘Well, you wanted to get him alone, ne?’ Kagome thought to herself as she looked at Inuyasha’s retreating back.

            ‘I just worry that I won’t be able to keep my hands off him. Every time he gets close to me, I want to rip his clothes off and satisfy myself.’ Kagome thought to herself.  ‘I just worry that what I am feeling is not my feelings but that of the soul that I hold within me,’ Kagome thought, thinking about Kikyou.

            A warm tingly feeling swept through her.  “I really must stop doing that,” Kagome said aloud and continued on to the camp.

            The evening was silent. Inuyasha cleaned the fish, Sango washed them and Kagome put them on sticks and over the fire.

            The group ate in silence, not wanting to intrude on each other’s thoughts. Finally the silence was becoming deafening to Sango and she could take no more.

            “Alright, you two.  Enough with the silent treatment.  I am going to bathe in the river. I hope the two of you have yourselves sorted out by the time that I get back,” Sango said as she stood to leave.

            “Sango, you don’t…” Kagome began, but was silenced by Sango holding up her hand, signaling that she would hear none of it.

            “Yes I do, Kagome-chan. There is something that the two of you need to talk about and it is a private matter, ne?” Sango said, looking over the couple. Her response from Inuyasha was a snort and Kagome blushed.

            “You see?  Now I am going to bathe and I will be sure to take a long time. That should give you the time that you need,” Sango said, picking up her pack and heading off in the direction of the river.

            “Inuyasha”, “Kagome” They both began at once.

            “No, you first,” Inuyasha said quietly.

            “I’m sorry for what I said before. I let my emotions get in the way of my head,” Kagome said, staring at the fire, as it popped and cracked.

            “No, you were partially right. I do treat you poorly sometimes, but I really do care about you. I would like you to answer my question from before. What other reason do you think that I have for finding the Shikon no Tama, besides to become a youkai?” Inuyasha said, standing and walking over to sit beside Kagome.

            “But I still…What did you say?” Kagome said, only beginning to process what he just said.

            “I said that I know I treat you badly sometime, but that I really care about you. I really want to know what this other reason you think I have for collecting the shards and gaining the Shikon no Tama,” Inuyasha said, trying to think of this reason.

            “Inuyasha, you could never care for me as much as I do for you,” Kagome said, as she slumped her shoulders.

            “Why is that?” Inuyasha asked, completely forgetting about the other question.

            “You only have room in your heart for one woman and sadly, I am not her,” Kagome said, burying her face in her hands to sob.

            Inuyasha did not know what to do with the sobbing girl that was beside him. His demon side was confused which made him afraid, but his human part felt sorrow and an emotion that scared him to death. ‘What is this feeling? I feel like I want to protect her and hold her forever. Is this love?’ Inuyasha thought as he pulled Kagome to his chest.

            Kagome sobbed and sobbed.  “Oh Inuyasha, I… I…”

            Inuyasha pushed her up and held her chin up so he could look into her teary eyes.

            “Who is taking up the space in my heart if it is not you, Kagome-chan?” Inuyasha asked stroking Kagome’s cheek with his thumb.

            “Kikyou,” Kagome cried, the tears flowing down her cheeks like a river of sorrow.

            Inuyasha looked puzzled at Kagome. He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her to stroke her hair.

            “Why do you feel this?” Inuyasha cooed, as he ran his fingers through Kagome’s hair.

            “Because… You did before you were sealed in the tree and you are searching for the shards to make her human and to right what has been wronged in the past,” Kagome mumbled to Inuyasha’s chest.

            “Is that really what you think?” Inuyasha asked.

            His only response was sobbing and the nodding of Kagome’s head.

            “Kagome, look at me,” Inuyasha said pulling her up from his chest.

            Inuyasha wiped her tears from her eyes and pushed the wet bangs from her face.

            “Yes, I thought I loved her in the past, but now I know the truth behind those feelings. I had an infatuation for her.  She was the first woman to show me compassion and love, but in the end I betrayed that by stealing the Shikon no Tama,” Inuyasha explained.

            Taking a deep breath, he continued again.

            “I feel a duty and an obligation to put Kikyou’s tormented soul to rest and return the part of your soul that she stole. I only want her to rest in peace. That is the only thing that Kikyou has to do with my heart,” Inuyasha explained to Kagome and a spark of hope lit up in her eyes.

            “So you see there is no other woman in my heart but you,” Inuyasha said with a relieved smile now that he had finally got it out in the open.

            Kagome was stunned to say the least. She pinched herself to make sure that this was not another one of her dreams that she had been experiencing the past few weeks.

            “I love you so much that it hurts, Inuyasha,” Kagome said, wiping her eyes.

            “Then you shouldn’t, for love should never hurt,” Inuyasha said quietly.

            Fear simmered in Kagome’s heart that he had rejected her until she thought about how her statement must have sounded. “No Inuyasha.  I mean that it is a good kind of pain. It is not painful in a physical way, it is just that… It is a feeling that you are so full that if you got any fuller that you would burst, but you want to be fuller. Do you understand now?” Kagome said, holding his face in front of her with her hands.

            “I think I might,” Inuyasha said putting a hand to her cheek.

            Inuyasha leaned toward Kagome and gently brushed her lips with his. The feeling was exquisite, like kissing a flower petal.

            “Do you know how long I have waited to do that, Kagome?” Inuyasha cooed, as he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.

            “About as long as I have waited for you to do it,” Kagome said, inhaling the strong masculine scent from Inuyasha’s hair and body.

            Inuyasha trailed his hands up and down Kagome’s back. He relished the feeling of her body beneath him.

            “You are beautiful, Kagome,” Inuyasha growled low and sensual as he pulled her ear lobe into his mouth.

            Kagome gasped from the feeling of him sucking and nibbling on her ear. She ran her hands through his hair and reached up to rub his soft ear.

            Inuyasha trailed kisses down Kagome’s neck, stopping here and there to gently nip at her, causing her to gasp and moan low in her throat.

            A warm tingle began at Kagome’s spine and traveled up her body, causing a bright flush on her cheeks that traveled down to her chest.

            Inuyasha trailed kisses down her neck and stopped at her collarbone and the top of her blouse. He kissed the exposed skin there and pulled up to look at Kagome.

            “Inuyasha, why did you stop?” Kagome asked, looking at him confused.

            “I have to ask now Kagome, or it will be too late,” Inuyasha said, taking her face in his hands.

            “What?” Kagome prodded, wanting to continue what they were doing.

            “Do you know what will go on if we continue this?” Inuyasha asked, wanting to be sure this was what she wanted.

            “Yes Inuyasha, I know. I am not a little girl,” Kagome said, running her hand up and down his leg.

            “Not just the physical aspect. I mean what the outcome will be,” Inuyasha said, trying to keep his mind cool with what she was doing to him.

            “I am not following you Inuyasha; please explain what you are talking about. I know that if we continue on that road we will end up making love, and I do know the possible physical outcome of that if that is what you are talking about,” Kagome said, not sure where he was going with this.

            “When a youkai or hanyou in my case takes a lover, they are mated for life. Is this what you want?” Inuyasha asked, trying to ignore the rising heat in his loins.

            “So you mean that I will be your wife?” Kagome asked.

            “Yes, if that is what humans call a life mate,” Inuyasha said, looking into her eyes.

            “I would like nothing more. It’s just that I am worried that what I feel… that it’s not me that is feeling it,” Kagome said, as tears pooled in her eyes.

            “Who else would be feeling them?” Inuyasha asked, concerned.

            “Kikyou. I worry that it is her soul that is feeling this, not my heart.” Kagome said as the tears began to fall from her eyes.

            “Close your eyes and think on how you feel about me and then tell me,” Inuyasha said, rubbing his thumbs under her eyes to wipe away the tears that spilled from her eyes.

            Kagome closed her eyes and relaxed, thinking of only her feelings for man that was before her. A small smile formed on her lips and she opened her eyes.

            “Tell me,” Inuyasha whispered, not wanting to ruin the intimacy of the moment.

            “I love you with all my heart. I want you to be beside me for always. I would gladly lay down my life and sacrifice my happiness to see you happy and safe,” Kagome said, looking at Inuyasha who smiled.

            “Kagome love, I know this is your heart speaking, not that of Kikyou. Kikyou only saw me as a companion, not a mate. She would not have willingly died for me. She was too dedicated to her cause of protecting the Shikon no Tama, and she did not trust me enough to share in that cause,” Inuyasha said, before claiming Kagome’s lips in a heated kiss.

            “Inuyasha, do you love me?” Kagome asked.

            “Yes,” was his answer.

            “Then show me,” Kagome said in a low sensual voice.

            “Gladly my mate, but not here,” Inuyasha said, throwing cold water on the moment.

            Kagome’s eyes began to water.

            “Let me explain, koiishi. I want to do this more than anything, but here we are vulnerable and Sango will be back any time now. Let us get back to the village and I will take you someplace very special. Ok,” Inuyasha said, caressing Kagome’s cheek with the back of his hand.

            “I would like nothing more… m … mate,” Kagome whispered, liking the way that the foreign term for her intended rolled off her tongue.

            Inuyasha smiled and put his arm around Kagome’s shoulder, snuggling before the fire as they waited for Sango to return.

           

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

            Sango walked back to the camp after a long bath and was hoping that it was long enough for Inuyasha and Kagome to get themselves sorted out. Sango was not expecting the scene that she encountered upon her return, but was not entirely surprised by it.  Inuyasha and Kagome had fallen asleep in each other’s arms and Kagome was using Inuyasha’s chest as a pillow.

            ‘It’s about time,’ Sango thought, settling herself on the opposite side of the fire to let the couple have some privacy; at least, as much as could be gained with the fire between them.

            Soon Sango fell asleep worn out from the day’s activities, happy for the new couple that were her traveling companions.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

            Dawn came upon the group and Inuyasha was the first to awaken.  He smiled and stretched his arms above his head, careful not to wake the woman that he had chosen as a mate, who was still asleep on his chest.

            In sleep Kagome’s already short skirt had ridden up her body, leaving her hip practically exposed to the entire world around them.

            ‘I need to approach that subject lightly,’ Inuyasha thought as he tugged the hem of Kagome’s skirt down, waking her in the meantime.

            Soft eyes looked up at him as a smile spread across Kagome’s lips.

            “Good morning, mate,” Kagome whispered, not wanting to awaken Sango, figuring that she had returned sometime late in the night.

            “Yes, my love. It is a good morning,” Inuyasha said softly, as he stroked Kagome’s hair absentmindedly.

            “How did you sleep, love?” Kagome asked, nuzzling Inuyasha’s chest.

            “Perfect,” he sighed, letting his eyes close, savoring the feel of her body next to his.

            “Well, I am glad that things are back to semi normal,” a voice interrupted the quiet of the morning.

            Kagome sat up and looked toward the sound of the voice, seeing Sango coming toward them with a smile.

            “Morning Sango-chan. Are you just returning to camp?” Kagome asked, standing up from her place next to Inuyasha.

            “No, I returned last night. The two of you had already fallen asleep,” Sango said with a smile.

            A snort came from the ground at Kagome’s feet and she looked down to see a scowling Inuyasha.

            “What?” Kagome asked.

            “Nothing,” Inuyasha grumbled, as he stood up.

            “Inuyasha…” Kagome said, looking at him trying to figure out what was wrong with him.

            “Don’t worry, Inuyasha-chan. I heard none of your conversation last night. You were both sound asleep when I returned. I am truly happy for you both, though,” Sango said smiling.

            “Thank you Sango.” Kagome said, walking to the woman and hugging her.

            “Well, is there a celebration in store for when we return to the village?” Sango asked, holding Kagome away from her.

            “No, not yet. I would appreciate it if you do not say anything to the others yet,” Inuyasha said, as Kagome and Sango took a seat around the smoldering coals of the fire.

            “Why? Don’t you want everyone to know about us?” Kagome asked, hurt that he wanted to keep their relationship secret.

            “I am sure that he has a good reason for it, Kagome. Don’t fret,” Sango said soothingly, attempting to address the obvious fears of the girl beside her.

            “I do. I don’t want anyone to know of us until we are mated,” Inuyasha said flatly.

            “Why?” Kagome asked, curious.

            “When we mate you will become a part of me and I will be able to sense when you are in danger. If you wish it, you can become hanyou like me, but that is a choice you must make, not I,” Inuyasha said, looking at Kagome with loving eyes.

            “Oh Inuyasha,” Kagome sighed, crawling to him to hold him in her arms.

            “I did not know that, Inuyasha. How does it work?” Sango asked, curious, for she had limited knowledge of the intimate practices of youkai.

            “I will mark her as my mate by biting her and drawing some of her blood. If she so desires she can do the same to me and absorb some of my blood into her. It will make her hanyou in time. I am not sure on the time or the circumstances; we would have to ask the flea for more information,” Inuyasha said plainly.

            “Inuyasha-chan, I understand your reasons, and I will respect you decision to wait to tell the others,” Sango said with a thoughtful nod.

            “Thank you, Sango-chan. This does mean a lot to both of us,” Inuyasha said, stroking Kagome’s hair.

            “Now, I think that we should be off so that you two can go off to be alone for some well deserved rest,” Sango said, standing up and tossing her bag over her shoulder.

            The group gathered up their things and made their way to the village so that they could re-stock their supplies and let everyone know that they would be going off for a while.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

            The group made it back to the village at almost nightfall, and they were met by a very excited kitsune.

            “Kagome-chan,” Shippou exclaimed, practically tackling Kagome as she, Sango and Inuyasha stepped into Kaede’s hut.

            “Easy Shippou-chan, we were not gone that long,” Kagome said, patting the small fox-boy’s head as she sat him down on the floor of the hut.

            “How was it?” Miroku asked with a raised eyebrow.

            “See that you are feeling better,” Sango said with a smirk.

            “Yeah, well… How did the trip go? Did you gain anymore shards?” Miroku asked anxiously, taking time to look Kagome’s legs over that showed beneath her short skirt.

            “Yes, as a matter of fact we did. We retrieved three from a snake youkai.” Inuyasha sneered at the monk from beside Kagome.

            “That is a good thing,” Kaede said, drawing the two men’s attention away from each other. She was not going to have them get into another fist fight the way they did just before the group left to pursue the latest lead on shards. It took her almost an entire day to clean up her hut and repair the damages done to the walls.

            “Kaede-babba, I will go and fetch us some meat. Kagome-chan, would you like to come?” Inuyasha asked, cringing inwardly at the need to use the “chan” attached to her name in front of the others, to keep up the charade of nothing happening.

            “I… would love to,” Kagome smiled, glad to be able to spend more time with him alone.

            The two walked out the door of the hut and headed toward Inuyasha’s forest together.

            Kaede smiled, knowing the look that Inuyasha and Kagome had just exchanged with each other. Miroku on the other hand was rude.

            “Why does he want her to carry the carcass for his sorry ass?” Miroku grumbled and was swiftly knocked on the head with Kaede’s cane.

            Miroku stared at the woman who gave him an innocent look. “What? It must have fallen. I really must fix the bottom of this,” Kaede said as she turned the cane upside down to inspect the bottom.

            Sango giggled at Miroku’s embarrassment and got up to fill the pails of water to clean the kill that Inuyasha and Kagome would be returning with.

           

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

            Inuyasha and Kagome walked just inside the tree line and looked back. Seeing that they were not followed, Inuyasha picked up Kagome and jumped to a nearby tree limb.

            “I am so happy to be alone,” Kagome cooed as she threw her arms around Inuyasha’s neck.

            “Yes, this is nice,” Inuyasha purred, nibbling on Kagome’s neck.

            “Mmm,” Kagome moaned, feeling a small fire ignite deep within her.

            Inuyasha could smell the arousal from Kagome and pulled away from her.

            Kagome looked into his eyes, a bit confused.

            “Not yet, love. But I do want to talk to you about something,” Inuyasha said, caressing her cheek and settling his back against the tree trunk.

            “Anything,” Kagome said with a smile.

            “Now love, my mate. I do love the way that you look and so do others, which brings me to the matter at hand,” Inuyasha began, trying to approach this carefully, knowing how high up they were and how much it would hurt for her to “Osuwari” him.

            “Go on,” Kagome encouraged.

            “If you are going to be my mate, I would like very much for you to adjust your wardrobe,” Inuyasha said, choosing his words carefully.

            “And that would be how?” Kagome asked, eyeing the necklace around Inuyasha’s neck, thinking that he wanted a collar or something on her.

            “I would love it if you would dress in more traditional clothing for our time period,” Inuyasha said, waiting for the “O” word.
            “I thought you didn’t like me to look like Kikyou,” Kagome said a little confused.

            “I am not saying to dress as a miko in hakama and haroi. You could dress in kimono and yukata,” Inuyasha said, smiling.

            “You would feel better, wouldn’t you?” Kagome asked seriously.

            “I want nothing more than to have the whole world know that you are my mate, but we have to be careful. You must understand that a youkai taking a human mate is not widely accepted,” Inuyasha said, pausing.

            “Do you worry about me going off with another?” Kagome asked.

            “No, that is not it. I understand that how you dress is normal in your time. In my time you draw a lot of attention from everyone and I worry that I cannot always be there to scare them away. I would prefer to be the only one to draw attention, so that I can protect you easier,” Inuyasha explained, trying to make Kagome understand where he was coming from.

            “You don’t like the way that I dress?” Kagome asked, hurt showing in her voice.

            “No love, that is not it. I love the way you dress. Gods, it is sometimes too much for me to handle,” Inuyasha said running his hand up her thigh.

            “Ooh, I see,” Kagome said with a smile.

            “Besides, Inuyasha-sama is still a titled lord, and your ladyship should be adorned in the finest of clothes,” A new voice interrupted and startled both Inuyasha and Kagome, to the point that Kagome almost fell off, had Inuyasha not had a firm grip on her leg.

            “Myoga, you really must stop popping out of nowhere like that,” Kagome gasped, willing her heart to slow down so she would stop feeling light headed.

            “Yes flea, interrupting is most rude. Even I, a lowly hanyou, know that,” Inuyasha said, snorting at the flea on his shoulder.

            “My apologies, lord Inuyasha and lady Kagome. I had come for a visit and I found you here,” Myoga said, taking a quick drink from Inuyasha’s neck.

            “I am sure that is not the only reason why you have come,” Kagome said, eyeing the flea suspiciously.

            “Well… that is, ahh…” Myoga nervously stuttered.

            “Well, flea. Out with it,” Inuyasha said, impatiently wanting to return to the conversation he and Kagome were having.

            “I have come to offer my congratulations and services if they are needed,” Myoga said, bowing to Kagome.

            “How did…” Kagome stuttered, worrying about who else knew.

            “What I spoke before was the truth. I was coming to pay a visit to you and I happened upon your camp the other night and I overheard your conversation,” Myoga said, worrying as to the punishment that he was going to receive.

            Inuyasha saw the terror in Kagome’s face upon hearing this. He knew that she was concerned, after he had explained last night his reasoning for waiting to announce their relationship to the group.

            “Fear not, my lady. I told no one of what I have heard. I am also here to answer any of your questions that you may have,” Myoga said, hoping that he had saved his hide.

            “Good. Now tell me this, flea. Does the small cottage still stand?” Inuyasha asked, looking to Myoga who moved to Inuyasha’s knee so that they could talk to him better.

            “Yes, it still stands and has been touched by neither youkai nor human,” Myoga said, smiling.

            “So the seal is still intact?” Inuyasha asked.

            “Yes. Only you and I can pass through the seal,” Myoga answered.

            “What are you two talking about?” Kagome asked, not following the conversation.

            “My lord has retained the vacation home that his late lordship and her late ladyship would go to for vacations and family get-aways,” Myoga answered.

            “Oh, is that where we are going?” Kagome asked, catching on to what Inuyasha had planned.

            “You are very clever, my dear.” Inuyasha smiled at Kagome.

            “My lord, you do know what must go on if you are to take the lady Kagome as your mate?” Myoga asked in a serious tone.

            Kagome blushed and Inuyasha growled at the flea. “Yes, I know what must go on. I am not a pup anymore.”
            “I know you are no longer a pup my lord. I also know that you have not had all the education in the ways of the youkai, since her ladyship was taken from you at such a young age,” Myoga said quietly, hating to dredge up bad memories of Inuyasha’s mother.

            “Myoga, I don’t think that was necessary,” Kagome said, narrowing her eyes at the flea.

            “I apologize, my lady,” Myoga said with his eyes downcast.

            “No, it is fine. I have nothing but fond memories of my mother,” Inuyasha said, barely above a whisper.

            “My lady, have you considered the option of becoming hanyou with my lord?” Myoga asked, changing the subject.

            “I really don’t know, Myoga. What would it entail?” Kagome asked, not sure if she wanted to become a hanyou.

            “You have two options. One would be to partake some of his lordship’s blood and become hanyou or the other option falls to his lordship,” Myoga said looking at Inuyasha.

            “And that would be?” Inuyasha snorted.

            “Simply, if you are concerned about her ladyship passing on without you, you are able to control the rate that you age. You still age because of your human blood, but the youkai blood slows that aging process down. Like the fifty human summers that you were sealed into the tree. You only aged five human summers. Kikyou sealed you at what... you were one hundred and fifty summers, so that would make you physically fifteen human summers. Is this correct?” Myoga said, making sure that he was right.

            His response was a simple nod from Inuyasha.

            “That would mean your human blood is only twenty summers old. The combination of the human and youkai blood is an interesting one. The youkai blood only lets the human blood age for one human summer every ten human summers, especially when you were asleep. Now that you have been awakened, the youkai blood will dominate and you will cease to age until you wish to,” Myoga explained to the couple.

            “You mean that Inuyasha is much older than he appears? Given the numbers that you have said that would mean that Inuyasha has been alive for over two hundred years but only looks a little over twenty human years,” Kagome said, trying to sift through all this new information about her intended.

            “Wait a minute. That would mean that I can stay the same age as Kagome for the rest of her life,” Inuyasha stated with a smile.

            “Yes. But there is a way for you to age normally, you know,” Myoga said, looking to Inuyasha.

            “Myoga, that will not be an option until the Shikon no Tama is complete. Then we will discuss me becoming human and mortal,” Inuyasha said, indicating that the conversation on this subject was closed.

            “Myoga, when do I have to make my decision about becoming hanyou?” Kagome asked with a sigh.

            “You have as long as you need. The process is done during mating. Just as Lord Inuyasha will mark you as his mate during the act, you can do the same to him,” Myoga explained, jumping to Kagome’s leg.

            “Good, because I don’t feel ready to make that kind of decision yet,” Kagome said, relieved.

            “You will still gain some things from his lordship. You will heal faster and have more stamina for activities. With the first time that you mate, his lordship will mark you with a bite and he will pass through his saliva these qualities into the wound. Also, the two of you will create a strong bond that will allow his lordship to sense when you are in danger, sick or in heat,” Myoga stated flatly.

            “You mean he will be able to know when I can conceive,” Kagome asked, looking pointedly to Inuyasha.

            Inuyasha nodded in response.

            “Is this going to hurt?” Kagome asked, looking at Myoga and Inuyasha.

            “Yes, my lady, it will. His lordship must break the skin, but that is why it is done during mating. You most likely will not feel it,” Myoga explained, hoping that he was giving the couple enough information that would help them.

            “I take it you are following custom and coming with us?” Inuyasha said quietly to the flea.

            “You mean…! No! I will not have it! I will not have him watching us…” Kagome squeaked with her eyes wide.

            “No, no, your ladyship. I would never do that. I will simply listen and when his lordship claims you, then I will leave,” Myoga explained.

            “Oh, why?” Kagome asked, curious.

            “I can answer that. Since father was the lord of the western lands, that I guess would make me higher up in the youkai chain, even though I am only hanyou. I need a witness in the event they would ever contest my claiming you or the position of our pups,” Inuyasha explained to Kagome as he caressed her cheek.

            “I see. Then I guess that I don’t mind too much,” Kagome said with a smile.

            All was quiet with the trio until a grumbling interrupted the silence. Inuyasha smacked his palm to his forehead when it dawned on him what the noise was.

            “I almost forgot why we are here. I need to kill something for our meal,” Inuyasha said, shaking his head. “You distract me, wench,” he giggled.

            Inuyasha hopped down off the branch and went in search of prey for food. Inuyasha soon caught several rabbits. He brought the rabbits back to the tree where Kagome and Myoga still were.

            “Are you ready to go back?” Inuyasha asked Kagome.

            “Yes, but we did not finish our conversation from earlier,” Kagome said, thoughtful.

            “We will continue that in the morning when we leave for the cottage. It is about a half a day’s walk from here or just a couple hours if you ride on my back,” Inuyasha said as he picked Kagome up and jumped to the forest floor.

            “If I may, your lordship. All furnishings were left intact and in their place at the cottage. In regards to your earlier conversation, your mother’s silk kimonos are all put in her tansu where they belong. I think she would be honored if the lady Kagome were to wear them,” Myoga said, leaping to sit on Inuyasha’s shoulder.

            “Myoga, I am sure that Inuyasha would not…” Kagome began to scold the little flea demon for his suggestion, when a hand on her arm stopped her.

            “I would like nothing more than you to honor my mother by wearing her kimonos, proudly showing that you are my mate as she did to show she was my father’s mate,” Inuyasha said with teary eyes.

            “Are you sure about this Inuyasha?” Kagome gulped nervously.

            “Yes,” was his reply.

            “Well then, let us hurry and get back to the village so we can be off in the morning.” Kagome smiled, putting her arm around Inuyasha’s waist as they walked on.

            When they neared the forest edge, Kagome moved her arm reluctantly. Inuyasha nodded and they continued on.

            ‘I am so nervous about this,’ Kagome thought referring to keeping up the charade in front of the others. ‘Well, it will only be for one night. I think I can manage to keep my hands off him. I will be Ok as long as he doesn’t get too close to me or whisper in my ear,’ she thought as they walked.

            Soon they came upon Kaede’s hut and were met by Shippou.

            “What did you catch, Inuyasha-san?” the little kitsune asked, jumping up and down at the doorway.

            “Food. What else?” Inuyasha grunted with a smirk. ‘Now I get to sleep beside Kagome and not the little fox demon,’ he thought.

            “We have rabbits, Shippou-chan,” Kagome smiled at the hyper kitsune.

            “Ooh, I love rabbits,” Shippou drooled.

            “Feh,” Inuyasha snorted as he sat the kill by the water pails, for them to be skinned and readied for roasting.

            Miroku broke into a wide smile when Kagome sat down and her skirt flew up a bit from her efforts.

            This did not go unnoticed by Kaede and more importantly by Inuyasha.

            Inuyasha let out a low growl and got the monk’s attention. Miroku looked at Inuyasha who flexed his claws and shook his head no.

            Miroku slumped his shoulders in defeat, knowing that Inuyasha could tear him apart if he pushed him too far, especially when it came to Kagome. So the monk resorted to verbally irritating the hanyou.

            “Well, at least you didn’t make Kagome carry the rabbits,” Miroku smirked, trying to get Inuyasha into an argument.

            “Really, Miroku. You are a pain. If you don’t knock it off I will come over there and knock you a good one,” Sango yelled from the other side of the hut where she was finishing up the last rabbit to be skinned.

            The evening went by with few mishaps, just an occasional lust filled glance from Miroku and a low growl from Inuyasha.

            Soon the group was settling in for a good rest, when Inuyasha broke the comfortable silence.

            “Kagome and I are leaving in the morning,” Inuyasha declared to the group.

            “Where are we going?” Shippou smiled.

            “Not we. Us,” Inuyasha said, motioning to himself and Kagome.

            “Well, this is most interesting.” Kaede said, already deducing what was about to transpire between the couple.

            “So you are taking her away. For what reason?” Miroku grunted.

            “That, monk, is none of your concern,” Inuyasha growled, barring his fangs.

            “Enough, you two. I am going with Inuyasha to pay homage to a very special person. We need to do this alone. That means just him and I understand. Alone,” Kagome said, finally fed up with the behavior she had been witnessing.

            “Sorry,” Miroku and Shippou muttered quietly.

            “Good. Now I am going to sleep,” Kagome said with a yawn and a soft smile to Inuyasha as she walked toward him to pick up her sleeping bag.

            Kagome settled herself in the corner of the hut not far from the window, knowing that Inuyasha would sleep there.

            Inuyasha nodded to her letting her know he understood.

            Soon everyone was settling in and Shippou approached Kagome’s side, to sleep. Inuyasha growled low as a warning but Shippou ignored him and stuck his tongue out at him. He settled next to Kagome and stilled when a hand touched him.

            “Not tonight, Shippou,” Kagome said, letting the kitsune know that she wanted to sleep alone tonight.

            “Ok Kagome-chan,” Shippou said, crestfallen, and went to sleep by Sango and Miroku with a jealous glare at Inuyasha.

            Kagome looked toward Inuyasha and smiled a loving smile and closed her eyes. She fell into a contented sleep, knowing that Inuyasha would watch over her as she slept.

 

 

 

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Notes:  More to come.

 

Inuyasha and all related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I do not seek to infringe on her rights. I am only borrowing the characters to expand on the love and romance between them.

 

You can also find my stories at:

Strands of Moonlight           http://strands-of-moonlight.my3gb.com  and  http://strands-of-moonlight.6te.net