InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Moment of Clarity ❯ Completion ( Chapter 2 )

I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters; they belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

 

Uh, I forgot to tell you. When I said a few weeks until chapter 2 came out, I actually meant a few days. The great reviews really motivated me to get my rear in gear and finish this story asap. Not that I rushed through it, but I didn't take any days off like I did as I was writing chapter 1. Now, on with the show!

 

*This chapter contains a lemon. You have been warned.*

 

 

A Moment of Clarity

 

Chapter 2

 

Inuyasha's return to consciousness was a slow, lengthy affair. His confused mind had trouble believing what his body was telling him—that he was very much alive, and not dead. As he regained awareness, the first thing he noticed was the absence of any stabbing pain in his body. A dull throb still centered in his gut, and he received a slight twinge from his chest whenever he inhaled, but these were nothing compared to the agony he remembered from his last waking moments.

 

I'm alive? How the hell? Part of that answer was easy; he was his hanyou self again. But as to how he had managed to survive until sunrise… Expanding his senses, he took in two disturbing odors: his own blood and Kagome's tears. The second scent finally prompted Inuyasha to open his eyes. He was still in their room at the inn; that much was obvious. Looking around, he realized he was alone in the hut, save for the slumbering owner of the raven-haired head resting on his chest.

 

“Kagome…” he whispered in shock. She stirred in response, causing Inuyasha to hold his breath, but instead of waking she snuggled closer into his side and mumbled his own name before resuming her quiet snoring. By now Inuyasha's face matched the color of his fire-rat haori, which he realized was no longer on him, nor was his white kosode. Great…I'm topless and Kagome is using me as a pillow! Not that he minded, he could grudgingly admit, but he was quite embarrassed. Especially considering what he had confessed to her last night.

 

I can't believe I told her that...I can't believe I even figured out my own feelings for once… He had not uttered those words to anyone in over a century, not since his mother had died. And yet, he could not bring himself to regret what happened, even as he discovered that his revelation had produced many more questions than answers. Of course, the most important one was how does she feel about me? Inuyasha had never concerned himself with Kagome's feelings toward him in the past; his focus had been on the completing the jewel and keeping everyone in their group safe. The others had alluded several times that Kagome's feelings for him went beyond friendship, but he had ignored them because he was not particularly interested in her. Or at least he thought he wasn't interested. Now he had cause to wonder just how long he had been lying to himself. He knew Kagome cared for him, but did she love him? Could anyone love a hanyou? If anyone can, she can… That thought directed his mind down a darker road, as he contemplated the first woman who had shown him love.

 

And what about Kikyou? Where does she fit into all of this? Did we ever truly love one another?

 

“Inuyasha! You're OK!” Inuyasha jumped, having been so lost in reflection that he hadn't sensed Kagome rousing from her slumber. He barely had time to brace himself before she threw her arms around his neck and embraced him in a bone crushing hug. He hesitantly returned the embrace and the pair stayed like that for several moments before Inuyasha caught the scent of fresh tears. Gently pushing her away, he nervously inquired “What's wrong?!”

 

She just shook her head, drying her tears with her hand while favoring him with a heart-warming smile. “Nothing's wrong, I'm just really glad you're ok…” Her face fell slightly as she continued, “when you didn't wake up right away after dawn, I really thought I had lost you. I guess your body just needed a kick-start.”

 

Inuyasha was stunned, overwhelmed by the depth of her concern, humbled by her single-minded devotion to his well being. She bandaged me, stayed up all night looking after me, and somehow she even brought me back from death. How many tears did she shed for me last night? Then the last thing she said came back to him. Kagome's mood brightened immediately as his expression morphed into that confused puppy look she loved so much. She almost held back her giggle, but when his face shifted into his `what the hell is wrong with you, wench' face, she lost it. The sounds of her laughter filled the small room as the last of her worries vanished.

 

It was at this time that Inuyasha realized the state of Kagome's dress. Her torn clothing didn't reveal much more than usual, but it was enough to darken the hanyou's cheeks once again. Locating his haori, he tossed it onto her lap. As her mirth subsided and she examined what had been given to her, Kagome's expression darkened. She hugged herself, her laughter a distant memory. She could still feel the hands roving her body, the hot breath on her neck, and she knew they would haunt her nightmares for some time.

 

“I'm sorry.” Inuyasha's softly spoken apology brought her back to the present. Huh? It was unusual for Inuyasha to apologize for anything, let alone something that wasn't his fault.

 

“It's ok, Inuyasha. You saved me; it could have been a lot worse. What happened isn't really a big dea-“

 

“It IS a big deal, dammit! I should have protected you better!”

 

“Inuyasha…” she uttered in amazement. He looked like he wanted to say more, but the sound of footsteps outside the door forestalled any further conversation. The other members of the Inu-gang entered, all expressing their relief at seeing and hearing Inuyasha act like his old, healthy hanyou self. They had remained in the room for a few moments after Kagome had fallen asleep to make sure Inuyasha was truly alright, but had then gone outside to give the two some privacy.

 

“Sango, I need a bath. Will you go with me?”

 

“Sure, Kagome.” As the miko stood up and wrapped herself in Inuyasha's haori, Sango gathered soap, detergent, and a new set of clothes from her bag. As they stepped outside the inn, Kagome spied the sun high in the ski. Wow, we must have slept pretty late, although you can't blame us. They made it to the bath house, and both women breathed welcome sighs as they sank into the warm water. A comfortable silence ensued until Sango spoke:

 

“That was an amazing technique you used last night, Kagome.”

 

“Oh, that was CPR. It stands for cardio-plumin—cardio-pumli—cardio-something-resuscitation. You breathe for the person and beat their heart for them. In my time it's a good way to keep people alive until medical help arrives.”

 

“How do you know all this stuff?”

 

“My mom made me take a class on it a few years ago. I whined so much `cause I didn't want to do it, but she made me go anyway. Said it might come in handy someday. Boy was she right; I'll have to thank her when I go home.”

 

“Speaking of that, I noticed you only have one wearable uniform left.”

 

“Yeah, I'll have to go home sooner than I planned.”

 

“Inuyasha's not going to like that…”

 

“That's what the rosary is for,” Kagome said with an evil glint in her eye.

 

Sango mentally cringed. Wow…Kagome can be pretty scary sometimes…

 

 

 

 

“No way in hell are you going home now, wench!”

 

Kagome sighed. And it's been such a good day already… She and Sango had barely emerged from the bath house when practically a whole legion of soldiers arrived to arrest them. Apparently the guy who attacked them the night before was the village headman's son, which explained why he could get away with terrorizing the village. The headman's love for his son had blinded him to his child's questionable character, and he was hungry for revenge. Fortunately for the Inu-gang, Inuyasha had healed enough to allow him to make an appearance. He strolled out of the inn and whipped Tetsusaiga out of its sheath as cries of “Demon!!” filled the air. Faced with the enormous, glistening blade and the fierce-looking demon wielding it, the soldiers backed down and allowed them to leave.

 

So here they were, trekking along on another shard-hunt. None of the humans in the group felt like trekking, but they knew they needed to put some distance between themselves and the village. For all they knew, the soldiers could already be chasing after them. So Kagome understood why Inuyasha hadn't said anything more about his confession last night; it was now late afternoon and they hadn't had any genuine alone time since morning. That wasn't the issue right now. The current problem was a familiar one: Kagome wanted to go home and Inuyasha refused to allow it.

 

This time, however, Kagome didn't have her normal level of patience with the hanyou. She was tired, hungry, and cranky, and the other members of the group were waiting for the explosion. To make matters worse, Inuyasha seemed completely oblivious to the rumbling volcano that was Kagome.

 

“Inuyasha! I need to go home. This is the only school uniform I have left!”

 

“So what! You only need one!”

 

“Yeah, and what happens when this one gets ruined, too?”

 

“You can wear my haori.”

 

“I'm not walking around feudal Japan wearing your haori! That's your armor; how many times has it saved your life?”

 

“Fuck, wench. I'm not helpless! Fine, we'll get you miko's clothes.”

 

Kagome's eyes narrowed dangerously. “The last time I wore miko's clothing you told me to get undressed!”

 

“That was because I thought you looked like Kikyou!”

 

Silence. Complete, absolute silence. No bird chirped, no insect hummed, no tree rustled. One could almost hear the collective wince adopted by the other members of the group. Finally Inuyasha realized his error, but it was too late, far too late. In a voice so cold it rivaled Sesshoumaru's iciest tone, Kagome spoke:

 

“Sango, can I borrow Kirara?”

 

“Oh, no, bitch, you're not going anywh-”

 

“Sit!” Thump! “Sit Sit Sit SIT SIIIIIT!!!!!” Thump Thump Thump THUMP SMASH!!!!!

 

When he finally emerged from his impact-induced stupor, Inuyasha was not surprised to find that Kagome was already gone. Shit… He took off like a bat out of hell, not even giving the others a chance to tell him how much of an ass he was. He already knew he was a colossal ass. Kagome had just saved his life, sacrificing her own health to restore his, and then he had gone and committed the cardinal sin of comparing her to Kikyou. He knew he had been acting ridiculous, even by his standards, but the thought of her leaving had made his chest ache all over again.

 

Why can't I just tell her I want her to stay? Why the hell do I always hurt her?! His hostile, asinine attempt at ordering her to stay had backfired, just as it had many times in the past. This has to stop…I can't keep driving Kagome away like this…I have to be more honest with her. And he knew exactly where he should start. Nevertheless, telling himself to be more honest and actually doing it were two very different things. Maybe just apologizing would be enough…

 

No! I'm not a coward! I've stared down demons that could scare people to death with just a look. I'm not afraid of a sixteen-year-old human girl!! He was, however, terrified of rejection. The last thing he wanted to do was destroy their friendship by admitting feelings Kagome didn't return. As if I haven't completely annihilated our friendship already…

 

Inuyasha sighed. He knew Kagome would forgive him eventually, but that just made him feel like more of an ass. He also knew that he couldn't let his confession fall by the wayside to never be spoken of again. It would hang between them like a miasma, poisoning their relationship from the inside out. No, the time for emotional constipation was over. He had to admit his feelings to Kagome, to allow himself to be vulnerable, and he knew it was going to be the most difficult thing he had ever done.

 

After running for a few more minutes, Inuyasha spotted Kirara on the horizon. She was cruising at well below her top speed, giving him time to catch up. For that he was grateful; he could never hope to catch Kirara when she was moving at full bore. It was a simple law of nature: creatures of the air usually move faster than creatures of the land. I'll have to catch her an extra fish next time I'm at the river.

 

Inuyasha slowed his pace slightly to match the fire cat's. He would pass her just before they reached the well, forcing Kagome to face him. That way he could keep an eye on the miko as they traveled. As he watched, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Kirara's neck as if seeking comfort. He couldn't tell if she was crying, but her mood couldn't have been very bright. Shit, I really did it this time. I only get one shot at this... Gradually mustering his courage, Inuyasha continued to charge after the woman who held his heart.

 

 

 

 

Stupid baka!! Kagome thought as she willed her tears to remain unshed. I'm tired of crying because of him! I wish I had never come here! Yet she rescinded that thought almost immediately. She wouldn't give up her brief time with Inuyasha for anything, even if he sometimes made her feel inadequate next to Kikyou. Kikyou…the woman he loves, she who holds his heart…

 

Then why did he say he loved me? Was it just to toy with my emotions?! No, Inuyasha would never hurt me like that on purpose. He's a baka, but he's not cruel. I just wish I knew what was going through his head when he said it. Then I would know if he meant it or not…

 

Kagome's lips quirked in a small grin. Inuyasha actually said he loved me…and there's a chance he really meant it. She quickly quashed that idea; the last thing she wanted to do was get her hopes up and wind up heartbroken again. But she couldn't help thinking about it. Being with Inuyasha was what she had desired ever since she had fallen in love with him over a year ago.

 

Her good mood quickly sobered. If Inuyasha really hadn't meant it the way she hoped, her heart was going to shrivel into a dried-up husk. The love muscle could only take so much disappointment before it shattered completely. Trying to make herself feel better, Kagome decided to play devil's advocate. Why would he say that to me if he doesn't love me?

 

Suddenly a rogue thought entered her mind, chilling her blood. No! That's ridiculous! He hasn't mistaken me for Kikyou since we first met! But he said “I love you;” he never specified who “you” was. Could Inuyasha, in his weakened state, have mistaken her for Kikyou in his last moments? He lost so much blood; he could have been seeing anything! No!

 

Kagome took a deep, meditative breath. Calm down, girl. There's no sense in jumping to crazy conclusions. But the doubt remained; it had already seeped into her consciousness. Depressed once again, she leaned forward on Kirara's back, snuggling herself into the fire cat's warm fur. There she lay, her eyes drooping as she listened to the comforting purrs coming from her feline friend. Her last thoughts as she nodded off were of the man who held her heart.

 

 

 

 

Kirara gently jostled her awake about five minutes before they reached the well. The portal to the modern era was a welcome site, but the figure who stood by it most certainly was not. Kagome didn't want to face Inuyasha at the moment; her disturbing thoughts were just too fresh in her mind.

 

“Inuyasha, please. I'll be back in a few days…” she pleaded, her subdued demeanor suggesting she was expecting the hanyou to yell at her. She was shocked when instead Inuyasha spoke softly in an equally pleading tone.

 

“Wait, Kagome…just hear me out.” The miko was too surprised to do anything but nod dumbly. Inuyasha said `sorry' and `please' in the same day? Maybe he lost more blood than we realized… But why was he just standing there looking nervous? She had given him her attention, but she wasn't going to stand around all day. It was almost night already, and if she hurried she could probably catch dinner with her family. She opened her mouth to express her impatience, but Inuyasha was quicker.

 

“I meant what I said,” he uttered in barely a whisper. Kagome stared blankly for a moment before the true meaning of his words set in. Her astonished gasp resonated through the clearing, and she prayed she wasn't misreading him.

 

“What?” she breathed, every muscle in her body tensed in anticipation of his answer.

 

“You heard me.” Still, he hesitated, but only for a brief moment before looking into her eyes and finally speaking the words she had been waiting for.

 

“I…I love you, wench.” Indescribable emotion blossomed within Kagome, his words illuminating her very being, giving life to her soul. She wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms and never let go, but there was one more question she needed to ask.

 

“What about Kikyou?” Inuyasha sighed. He had known that question was coming…

 

“Kikyou…is part of my past. I'll always care for her, but I don't think we ever truly loved each other. Hell, I didn't even know what love was back then. It's a hell of a lot more than I thought it was…or that I ever had with Kikyou. You taught me tha-”

 

Inuyasha suddenly found he was unable to say more, as Kagome had thrown herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. His eyes widened in disbelief, but promptly slid shut. The kiss was everything a first kiss should be: chaste but passionate, a little uncertain, and carrying with it the promise of much more. When they finally broke apart, Kagome favored him with heart-melting smile.

 

“I love you too, Inuyasha.” This time it was the hanyou who initiated the kiss. He could not believe what was happening, that the girl in his arms loved him as much as he loved her. When he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, she readily complied. Their lips tangled passionately as their tongues danced and entwined. Only lack of oxygen prevented their lip-lock from lasting long into the night. Both took deep, gasping breaths as they tried to resume higher brain function. Two bodies vibrated in perfect harmony, overwhelming passion flowing through each as thick as blood. They were teetering on the edge of something new, something wonderful but frightening at the same time.

 

And yet, when they looked into each other eyes, they glimpsed no regrets, no inhibitions. The only thing the four orbs, dazzling amber and expressive brown, reflected was a beautiful combination of love and desire. Their lips met again, but this time neither was content to let their hands remain idle. Kagome's were drawn like magnets to her old obsession, Inuyasha's ears. She lightly massaged the fuzzy appendages, tracing the fine hairs of his most unique feature.

 

Inuyasha jumped slightly in surprise and pleasure before groaning into the kiss. Who knew something so innocent could feel so good, under the right circumstances? Leaving her lips, he trailed his mouth along her cheek until he made contact with her own ear. A small moan escaped her and the heady scent of arousal spiked noticeably. Trailing his hands down her sides and over her hips, Inuyasha cupped her shapely bottom in both hands before pulling her as close as humanly possible. Kagome squeaked as his rapidly hardening erection pressed into her belly.

 

Feeling the evidence of his arousal sparked her desire all the more. She squeezed her legs together as the moisture began to form, her body beginning to writhe of its own accord. His hands slipped under her shirt, resting briefly on her stomach before traveling upward to palm her breasts through the fabric of her bra. She arched into him, her lips opening in a silent cry. The burgeoning heat was swiftly becoming unbearable; her clothes were saturated with sweat. She raised her arms above her head, encouraging her eager hanyou to remove her shirt. Now he glared at the bra as if it were a vile, evil thing, and raised his claws. Kagome held out her hand to placate him before reaching around behind her and removing the garment herself. I'll have to teach him how to do that sometime…

 

For a moment he just stared, before hesitantly reaching out to caress one rosy peak. Her low moan gave him all the encouragement he needed. He reached up with both hands, reverently massaging both breasts while occasionally flicking a nipple with his claws. Kagome was not idle; she reached down with trembling hands and loosened his obi, allowing her to pull his shirts from his hakama. She separated the folds of his haori and kosode, giving her access to a chest she had seen many times before, mostly while bandaging it. His toned upper body called to her and she did not resist, running her hands along lean, powerful muscle.

 

The passion continued to escalate between them as they explored and were explored by each other. Inuyasha pulled away, grabbing his haori and laying it on the grass. Then he grabbed Kagome's hand and gently drew her down to kneel in front of him. His lips found hers once more as he lay her down on the makeshift blanket. Fire sparked everywhere their bodies met, fueling the raging inferno that was their love. Breaking the kiss, he backed up until he knelt at her feet and removed her socks and shoes. He caressed her long, enticing legs as he worked his way toward the last of her clothing. Skirt and panties soon joined the rest of the clothing currently scattered across the clearing.

 

Inuyasha stared, utterly mesmerized by the goddess lying naked before him. She was nothing short of stunning; perfect breasts sat above a flat stomach which flowed down to wide, womanly hips. A small nest of curls marked her secret spot, an area he hoped to become very familiar with. That she could love him, want him, become aroused by his touch; it was nothing short of a miracle to the once-lonely hanyou. After a few moments of silence, however, Kagome became nervous and moved her arms to cover herself.

 

“Don't…beautiful…” Kagome grinned wryly. Not the most articulate of statements… But Inuyasha had never been great with words. She didn't need him to be; she loved him just as he was. All she needed was his love, and he had already confessed that to her…twice. His actions this night were proving to her just how deeply that love truly ran.

 

Inuyasha decided to even the playing field and rose to his feet. Without taking his eyes off her, he pulled the knot of his obi and let his hakama drop to his ankles. Now it was Kagome's turn to stare transfixed, and she did not waste the opportunity. The last rays of the setting sun illuminated his golden skin; revealing every well-built inch of his frame to her hungry eyes. In short, the gorgeous hanyou took her breath away.

 

Of course, her gaze was drawn to a certain part of his anatomy in particular. She didn't have any basis for comparison, but Inuyasha's hard member looked simply enormous. A small amount of trepidation went through her, but she pushed it aside. She was about to become one with the man she loved, and she refused to let the necessary pain matter. Her total inexperience with a man did have her nerves flaring, however.

 

Inuyasha didn't need Kagome to vocalize her appreciation of his nude form; he could smell it in the alluring aroma wafting off her. He also detected her anxiety and knew what she was worried about, being in much the same situation himself. Returning to her side and enfolding her in a warm embrace, he said:

 

“Relax, wench.”

 

Blushing, Kagome replied, “Sorry, I guess I'm just nervous…I've never done this before.”

 

“You think I have?” Kagome was taken aback; she had never really thought about Inuyasha's sexual experience before. She was filled with conflicting emotions: sympathy because he went un-loved for so long, and unbridled joy resulting from the knowledge that she would be his first. We'll be each others firsts... Her confidence bolstered, Kagome surprised herself and Inuyasha with her boldness when she reached down and delicately grasped his member in one hand. The hanyou's hiss turned into a whimper when she began to lightly stroke up and down his hot length.

 

Not one to be outdone, Inuyasha once again reached for her breasts, kneading them firmly before trailing one hand southward along her stomach. Kagome's muscles tensed, her legs widening slightly in anticipation as Inuyasha's hand reached its destination. His fingers were nearly scorched by intense liquid heat as he delicately probed her folds. She cried out in bliss as he slowly inserted a finger, and even louder when he accidentally brushed the hardened nub just above her entrance. Pleasantly surprised by her reaction, Inuyasha continued his ministrations, moving his finger within her and paying special attention to her sensitive bud.

 

Soon they were both writhing in ecstasy, moaning their pleasure as they drove each other toward completion. Their bodies were like two heavily shaken champagne bottles, ready to burst any moment and release sweet nectar. Twin cries floated up into the night as they came simultaneously, riding out waves of orgasmic pleasure as they descended from their high. It took several long moments before either the hanyou or the miko were able to resume conscious thought.

 

When she did, Kagome realized that her whole front was covered in Inuyasha's seed, but she didn't care. Her hanyou had just taken to licking her own pleasure off his hand, an act that had the fire in her belly burning all over again. The air was thick with the delicious scent of arousal, and Inuyasha had no problem hardening again. Kagome was surprised when he perched himself on top of her, his member poking her inner thigh. Didn't most men have a one-time limit? Then again, Inuyasha was no normal man.

 

He wordlessly gazed into her eyes, asking if she was sure she wanted this, but Kagome's own eyes told him all he needed to know. He lined himself up with her entrance, and slowly began to push inside. She was wet, and that made it easier, but he knew it couldn't make up for the sheer tightness of this previously untouched part of her body. When he came to her barrier, he paused briefly before thrusting through it as quickly as he could. His lips on hers stifled her cry of pain as he tried to remain as still as possible.

 

White hot, burning pain lanced inside Kagome as her lover impaled her to the hilt. But he was offering her comfort with his lips, and she readily accepted. He was her lifeline, her distraction from the hurt, and in that moment she felt positively bathed in his love. By the time they broke the kiss, Kagome's discomfort had mostly subsided, and she rolled her hips experimentally. She gasped; some pain remained but now there was something else…something wondrous as well.

 

Taking that as his cue, Inuyasha slowly pulled out only to push gently back in, gauging her reaction the entire time. Gradually he quickened his pace, settling into a steady rhythm. The sounds of their love-making were broken only by moans and cries of pleasure. Kagome could once again feel the coil winding tight, and she wrapped her legs around Inuyasha's back, urging him to go faster. He readily complied, assuming a pace no human could match. Finally, Kagome screamed his name as her completion hit and fireworks exploded behind her eyes. Inuyasha shouted her own name and joined her in ecstasy soon after.

 

After a moment, Inuyasha flopped down to the side as heartbeats and breathing gradually slowed to normal. Too exhausted to find a more suitable place to rest, he grabbed his kosode and draped it over them. The woman snuggled into his side was already halfway to dreamland, knowing that his demonic senses would rouse him should danger approach. After kissing her once more on the lips, he too gave in to the pull of sleep, knowing that pleasant dreams awaited him.

 

 

 

 

Kaede woke bright and early, as usual, and headed out on her first errand of the day—gathering an herb that liked to grow under the shade of Goshinboku. It was a peaceful morning, she thought as she walked the familiar path to the sacred tree. This time, however, something unusual happened. A white, two-tailed cat leapt out of the surrounding brush and landed in her path. It took her a moment to recognize the small feline as the demon-slayer's companion.

 

“Kirara! What might you be doing out her alone?” *Mew* Suddenly Kaede felt silly; the cat obviously wasn't going to answer her question, after all. But when she started forward on the path again, Kirara placed herself in the way. Raising an eyebrow, the old priestess contemplated this new development. What doesn't she want me to see?

 

Abruptly Kirara's head rotated as she seemed to sense something behind her. Then she simply turned and trotted up the path. Kaede shook her head. Whatever it was, it's gone now. She decided to simply forget about the odd occurrence and continue with her duties. At least that was the plan, until she passed by the old well. Something strange had gone on the previous night; one area of grass had been completely padded down, as if something had been sitting there. She shrugged. Maybe it was just a large animal passing through…

 

She was just about to leave when something white caught the corner of her eye. Walking over to investigate, she immediately recognized the garment as belonging to her sister's incarnation. She picked up the piece of cloth and she placed it in her robes, certain that Kagome would be coming back for it soon. Kaede smirked; at least now she had a pretty good idea what went on last night. It's about time…

 

 

 

 

“Shit!” Inuyasha whispered softly to himself. How had the old hag managed to get so close without him waking? Simple, you always sleep better with Kagome around, and even better when she's right next to you. He trusted his demonic senses to wake him if anything dangerous approached, but apparently his friends could get a lot closer before alerting him.

 

And Kaede was close; he could already hear her talking to Kirara. I'm gonna have to get her two or three fish, now. He had already donned his hakama and gathered up Kagome's clothes. Now he gently picked up Kagome, still wrapped in both his shirts, and carried her bridal-style into the woods. He headed toward a small nearby river, knowing Kagome would want a bath after their activities the previous night. Hell, he didn't smell like a fresh bowl of ramen either. Mmm, ramen…I wonder if I can get that whenever I want now…

 

Inuyasha grinned stupidly, still not quite believing all that had happened since his latest brush with death. Reaching the river, he settled down against a tree with Kagome in his lap. He would let her sleep as long as she needed; she had gotten no sleep the night before last, after all.

 

The sun was fairly high in the sky by the time Kagome began to stir. Opening her eyes, she smiled as her memory of the night before caught up with her. “Good morning.”

 

“Feh! I'm not sure it still is morning, you slept so long.” He sounded grumpy, but his contented expression told her that he was just teasing. Tease me, huh? Two can play at that game…

 

“Si-!” He tensed comically in anticipation of eating dirt, then frowned when he realized she was laughing at him.

 

“That wasn't funny, wench!” he grouched.

 

Still giggling, Kagome asked, “Are you going to call me wench for the rest of my life?”

 

“Well, you are a wench, but I guess I could call you bitch instead…”

 

“Never mind, I prefer wench.”

 

“Fine, I'll call you wench, Ka-Go-Me.” Emitting a very demon-like growl, Kagome sprang out of his lap in mock annoyance. Unfortunately, she failed to remember that her current attire was only wrapped around her body. Inuyasha's shirts promptly fell to the forest floor, leaving a flustered Kagome standing there in the nude. She shrieked in indignation as she quickly bent down and covered herself once again. It was going to take her a while to get used to being naked in front of Inuyasha. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind her knee-jerk reaction, being too busy laughing at her to care at the moment.

 

“That wasn't funny, jerk.”

 

“Yeah, I think it was,” he chuckled. Kagome suddenly had the urge to sit him, for real this time, but she stopped herself. With what they had shared last night, was it really right to send his face slamming into the ground whenever she was annoyed with him? The answer was obvious, and she quickly pulled the rosary from around his neck and tossed it in the river.

 

Inuyasha's laughter ceased abruptly, his eyes widening in shock. “Why?”

 

Kagome shrugged. “The first time I used it was because I thought you were gonna hurt me. You haven't needed the rosary for a long time.”

 

Wrapping her in his embrace, Inuyasha replied, “You don't have to worry about that. You're mine for life, mate.” Mate…I could get used to that, they both thought simultaneously. As they basked in their newfound relationship, however, a distressing thought occurred to Kagome.

 

“But my life will be so much shorter than yours…” she said despondedly.

 

“Don't worry about that, either. I'm just lucky to get the time I have with you.” Still, his kind words only managed to make her feel a little better. “Although…”

 

“What?” When he still didn't continue, she pleaded, “Please, Inuyasha, tell me what you're thinking of.”

 

“Well, I've heard that there's a way for demons to extend the life of their human mate to match their own…”

 

“Well, how?!”

 

“Y-, you really want to?”

 

“Of course I do! I love you! I don't want to die and leave you alone…” Inuyasha was once again humbled by this human girl, by the depth of her kindness and love. “So, how do we do it?” she repeated.

 

“Uhh…that's the thing. I don't really know how. Myouga tried to tell me one time, but I kind of squished him,” he said sheepishly.

 

“WHAT!! Why would you squish him?!”

 

“Give me a break, wench! I never thought I would have any friends, never mind a mate. It just seemed like useless information at the time.”

 

“Well, you've got a mate now, so you better start listening to that kind of important stuff,” she said with newfound understanding. The pair resumed their embrace, offering each other silent reassurances. It wasn't until then that Kagome noticed they were no longer in the clearing by the well.

 

“Uhh, Inuyasha. Where are we?”

 

“I thought you'd want a bath, so I brought you to the river,” he said quickly. Too quickly, Kagome realized.

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

Damn…busted. “Uhh, that and we had some company this morning.”

 

“What!! Who?!”

 

“Relax! It was just Kaede, and she didn't see us. Kirara stalled her so I could get you out of there.”

 

“Well I hope you brought my clothes.”

 

“Of course I did! I'm not stupid.”

 

Kagome breathed a colossal sigh of relief. If any of her friends ever found them like that she feared she would never stop blushing.

 

“Did you not want anyone to know?” Inuyasha asked, failing to keep the hurt out of his voice.

 

Kagome smiled at him reassuredly. “Of course I want people to know we're together! I just don't want anybody to see us when we're…uhh, being together.” Inuyasha nodded, accepting her answer as he felt the last of his worries leave him. He would always carry the fear that someday Kagome would come to her senses and realize he wasn't good enough for her, but now he could bury that fear in the farthest, darkest corner of his mind. Overcome with happiness and a little mischief, he leaned down to kiss his mate before scooping her up and tossing her in the river. He quickly shed his hakama and joined her.

 

“Inuyasha!” she sputtered, “What was that for?!”

 

“You needed a bath,” he said innocently.

 

“Why you—come here!” The sounds of laughter filled the surrounding forest. They were both still chuckling softly when they emerged from the cool water a few minutes later. Kagome's amusement ceased, however, when she tried to get dressed.

 

“Inuyasha, where's my bra?”

 

The hanyou's eyes widened in panic. Oh, shit…

 

 

 

 

“I can't believe you left my bra by the well!” Kagome yelled from her perch atop Inuyasha's back as he ran through the woods.

 

“Fuck, wench! You could have gotten it yourself, but you were asleep!”

 

“You could have woken me up!”

 

“I didn't want to…you looked really tired…” he said in a much softer voice.

 

“…” How does he do that? Do something stupid and make me feel guilty for calling him out on it? “Sorry.” “Sorry.” Their simultaneous apologies caused matching blushes to stain their cheeks, and no more was said. When they arrived at the well, Inuyasha's nose told him exactly what had become of Kagome's undergarment.

 

He expected their encounter with Kaede to be uncomfortable, perhaps even hostile, but all the old miko did was smile at them as she returned said article of clothing. When Kagome went inside the hut to put it on, Kaede quietly stated, “take care of her, Inuyasha.” That was all that had been said, but it was enough. Inuyasha had been surprised by her acceptance, and it gave him courage. Perhaps if Kaede could accept his union with Kagome then Kikyou could too. He was not looking forward to that conversation…

 

But that was a worry for another day. Today they would once again head out on their quest, Inuyasha carrying Kagome and Kirara so the three travelers could meet up with their friends before nightfall. The reunion was a happy one; Sango, Miroku, and Shippo were astonished to see Kagome so soon, and in good spirits no less. They could tell things had changed between the hanyou and the miko. Perhaps it was the increased proximity the two seemed to share, perhaps it was the way they looked at each other, or perhaps it was the kiss they shared when they thought no one was looking.

 

The mood was pleasant as the intrepid group of adventurers sat around their small campfire that night. Unanswered questions hung in the air, but Sango and Miroku kept their mouths shut. They would wait for a more opportune time to interrogate their friends, preferably when young ears were inactive. The monk settled for adopting that hentai grin of his, while the Sango did her best to reign in her jealousy. Perhaps someday she and Miroku would have that kind of relationship…

 

The entire group, including Shippo, knew things were never going to be the same. They did, however, wonder why Inuyasha decided to catch Kirara three extra fish for dinner.

 

The End

 

A/N- Well, that's the end of this story. I have several more ideas and written notes for one-shots as well as a few continuation stories. I don't know which one I will start on next, but I will post something sooner rather than later. I can't believe how rewarding it is to see your ideas come to life and have others enjoy your work as well. Thanks again to all my readers and reviewers!

 

King Baka