InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cannot Be Broken ❯ Are We There Yet ( Chapter 5 )

They had already gone whole day of travel and it was now growing into evening of the second day.

 

While walking across the span of the Western Lands towards InuYasha's territory, they had met no opposition, no rogues, no demons, hell they met no one! InuYasha was sure his jerk-off of a brother made aware the truce to his own people, but for nothing to meet their gaze or interest was unsettling. Worse, a looming presence was apparent since he left the manor and disturbed him more without any distractions to keep his mind from it.

 

The stark quietness around him was overwhelming to a point of suffocation. He had thought once they entered the rim of his forest that afternoon he would be surrounded by the sounds of it. But there was nothing, no birds, no insects, nothing. The creatures seemed to know of impending doom, and remained silent.

 

InuYasha was on edge since they left the fortress of his half-brother since yesterday morning, but as time ticked on the more he felt the chill in the air and the almost choking hold of foreboding emanating around him. There was definitely an evil aura trying to grip him and he was beginning to crack under the pressure. Then he heard a snap behind him and he finally broke.

 

“BITCH! WILL YOU STOP STARING AT ME!” InuYasha turned and howled in frustration at the young woman behind him.

 

Kagome only let her gaze harden even more but it had a gleam of maliciousness as she glared at him. She took a twig she had in her hands and again snapped it in front of him. Her lips were itching to smile in contempt.

 

He growled and turned on his heel and ran into the forest, certain that if he stayed for another moment he would kill her, well, seriously maim, well, for certain jump up and down on her until she was pulp.

 

Kagome stood there alone and watched him tumble furiously into the dense branches until she could no longer hear him, her lips finally giving way into a smirk. Ever since their little rock to the head incident yesterday morning, they had not spoken or even looked at each other. It was a battle of wills and they both knew it. Who would speak first, who would break under the pressure of silence?

 

Kagome had always kept her self four steps behind him, even with the extra weight on her from her bag. She had not allowed her self to succumb to her weariness. She kept her eyes on his back, letting her anger feed her strength. Her cold gaze bore into him, making him tense and anxious of what she was planning. She knew she was getting to him; it was only a matter of time. But she was starting to get tired. She knew she would have to stop but she wasn't about to break the cold dead silence they created. She let her gaze wander briefly to a dead branch in her way and she snapped it out of frustration.

 

That did it! Kagome was delighted in the fact that all it took was one annoying sound to break him. She had to keep from laughing when he turned to yell at her, and rubbed it in by snapping the offending twig in front of him.

 

But now she stood alone, and the coldness they had radiated against each other lifted and the forest almost sighed in relief. A few night birds began to chirp cautiously, and soon, the forest was back into a swing of sound and activity.

 

Sighing, Kagome eased the bag off her back and sat heavily. Her body felt plastered in sweat and grit. Flies were beginning to buzz around her and she felt dirty and itchy all at once. She wanted so badly to bathe and then sleep, not having much of either the night before. Stupid slave driving hanyou. But first she needed water. Her throat was so parched and dry it almost screamed for moisture.

 

Wearily, her sensitive ears pricked to a slight gurgling sound of water trickling behind some trees. Swaying as she stood, and dragging the bag behind her, Kagome walked the short distance to a small pool, fed by a stone spotted stream. Glancing at it, it was maybe two feet deep and six feet wide, but it was cool and clear. It was perfect.

 

Letting go of the bag, Kagome collapsed on her knees and all but dunked her head in the water. Gulping down as much as she could, her body then ached for its embrace. Sloughing off her boots, pants and skirt, but leaving on her juban, (she knew the hanyou wouldn't stay away long enough) she walked shakily into the water and just collapsed in the middle to sit. She let her hair down from its hold and felt it cascade around her. Her body shivered in delight.

 

She didn't move for a few minutes, but just stared at the rhythmic flow around her and almost became hypnotized, not letting her mind think about the day. She just wanted to blank out. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deep and lay back, letting the water flow up and around her. Holding her breath, she stretched and lay at the silty bottom. She flitted her fingers through her long hair and eased her mind and body.

 

She loved to swim and had trained herself to hold her breath for a few minutes. Namely because it scared so many people thinking she drowned when she didn't resurface immediately. But as she got older, being under water became a sort of meditation.

 

She relaxed, letting her heart slow and her breathing to be shallow, thus not needing to come up for air for some time.

 

Lying there at the bottom of the small pool, Kagome opened her mouth, letting water rush in, then out, calming and cooling her more. She opened her eyes after awhile to look up at the glittering surface of the pool and started in shock, seeing a massive figure standing over her. Gasping in fright, she accidentally inhaled some water. Before she could sit up, a rough clawed hand grabbed the front of her juban and hauled her up to the surface of the water.

 

Kagome emerged, coughing and gasping, trying all at once to tear the hand off her juban, wipe her hair from her face and the water from her eyes. She floundered dumbly trying to find her control. The hand was then joined by another hand and Kagome was lifted and dropped to the side of the pool. The hands let go of her juban, and Kagome was finally able to shake her hair from her face and see her attacker.

 

“What the hell?!!” She coughed again. “Are you trying to drown me?”

 

Golden eyes stared at her disbelievingly then turned to ice cold fury. “You were under there for a fucking long time, you stupid wench! I thought you were drowning!”

 

Kagome stood and tried to keep from slipping on the grassy surface, while yelling at the offended hanyou in the process. “I was fine until you showed up! And what do you mean a long time? How long have you been watching me?” She finally got her balance and glared at him, expecting him to yell at her, but he just stood there and looked at her in a daze.

 

Looking down to see what he was staring at, she gasped. Her juban may have been covering her, but she neglected to account for its white colour, and its thin make. Her breasts were moulded in perfect, round mounds in the fabric, and her copper coloured nipples perked through, especially now under a cool wind and a hot stare. Worse, he could see further below, from her firm trim abdomen to her black triangle pointing to her sex.

 

In the mere moments she took it all in, she quickly crossed her arms over her chest and crossed her legs as best she could. She glared in shock and embarrassment. “Turn around, you pervert!”

 

InuYasha did not turn around, instead he let his gaze drop from her now hidden breasts to the slick blackness leading to her desire.

 

Kagome watched his eyes travel down and settle there and her own eyes widened even more. In desperation and a lack of comprehension all she could say was “SIT BOY!”

 

InuYasha's eyes shot to hers in shock then anger. `Did she just discipline me like an ordinary dog?'

 

Before he had a chance to retaliate, he felt her small hands on his chest and he toppled off the bank into the water. He sat up quickly, flicking his long, white hair out of his eyes in shock. He growled and was about to jump onto the bank to grab her when his eyes focused on her retreating form, and a round perky ass plastered against wet, white linen. A sly grin emerged on his face as he gathered himself up and stepped out to follow. Why waste a view she was too angry to notice to cover?

 

But then again, who would keep from looking at her now? He scowled and his body burned with protectiveness towards his mate.

 

Kagome dumped her clothing and bag in a small clearing and tried desperately to dress as quickly as she could. Quickly and stealthfully the inu hanyou walked up behind her and pressed his wet frame against her back, gripping her waist with both hands. He growled low and hard, creating vibrations against her back.

 

Kagome gasped loudly. She dropped the pants she was about to get into and swung around in shocked anger. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away at arms reach. “Wh…what are you doing?!”

 

InuYasha looked down at her, his gaze flicking over her wet exposed form. His golden eyes narrowed and he grabbed her hand that was pushing him away and dragged her into his chest, gripping her hard and flush against him. He didn't know why. He just felt like he needed to touch her, to feel her near, and her scent was flooding over him. Her body was still showing through, and jealousy and passion pounded through him. No one was to even look at his mate! He felt threatened that her form was visible to anyone at that moment. He wanted nothing more than to cover her and keep her from any who could endanger her right then.

 

Kagome's eyes widened at his possessive and claiming gaze. She was not about to be an object of desire. She could never be taken like that. They may now be mates, but she would not let him break her. He would not have that power. Her eyes narrowed in challenge, and waited to see what he would do before deciding on killing him.

 

His own eyes gleamed in an unrecognizable stare that lingered and studied her face as she glared at him with malice, before he pushed her away and walked away from her. “Keh, don't flatter yourself, Bitch. If I wanted you like that you'd be screaming my name right now for more.”

 

Kagome opened her mouth in shock then swiftly turned to fury. In a fit of anger, she threw the closest thing she had at arms length, her boot.

 

InuYasha quickly side stepped out of its way, and turned to her to laugh in contempt. “Is that all you have left in you? You're weaker than I thought.” His turned his back on her again and began to wring out his hair.

 

Kagome's temper flared and she nearly lost it, feeling her power crackle inside her, begging her to smite his ass to next week, but she held it in, especially after watching him twitch his ear at her in a certain way. `Wait. Was he trying to get me angry? Why? Unless he feels pleasure in pissing me off. Is that why he was acting so strange just then, to get me back from the twig snapping or something? Well, I'm not about to give him any satisfaction.' She held her breath to act like she was about to scream at him, then let it go and smiled coyly.

 

“Oh I don't know, my aim was fine this morning, and by the looks of you it still is. You're wetter than a drowned rat.” Kagome then swung her cloak around her self and turned to look at him with a sly glint. “As for flattery, I am not about to be put down by someone who smells of wet dog.” With that she put on her pants and boots (quickly collecting the one she threw) and began to look for firewood to start up camp.

 

InuYasha watched her guardedly while she dressed. The “wet dog” remark had him a little worried and he quickly sniffed at himself without her looking. Was she serious? When she began to collect wood, he frowned.

 

“Oi, what are you doing now?”

 

Kagome sighed in frustration. “I'm collecting firewood to make camp.”

 

InuYasha harrumphed. “Make camp? We're not stopping now, we have another day's travel left by the way you're going. I want to be home by dawn tomorrow.”

 

Kagome laughed unkindly. “Well, that's not happening, I'm making camp and I'm sleeping and I am not going anywhere at dawn tomorrow.”

 

The hanyou glared at her as she bent and sparked flint and iron pyrite together, trying to create a spark to ignite a glowing flame.

 

“You will listen and obey me, Bitch!” He growled menacingly as she got a fire going.

 

“It's Kagome.” She knelt and added more wood before reaching for her bag to see what was in it.

 

“What?”

 

“My name, it's Kagome. Not bitch, not wench, not stupid and not moron.” She began to pull out some articles from the bag: a retractable bow, a quiver of arrows, rations and a few books and personal items. `Hmm, Kikyo packed everything I might need, nice!'

 

“Whatever, Bitch, you still have to obey me as my mate! And we are leaving now!” He barked, cracking his knuckles in retaliation

 

“KAGOME!” She hopped up and stormed over to him. “Put your lips together like this…KA-GO-ME!! And as for obey, I've already left my only home that I ever knew to become mated to an arrogant and selfish jerk, and as a result I'm cold and hungry and tired and …and…. SHUT UP! I'm not going anywhere else tonight!” She swung away from him and settled in front of the fire in a contrite slump.

 

InuYasha looked at her stunned, then glared. He shrugged his shoulders. “Keh, fine, whatever.” With that he took to the trees and was gone.

 

“Finally.” Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and smiled happily when she pulled out a large blanket and pillow from the bag. She made a small bed and sat in front of the fire and basked in the glow if its warmth. Her juban had dried quickly and she nibbled on a ration of rice meal and venison. Not the best, but with how hungry she was, it was the best she had eaten in a long time.

 

Time passed slowly, and Kagome was starting to feel unsettled. The night was black, and the sky was clouded over, so the only light she got was from the fire. Noises of movement and animal voices were drawing around her. She had never spent a night alone outside of the manor, and fear was starting to rise in her throat. Channelling her grace, she cast her aura out, in hopes no demon or evil was around. For a flash she was certain she felt something, but just as quickly it was gone. Sweeping her aura around again, she couldn't sense anything, but she could feel a pricking in the hairs on the back of her neck. She felt she was being watched.

 

“InuYasha?” She whispered.

 

No answer.

 

She cleared her throat after gaining her courage. “InuYasha?” She called out.

 

A snapping of twigs in the distance erupted, and a thunderous pounding was coming towards her fast. Kagome hopped up and grabbed her bow and quiver, but the bow was retracted. In her haste to snap it in place and string an arrow, the sound was now at the fringe of the firelight, whisking around the camp for better advantage. She could hear the rustling of bushes, and the creaking and snapping of branches, first in front, then beside, then behind her. It was moving quickly, but she could not sense what it was, almost as if the creature was masked. Her eyes widened, straining to see in the shadow of the forest.

 

“InuYasha, I swear if that's you, the next time you count your balls you won't get the same number twice!” Kagome swung to face every sound she heard.

 

A faint huffing noise came from her right. Kagome quickly cast her aim in the direction of the noise but was unable to fire a shot in time as a large brown creature charged from the depths and landed on her.

 

Kagome screamed in pain as she landed hard on her back and a clawed paw crushed down on her chest. In a blur of red and white sparks in her eyes, Kagome could see a heavy fanged face of a bear. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her power, but the weight of the massive animal was too much as it leaned further on her. Tears leaked off her face and she became dizzy. She opened her mouth involuntarily as her last gasp of air was pushed from her from the weight. Her world began to spin, but suddenly the weight was relieved in a mass of fur and wind.

 

Kagome inhaled deep and coughed from the strain. She lay there a moment, her body still in a state of shock, but she forced to move her head toward the sound of growls and roars. Her eyes were still blurred, but she could see clearly a red figure in a death grip with the bear.

 

“Inu….” She wheezed.

 

She tried to shake her head, but her whole body throbbed and ached. Her hand flexed, trying to find her bow. Her fingers curled around it and she turned her body towards it, fighting the pain al over to sit up to her knees, ready for battle. She searched desperately for an arrow in her quiver. The one she had was snapped into pieces.

 

“KAGOME!”

 

She glanced up from her search to see the bear come towards her again. Her eyes widened. She lifted the bow to use as a blunt weapon as the bear charged her.

 

Blades of liquid red whipped out of nowhere and the bear landed at her knees, sliced by blades of blood. She watched as its eyes went from red fury to emptiness. Her breathing shook as her heart froze from what she had witnessed. She knew death, having watched her mother die, but there was something about seeing this creature die that sent her a wave of anticipation, as if she was waiting for something.

 

Then she felt it. It was like a cool wave had pushed though her that she actually rocked back on her knees from the force. It was if she had felt its soul passing through her in a gesture of ease and whispered thoughts. She choked on a dry sob from the sensation, awed and terrified at once. Though she was put in danger because of this creature, she could not help but understand it at that moment, and feel remorse. She tentatively lifted her hand and reached out shakily to touch it in reverence, to question if what she was feeling was real.

 

“Kagome? Are you alright?”

 

Kagome shot her hand back to her side and looked up at the half-demon standing in front of her. She saw fear, angst, anger, bloodlust…too many emotions in those golden eyes. They were so full of life compared to the eyes of the creature that lay before her. She swallowed and cast her eyes down as she nodded her head in silence.

 

Moments passed before either spoke. InuYasha looked around uncomfortably and was about to rant her out for just sitting there until her soft voice caressed his erect ears.

 

“You said my name.” She whispered.

 

InuYasha glanced at her in shock. “Is that all you can say? A ferocious animal nearly kills you and all you can think of is me saying your stupid name? What the fuck is wrong with you, Bitch?!”

 

Kagome closed her eyes. The whispered thoughts from the bear had long faded from her mind like a memory and she began to ease back into herself. She slowly shook her head, too exhausted to even argue about the name-calling. “Nothing, never mind.”

 

“Keh.” He reached for her. “Come on, let's pack and get out of here.”

 

Kagome looked up at him stunned. “Go?” Before her mind could argue and bring those arguments to her mouth, her eyes cast onto his chest. “You're hurt!”

 

He snorted. “They're self inflicted. What do you think I used to kill the damn animal when it charged you? I have the ability to use my blood as a weapon.”

 

Kagome remembered the red blades and could only imagine what he had done. In an act of anger, frustration and stress, she lashed out at him. “That's the most stupidest thing you have done so far. Honestly! You look like you've shredded yourself! We're not going until I get you bandaged up!” She tried to stand, but her ankle collapsed from under her. She hissed in pain. “Shit….”

 

The hanyou flicked his gaze up and down her. He cocked an eyebrow. “I'm beginning to think you're more trouble than what you're worth. Come on.” He reached for her again, not wasting time for her to take hold of him, and quickly lifted her up into his arms.

 

Kagome pushed away from his grasp. “Idiot! You're hurt! Let me down! We're not going anywhere until you're alright!”

 

He growled. “I'm fine. And I'm not staying anywhere where I have to save your ass while you sleep!”

 

Kagome crossed her arms. “And what do you expect us to do? I can't walk. You're just going to carry me the rest of the way? And you're getting blood all over me!”

 

InuYasha rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe this girl. First a wild bear attacks her, then she stands her ground to attack it after having it crush her, and then tried to pet its corpse in sadness after it had charged her. If that wasn't enough, she yelled at him for getting hurt while saving her, not to mention getting hurt to save her, then gets mad for getting blood on her, and she still wants to stay in order to patch him up? And all the while that she's arguing with him, she's cut, bleeding and bruised, not to forget her ankle is also sprained. Yet, through it all, she never thought about herself.

 

His heart suddenly throbbed in an aching realization. The girl was selfless, first caring for her people who were sick, enough to travel to enemy territory to gather the medicine, then mourned for a creature that nearly killed her, and now caring for one she hated. He wanted so desperately for her to like him, but he could still recall the disgust in her face when he touched her earlier that evening, when all he wanted was to do was shield her from harm. He lowered is eyes to the ground as he carried her. He could not let himself get too close, knowing that she hated his touch, but it would be difficult. Even now, her warm body sent tingles through his skin and he wanted to grip her hard against him. He cast his face away so she could not see his conflicted expression. He growled low.

 

“Fine, we'll stay long enough to mend and pack, but as soon as we're able, we're going!” He set her down by the fire on her blanket and walked over it to pack up the bag.

 

A tearing noise caught his attention. Looking to Kagome he saw her rip away the sleeves to her oversized juban.

 

“What are you doing now?” He knitted his brow.

 

Kagome didn't even glance up. “Sit on the blanket.”

 

“Wha….”

 

“I said SIT!”

 

InuYasha sat on the blanket and crossed his arms in stubborn frustration. “Keh.”

 

Kagome shifted herself in front of him, letting her ankle drag so as not to put pressure on it.

 

“Hand me the brown pouch in the bag.” Kagome swept away his long hair from his shoulder so that all of it flowed to his back. She took notice on how thick and soft it felt, and tried desperately to not run her fingers through it. She bit her lip hard. `He is not who I thought he was. I can't feel this way.'

 

InuYasha was a bit distracted by her touch and automatically reached in the bag to give her the pouch without question. He stared dumbly at the fire, and tried to let his mind wander to anything except warm soft blankets, warm soft fire, warm soft Kagome…. Shit.

 

Opening the pouch, Kagome found just what she needed. She reached for a flask of water by the fire and she glimpsed up at the hanyou. She blushed shyly as she murmured low. “Take off your kariginu and juban.”

 

InuYasha looked at her stunned. “Why?”

 

She regarded him carefully as she gathered her courage at seeing his bare chest once again, this time up close. “So I can take care of your wounds….”

 

“Is that what you're doing?” He cast his gaze away and laughed snidely. “I told you, I'm fine.”

 

“There's too much blood for you to be just `fine',” Kagome sighed. “Please, let me take care of you.”

 

As soon as the words passed from her mouth, InuYasha's resolve broke. Let me take care of you. He didn't understand how so few words could have so much of an impact on him. He growled in annoyance for her benefit and shrugged his shoulders out of his clothing and bared his chest for her to see.

 

She gasped at the amount of blood and the five gouges where he must have dug his claws into his chest. She reached out and dragged her fingers across his sternum, assessing the damage.

 

InuYasha shivered under the touch and inhaled deep, clenching his jaw in a bitter war to control his desire to take her, to kiss her and taste her like he had wanted since the last time he saw her. `Gods, why did it hurt so much? Why do I want her so much? Even after knowing who she is…. Should it matter?'

 

Kagome mistook his shiver as a shudder of pain. “Sorry.” She whispered shyly, pulling her fingers away.

 

Taking a scrap of her juban and dabbing it in water, she carefully washed away the blood, leaving the oozing holes open. They looked raw, but they did not bleed, though they were deep. She glanced up at his face in surprise, but he was not looking at her. Instead he stared intently at the fire, his face looking hard and fierce. She held her breath at the sight. He looked so regal and beautiful with the firelight dancing in his golden eyes and on his golden skin. He looked very much like the great lord she had heard stories about as a child and it made her body tremble in excitement.

 

Her body felt flushed, hot and wet all of a sudden. It was a feeling she never knew before, and it made her scared and thrilled all at once. She hurriedly doused scraps of her juban in an herbal salve she had taken from her brown bag and swiftly wrapped them around his chest to keep the wounds clean. When she was done she glanced up again to see smouldering and dominating eyes staring down at her. She cleared her throat softly.

 

“Guess we should pack up now seeing as your fine. I have never seen anyone heal that fast.” She smiled shyly in spite of herself and turned quickly away to pack up the bag, unaware that her cheeks were red.

 

InuYasha grabbed her arm in mid-motion of her reaching for the bag. A slight guttural growl was rumbling in his chest.

 

Kagome wondered what she did to make him angry, but the growls themselves were not making her worry. Instead, the growls were causing stirrings in her body that she could not control or even identify, only that she was quickly becoming addicted to them. She couldn't explain how or why she felt that way just by the sounds he was making. It almost seemed like she could feel him inside her mind.

 

She looked into his penetrating gaze. `Why am I feeling like this, like I can trust him and not be afraid to be this close to him?' It felt so natural, so right in her heart. But her mind was telling her no, reminding her who she was falling for. She glanced away confused, her heart and mind whirling in turmoil.

 

“InuYasha?” She whispered, looking down at his grip on her arm.

 

During the time she was cleaning him, InuYasha was straining every mental capability to keep his composure. He wanted her, he desired her. `And why not? She is my mate now.' But he knew this wasn't right. Too much has happened to let them be as he wanted. She regarded him as how Sesshomaru did. She wasn't ready to listen in order to let go of her identity of him. He knew she would not think of him as her mate no matter what he said or did. But as her hands trailed along his chest, gentle and soft, he couldn't help but to imagine what she would be like if ever she did want him in return.

 

He cast his gaze to the fire and felt her look up at him. He tried again to ignore it. Flashes of anger and hate in her eyes when he held her earlier echoed in his mind. `She would never see me more than her enemy.'

 

And why shouldn't she hate him? She grew up believing he was the enemy. She agreed to a deal she thought was false and dishonourable. But when she kissed him, when she didn't know who he was…. He stared hard into the fire. If he kissed her now, how would she react? Would she kiss him back? How? Like a lover, like a slave, like a concubine? `Is that how she feels? Now that she is my woman, would all she consider herself to be to me is a whore?' His eyes narrowed in self-disgust.

 

Maybe he forced her into this. He was the one who initiated the bonding. Sure she wasn't partial to the deal, but she was here now, and she was his now. Possibly she could learn to care for him…. But he knew she didn't want to be with him. He knew she was here by force. She had nowhere to go now but with him. How could she ever want him or love him?

 

His youkai side screamed at him to take her and to hell with the consequences, while his own mind screamed for her not to touch him, and at the same time to touch him over and over. His body howled for release and ecstasy and passion and love, but that was just him. She didn't want any of it. She may never want any of it. And his life was bound to hers eternally. He cast his heart into defeat.

 

He felt her gaze turn from him and she rushed to bandage his chest. `She must really hate touching me. What else could I have expected?' But then he caught the scent. His ears flicked uncertainly as a dull spice flitted into his senses. Was she aroused?

 

He gazed down at her in disbelief and hopeful desire. Could she possibly…? She had smiled and blushed at him before she turned away. She was trying to hide it, but he could smell it all over her. She wanted him!

 

He grabbed her arm to look at her. He had to make sure, letting his lust come forth through a low purr like growl that only a responding mate could recognize. Her body reacted, though her eyes were confused, apprehensive and calculating. He could not deny the fact her body was pulsing for him. Did she actually care? Did she actually have feelings for him too?

 

“InuYasha?” Kagome repeated, still looking down at her arm, acting unconsciously submissive.

 

He blinked down at her. A sly grin crawled on his face. `I have to test this.' He inhaled her subtly. “I smell blood.”

 

Kagome looked up at him and her eyes widened at his expression, then wrinkled in confusion. “Well, yeah, you're covered in it.”

 

“Not mine…” He breathed, “yours.” He shifted so his body was hovering over hers in a offensive crouch. His eyes roamed her body and his aura stroked over hers, beckoning her to open up to him.

 

She leaned back on her arms and looked up at him, her heart thundering in her ears. Her legs were between his as he crawled up along her body like a hunting wolf. `Why does he have to look like that? Why does he have to feel like that? Like I could be happy diving into those eyes, that aura, and get lost. Things were so much easier when we fought….'

 

“Mine?” She exhaled suddenly.

 

“Mhmm.” He practically purred. His face came to a stop by her left ear. His warm breath tickled her appendage and she could feel goose bumps scatter down her neck and shoulder to her breast, making her nipple grow hard. She gasped at the spasm that hit her sex and bit her lower lip quickly. `What is he doing to me? I can't let myself feel this way.'

 

Kagome cast her gaze around the campsite, her mind trying to find her control. Her eyes searched for anything to focus on, away from the golden perfection before her. She tried to shift away from his breathing ministrations but pain shot up from her ankle.

 

“Ahh….” She hissed painfully. That did it.

 

InuYasha was off her in a rush, kneeling protectively beside her. He cast his eyes down and saw her nurse her ankle. Carefully and with gentle ease, he reached over and removed her boot, pressing his cool hand against the swelling.

 

She winced but did not move it. She searched his face guardedly. Why is he being so wonderful? If only he wasn't who he was….

 

“I think it's a slight sprain,” he broke into her thoughts, “but I'll have one of my own look at it when we reach the manor.”

 

He took the last scrap of her juban sleeves and wrapped her ankle expertly. Kagome's body eased a bit as she looked at him in wonder and smiled softly.

 

“Now for your other injuries.” He shifted beside her, his eyes searching her own before he tilted his head down.

 

“Other….” Kagome began, but stilled as she felt a soft hot tongue lap across her left collarbone and to her sternum. Her mouth dropped in shock. Her mind numbed at the idea of pushing him away as her very being got lost in the feeling he was creating. `So good… but wasn't it still…?' “Inu…InuYasha…what are you doing?” She rasped.

 

“My body heals fast, and me cleaning your wounds will let you heal quickly so we can leave. Why, does it hurt?” He stopped and looked up at her. His eyes were imploring her to unconsciously receive him, but he did not want to rush her. He knew it didn't hurt her, but he wanted to hear her say it. And he wanted her to admit him entrance to keep going.

 

“No, I don't hurt, I didn't know I was hurt.” She gazed down at her chest and saw bloody scratches from where the bear's paw had pressed down on her. `Funny, the markings almost resembled those on InuYasha's chest.' She looked into his eyes and all thoughts fled her. Her head instinctively lifted to allow him to clean her.

 

He growled in soft pleasure, almost inaudible to her ears. He dipped his head back down and lapped away the flecks and streaks of blood that covered her upper chest.

 

She gazed down once more and watched as he licked away the blood. The cuts began to sting in a good way, and then fade to nothing. She closed her eyes involuntarily, and her head fell back slightly as she let him mend her.

 

When he was nursing the rise of her left breast above her sensitive nipple, his ears brushed the side her face. She unknowingly rubbed her cheek and lips against one of them in a soothing caress, moaning softly into it. She almost didn't notice that he had stopped licking, and the purring growl resumed. She opened her glazed grey eyes to see nothing but gold as he looked into hers.

 

“Kagome?” He whispered so low and soft she barely even knew he called her name, nor did she know how she ended up laying down on the blanket looking up at him. His pure white hair curtained around them, and she felt his aura ripple into her own. She felt an overwhelming comfort that beckoned her to let go her inhibitions and reach for him in return. She eased, her eyes glazing in contentment, willing her mind to stop pestering her and just let it go… whatever it was. It felt so right… so good. She shivered in anticipation and searched his eyes with childlike naivety.

 

He lowered his head slightly to graze his lips against her own, but stalled and looked into her glowing orbs, silently asking permission. She leaned her lips closer to his, casting all fear from him. InuYasha closed his eyes and capturing her lips into his own, hungrily and greedily.

 

Kagome's eyes fluttered shut in response. Her fingers lazily twined in his hair before she felt brave enough to lift her hands to stroke his face, caress his hair from it, and finally reach to delicately skim the rim of his ears.

 

InuYasha moaned in her mouth, and delved deeper in the kiss, roving his tongue on her bottom lip until she opened and allowed him entrance. He sighed as he moved his body on top of hers in a desperate need to feel all of her at once. He needed to surround her all around him, as he tasted her mouth in all its glory. `Gods! She tastes amazing!'

 

He had dreamed about this, but could never imagine how sweet and salty she tasted. Now he wanted nothing more than to remember it, and to be able to relive it in his mind forever more. He flicked his tongue around hers and thrusted against her hips uncontrollably when she started to taste him back. She did it so softly and shyly he didn't know if he could control the need to take her then.

 

“Fuck, Kagome,” he groaned, moving his mouth from hers to lick, nip and suck her jaw line to her neck. “Finally I have you. Finally your mine!”

 

Kagome's head was in a daze, delighting in the golden Adonis above her, before his words reached her frazzled mind. `Have me? Mine?'

 

Memories rushed painfully in. He is the scourge of the Western Territory. He is ruthless. He will take pride in trying to break you…. Your daughter is mine…. I have what is yours, and I will make good use of her….

 

`Oh Gods, what the hell am I doing?'

 

“Get off!” Kagome hissed, and gripped hard on his shoulders to push him away.

 

InuYasha didn't hear her. His body and mind were reeling in desire and rapture. His Kagome! His mate! She tasted so good, she felt so good…. He was high on her and barely registered her voice until it was almost too late.

 

“I SAID GET OFF!” Kagome's eyes pierced violet and her hands glowed and pulsed. She was about to send him flying into the trees before she felt him lift off of her to crouch worriedly beside her.

 

His gaze nearly ripped her heart out. He was afraid for her?

 

His eyes flicked around her body. “Oh Gods, Kagome, did I hurt you? What's wrong?”

 

Kagome couldn't believe her ears. She didn't want to. This man was the enemy. He had taken her from her home. He had insulted her and treated her like a possession. But here he was - soft, beautiful, and loving. She shook her head. No! He was InuYasha, her father's enemy. He was…he was….

 

“I cannot be taken…. I will not be taken, not by you….” Kagome rambled and moved away from him, her head shaking. `Not by anyone again! I will not be a possession! I want to be free! I will not be broken again!'

 

What the hells does that mean? Her head was beginning to throb and her vision was going fuzzy. She lifted her hand to her head. “What's going on?”

 

Glancing around, a swirl of colours and energies were pulsing from the trees, the fire, the earth, and the air. It was coming from everywhere. Her eyes grew wide. What the in the world was going on? She looked at the hanyou for answers, but he to was a mass of energy, glowing in white and sky blue - pure and beautiful.

 

“Beautiful….” Kagome whispered before her body lurched and her world swirled in a mass of white.

 

“Kagome!” InuYasha cried out. It was all she heard as it echoed in her mind before her world faded to black.