InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Code of Conduct ❯ Honesty is the Best Policy ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

My baby got sick:( She's four months old and the poor thing has a cold. I've been coddling and tending to her every need all day. It makes me so sad! Thank you to my reviewers! You all rock!

Chapter 6: Honesty is the Best Policy

Miroku coughed, "Um, isn't it a little soon? I mean, she just had her first kiss..."

"You dolt! You think I'm going to just walk up to her and say 'I love you, lets have sex? And by the way, when we're done, you're stuck with me?' "

"I don't get it..."

"I think you've suffered brain damage from your lecherous ways, my friend." Inuyasha groaned, "I may be half-demon, but she's human and from a spiritual background at that. I bought her a ring. "

"Ohhhhhh! Is it a nice one?"

"Would I buy a piece of shit?"

"How much?"

"That's none of your business!"

"Hey, I'm wondering what competition I'll have."

"Competition?"

"You know, Kagome tells Sango, and then I'm expected to spend that and more on her ring."

Yash chortled, "First off, she'd have to agree to marry you, and second, you couldn't afford it anytime soon."

"Hey, being an accountant doesn't pay that bad. You couldn't have paid that much."

"Little less than 735,000 yen."

"Shit Yash! Did you buy the whole damned jewelry store?"

"Nah, just the best ring in it. Besides, it would've been 79,000 yen more if I would've gotten it in platinum."

"Well, shucks, why didn't you do that?" His voice was dripping in sarcasm.

"Because Kagome prefers gold, and actually, it might be a little big for her liking."

"Ah, isn't one for flashy jewelry?"

"Well, she might want to change that, cuz I need to spend my money somewhere."

"Hey, what about me! I'd love a new car."

"In your dreams." He looked down at his clock and cursed. "I gotta go. I want to get to her before she falls asleep."

"You're doing it now?" Miroku nearly choked, apparently he was drinking something.

Inuyasha chuckled, "Couldn't think of a better time. The quicker, the better."

"Then I suppose Sango should be waiting up for a phone call, huh?"

"You're with her?"

"When aren't I?" He could hear the grin in his friend's voice.

"Niiice. I gotta go."

"Good luck!"

Inuyasha parked the car at the bottom of the god forsaken shrine steps. He wiped his face and pulled back a wet hand. 'Damn, I'm sweating like crazy!' He couldn't figure out if he was more worried about her answer to his proposal or her anger at his misleading her. Opening the jewelry box one more time, he nodded once, closing it and placing it inside his button up shirt. His confidence in check, he jumped out of the car. Leaping up the stairs in two bounds, he grumbled when he realized the lights were all out.

"Shit." Figuring which bedroom window was hers, he jumped up in the tree right outside of it. Peering inside, he could see the glow of her screen saver on the computer. On the bed a couple feet away was his treasure, asleep on top of one of her schoolbooks. 'Aww, she was waiting for me... or for inu_puppy... hell, I can't wait to come clean with this. Too damn confusing if you ask me!' Curious if luck was on his side that night, he tried the window and was relieved to find it unlocked. Quietly sliding it open, he crept his way inside, trying not to wake her just yet.

Crouching at the edge of her bed, he smiled, brushing his fingers through her hair. Perhaps he should wait until tomorrow and let her sleep. Turning his head, he saw it was 11:43. 'She's supposed to go to school tomorrow, and Mondays were always a bitch.' His attention was fixed back on the girl when her slender fingers wrapped around the wrist of the hand he'd been absently running through her hair.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?" She whispered, sleep still evident in her voice.

"I needed to see you."

She craned her neck to see the bright green letters of her alarm clock. "At almost midnight?"

Nervously scratching his head, he tried to give her the best pouty look, "I missed you."

"Well, I missed you, too, but that doesn't mean-" His lips crashed over hers, successfully cutting off what she was going to say.

Pulling away, he was pleased to see the smile grace her face, "Are you tired?"

Kagome shrugged, "That nap could keep me going for a little bit, if I needed to."

"Good," he grinned. Picking her up off the bed, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of her room and down the stairs, careful to make as little noise as possible. Quietly opening and closing the door behind him, he leapt down the stairs, earning a yelp from his cargo.

"Inuyasha! What on earth are you doing?" Although she was attempting to sound rigid, her voice was full of mirth.

"Whisking you away, what does it look like I'm doing?" He gently dropped her in the passenger seat of his convertable and walked around the car to get in on his side. Starting the engine, he pulled on to the road.

"Um... where are we going?"

"Shhh. It's a surprise."

"I don't think I like a surprise that entails you kidnapping me at midnight." Kagome joked.

"Well, I guarantee this one will take your breath away," or at least he hoped so.

A good 20 minutes later, he pulled into a shadowed driveway, surrounded by trees. Kagome turned to him, unease creeping into her features, "Okay, a driveway in the middle of nowhere, cutting through a forest..." She looked up, "Well, it isn't a full moon, but I can't help but be a little spooked."

Inuyasha smirked, slowing his car on the gravel path, "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the boogeymen and werewolves."

"Ha ha, what about axe murderers?"

"Nah, I scared them off years ago."

"You've been here before?"

He raised his eyebrow at her, "No, I just saw this driveway and decided it would be a nice place to investigate in the middle of the night."

"Smart ass."

"I wouldn't have to be if you didn't ask questions like that."

"Okay, I'll rephrase. Are you familiar with this place?"

"Yep! I own it."

"Own what? The trees and driveway?" Now it was her turn to grin.

"Oh, much more than that," he stated as the trees parted, giving them both a view of the property. In front of them was a large lake, the moon's reflection casting a silver hue on the barely rippling water. She could see a small cabin setting high on a distant hill, only partly visible from the treeline. Nightlife flourished here, adding to the serenity of it all. Turning her attention back to Inuyasha, "This is beautiful! You own all of this?"

"Yeah, I haven't had the heart to build on it though."

"Why?"

"It would disturb the wildlife. I think I like it the way it is, mostly untouched."

Kagome opened her door, closing it softly so as to not disrupt the tranquility of the land. In a flash, Inuyasha was beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Why did you bring me here? Don't get me wrong, it's lovely, but why now?"

Inuyasha led her to a large dock going out to the lake, he stepped into a small rowboat tied to the post and then motioned for her to follow suit. "C'mon, just watch your step."

Taking his offered hand, she frowned at him slightly, before taking a seat. Watching him untie the rope and grab the oars to start moving them from the dock, she decided to ask again. "Inuyasha?"

"I wanted to show you this because this place means a lot to me." His muscles strained against his shirt as he paddled them towards the middle of the lake. "It was a gift from my mother before she died, in respect of my love of nature."

Kagome smiled sadly, "I'm sorry that your mother died." She placed her hand on his leg, to offer comfort.

"Don't worry about it, it was a few years ago." He took a moment to take in the scenery, "Anyway, I come up here to escape from everything, from my life and work. When I do, this place reminds me of my mother's warmth and beauty." Inuyasha smiled, "She was such a wonderful person."

"I'd believe it, look who her son is," Kagome blushed slightly, but squeezed his leg for emphasis. After a minute of silence, she said softly, "Thank you for sharing this with me."

Inuyasha breathed in deep and let it out slowly. Releasing the paddles, he took her hands in his. "I want to share more than this with you." He wanted to avert his eyes, because this was the part he was dreading, but he kept vigilant eye contact regardless. "There's something I have to tell you."

At first, Kagome's imagination went wild in those brief seconds, wondering what he could have possibly meant by sharing more with her. In honesty, she'd felt her heartrate increase and excitement tingle in her senses. But his tone sounded downcast, increasing her curiosity. He brushed her face with his fingers, a hesitant smile on his face.

"Although I want you to, I don't think you can fathom how I feel about you. I know you may be thinking that we've only known each other for a short time, but perhaps you feel as if we've known each other longer?" He ended it in a question, hoping she'd respond.

Kagome thought about it and then nodded, "Yeah, there are definately times that it doesn't feel like we've only known each other for only a couple months."

"I feel strongly connected to you, and it started when I came to your house the first time. I didn't understand it then, but now I do, since this morning." He watched her face for any confusion, but she was just listening to him intently. "Before then, I found similarities with you and a friend of mine."

She nodded her head quickly, "I did the same thing."

Inuyasha offered a smile, thinking that this couldn't possibly be that difficult. She would be as happy as he was, right? "I set my heart on one girl, and so I couldn't understand the attraction I had towards you. Been then I found that you're the girl I've been waiting on for years."

Kagome was trying to piece together everything that he was telling her, and now she had no idea where this conversation was leading. At first, it sounded like a voice of commitment, and now he made it sound like there was someone else? Anxiety found its way into her heart, but she willed it down until he finished. He did say that she was the one he was waiting on, right? So that meant that she was the one he wanted?

How was he supposed to word this? Should he just come right out and tell her, I'm inu_puppy? He mentally smacked that one down, knowing he needed to enter this smoothly. Making up his mind, he held her hand tightly, "I'm ready to answer your question."

Kagome stared at him, baffled, "question?"

"You asked me if I really love her."

Realization dawned on her slowly and her jaw dropped, but her brain went to mush and she couldn't think of what to say.

Shock froze her features, but she didn't respond, so he figured he'd get it all out before she regained her barings. "And I do. I've known it for years, but I was too afraid to come looking for you. I had no idea you were so close. And when I found out, and I saw you for the first time with that knowledge today, I cursed myself for not doing it sooner. I already knew you were a wonderful person, and I adored every part of you that I knew. Now that I know everything about you, I found that you're more beautiful than I ever imagined."

She looked at him with tears streaming down her face. "You... I..." She couldn't form the words.

Inuyasha brushed her tears away, "Please don't cry, Kitten." The nickname did it and she sobbed, pulling his hand to her and wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I didn't tell you right away. At first, I wanted to make sure you were true with your feelings. I know it was wrong, but I wanted to play both roles until I could meld them together. It was my fear of rejection on both parts, and before you get mad at me, I want you to know that I'm sorry for it. That's why I cut you off when you started talking about love. If those words are ever going to come out, I don't want them typed on a computer screen. It hadn't gone on for long but had already gone too far. Besides, I knew from my time spent with you that you were sincere."

Kagome finally pulled her head up from his shoulder, her eyes red from both being tired and crying, "How could you not trust me, when you should know me better than anyone?" Her sobs were calming down, but she was still hiccuping between words.

Inuyasha looked down at their feet, "I trust you, but there were things you didn't know about me. Like that I was a hanyou and my career, both which have gotten me trampled on." He felt her hand delicately lift his face.

"It doesn't matter to me if you are a bum on the street or a multi-billionaire. Nor does it matter what you look like, or that you are a half demon. You could be full human or youkai and it's all the same to me. What I care about it who you are on the inside." She shook her head, her eyes betraying her sadness, "There shouldn't have been a doubt in your mind. I'm not shallow, Inuyasha!" Fresh tears glistened down her cheeks.

He hugged her fiercly, "I know! I'm so sorry, Kagome. I knew better, I really did. You're the most wonderful person I've ever met, that I probably ever will. I was being stupid, and while I was looking out for myself, I hurt you. And I know that now I probably don't deserve you..."

She took a shuddering breath, pushing against his chest to look at him, "You didn't deserve me in the first place."

His eyes locked with hers, matching the mischief in her glare. "Then I'm going to have to try harder aren't I?" Reaching between his T-shirt and button down, he produced the small velvet box between them. When she went to look down to see what he was fiddling with, he captured her lips in a searing kiss.

Kagome shut her eyes and pressed her lips against his. Her tummy did a little flip flop, and she mental sighed. Regardless of his idiocy, she found she wasn't even mad at him. She had been a little disappointed, but she knew him. His fears of dating and love were well known to her, and she didn't think that it would be fair to hold it against him. He grasped her hand again, and when she felt the coolness of metal slide down her finger, she gasped and tried to pull back. Instead, he entangled his fingers in her hair, pushing harder against her mouth. He licked her lip, asking permission to deepen the kiss. Hesitantly, she parted them for him and moaned when his tongue ravished her own. Locking his fingers with hers, he held their hands between them.

Inuyasha was the one to break the kiss, and when he again locked gazes with her, he was delighted to see her slight panting through swollen lips. An innocent blush colored her cheeks, and he thanked the heavens again for such an angel. Resting his forehead against her own, he finished, "My heart chose you a long time ago, and I've been blessed to be able to answer its calling. There will never be anyone who can effect me the way you do. You complete me in a way that I don't even understand, but I feel it with every bit of my being. I need you. I need to hold you, feel you, love you. Will you let me love you, Kagome? If you do, I will promise you that I won't disappoint you. I will prove to you that even if I don't deserve you, I will make you the happiest person alive. There is not even a lingering doubt of how I feel. I love you, Kagome. Will you give me the priviledge of being your love, your husband, and your life-mate?"

Was this what it felt like to be in love? Her heart swelled with his words, a warmth she had never known spread throughout her entire body. Different feelings coursed through her... excitement, nervousness, happiness, passion... love? Once again, she found herself crying and couldn't fathom it, but then again, she was so overwhelmed with emotions, there was no other way to expel it. Kissing his cheeks, both sides, she landed a soft kiss on his nose. "Silly, puppy, I love you, too. You've already made me the happiest woman alive by asking me to be your wife."

"Does that mean you accept?"

"Who could turn down that adorable face!" She kissed his lips again and whispered against them, "I could want nothing more."

Inuyasha stood with his excitement, taking her within his arms. "Oh, shit!" The boat tipped with the imbalance, and they both flailed their arms, trying to regain balance but to no avail. The rowboat flipped over, sending the two into the lake. He came up cursing and sputtering, and wrapped an arm around Kagome when she surfaced, the other draped over the boat.

She turned to him and started laughing. "You dumbass! Way to ruin the moment!"

"Maybe I just wanted to see you wet," he licked her neck and she shivered against him. "C'mon, lets get you out of the water." He righted the boat and attempted to get back in. His weight was uncentered, so it just flipped him right back into the lake.

Treading water, Kagome laughed as he came back up, and he spit water at her. "Hey! That wasn't very nice!" She splashed him. "Now get it right, I'm freeeeezing."

"Yes, ma'am!" He mock saluted and tried again, this time managing to get himself inside the boat. Grabbing the oars, he started paddling away.

Kagome gasped, swimming after him, "You jerk! You wouldn't leave me out here!"

"What? You can't swim, princess?"

"The water is cold!"

"Aww, poor baby," he grinned, then reached into the water and helped her into the boat, careful to distribute their weight properly that time.

00

Kagome sat on a couch in front of the fireplace, a blanket wrapped around her. The cabin was small, with only two rooms. One was a small kitchen, equiped with a woodburning stove, a cutingboard table, a wash basin with a pump, and a large cooler that presumably needed ice to work. The other was a livingroom slash bedroom, with a fireplace, couch, coffee table, and bed. A narrow door led to a closet with drawers. Inuyasha came into the room with two hot mugs of coffee. "Sorry, I don't have any cocoa, and this is instant."

She smiled, accepting her cup and taking a long sip. "It's not bad, thank you." She set the cup on the coffee table and offered to share her blanket. All he had for her to change into was a pair of boxers and a large white t-shirt, but between the blanket and fire she was pretty warm. Inuyasha had a pair of faded plaid sweats and an old red t-shirt.

"Sure," he smiled, taking the whole thing.

"Hey!"

"What?" He looked at her innocently.

"Didn't anyone ever teach you how to be a gentlemen?"

"Nope, would you like to try?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. Sticking out her lip, Kagome wrapped her arms around herself for emphasis. With a dramatic sigh, he pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms and the blanket around her. "Oh, alright, but I'm not sharing the bed." She glared at him and he held his hands up in defeat, "Oh, alright!"

They finished their coffees, but regardless of the caffeine, Kagome yawned, her eyes feeling heavy. "Can we go to sleep? I'm exhausted." Since it was late, they had decided to stay there for the night.

"Swimming with the fishes will do that to ya," he poked fun.

"You watch it buddy, or you might just find those same fishes in your underpants tomorrow morning!"

"How the hell?"

Kagome shrugged, "Hey, I'd find a way, okay?"

"Yah, anyway!" He got up, scooping her up off the couch and carried her bridal style to the bed. He sat her down, pulling back the covers and gesturing for her to get in. Doing as she was told, she turned on her side to face him. Inuyasha slid in after her, wrapping one arm around her, and offered the other as a pillow, which she took.

His silver hair mingled with her own, making an interesting contrast. His ears moved on top of his head, and she finally gave in to her urge. Staring him in the eye, she reached up and touched on of them, adoring the way it flicked under her touch. Surprised at how soft it was, she rubbed it up and down. Inuyasha closed his eyes, and she could feel a very soft growl form in his chest. His ears reminded her that he was half youkai, meaning his life span was much longer than her own. Sadly, she stopped petting his ear, gaining a whine from him. She giggled half-heartedly at his reaction. "Inu?"

"Hmm?" He didn't open his eyes.

"Since you're part demon and I'm only human, won't I die long before you, like your mother did?"

He could hear the heartache lacing her tone, and he opened his eyes to meet her saddened ones. "How did you know my mother was human?"

"I know who your father is, so I assumed you got your human blood from your mother."

"Ah, well, you won't be leaving me."

"But-"

Kissing her briefly to stop her, he explained, "My mother died of cancer. While most youkai can withstand most cancers, if they go unnoticed or untreated, spreading to the heart or brain in fatal. We can only regenerate so much. When my mother came down with lung cancer, even though she hadn't smoked a day in her life, the doctors messed up during the surgery."

"How?" Kagome's heart felt heavy with this knowledge, and she could hear the emotion in Inuyasha's voice. She nuzzled closer to him.

"When they opened her up to get it out of her lungs, they allowed the cancer to spread to her heart. She died within a couple weeks, and she suffered before she left us. We were told the risks before hand, so there was nothing we could do about it." Inuyasha felt his throat tightened, but he tried to ignore it.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. It sounds like I've missed out on meeting a great person."

He smiled down at her, "Oh, she was. I bet she'd see a lot of herself in you."

"Me?" She squeaked.

"Yeah, you," he kissed her forehead. "Anyway, youkai aren't immortal or anything but you're obviously aware of our lifespan and ability to withstand more than a normal human." She nodded, and he went on, "When an Inuyoukai mates, they join with their partner in heart, body, and soul. Love brings them together, they express their love through union, and during the first completion, they mark each other. That mark unites their souls, and in our case, it will give you those particular strengths."

"Mark?" Kagome scrunched her nose.

"Yeah, the blood has to be mixed, sealing the bond. And a symbol of their love will be permanently placed on each mate It can be done a number of ways, some more painful than others."

"It hurts?" She was beginning to feel a little skeptical of the whole idea.

Inuyasha smiled to try and reassure her, "that's why it's traditionally done during an orgasm."

Kagome's cheeks flared and he laughed, hugging her to him. "Don't worry, we don't have to take that step until you're ready."

Oddly, she found it wasn't really as bothersome as she made it out to be. Actually, the primal effect was somewhat alluring. 'I'm going to have some interesting dreams tonight.' Snuggling into the crook of his neck, she closed her eyes. "Goodnight, Inuyasha."

"Night, angel." He kissed the top of her head, a smile on his face as they both drifted into slumber.

00

a/n I'm exhausted and my baby isn't sleeping as well as she usually does. So I'm off to bed. And for those out there that enjoy lemons, it will be coming soon. I won't drag it out too long, cuz it's not like they're teenagers or anything. Nightnight!