InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divine ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 8 )

A/N: Here's a super duper long chapter for you all - hope you enjoy it!

Divine

Chapter Eight

"To get to a woman's heart, a man must first use his own."

Mike Dobbertin

"And where have you been?"

And why do I feel like I've just walked in on my grouchy husband? Kagome shut the front door slowly as she found herself competing in another glaring match with Inuyasha. He was sat on the step up to the hallway, evidently having been staring at the door ever since she'd left.

"I told you." She said snippily. "I went food shopping."

"And where's the food?"

Kagome looked down at her empty hands. Woops… there seemed to have been a kink in her plan. "Uh… shop didn't have any food left." Thank kami for Hanyous from the Sengoku Jidai - at least he wasn't to know that the twenty-four hour convenient store never ran out of stock.

"I guess…" he scowled at her. "But why did it take so long?"

"Traffic." Kagome said truthfully. "The tubes were crammed so I was stuck on the platform with a hundred other sweaty people looking for a train to come along that wasn't already full…" She trailed off at his blank look. "Uh… I couldn't help it. I would have been back sooner, but obviously public transport isn't being my friend today."

Kagome stepped out of her shoes and slipped past Inuyasha on her way to the stairs. "We'll just have to eat scraps again… unless the well is working?"

Inuyasha padded along behind her. "No. Checked. Still broke."

Kagome chewed her lip thoughtfully. She really hoped it was just the snow and not some serious technical fault… because she knew Inuyasha would go ballistic if he was stuck in her time for the rest of his life. So would Kagome in fact…

Kagome dumped her bag under her bed and plopped down on the edge of the mattress with a harsh sigh. "Oh, it's good to be off my feet!" she declared to no one in particular.

Inuyasha groaned slightly as he folded his arms. "Kagome… I'm hungry."

Was that a subtle hint she detected there? Kagome lifted her chin. "We only have ramen." She warned.

"And that's a problem… how?"

An excellent point. Kagome stood and beckoned for him to follow. "One of these days I'll have to teach you how to use a stove so you can do all this yourself…" she gave him a dubious glance as they marched down the steps. "But then again, once I do that there might be no stopping you and your ramen obsession."

So just in case, Kagome made sure that Inuyasha didn't watch any of her trade secrets while she made the ramen, for fear that he might actually master them and then there would be no end to the madness. They both sat down in the living room to eat their food, staring at a blank TV screen.

"That thing was a lot more fun when it showed pictures." Inuyasha stated round a mouthful of noodles.

"Yeah…" Kagome cocked her head. "I wonder if it's the aerial that's the problem…" she set down her ramen on the table. "Hang on…"

Off she went to fix the TV. This involved draping herself over the front of the device to reach the metal prongs around the back. "Tell me when you get a clear view."

Inuyasha already had a very clear view - but he wasn't looking at the TV screen. Kagome's method of adjusting the aerial had her bending over at a rather nice angle. She really had no idea who short her skirt was, did she? Inuyasha went on eating his ramen as he sat back and enjoyed the show. "Ok, I'll tell you." He said.

"How's this?"

The screen was still a big fuzzy mess of squiggly black and white lines… but Inuyasha was more concerned with the fact that her movement had almost revealed the little white scrap of cloth between her legs. "Keep going."

"Ok… how about now?"

"Need to lift it up a bit more." He was referring to her skirt of course.

"Like this?"

"No - down - definitely down!" Straightening up had let her skirt fall straight again. But now that she was bending down again, the view was back. "Bit further down, I think."

Kagome let out an irritated sigh as she was forced to go on tiptoe in order to push the aerial down. "Are you sure?"

"Veeery sure…"

His tone of voice made her pause. Why on earth did he sound like he was watching a strip tease rather than a television screen full of snow? And was that a draft she felt on her nether regions? Hang on…

Kagome whipped around so fast and so furiously that she almost knocked the TV off its table. "You were looking up my skirt!" she accused, clamping a hand down over the back of said article of clothing.

"I wasn't! I was watching your doohickey!"

"My doohickey?!" Kagome shrieked. "What kind of euphemism is that?!"

"No!" Inuyasha stabbed a finger at the TV. "I was watching that!"

"My butt!"

Oh yeah, I was watching that too. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Don't be so full of yourself - why would I want to stare at your ass!"

"Because you have been for the past three days!" she shot back.

"Oh yeah? Well don't think I haven't been noticing the way you stare at my ass every time I turn my back on you." He waved a hand at her, forgetting that he was holding his cup of ramen with that particular hand. "You keep making me out to be the pervert when you're the one who… oh… crap!" After having misjudged the amount of ramen in his cup, his lap was now plastered with the stuff.

"Now look what you've done!" he snapped.

"That was your fault!" she barked at him. "You big klutz!"

Inuyasha looked down at his lap dejectedly, poking at the stained material of his hakama. Kagome took pity on him and sighed slowly. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up."

Scenario #8: The food fantasy scenario… (some people like strawberries and whipped cream, we like ramen)

Kagome ushered Inuyasha into the kitchen and made him stand beside the sink while she wetted a cloth. "Honestly, with the amount of blood, guts and ramen you spill on yourself, it's a wonder this suit hasn't needed any dry cleaning."

"That's because it cleans itself." Inuyasha pointed out, still busy finishing off the last of the noodles that weren't decorating his clothes.

Kagome wrung out the excess water from the cloth and knelt down before Inuyasha. Just as she was reaching to start mopping up the mess, her hand froze.

Hang on, what am I doing?!

Someone could walk in at any moment and get a very wrong idea. Here she was on her knees before Inuyasha, about to start prodding around his crotch!

"What's the matter?" Inuyasha asked idly. He probably hadn't noticed how compromising their current position was.

"Oh… nothing…" Kagome muttered, ducking her head to hide her blush. No point getting embarrassed… just get on with it!

Reluctantly, she began dabbing the cloth against the sticky clothes, taking care to avoid… that. But unfortunately, most of the ramen had landed on… that. So eventually Kagome was going to have to pass her cloth over… that. She was just going to work around it for now.

But Kagome had forgotten how hypnotic cleaning could be and she was soon dabbing away at Inuyasha's lap like a perfectionist cleaner. She was so absorbed in what she was doing that she didn't even pay any mind when her cloth passed over that important thing that she'd been trying to avoid.

On the other hand, Inuyasha certainly noticed.

It may have just been him, but there was something oddly arousing about having the girl of his dreams on her knees before him whilst fondling his crotch with attentive care. It made his blood stir.

Another chance was presenting itself.

Inuyasha set down his empty cup of ramen on the counter behind him and waited whilst Kagome finished cleaning up the last of the sticky mess on his pants. His self-control was admirable, but he waited for what he thought might be the right moment to reach down and brush his fingers against her hair.

At once, Kagome froze. Her eyes widened in a reaction not unlike to being groped by Miroku, even if Inuyasha was only touching her hair. She seemed to realized where her hand was and quickly straightened. "Oh - sorry!" she blurted and quickly turned away to rinse the cloth, a very fetching shade of red creeping over her cheeks.

But Inuyasha was encouraged.

He assumed the position they'd used to wash the dishes, and smoothed his hands down her bare arms. "Your hair smells great, you know…" he commented, nosing aside glossy locks behind her ear.

But Kagome elbowed him away. "Don't start that again." She said, somewhat coldly.

Inuyasha flinched back like he'd been slapped. "You started it!" he pointed out.

"I didn't mean to!" she was too busy shying away to make eye contact. "I'm sorry if you took it the wrong way."

Inuyasha resisted the urge to throttle her, even though it was mighty tempting. Instead he curled his fists at his sides and glared at the back of her head. "Fine." He ground out. "If that's the way you want to play it, then I'll never touch you again - ever!"

He pivoted to storm out and Kagome whirled on him in surprise. "What?" she murmured, confused.

"If I disgust you so much then I won't force myself on you ever again!" he clarified as he stomped out the door. "I'll never so much as think of you that way either! Not for as long as I live!" Then as an afterthought he added. "Bitch!"

Kagome was left swaying in the kitchen, listening to the fading stomps of his feet and the crash! bang! of some random door or window as he left the house. He wouldn't get very far, not with the well blocked like it was, so it was most likely that he would just go to sleep on the roof tonight.

Kagome sighed miserably and slapped her wet cloth down into the sink. Terrific… now she felt guilty again. Miserable and guilty.

Guilty because she'd, yet again, cheated Inuyasha of his 'repayment'…

And… miserable because she didn't like the thought of him not touching her again…?

"But he has to." Kagome reasoned with herself quietly. "He has to pick me up and give me rides and push me out of the path of oncoming demons."

Even so, it made her a little upset to think that Inuyasha didn't plan to touch her or think of her again. But that should have made her glad! It meant she was spared the terrible repercussions!

Yes, but what I'm doing is damaging our relationship… and isn't that another repercussion in itself?

Kagome closed her eyes and frowned. She felt a lump of tears rise in her throat, but she fought it valiantly and firmed up her wobbly chin. She may have been confusing Inuyasha, but no one was more confused than Kagome. If she didn't have a clue what she wanted, then how on earth was she supposed to let Inuyasha know the same thing that eluded her?

Glancing at her watch, Kagome discovered there were only a few hours left until midnight. Since exhaustion was setting in quite readily after her long trip around town, she decided it would probably be wise if she went to bed.

It might also be wise to sleep with a frying pan between my legs… Kagome thought drearily as she dragged herself up the stairs.

Just as she'd thought, her window was open and Inuyasha was no where to be found. It was tempting to lean out and call to him in order to make up… but that would undoubtedly turn into make out, so Kagome just slithered into her pajamas and then slithered straight into bed.

Her brand new digital alarm clock (thanks to Inuyasha's desecration of the other one) told her that it was 9:45. Just over two hours to go and she'd be able to sleep easy knowing that fate couldn't possibly be out to get her. Then she could take her relationship with Inuyasha at a more natural pace.

10:17 - Kagome was drifting closer to the land of nod.

10:34 - Kagome's slippers had been stolen by a kayaking rat who had a suspicious Scottish accent in which he referred to her slippers as 'Shippers'. Kagome was dreaming, of course.

10:52 - Inuyasha was getting a little too hot on the roof and so decided to creep back through Kagome's open window. He spared only the briefest of caresses against Kagome's cheek as she muttered "Give me back my shippers… Mr Connery…" then moved to take his seat by the wall, sword braced against his shoulder.

11:24 - Kagome woke up.

She didn't moved about, only opened her sleep-laden eyes and peered at the alarm clock before her. It took her a moment to remember why she was so anxious, but when she did finally remember, she bit her lip.

Only thirty-six minutes left to go. If fate had decreed that they were to 'do it' within a week after the palm reading, then Inuyasha would have to get going soon. But one look in his direction told Kagome that he was sound asleep, breathing deeply and evenly with his chin resting on his chest.

Kagome couldn't get back to sleep. She was far too anxious now.

The minutes ticked by slowly, and Kagome eyeballed Inuyasha intently, waiting for him to pounce on her.

Fifteen minutes to go… and still there was no sign of Inuyasha awakening.

If we really do this tonight then it's going to be disappointingly short… Kagome realized.

11:50 came around, and suddenly there was a sharp snort from Inuyasha's corner. Kagome jumped out of her wits, panicked, and tried to sink further into the mattress… but it turned out to be a false alarm. Inuyasha only scratched his nose and sighed deeply, although miraculously, he was still asleep throughout.

Five minutes to go…

Kagome was curled up in a ball on her bed and beginning to have serious doubts about this prophecy of Ayumi's. Surely five minutes was not enough time to get it over with… right?

"Kagome?"

The schoolgirl flinched and looked over at Inuyasha. He was yawning widely and scratching his head. "What's the matter?" he asked, noticing that she was awake too.

"Nothing." She said quickly, wondering if he was bracing himself to leap up and have his way with her. "Just… couldn't sleep…" she tried to explain. "A bit too hot still."

"Then maybe you shouldn't sleep with the covers on?" he pointed out.

Kagome clenched them around herself more tightly. "I'm fine."

He just gave her that slightly confused look, then looked away as if disappointed. Had she hurt his feelings again? It seemed unavoidable.

Silence reigned.

"Look…" Inuyasha said at last in a weary tone. "If you really aren't comfortable with it, then just spit it out. I won't bother you again."

Kagome said nothing.

The hanyou sighed. "Kagome - you have to say what you want otherwise how am I supposed to know?"

"But I don't know what I want." She whispered. "I wish I did - then I'd tell you… but I just don't…"

Inuyasha paused slightly, then shrugged. "Don't worry about it. If you're not ready then I don't want to force you." It would probably kill him in the long run, but… "I can wait."

Kagome was silent again.

"Kagome?" he frowned at her still form. "You do want to wait, don't you?"

Kagome said nothing, until she breathed, "It's midnight."

Big fucking deal - weren't they having a meaningful conversation here?! Inuyasha rolled his eyes and the back of his head connected against the wall with a thud. "Forget it…"

For Kagome, however, it felt as if a large burden had just been lifted from her shoulders.

The fortune wasn't true! She wasn't going to be forced into something she wasn't ready for! The urge to cry with relief was somewhat overwhelming, but she managed to hold herself together. Some other things were starting to become clear as well, as if the burden of the fortune telling had been clouding her mind over the past few days.

She was free to do whatever the hell she wanted with Inuyasha now. It was her choice, not fate's.

Kagome glanced over at the hanyou boy across the room. He'd closed his eyes and was frowning a little, as if disgruntled. She smiled fondly as one of his ears twitched absently.

She really did love him… and she was pretty sure he loved her too, and if not, then he still cared a great deal about her. Nothing between them would be meaningless. Not even sex.

But even so, the implications behind sex were intimidating. She didn't want her innocence to be taken away… and she certainly didn't want things to change between them. She didn't want them to make kissy faces at once another for every second of every day, but neither did she want him to continue insulting her, or running off after Kikyo if they really did take the final step and commit.

Commit… such a dangerous word. Was it wise to commit when they had so many pitfalls ahead and loose ends waiting to be tied up first?

Maybe it was best to wait…

But…

Kagome's smile faded a little as she realised that Inuyasha had opened his eyes and was glaring at the tatami mats before him. He wasn't happy.

Neither was she, for that matter.

This continued chase was wearing thin on both of them. It really had done more harm than good. Mostly because she was refusing them both of what they wanted… what they needed.

But I'm only fifteen - I can't be ready! She protested mentally.

Another side of her conscience argued back. You are - you've battled demons and faced down trials that most adults could never even dream of! Sex is nothing compared to all that!

But I don't want us to change! She pleaded.

You already have.

Kagome bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Shouldn't we wait…?

Then why did you buy three packs of extra large condoms instead of food while you were out today?

Kagome pursed her lips. The voices in her head had a point.

She couldn't deny that she liked it when Inuyasha held her and kissed her… and even though it embarrassed her to even think it, she especially liked it when he touched her intimately. The pit of her stomach tingled as she realized that she wanted it again. But was simple lust enough to justify going through with it?

Kagome pulled the covers over her hand and screwed her face up. She hated this indecision - this not knowing how she was feeling or what she wanted. She knew she wanted Inuyasha… but she was too afraid of what would happen afterwards.

"You're not crying are you?"

Kagome popped her head back up to look at Inuyasha. "No." she answered and watched him shrug and turn his head away.

Was he upset still? Kagome didn't blame him… she knew she was giving off mixed signals and he probably thought that she was too disgusted by what he was to give into her body's desire. She could be wrong, but she knew that peevishly dejected look anywhere.

Kagome thought long and hard… and eventually she came to a shaky decision.

I have to know…

Slowly, Kagome sat up and pushed the covers down to her feet. "Inuyasha…" she waited until he looked up at her, grouchily. "You can come sleep on the bed, if you want." She patted the mattress beside her. "I'm sure it's more comfortable up here."

"I'm fine where I am."

Oh now he played hard to get! Kagome almost growled. "Inuyasha, please… I feel bad about leaving you on the floor and hogging this bed all to myself."

"I said I'm fine." He rebuked.

"And I said come here!" she snapped.

"Why?" he demanded.

Kagome sighed loudly. "Do you have to argue with everything I say? Just do it!"

Inuyasha pulled a suspicious frown, but he stood up carefully and moved over towards the bed. He didn't join her on the mattress, though. "Why are you doing this to me?"

The schoolgirl looked up at him, confused.

"If you're only going to push me away then why are you inviting me into your bed?"

Kagome looked down at his toes. "I'm sorry…" What else could she say?

"Fuck Kagome, I don't know what you want from me!" he exploded. "Just tell me what you want and then I'll know what to do with you!"

Kagome thumped a fist against her mattress. "I can't!"

"Why not?!"

"Because I don't know what I want! I told you!" she snapped.

Inuyasha shook his head, angrily. "How can you not know what you want?!"

"Because I want two things!" she held up two fingers to tick them off. "I want to show you that I love you in every way I possibly can! But I don't want us to change and I don't want things to turn bad between us!"

Inuyasha stared at her. "Do you love me?"

Kagome nodded helplessly. "Of course I do…" she resignedly. "Did you really need me to tell you that?"

"Yeah… it would have helped…" Now Inuyasha felt incredibly numb.

"Can't you see?" she watched him intently. "I can't give myself to someone I love… and have them treat it as if it's nothing to them." Kagome gestured at him wearily. "It would break my heart if it was just a meaningless act for you… because it would mean so much to me."

There was a pregnant pause in which Inuyasha still stood rigidly before her and Kagome just stared glassily at the floor. She kept going over what she'd just said, and her heart kept thudding mercilessly against her ribs.

Had she really just told Inuyasha that she loved him? Was it a good thing that he wasn't saying anything in response? Did he care at all about the way she felt? Did he return her feelings? Was he embarrassed and not sure how to let her down easy? Or worse - hadn't he known about her feelings and did he now pity her? Or feel guilty for the way he'd acted before?

Tears prickled behind her eyes and Kagome found a lump rising in her throat. "Oh god…" she whispered, raising a hand to hide her eyes. "I'm so stupid!" I shouldn't have said anything!

"Kagome…" Inuyasha was crouching down before her and taking her by the wrist to pull her hand away from her face. Kagome resisted - not really wanting him to see the tears (or the rather unattractive snotty nose). He used the sleeve of his haori to wipe away them from her face, and Kagome had to admit that she felt a little comforted as a result.

"I never intended for it to be meaningless." He was frowning at her in a way that told her that he had expected her to know this. "You know I'd never abuse you like that."

Kagome just sniffed, not trusting herself to speak again.

"I care about you so much, Kagome." He was holding his hands on either side of her face, forcing her to look him in the eyes as he trapped her gaze. "Why can't you see that?"

"And why can't you see that my first time will be special to me?" She asked weakly. "Can't you accept that it means a lot to me? This is a life changing decision I'm making here."

Inuyasha winced. "It's not, though!" he told her heatedly. "You say you're scared of things going bad between us - then why won't you hear me when I tell you that sex will change nothing. We'll still be the same people as before and I don't know about you but I plan to treat you the same as ever. You won't be my whore… you're my partner and you always will be."

Kagome lowered her head in an effort to fight the fresh wave of tears.

Inuyasha's forehead came to rest against her own. "You act as if there is no life after sex." He cajoled, then kissed her brow. Kagome lifted her head slowly to look at him and he took the opportunity to dip down and kiss her lips softly, chastely. "Do you know what you want yet?"

Kagome gave no indication that she'd heard him, she only stared at him as if still lost. That was pretty much a 'no' in that case. She was too indecisive about her indecision to give a proper answer. Inuyasha frowned slightly and sighed. "Look…" he said softly. "I'm going to kiss you, and I'm going to lay you down and keep kissing you, and I'm going to touch you until you tell me to stop."

Kagome breathed in sharply as she felt a familiar tingle settle between her legs. It sounded like a plan… not too threatening so long as he stuck to the rules. Kagome nodded her head slowly to give him permission. "Ok…"

She thought he would start with another chaste kiss, but he surprised her when he took advantage of her parted lips by pushing his tongue past them. The kiss was deep and penetrating, causing every nerve in Kagome's body to sing. The ache between her legs was instantly intensified and she was acutely aware of how close his hands were to that heat, riding against her thighs as they were.

Kagome barely registered the moment when Inuyasha lay her back on the mattress and covered her body with his. Her thighs parted almost instinctively to cradle his hips while her hands rested tentatively against his sides. His mouth continued to plunder hers, slowly and sensually, and Kagome loved every second of it.

Warm pleasure and a puzzling sense of comfort was washing over her as Inuyasha began laving attention on her throat. She turned her head aside to give him better access, and as a result, caught sight of the alarm clock. It was nearly half past twelve, and no sooner had the fortune been proved a fake then she was quite easily taking the next step with Inuyasha.

"Have you ever been up late at night…" Kagome murmured as his teeth scraped pleasantly against her shoulder. "…and you're really tired and you decide that it might be nice to go to bed. But then all of a sudden your mother walks in and orders you to go to bed, and suddenly you don't feel like going because she told you to do so, even though you're really, really tired anyway?"

Inuyasha continued to nibble his way back to her jaw. "Can't say that I have…"

"And then when she finally gives up and leaves you alone, you decide to give in to the tiredness and go to bed…" Kagome had to stop because Inuyasha had returned his kisses to her lips.

He pulled back long enough to gaze down at her, looking over every inch of her face. "You don't make a lot of sense… are you saying you're tired?"

"In a way…" she smiled slightly.

Inuyasha's eyes moved down to her pajama top. "I want to see you."

Kagome flushed. "What… like, naked?" When he nodded, Kagome bit her lip. "Ok… I guess."

Inuyasha stared at her, trying to see the resistance that was usually there. The doubt that normally shadowed her eyes. "Are you sure you don't want to stop…?" he asked quietly.

"Yes." She said firmly… but then her eyes darkened. "I mean… I think so."

Inuyasha leant down quickly for another kiss. "That's good enough for me-"

"Wait!" Kagome put a hand out to stop him.

"Noooo…" he whined. I knew it was too good to be true!

"Just promise me something…" she asked seriously.

"Anything." Inuyasha agreed hastily.

"Promise me that this will mean something to us." Sadness touched her eyes and tilted the corners of her mouth down. "And admit that sex is a big deal and you have to respect my rights as a virgin. Oh - and you have to promise me that you won't treat me like your biatch and you won't go running off after Kikyo at every opportunity and you won't toss me aside like a used tissue either. "

Inuyasha nearly choked. His first instinct was to protest and try and remind her that it really wasn't that big a deal and nothing would change between them… his second impulse was to demand if that was what she expected of him. But he knew that the moment he opened his mouth and contradicted her then she would bring a halt to the progress they were making. Plus, she'd probably throw him out the window, so perhaps he had better think before he spoke. "Ok…" he said slowly, somewhat grudgingly. "I promise to respect your virginal rights." Yes, then he'd show her exactly how small a deal sex was. "But you have to respect mine too."

"Sure." She waved him aside flippantly. "Just as long as you're gentle"

"Alright." He flexed his hands against her hips. "As long as you don't pull my hair."

"And no biting-" Inuyasha nipped playfully at her jaw and Kagome's eyelashes flickered. "Ok… just not the hard kind."

"Deal." He began unbuttoning her pajama shirt the way he had seen her do many times before. "As long as you don't tear my ears off when you get overexcited."

Kagome was too concerned with her imminent nudity to think of another condition to add to their growing list. She had stiffened up considerably, and Inuyasha had noticed. His hands paused on the second to last button. "What's the matter?"

"Um… nothing?" she watched his hands with scrutiny.

"You are shy, aren't you?" he said in the same incredulous tone he'd used after discovering her fear of worms.

"I'm not!" Kagome wiggled uneasily. "Just… don't look too much, ok?"

Inuyasha sighed loudly. "I've already done more than look at them, Kagome."

"…"

"How am I supposed to make this special for you when you won't let me do anything special?" he pointed out.

Kagome ground her teeth. "Fine! If you want to stare at them so badly then be my guest!" She yanked on her pajama top so hard that the last two buttons flew off entirely as her upper half was bared completely.

Inuyasha's mouth went dry.

Oh yes, it was much better than last time - he finally had enough light to see them! If she really was self-conscious, then he didn't understand why. She was perfect. Her breasts looked as firm as they had felt in his palms and light pink nipples jutted upwards as if begging for his touch. She wasn't too large or too small, not that he thought it was really possible to be either… in fact, if he had such a good looking pair of breasts on his chest then he would be flaunting them proudly.

Well… probably not. But Kagome's face really didn't need to be so red. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

"Well?" she almost barked at him after he'd stared for a moment too long.

"Well what?" He shrugged and bent to take one of those strawberry coloured nipples into his mouth.

Her embarrassment didn't seem to last long in the face of this kind of pleasure. He felt a shudder run through her body and he hoped to high heaven that it was the good kind and not of revulsion. Inuyasha was reassured slightly when he heard her little moan of arousal… or perhaps it was more of a squeak?

Her breathing was getting irregular and his was quickening in response. Slim, feminine fingers were winding into his hair in order to clutch his head, and Inuyasha noted with satisfaction that she wasn't pushing him away.

Inuyasha lifted his head a moment to regard her. "Well?" he inclined his head.

Kagome opened her eyes lazily. "Well what?" she retorted.

"Did you like that?" he asked seriously. "Or do you want me to stop?" Even though he was pretty sure that she was quite enjoying herself.

"Um… no, you can go on."

Her hesitation was actually quite endearing and Inuyasha let a small grin of amusement escape him as he moved back over her and caught her lips with his. He sensed no hesitation this time. Perhaps now she was used to his kisses and this wasn't so intimidating for her. Their lips met once, twice, and as she opened up to him and wrapped her hands around his nape, Inuyasha tried to take more from the kiss. He didn't want to go too fast and risk scaring her off - something that happened all too easily for such a stubborn girl - but his control was being tested to its limits.

He slipped past the barrier of her lips and gently coaxed her shy tongue with his own. She was more innocent than he gave her credit for, and she would probably scream and run away if she had any idea of the thoughts that were running through his head as his tongue stroked against hers. His hands shook slightly and the blood pounded through his ears. It was taking all his control to keep this simple and casual. Too much and she'd freak out. But he wanted to be inside her. No - he needed it. If he didn't get to where this was all leading then he was pretty sure that he would die of frustration.

He had to show her where this was leading. His desperation was slowly cutting away at the tether of his control, but he forced his hands to move over her lightly, betraying none of the frustration that was boiling inside of him.

But his tactics were paying off, unbeknownst to him. Kagome was slowly succumbing to the desire that was creeping up on her. Kissing was nice, but it wasn't enough. His hands gently passed over her breasts, but his touch didn't linger for long enough to be satisfying. She was overheating, she was getting restless, and all she wanted to do was pull Inuyasha closer. This was easy and natural, and suddenly it wasn't as scary as she'd imagined it to be.

"Inuyasha…" she murmured softly against his lips. She was filled to the brim with an aching that he was evoking deep inside her… it was becoming a strangely familiar sensation around Inuyasha.

Her head was swimming with haze, her limbs felt oddly heavy and when he moved his mouth to her throat again, every touch of his lips pushed her a little further into some kind of weightless reality.

Mindlessly, her hands began tugging at his shirt, jerking it free from his hakama. He sat up a moment to help her discard the article of clothing, then moved to help free her completely of her pajama top. They tumbled back onto the mattress and Kagome gasped at the feel of naked skin against her own. He was warm but damp with perspiration, much like herself, and she couldn't seem to keep her hands from roaming across the firm expanse of his chest.

Their disrobing may have been haphazard and rushed, but as soon as Inuyasha's mouth returned to her own, the pace slowed down again.

Kagome began to sense that Inuyasha was deliberately holding out on her, probably for her own sake. But here she was, abandoning herself to every new sensation that came her way, and there Inuyasha was, curbing his responses.

Inuyasha wasn't supposed to lock himself away during their first time…

"It's ok…" she whispered, scoring her nails lightly against his back. "Don't hold back for me… I'm ok…"

He made an odd sound in his throat, half a groan and half a whimper. "Kagome…"

"I don't mind…" She was past caring about anything other than her own passion. Right then she probably would have agreed to hand over all her remaining Shikon shards to Naraku so long as Inuyasha kept doing what he was doing.

The urge to tear away their remaining clothes and bury himself inside her like an animal was overwhelming. She had no idea what she was asking of him… but he took it as a good sign that she was giving permission anyhow. But even so, her whispered admission made his body burn hotter and the ache between his legs grow harder. He was helpless. She couldn't ask him to stop now… he just wouldn't be able to.

He seemed to be operating with only half his mind as he carelessly tugged her strange hakama down past her knees. The other half of his mind was consumed completely by need and desperation. His arousal was reaching the point of pain and he had to do something about it. Kagome's body was too soft and welcoming… she was playing havoc with his senses and he was becoming a slave to his pleasure.

He listened in awe to the moans she emitted when he touched her center, not really concentrating enough to set any kind of rhythm as his fingers explored her core shamelessly, trying to find the place that made her spine arch the most. The pleasure that contorted her face held him in rapture as her hands clung tightly to him.

Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore. He had to take her now.

Kagome may have been as close to mindlessness as she'd ever been in her life, but she still had some grip on her senses. A small alarm bell went off in the back of her head as she felt Inuyasha reach down to adjust his clothes.

Full blown panic hit her like a brick over the head when she felt the heavy bulge of his naked arousal prodding against her inner thigh. Her nails instantly dug into his shoulder blades as he shifted once more and for the first time she felt his hot length nudge against her core. One more slight shift and he would-

"Stop!" Kagome suddenly shrieked.

Inuyasha stilled impressively, but his chest heaved and his voice was beyond strained. "What is it now?!"

"I just remembered something!"

She sidled out from beneath him and was gone. Inuyasha had to grind his teeth to try and keep his temper in check. What the hell was she doing, anyway?!

Scrounging around under the bed, by the looks of things.

"What are you doing?" he demanded hotly.

"We need protection." She had dragged out her bag and was rummaging around inside.

"Protection from what?" He flopped onto the bed, pressing his arm against his forehead. The things he had to endure for Kagome's little eccentricities… "There aren't any demons for miles!"

"Not that kind of protection." She'd found whatever it was she was searching for, and quickly hopped back onto the bed with one arm folded across her breasts.

Inuyasha had to roll his eyes at her sense of modesty at a time like this. "Then what the hell are you on about?"

"This." She held up a small blue square between her fingers. It caught the moonlight behind her and glinted ominously. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes suspiciously. How on earth was that supposed to protect anybody?

"What is it?"

"A condom."

"I see." He didn't.

"You put it on your… thing… and it prevents pregnancy and… other things."

"I see." He still didn't.

Kagome stared at him and realized this. She sighed loudly. "Ok… I'll show you…"

Inuyasha watched with intense interest as she ripped open the little blue square and pulled something out. Whatever it was, it didn't smell entirely pleasant. Too many chemicals or medicine…

But then Kagome's hand tentatively reached out and pushed aside the folds of hakama that had fallen across his lap. Inuyasha swallowed hard when he realized what she was doing, but he was powerless to stop. Her hand closed around him gently, shakily, and he flinched as it sent a wave of pleasure through him.

However, he didn't like the fact that she seemed to be rolling some kind of balloon over his manhood. It was uncomfortably tight… and suddenly he was desensitized to her touch. "What the hell-"

"Don't take it off!" Kagome batted his hands away.

"It's too small!"

"It's the largest size there is!"

"I can't feel anything!"

"You're exaggerating!"

"Now I know how it prevents pregnancy! It prevents me from cuming all together!"

"Don't be silly!" Kagome admonished.

Inuyasha growled. "I'm taking it off!"

But Kagome caught his wrist. "If you take that off then we're not going to do anything tonight." She told him seriously.

Inuyasha glared back at her.

"It's either with the condom, or not at all." She told him firmly.

He switched his glare to the mattress as he seemed to decide something. Then he tugged his hand free with an exasperated sigh of annoyance. "Fine." He slumped onto his back. "But don't blame me when I go limp half way through."

Kagome blew out her breath noisily. "You try to make everything so difficult, don't you?"

"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you." He responded dryly.

"We don't have to do this, you know." She narrowed her eyes. "I'll quite happily go and sleep in my mother's room alone, if you want?"

She started to stand up, but Inuyasha was lightning fast in his ability to catch her elbow and tug her back down. "You don't mean that." He said as he measured her with his gaze.

"Then be nice." She smile and kissed his nose.

"I am nice." He smirked and pulled her down to the mattress so they could pick up where they'd left off. All Inuyasha had to do was ignore the uncomfortable 'komdon' thing. He kissed her mouth reckless and gently began arousing her with his hands. He kneaded her breast and tickled behind her knees, coaxing her thighs to open and cradle his hips. She complied without any resistance and very little hesitation, and that was when Inuyasha knew that she'd given in to him completely. He would have laughed with sheer triumph, but that might just put her off him again.

"Inuyasha… please…?"

His ego was already growing to dangerous proportions, and being begged was the ultimate ego stroke. This made up for the 'kingdom' on his dick, because having Kagome beg him for sex was something that would only ever have happened in his wildest dreams and fantasies… till now.

But it wasn't like she was the only one who was desperate. His breathing was ragged and he couldn't seem to get enough of her. "I need you…" he whispered hoarsely, uncaring at the neediness in his voice. "Please… have me!"

Now who was begging?

Inuyasha lifted himself up enough to see her face and witness her shy nod of acceptance. Her knee hitched higher and he groaned as his arousal came into full contact with her center again. His heart was hammering against his ribs and he could hardly keep his eyes open, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from her lovely face.

"What are you waiting for?" she panted.

"For you to scream 'stop!' at me." He grinned wryly.

"Then stop jerking around and do something." She grinned back, running her hands over his neck affectionately. "I feel like I'm about to explode."

She wasn't the only one.

Inuyasha kissed her one last time before reaching down to align himself correctly. "Ready…?" he asked, and she nodded. Her eyes closed tightly as she braced herself for the intrusion and she bit down gently on her lip.

Inuyasha bit the inside of his cheek… then pushed forward.

It wasn't pleasant or textbook simple. Kagome was simply too tight and Inuyasha was just too large to make it an easy first thrust. Inuyasha had to force himself inside her centimeter by centimeter, listening to her squeaky "ow"s and watching her face contort with pain. Even if he wanted to plunge inside her recklessly, he couldn't - she was too tense and in too much pain. Her inner walls clamped down on him mercilessly, trying to cease his invasion, but he steadily pushed onwards until he was finally settled as deep as possible inside her.

They both let out the breath they'd been holding. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"No." she squeaked, a tear or two leaking from he clenched eyes.

"Just relax." he soothed her gently.

He felt her begin to obey as her walls stopped clutching against him so tightly and she wriggled a little, trying to adjust to his size. Inuyasha could only wait, stroking her hair and closing his eyes as he reveled in this new sensation.

He was inside Kagome. Granted, she was still struggling to take all of him, but this felt better than he'd ever imagined. A shiver of pleasure ran through him as her walls squeezed him again, gently, and he pressed a little deeper into her.

Kagome's gasp in response was delicious and so he pulled back and repeated the small push again. She tightened her arms and legs around him with a moan.

"You ok?" he asked, trying hard to bridle the desire to lose control.

"I-I think so…" she breathed. "Yes."

Experimentally, Inuyasha drew back to thrust into her again, a little harder than before. Kagome's muscles tensed and she winced, but she also shifted her hips and drew him deeper.

It was an incredible sensation. She was so warm and soft that he soon forgot his vow of control and was pumping into her mindlessly, slowly and deeply, but gradually gaining speed and rhythm as their passion took over.

Kagome had given herself up completely to the pleasure. The pain had receded until all she was aware of was the pleasant fullness that Inuyasha's length gave her. She met him thrust for thrust and clung to him instinctively, riding the sensations he gave her and allowing nothing else to shadow her thoughts.

"Kagome…?"

She heard him through the pleasure filled haze and knew he was still holding back for her. He was still worried about hurting her… "It's ok…" she sucked in a sharp breath as his last thrust touched something very sensitive deep inside her. "Don't worry…"

"Kagome…" He couldn't say much more after that. She had arched and he'd surrendered helplessly to what they'd both wanted and needed.

This was more than he'd ever imagined. He held her tightly, and with a childish kind of desire he realized that he never wanted to let her go. Here in his arms she was safe. If he ever let her go she might be hurt… but here and now she was away from harm, even though that didn't seem to be enough. He wanted to hold her like this forever.

She was so fragile and delicate… so trusting. There had never been a moment since they'd been together where she'd ever doubted him, and it touched him like nothing else could. And this was the ultimate proof of her trust… allowing him to be so intimately close to her. Touching her in a place that no other person had ever touched.

His heart felt like it would burst and his body was close to shattering. He wanted to tell her something… but he didn't know what it was. His climax was approaching with shocking speed and he was fast losing coherent thought.

But just then he felt Kagome's body snap taut beneath him, and he opened his eyes in time to see her cry out his name with abandon as her body convulsed. The sight alone was enough to spark his own orgasm and he choked on a grunt as he gave a last few sporadic thrusts and his loins released.

This was beyond physical… it was something so much more that that.

Spent, Inuyasha half collapsed on Kagome as the aftermath of their act took its effect on them both. They lay panting and shivering, piecing together control over their bodies that had momentarily been snatched away from them.

Inuyasha pulled out of Kagome with a wince and pulled her close to his chest. "… ok?" he panted.

"…ok…" she agreed, equally out of breath as she stared into the distance.

"Good." He closed his eyes and tucked her close, happy to just hold her and feeling amazingly at peace with himself… even though it should have terrified him that he'd just walked into a trap. He was holding a girl he could never let go of. His promises to Kikyo and his duty towards the undead miko were now in jeopardy… but he didn't care.

As long as Kagome was still in this world, he would never be able to join Kikyo in hell. He'd never be able to leave her after this…

--------

Kagome was sore. Very sore, in fact. But that didn't bother her as much as she'd thought it would. Inuyasha was yawning behind her and settling down as if he intended to sleep. "G'Night, Kagome…" he sighed, one arm still looped around her.

But one puzzled thought continued to chase through her head.

Is that it?

"I've been thinking, Houshi-sama..."

"Yes?"

"And..."

"And?"

"And perhaps you are right." Sango bowed her head slightly. "Perhaps the best solution to our dilemna is to share body heat... intimately."

Crack out the sacrimental sake - Miroku was getting himself laid tonight!

He managed to school his expression. "I fear that may be our only solution, Sango." he said wearily, as if it were a frightful bore. "Nevertheless, shuffled this way and we shall get started."

Sango reluctantly began shuffling forward.

But just as she was within an arms length of him, she stopped. "Houshi-sama, look!" she pointed to the doorway. "The snow has stopped!"

Miroku glared at the doorway. "Oh my. So it has."

"And look! The sun is shining!"

"Oh joy."

"And there isn't even a cloud in the sky! It's almost as if someone has lifted a curse from our heads!"

"Amazing."

"With that much sun the snow is bound to melt in a few hours! We're saved."

"God dammit!"

"Excuse me?" Sango blinked at her companion.

Said companion only smiled back. "Praise the buddha!"

Someone was ringing a very loud bell next to her ear, and it wasn't a pleasant noise to wake up to. Kagome grimaced and roused herself, trying to remember where she was. It was then that she realised the ringing noise was actually the house phone that sat on her bedside table, but between her and the phone lay a very naked Inuyasha.

Beyond them was a window full of streaming sunlight and an alarm clock that told her the time was 7:12.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back and Kagoem bit her lip. Wow... had she actually done that?

Did she regret it?

She smiled when she realized... no... not really. Even if she was now very sore in her nether regions.

"Don't mind me." Kagome whispered as she leaned across Inuyaha to retrieve the phone. He merely grunted and shifted, hardly even awake yet. Kagome lifted the head set to her ear and stifled a yawn. "Hello?"

"Oh - hi, Kagome-chan!" It sounded like Ayumi.

"Oh... hi, Ayumi-chan..." Kagome was too disorientated to sound more enthusiastic.

"Just calling to ask if you'd be in school today. We have a test, is all." Ayumi told her. "I'm guessing since you're well enough to answer the phone, you're ok to come in today?"

Kagome thought for a moment. "What's the test on?"

"History - Sengoku Jidai."

Kagome gave a conniving smile. What didn't she know about the Sengoku Jidai by now? "Sure I can make it in today!"

"Great!"

"And just so you know," Kagome went on. "I think the palm reading was false. I mean - I waited a week and nothing happened to me at all!"

Ayumi's end was very silent.

"Uh... Ayumi-chan?"

"Kagome..." Ayumi said slowly. "I think you misunderstood me."

Uh oh.

"When I saw you on Thursday I said you had a week starting from Thursday, not from Monday. When I took the palm reading you had like ten days to go."

Kagome gaped at her bedroom wall. "Are you telling me that I still have till... till Thursday?" Kagome asked.

"Maybe Wednesday?" Ayumi reasoned. "Well, it'll be ok, right? You can hold out two more days, right?" Ayumi laughed. "I mean, it's not like you're a whore like Sakura Saito!"

Kagome suddenly felt very sick.

"Just remember that there will be terrible consequences." Ayumi reminded. "Oh - I have to go catch the tube - see you at school, Kagome-chan!"

"Bye..."

Kagome hung up miserably and tossed the phone onto the floor. The bang it made has Inuyasha's head shooting up. "Wha?" he snorted. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Kagome said sullenly.

"C'mere then." he hooked an arm around her waist without warning and pulled her down. "I'm not ready to get up yet... so let's just have some peace and quiet, ok?"

Kagome nodded slightly and turned into him to be closer, feeling the comfort and support he offered her.

She needed everything she could get, after all.

Fate had just screwed her over, pricelessly.

>TBC<