InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dog Skin ❯ Aching For You ( Chapter 20 )

Dog Skin

 

Chapter Twenty: Aching For You

 

The meeting with Sesshoumaru and Kagura had been short but had left Inuyasha pissed off for a good week.

 

As was within their right as Kagome and Inuyasha's King and Queen, the two youkai had ordered them to prepare for an official wedding that would happen within a week. Since Kagome was human it was necessary to follow human tradition in order to appease the visiting human lords and kings, not to mention those humans that made up the bulk of the citizenry of Kagome's homeland. While preparations were being made for that, they were also expected to organise their return to the Eastern Kingdom, which meant Inuyasha needed to deal with those of Naraku's remaining men to see where their loyalty lay.

 

Upon their arrival for the meeting, Inuyasha had noticed the two of them scent the air ever so subtly. While they said nothing, he knew that they had guessed what had occurred not too shortly before their arrival. He couldn't help the smug satisfaction he felt at knowing they knew he had taken Kagome. She was indisputably his; the smell of him on her body nearly screamed it.

 

He would be the first to admit he was a bit distracted during the meeting, only catching snippets as his mind went back to the girl beside him. Flashes of their recent activity kept coming to mind without much encouragement. All he wanted was to get her back to his rooms. If he had his way, she wouldn't be leaving the bed again until the wedding.

 

It was when several servants were called in and began to lead a worried looking Kagome away that Inuyasha had snapped back into the present only to realise he'd missed something important. What he didn't miss was that his mate was being taken away from him.

 

With a snarl he had leapt up, pulling a now shocked Kagome away from the servants. He'd manoeuvred her behind his back even as she'd tried to talk to him and calm him down. His brother's narrowed gaze had caught his attention and he'd ceased his snarling, though with some difficulty. His lip remained curled, fangs showing in an obvious threat.

 

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” Inuyasha asked Sesshoumaru, holding Kagome firmly behind him.

 

Sesshoumaru frowned. “I have already explained myself. Your mate's honour will be protected. She will be placed under watch in the rooms connected to yours.”

 

God-damn fucking politics!

 

And so it was that for that week he was never allowed to be alone with his mate. What had been an easy temptation to ignore before was damn near impossible now. On the first night he had tried to sneak in to be with her, only to find several youkai ladies sleeping in the room with her. Unlike the human servants he had expected, the females had posed a slightly greater threat to his person. They had their orders from their lord and when the sliding door that separated his room from Kagome's had slid open, they had been alert and ready for him.

 

It was dangerous to come between a male and his mate, but even Inuyasha was wary of the threat twelve very pissed off females could be to his person. He'd backed off with a low growl, promising revenge on his brother one day.

 

After that he had stalked her movements when free to do so. On top of preparing their return to his new kingdom, he had to help Sesshoumaru finalise the treaties with the other kingdoms. To add to that he'd found that most of her day was spent surrounded by the ladies of the court in the feasting hall. The gardens were no longer a suitable place for them to gather since the autumn chill had set in. Their main topic of conversation was on preparations for the human wedding that Miroku would perform. Though he was Buddhist and she was Shinto, she hadn't wanted it any other way. Many of the youkai females were excited since they had never seen a human ceremony for mating before. They babbled constantly about it, his mate patiently answering their questions again and again. Comparisons would sometimes arise and this was when they would tease her about her wedding night. Their comments were discreet for the sake of the female human ears around them, but it was obvious that they were alluding to her mated scent. She could only blush at this and he smirk from his hidden position.

 

He'd noted Kagura's presence among the women at times, though she appeared not to enjoy it quite as much as Kagome. It looked as if Kagome was in her element with the women while the wind witch was awkward and silent. Being a Queen now, she would have to get used to the social side of it.

 

He'd thanked the kami when the opportunity to be alone with Kagome had finally presented itself after a long week of covert surveillance. His unnatural patience had finally paid off.

 

The moment she'd exited the room after excusing herself from the group, he was there, taking hold of her and dragging her into a near by corridor to press her to the wall, his mouth falling hungrily to hers. It only took a moment's encouragement before she was pressing back against him, her dainty fingers twining into his hair to tug and sooth as their lips pressed together, their tongues reacquainting themselves in desperate caresses. On a groan he'd slid his hand over the silk of her kimono to slide over the rounded cheek of her behind. A whimper from her when he squeezed it told him she liked the touch, exciting him further. He desperately wanted to pull her legs around his waist and press himself against her, but knew the damnable kimono did not allow for such actions.

 

Just when he'd been seriously considering pulling her kimono up around her hips to take her there, his ears had caught the creak of the floorboards that warned of another's approach. Immediately the two had frozen. When another creak had followed, they'd pulled apart, panting heavily as they'd stared into each other's arousal darkened eyes.

 

With a low growl of frustration Inuyasha had curled his fingers around the nape of her neck and drawn her close for a quick kiss.

 

“Soon,” he'd said in a murmur against her lips before he'd disappeared down the corridor and around a corner.

 

The wedding ceremony had nearly killed him.

 

There she'd knelt beside him, dressed in her wedding kimono of sun, moon and star light. The fur mantel, having been cleaned and fixed, was draped over her shoulders, unable to fit over the layers. She'd been beautiful, her hair pinned up, her cheeks a soft pink while her eyes sparkled happily.

 

And all he'd wanted was to take her away and strip her of those layers to see the body he had been denied up to this point.

 

Her voice had been steady as she swore her vows to him and took a sip from the cup of sake handed to her. He had done the same, unable to take his eyes off of her while going through the motions. When the ceremony was over, he'd hoped they could just slink off, but unfortunately a feast had been planned, during which Sesshoumaru's guests toasted their union.

 

Finally, Kagome had been lead away by servants. When he'd had the chance, he'd hurried after her, not even looking for permission from his brother.

 

Now, he stood before the shoji to his rooms, a clawed hand resting on the sliding door. Tonight he would be with his mate and wife unobstructed. Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha slid back the door and stepped in.

 

Kagome knelt in the middle of their room, servants fluttering around her as they prepared her for her wedding night. Her hair hung loose down her back, the fur mantle having already been removed. At his entrance all movement stopped and the servants turned to look at him in surprise. Kagome followed their gazes to look at him over her shoulder.

 

“Inuyasha-sama,” Kagome said, her smile, the one he hoped to see everyday, spreading across her face.

 

Kami, how he wanted her.

 

“Out!”

 

The servants glanced at one another, unsure of the command. Kagome's lip twitched, her eyes twinkling in her sudden amusement.

 

“Inuyasha-sama,” one servant managed to say, her voice trembling, “we haven't finished undressing Kagome-sama yet.”

 

He didn't even look at the girl, his eyes glued to Kagome's smiling face as she waited for him, a smirk slipping on to his lips in answer. “Don't bother. I can take care of it. Now leave us before I get pissed off.”

 

Exchanging blushing looks, the servant girls bowed to the two royals before hurrying from the room, the door sliding closed firmly behind them.

 

In a second he was at her side, pulling at the obi to release her form. He ignored her raised brows as he worked. His claws made short work of the ties at each layer, the shimmering materials quickly stripped from her and thrown to drape about the room without concern. Having finally divested her of the final kimono and left her in a plain white under kimono, Kagome stopped him.

 

“Inuyasha,” she said, placing her hands on his to still them, “please, slow down.”

 

He focused on their hands where they rested on the ties to the yukata; her's were trembling. Taking them into his, he brushed his thumbs over the back, hoping to sooth her, before looking up into her face. She was still smiling, but it was a weak smile and the healthy glow on her cheeks was missing. Did this have something to do with that bastard?

 

Being sure to move slowly he brought his hand to her cheek to run his fingers up her jaw and into her hair, his thumb passing softly over her cheekbone. Their eyes locked and he read the unnecessary insecurity in hers. Moving his fingers in soothing circles he waited until her trembling faded and the flush he found so endearing had returned to her cheeks, her lashes drifting closed.

 

His approach changed at this, the urgency was gone as he became coaxing, his touches soft and encouraging. He allowed her some control over the situation, letting her undress him and glide her hands over his skin in exploration. Actually, he would have liked her to continue her exploration, her feather light touches over the skin of his chest and nipples sending shivers down his spine, but there was still the issue of her yet covered body. He was even willing to let her remove the white yukata that acted as the final barrier to her body, but her hands froze on the ties. Not liking the distant gaze nor the once again sallow colour that overcame her face after he'd managed to bring back the healthier blush, he took her mouth in a distracting kiss before finishing the job himself.

 

She squealed when he pushed her back into the futon, her legs automatically curling around his hips as he crouched over her. He greedily took her breast into his mouth, causing her to arch into him as she cried out in pleased surprise. He would not give her a moment to think of unhappy or fearful thoughts, only feel.

 

Her hands ghosted over him again, leaving behind a tingling trail in their wake. When a finger teased the edge of his ear, he groaned his appreciation. Needing little more encouragement, he rubbed himself against her entrance tenderly, enjoying the feel of her wetness coating him before he slid into her, her wet heat welcoming in his sensitised state. Her moan of satisfaction rang in his ears.

 

Claws trailed delicately over the skin of her ribcage till he found her hip, his fingers splaying to cup her bottom. His other hand supported him above her so he could watch her expressions as he built them up slowly, keeping his movements long and slow, allowing her to meet them with her own until she was clawing at him, her nails digging into the skin of his back as she clung to him. It was then that the urgency overcame his control and he began moving faster, his strokes shallower as his pelvis met hers with increased force.

 

This time he was able to hold out until her muscles started to clench and grip him, her mewling cries pushing him over the edge. He growled his release into the room, the volume sure to make it heard throughout the upper floor.

 

With boneless satisfaction, he collapsed on top of her, their sweat slicked skin sliding together, her breasts crushed between them. He didn't want to move, but managed to shift enough to the side to relieve her of his weight. He couldn't help but feel smug at the sound of her laboured breathing and the pleasure-dazed look that still lingered in her eyes.

 

“That was…,” she said on a breathy sigh.

 

“I know,” he said, unable to look away from her, knowing a stupid grin was plastered on his face.

 

She curled up into him, legs tangled with his while he draped his arm over her. He was still wide awake and ready to go again, but the day had been a long one for her and it would be best if he let her sleep a little. Besides, the night was still young. Instead he pulled the blanket around them to protect her from the night chill.

 

His mind drifted about in a haze of happiness until his brothers words came back to him. It had been after Kagome had purified him, when Sesshoumaru had sent her to Kagura. He had thought his brother had wished to remind him of his responsibilities, but that had not been the case. Instead, Sesshoumaru had handed him a small metal hanko. It was cylindrical, perhaps the diameter of his pinkie finger, with the etching of his family lines symbol on one flat end. Such things were often used for legal documents, but this one felt different. It had an aura of its own.

 

“It is used for binding contracts,” Sesshoumaru had said in explanation.

 

Inuyasha had given him a confused frown in response. “And what the fuck am I supposed to do with it?”

 

Sesshoumaru had looked away in apparent disinterest, before standing and moving to the shoji. He'd stopped to look back at Inuyasha with a calculating gaze. “Otou-sama intended to use it to bind your Okaa-sama to him for eternity, much as weak demons will sometimes do with humans. He died before it could be done.”

 

He had left after that, leaving Inuyasha to think about the choices he'd been presented with. Creating a contract with Kagome would ensure she would be connected to him forever; his demonic energy would be imbued in her, bestowing her with longevity. She would be safe and secure with him since no demon could challenge such a contract, annulling the fear of being ripped apart if a challenger to his land and claim were to win. It may even provide protection for her if he ever turned full-demon on her again.

 

But would Kagome want to be bound to him for eternity? Sure, they got along fairly well, and the sex was amazing, but there had been no words spoken of love. At this moment their marriage was viewed purely as a political arrangement among the human lords, just as most royal unions were. The demon lords perhaps saw the devotion that had already developed between them, but love would never be expected.

 

A finger touched his frowning brow. He jumped, looking down at a worried Kagome in surprise. He hadn't even realised she was awake.

 

“What are you thinking about so seriously?” she asked, giggling just a little at his reaction.

 

He sighed and curled around her more, forcing her head beneath his chin.

 

“Nothing.”

 

She pushed at his chest, putting an arms length distance between them. He instantly missed the warm press of her body against his. He tried to pull her back to him, but she refused, her eyes narrowing in warning. He didn't miss the challenge in her eyes.

 

“It's nothing, I said. Now go to sleep, wench.” He growled low in annoyance.

 

He wasn't ready for the yank he received on his forelock. His eyes widened in surprise as her now annoyed gaze met his.

 

“You're not going to keep things from me, you got it? I expect you to trust and respect me enough to tell me everything. Now tell me what's wrong!” Her eyes were shining with annoyance bordering on anger. A part of him wondered what she would look like when anger was dominant.

 

Apart from the fact that her `not keep things from me' made him want to laugh in her face because of her history, his instincts were strongly displeased by her behaviour. Still, something deep inside warned him not to test her. With a snarl he forcefully removed her fingers from his hair and pulled away from her, sitting up in their futon to put distance between them. He could see her sudden surprise at his move from the corner of his eye. When it shifted to thinly veiled hurt he felt like shit.

 

“Look,” he said, forcing the words out in a gruff voice, “it's just something that ass, Sesshoumaru, said, ok?” He hoped that would be enough for her.

 

“What did he say?”

 

Goddamn, nosy, bitch! He took a deep, calming breath. “He mentioned something about our Otou-sama and my Okaa-sama. It was nothing.”

 

She looked sceptical. “If it was nothing, you wouldn't be making such a big deal about it.”

 

Inuyasha realised then that he didn't have a choice anymore. If she wanted to know, then he'd just have to tell her, because it was obvious she wasn't going to be giving up anytime soon. Besides, he'd have to tell her eventually. Ultimately, it would be her decision.

 

“Fine, wench, you wanna know, then I'll tell ya,” he said roughly, folding his arms and staring at the wall. “My Otou-sama planned to bind my Okaa-sama's soul to him to prolong her life. He planed to use the contract weaker demons sometimes make with humans to increase their powers and strength. He didn't need strength, but I guess the old man thought it would work to keep Okaa-sama with him.”

 

In his periphery he could see her working through the information, trying to find what had made him so defensive.

 

“They must have loved each other very much,” she said softly.

 

“Keh,” he said, avoiding commitment to such a personal question.

 

“Did it work?” she asked.

 

“He died before he could do it,” he said, his frown unconsciously deepening.

 

She was quiet for a moment and he was grateful for that. She looked thoughtful, her hand picking at the blanket.

 

“And… you want to try it on me?” she finally said, her brow quirked in question.

 

His eyes met hers, a heated blush on his cheeks. “No!” The hurt in her eyes had him back-pedaling immediately. “I mean, yes.” Fear replaced the hurt and he growled in agitation, throwing his hands in the air. “I don't fucking know, ok?”

 

She pulled the blanket up to her chin and bit her lip. His annoyance increased as she appeared to be trying to hide from him. He suddenly had the urge to yank the blanket from her and expose her body to his gaze so that he could touch and play with her at his leisure. She had no right to hide from him. But he stamped down on those urges and thoughts when she focused a piercing look on him.

 

“What?” He snapped the word out between his teeth.

 

She shrugged. “Well… would you have wanted my Okaa-sama to do it?”

 

He was wary, his body stiff with the urge to run or fight strong. This had to be a trap. “I didn't know about it back then.”

 

She waved that off. “But if you had; would you have wanted to?”

 

Inuyasha shook his head, steadfastly refusing to answer. “It doesn't matter. She wouldn't have let me.”

 

This had her pausing in her interrogation, the blanket lowering just a bit with the rise of her interest. “Why do you say that?”

 

“Keh.” Inuyasha turned away, giving Kagome his back. “Kikyou was kind, thoughtful and generous. She was completely devoted to humanity and her calling as a miko. She chose Naraku because of that devotion.”

 

She moved behind him, her hand sliding up his bare back to rest on his shoulder as her breasts brushed his back and arm. His breath caught and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her head was tilted to get a good look at him. A small smile lit up her face and eyes.

 

“Eh? What's that look for?” he asked, confused and just a little on edge.

 

She gave a little shrug. “I like it that you would trust and care for me enough to give me the chance to choose for myself. Especially when you would never have done so for the woman you once loved.”

 

His brows rose at her words and he realised that was just what he had unwittingly done. When it came to this young woman, all of his defences were useless. She'd gotten deeper under his skin then he'd thought possible.

 

“I think,” she said, pressing her face into his shoulder and inhaling his scent with her eyes closed, “that I would like to be tied to you for eternity, one day.”

 

His heart gave a jump. She had not just said that. He'd heard her wrong, he had to have - there was no way she'd really announced that….

 

“It's painful,” he said, barely recognising the raspy tone of his own voice. “The binding is not without its price.”

 

Soft lips feathered across the skin of his shoulder. He clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes shut against the reaction her words and actions where eliciting from his body. He suddenly wanted her; not just with the physical yearning that had plagued him all week like a famine. He wanted all of her. He didn't want to share her with anyone and he never wanted to leave her side. More than anything he wanted to join with her, plunge deep inside her heart and body and stay there forever.

 

He was keenly aware of the shaky breath she took, the sudden stillness of her body and the press of her cheek against his back. He remained silent, waiting for her.

 

“If…,” she said before pausing. He could imagine her biting her lip, searching for the words. “If this need I feel to be near you; the worry I constantly suffer for you when you're away; the security I feel only when I'm in your arms is… is love… then I don't think I could live with the idea of ever leaving you alone. I'm too selfish for that.”

 

There was complete and utter silence after her confession. Even Inuyasha's heart had stopped for a few moments.

 

Slowly he turned. She was looking up at him now, her vulnerability and fear at her confession clearly showing on her face and in her eyes. He understood better than anyone what it was like to expose yourself and possibly have your emotions thrown back in your face. Holding her gaze, he swept her mussed hair from her shoulder, tucking strands behind her ear. “If that is love, then I'm guilty of the same selfishness.”

 

A brilliant smile was his reward. Her small hand took hold of his where it still held her hair tucked behind her ear. She squeezed his fingers. “Whenever you're ready, I'll be ready,” she said, clearly thinking he'd need time to prepare.

 

He nodded and stood, his hand slipping from hers as her blush reappeared. He had made no attempt to cover himself and it seemed she had gone into shock at his immodesty and, he dared hope, at what she'd glimpsed before averting her eyes.

 

With an inward grin, Inuyasha moved to his closet, sliding open a shoji and kneeling to pull out a small chest. Inside were writing brushes, paper, hardened ink blocks and a grinding stone. It was also where he had placed the hanko. Removing it, he closed up the box once more and replaced it in the closet. Closing the door, he stood and returned to Kagome who had been watching him with interest and, disappointingly enough, had also pulled the blanket back up to cover her. At his approach she averted her gaze as the blush returned in full force.

 

“I-I… won't we need the paper and ink? I can write up the contract if you'd like,” she said, not looking at him until he was once again covered by the blankets.

 

“There's no need for paper. Your body is the contract,” he said, holding the small cylinder up for her to inspect.

 

Wide eyed she took it, looking it over carefully before handing it back to him, clearly confused. “I don't understand. How can my body be a contract? There are no words on it to bind us.”

 

Inuyasha took back the hanko, his brow furrowed as he tried to remember the few times he had seen a contract struck between a human and lesser demon. “The words we speak are the contract. Usually the demon will inhabit the human's body and only come out to defend them. They leave a mark on them automatically as an entrance and exit to the body and so they don't use a hanko. But since I will not be residing in you, it is necessary to use one.” He was starting to understand how his father had come up with this idea.

 

“Well, then what should I say?” She was fidgeting, her fingers twisting the blanket folds in her lap.

 

He swept her hair from her shoulder, trying to keep his movements casual so as not to frighten her. “Do you freely give yourself to me?” he asked, resting his hand on her shoulder.

 

Her head tilted and she hesitated only a moments. “I freely give myself to you.”

 

The prick of a claw on her shoulder went unnoticed by Kagome. He watched as blood welled up, creating a rounded drop like sealing wax. The metal stamp was heating in his fingers and he braced himself for what he had to do. He had told her it would hurt. He had not been lying.

 

Moving quickly and without hesitation, he pressed the engraved end, now red hot, into Kagome's blood and flesh. Immediately she tensed and tried to move away from him. His hand moved from her shoulder to tangle it in her hair, gripping the back of her neck to keep her still. Their eyes met; hers wide in a pale face, her lips pursed in pain, while he knew that his was twisted in anguish from being the cause of that pain. The temptation to end the ritual was strong, but then he felt the tug on his demonic aura as it was dragged to the surface, attracted to the conduit the stamp and blood had created.

 

Tapping her lightly with his aura, he tested the opening he had created into her soul. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. A freedom and power he was not aware existed resided within her so vastly that it was like entering a new world. She was strong, for a human, and so pure. His demon half desired that strength while his human side was dazzled by the purity. Then his demonic aura expanded and took over, leaving him unaware of the purple stripes that had formed on his cheeks as his soul plunged in, intent on exploring.

 

Kagome arched in reaction to his soul's possession of her. It didn't hurt, but it was unexpected and uncomfortable, like she was cramped for room in her own body. Her hands fluttered to his wrist, uncaring of the blanket falling from her as she tried to pull his hand away. She could smell the nauseating scent of her flesh burning and tried pulling harder. But his hand didn't budge and mounting fear began to consume her at being held in such a manner and having no control over the situation. Her inability to escape the pain being inflicted on her was adding panic to her fear, a dangerous combination.

 

“Inu… yasha…,” she said between white lips, her hands still trying to dislodge him.

 

His eyes were still golden though the stripes were there, but his gaze was distant, inverted and introspective. His ear twitched at the sound of her voice and he seemed to struggle to rise to the surface. His eyes flicked first to hers before being drawn down to her breasts, staying there long enough for her to begin to fidget in discomfiture and pull on his hand again to distract him.

 

Inuyasha finally managed to look where her hands were so insistently tugging at him. He became aware of the rapidly cooling hanko and the scent of burnt flesh. Releasing the metal cylinder to fall where it may, he tugged her to him with the hand on the back of her neck. Without thought he covered the blistered and burnt flesh on her shoulder with his mouth, lapping and soothing it with his tongue. She whimpered and cried against him, struggling to move away. His demon half was still too close to the surface for his instincts to tolerate anything but her complete submission, and the smell of her fear and pain inflamed his mind. Firming his grip on her neck he continued tending to her burns while his free hand found one of the breasts that had so captivated him when he'd first begun to come back to himself.

 

If it was possible, she tensed even more.

 

He removed his mouth from her burn with a frustrated growl, his golden eyes flashing in warning as they met hers, cheeks wet from tears. “You will not fear me,” he said, commanding her obedience. “I warned you that it would hurt, now let me take care of you.”

 

She bit her lip. “I kn-know, it just hurts so much, I wasn't expecting-” She grimaced as a jolt of pain ran through her. She tried to get a look at the damage, but Inuyasha held firm and she could only get the vaguest impression of redness from her periphery. “That bad, huh?”

 

His only response was a grim nod before he returned his attention to her burn. Surprisingly, his hand also returned to her breast. It was a distraction from the pain on her shoulder that she gladly latched onto. His fingers kneaded her soft flesh, pinching and tugging at her taut nipple with such skill that soon he had her body humming, even through the pain she still suffered.

 

When his hand trailed down, claw tracing around her belly button before continuing down to push the blanket aside and cup her sex, Kagome couldn't help the moan of pleasure that escaped her. Even as he continued to lap at her shoulder, his fingers slid against her, a content growl rumbling in his chest. He played with her centre and her lower body squirmed in delight while she tried to keep her upper body still.

 

Completely numb to the pain now, Kagome clung to Inuyasha's shoulders, her nails digging into his skin, her forehead resting against his chest as she breathed harshly. She'd squeezed her eyes shut, but opened them when his breathing became harsh in her ear. She could see him, hard and erect, not far from her as he curled over her for better access at the burn. She'd never really got a good look at him, either because of his eagerness or due to her modesty. Now she stared at him openly, faintly curious at the strange hard and straight contours of a man's body and sex. It twitched, as though aware she was looking at it, and her eyes widened in surprise. It almost made her want to laugh.

 

Releasing his shoulder she trailed her hand down his chest, curious to see what it felt like. She only had a moment to touch him, enough time to be aware that the tip was slick and the skin silky smooth. At her touch though, Inuyasha reacted violently, pulling away from her with a groan and yanking her away from him. His eyes burned into hers, his hunger evident, before he turned her head away, forcing her body to twist.

 

“On your hands and knees, bitch.” His voice was guttural as he issued the command. She felt the urge to disobey rise in her, but her eyes were drawn to the familiar stripes and the pressure he placed on her body left her no option but to obey.

 

Her shoulder gave a twinge as she moved, stretching the skin uncomfortably, but it didn't hurt as much as she expected. She blinked in surprise when Inuyasha released her neck and hair once she was in the position he had demand.

 

His hands came to rest on her hips; his knees pressing hers apart until she was wide open for him. She expected him to enter her right away, breathing heavily in mounting anticipation. Instead, he did something she had never dreamed possible. From between her arms and legs she saw him crouch down, twist his head and press his face against her slick sex, forcing out a strangled whimper. When his tongue slid against her she threw her head back and cried out in satisfaction. It felt so good, his tongue lapping at her hungrily, searching for and finding more of her slick wetness.

 

He slid his tongue deep inside of her and lapped from the origin of her smell and taste. He could feel her muscles reacting. With a growl of excitement, he slid his tongue out and over her nub before plunging deep into her and triggering her release. Her cries as she lost control of her body filled his ears like music, and he ate up her offering greedily.

 

When her body suddenly shifted from him with a jerk, he pulled back from her, allowing some of her slick juice to trickle down her thighs. His concern was rewarded with the sight of her bottom high in the air while her front had seemingly given out on her. She was breathing heavily, eyes dazed, hair sticking to her in strands from the sweat coating her body. He leaned over her, pressing himself to her as he gently removed the hair from the damaged skin on her shoulder.

 

She whimpered as he ground against her, her eyes squeezing shut. “I- I can't, it's too much, I can't!”

 

“Shhh, aisai,” he said in a murmur, once again lapping at her shoulder until her legs began to tremble. He pulled back, removing his weight from her and giving her added support as he grasped her hips. She looked at him from the corner of eye, clearly tired. “Soon I'll let you sleep, but I'm not done with you yet.”

 

She shuddered as he pressed into her, her body needing little encouragement to welcome his, her vaginal walls still slick from the first orgasm. Once his head was in, he thrust hard and deep into her, causing them both to grunt at the force of contact.

 

This wasn't like the other times; she knew that immediately when he started to move. His touch was possessive, his every thrust dominant and controlling. The purple stripes on his cheeks had not faded and the part of her brain still functioning as the onslaught of sensation built up once more was pretty sure they had something to do with his uncharacteristic behaviour. It wasn't frightening; he wasn't trying to hurt her, just … trying to keep her, hold her, control her in a manner that made her feel as if their souls were running together in the same way they'd done while he'd used the hanko. If he tried it in their daily lives, she wouldn't stand for it, but here, in this context, she found it just a little bit thrilling. Wanting to participate and show him her willingness to join with him, she moved back against him on his next thrust.

 

“Fuck… bitch…” he growled out, his hands leaving her hips and closing around her breasts only to pull her up against him.

 

She cried out in sudden pain when her burn made contact with his chest and the salty sweat covering it. He moved quickly to sooth it, never loosing rhythm as he pulled her down on him even as he thrust up.

 

“Mine,” he said in a growl against her shoulder, “only mine.”

 

She cried out again, this time in anything but pain as he hit something deep inside her, her head thrown back against him as he hit it again and again. She reached up to his head, grasping his ear delicately and playing with the softness. “Yours,” she said on a moan as he hit the spot again, “and mine.”

 

His thrusts came harder and faster, a growl rumbling through his chest, his hands on her breasts bruising with the grip he had on them, astonishingly only adding to the pleasure with the increased strength of his touch. The sensations were building, one on top of the other and she felt as though her body were being torn apart as she searched for her release.

 

She turned her face, pressing it against his cheek. “Inuyasha… please, I can't….” It was too much. Her body was one pulsing, aching need of completion. Everything pushed for it; her hands moving feverishly over his skin, her mouth moving over his face and lips, every touch encouraging and taking at the same time.

 

“Then give in,” he said with a grunt, “give yourself over to me completely.”

 

She gasped as a shot of pleasure spread through her and bit him on the jaw. “Give… yourself to… me… too,” she said, as something as close to a wicked smile as she could manage slipped on to her lips.

 

An answering grin crossed his face. “Bitch,” he said fondly, nipping teasingly at her nose.

 

With that she relaxed, giving her body over to him, the building pleasure reaching the peak and taking her over and dragging him along with her. She called out his name in a long moan and went completely rigid; her inner muscles rippling around him and pulling him in, trying to take him deeper. A roar of fulfillment was ripped from him as, with a final thrust, he released into her.

 

As the tension eased from his body he sat back on his heals and pulled her down into his lap. His hands moved over her tender breasts languorously, his mouth automatically going to her healing burn to sooth it some more. Already the magic produced burns and blisters had faded. Only a bit of redness and the small symbol from the engraving burned into her flesh remained. He could still feel the pull of it on his aura, but it was faint and easily ignored.

 

Kagome's breathing was still heavy, her head resting back on his shoulder, her body limp, almost boneless in its relaxed state. He was smug with the knowledge that he had worn her out again, until he realised he was equally worn. Startled as his body began to tremble from fatigue, Inuyasha moved to lie them down, never letting go of his companion. Kagome whimpered in a mix of relief and disappointment when he removed himself from her, but quickly curled against him when he settled her on top of him, her ear over his heart and hair pulled to the side away from the burn.

 

“It's pulsing,” she said, her voice faint but full of wonder, her eyes closed, “in time with your heartbeat.” She drifted off after that, a faint smile on her lips.

 

They're skin was rapidly cooling and the cold of the night air became unbearable once more. He shifted again, his body almost leaden with his fatigue, and drew the blanket over them. Worries crowded the back of his mind. He had not expected the burn to be so severe, or the draw of his soul to hers to be so strong. It had dragged his instincts to the surface and upon first coming to himself he'd worried that he had harmed her in his excitement. She seemed fine now, but the morning could still bring a tender and temperamental female.

 

Heavy lidded eyes locked onto his family's symbol, the kanji for “White Fang”, engraved eternally into his mates flesh. Whatever her mind-frame was come the morning, they were stuck with each other now and would have to work through it. For the rest of their lives it would be that way, and Inuyasha could only hope that they had made the right choice.

 

***

A/N: So, yeah, this was supposed to be an epilogue, wasn't it…? Geeze, o_O what happened. *scratches back of head* Guess there was a little more to the story then I thought there was. My bad.

 

Thank you very much for all the reviews! I do so love all of your reviews.

 

Thanks to Miffuny for her fan art as well! Just remove the spaces and it can be seen here; www .deviantart. com/ view/ 34241734/

 

^3^ to Midoriko-sama for the scrumptious beta work.