InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Love ❯ Finding Kagome ( One-Shot )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: inufan625 
Finding Kagome
EDITS...
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 05.20.2006 | Updated On: 05.23.2006 | Pages: 7 | Words: 9.8K | Visits: 8.4K | Status: Completed
Finding Kagome
EDITS...
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 05.20.2006 | Updated On: 05.23.2006 | Pages: 7 | Words: 9.8K | Visits: 8.4K | Status: Completed
A/N: Just a oneshot that popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone. The story line is nothing new to fanfic or the manga (well except the LEMONS) any way here it is... And don't worry it will in no way delay the new chapter or Unfettered, which I just posted.
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, and I will make no money off this work of fiction...
The young miko smiled to herself as she picked up her backpack and set off for the village. It was her hope that having brought a bag of potato chips and extra ramen, along with her early return would put her favorite hanyou in a good mood, and that maybe it would even make him amicable enough to allow them a serious discussion, that would perhaps change their relationship for the better.
Kagome surprised herself with just how optimistic she was being and took it as a good omen for things to come, as she had been a little down lately. She sang softly as she headed for Kaede’s.
The elderly miko looked up and greeted Kagome with smile as she pushed the reed mat over the door aside and stepped inside. “Welcome child, though I thought you were not to return until tomorrow.”
“It didn’t take me as long as I thought to get caught up, and I actually managed to pass all my tests the first time, so I didn’t have to stay and retake any of them.” Kagome replied. “Where is everyone anyway?”
“Sango and Houshi-dono have not returned from repairing her weapon at the slayer’s village.” Kaede told her. “The young kitsune went with them as well, but InuYasha is down near the lower fields helping clear some new land. The village has grown much and prospered over these last few years without having to deal with youkai attacking. More crops are needed.”
Kagome giggled. “I’ll bet he put of quite a fuss and grumbled about pathetic humans, but never actually refused to help. I would have loved to have seen that.”
“Aye that he did.” Kaede chuckled.
“I think I’ll go see how things are going and let him know that I came back.” Kagome said after a moment. “Which fields is he in exactly.”
“Just take the road out of the village and follow it, taking the right split when it curves back around the river and you will find him.” Kaede replied.
It did strike her as odd that the back was entirely covered so that one could not see what was inside and that the men on both sides of the wagon had swords, even if they were dressed like common villagers, but she shrugged it off as unimportant.
As she passed the back she thought she heard soft crying and paused, wondering if maybe there was something wrong or if perhaps someone was ill and these people were seeking help from a miko.
“Excuse me.” She said kindly. The wagon stopped and all of the men turned to look at her. “I heard crying and I wondered if you might be seeking aid. If that is the case, the village ahead has a miko who is very talented with healing.”
A shiver of apprehension went up her spine as the man who had been driving nodded to the others and they approached her. Without thinking she took a step back.
“Get her before she makes a run for it.” One ordered.
Kagome’s eyes opened wide and her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. She looked back toward the village and at the road ahead. She was too far from the fields and the village for anyone to hear her scream. The young miko turned and took off at a run.
A loud groan escaped her and she was tackled to the ground. For a moment the wind was knocked out of her and it allowed her to be bound, with her hands behind her back and a gag in her mouth. Even still Kagome struggled against the arms holding her as they dragged her to the cart.
One man opened gate and she was lifted and shoved inside. “She’ll fetch good price with those light eyes even if she has seen a few too many summers.”
Kagome tried to see in the darkness as the cloth was dropped back over the gate. Thankfully a little light was let in at the bottom where the wind would occasionally blow the fabric up away from the sides of the wagon. There were about seven other girls with her all a little younger than she and all crying.
She fought the urge to panic that was welling up inside her, knowing that it would do no good. She forced herself to think. InuYasha was at the fields and he might be there all day, so no one would know she was gone until perhaps late in the evening since Kaede wouldn’t worry until InuYasha returned without her.
InuYasha will come for me, but it will be hard to track me after so long... What can I do? Kagome’s brow furrowed as she concentrated on remembering everything InuYasha had mentioned in passing about tracking. Blood! He said that the smell of blood takes a long time to fade. That he can usually smell a battle field for weeks even after it has rained. If I can leave a trail for him to follow...
She looked around and noted the there were many jagged edges to the wooden cage around her. She scooted back on her bottom until she could feel the wood and then closed her eyes preparing herself for the pain. Her courage steeled she drove the tender flesh of her palm down onto a piece of jagged wood. Thankfully her gag muffled her cry.
The young miko could feel something wet and hot rolling across her skin and she knew that she had succeeded. She hung her hands over the edge of the wagon behind her and let her blood fall down onto the dry earth. As time passed she would reopen the wound or clench her fist to make sure that the blood was still leaving a trail to follow.
When he entered he was greeted by his traveling companions and the elderly miko. “InuYasha, where is Kagome?”
“How the hell should I know?” InuYasha asked, sitting down against the wall, feeling the change upon himself. “She’s probably out with those stupid human girls or that dumb homo.”
“Kagome returned before midday, having finished with her time sooner that expected.” Kaede informed the hanyou turned human. “She wished to see you so I sent her down to the fields.”
InuYasha’s head snapped up. “What? I never saw her... You better not be fucking with me baba.”
“Surely you do not think I would jest about something so serious InuYasha.” Kaede replied with a frown.
“Maybe she went back home.” Shippou offered. “Maybe you were mean to her and just don’t want to admit it.”
“Shippou, I do not think InuYasha would have us worry about Kagome-sama if that were the case.” Miroku said. “After all we all already know what a baka he can be. We would not be surprised.”
“Oi...” InuYasha protested, coming to his feet.
“Where are you going?” Sango asked.
“I’m going to look for that stupid wench.” InuYasha explained. “Who knows what kind of trouble she’s gotten herself into.”
“InuYasha, you cannot hope to track Kagome-sama in the dark without your hanyou senses. It would make more sense to get a goodnight’s rest and set out with the sunrise when your powers return.” Miroku offered reasonably.
“I can’t just sit here!” he yelled, revealing that he cared far more about the human girl than he should. “What if a youkai has her or worse that stinking wolf? Besides Shippou is a youkai. He can track her.”
“Me?” Shippou squeaked.
“Yes, you.” InuYasha snorted. “Now come on.”
The young kitsune followed a human InuYasha reluctantly. “How am I supposed to track her?”
InuYasha made a sound like a very human growl. “You search for her scent on the air and then follow it. Don’t you know anything? Now do you smell her?”
“I-I-I don’t know.” Shippou sniffled. “I can’t... What does she smell like?”
“What?!” InuYasha bellowed. “She’s practically your fucking mother and you don’t know what she smells like?!” He grabbed the kit by his bushy tail and held him at eye level. “What the hell kind of youkai are you?”
Shippou burst into tears. “How am I supposed to know how to track? My father didn’t have a chance to teach me.”
The young hanyou dropped the boy and looked at him as he cried in the dirt. Sure he himself had been able to track at Shippou’s age, but that was because it had been learn or die. He hadn’t found a beautiful and kind miko to take him in and provide for him. While Shippou had been a little young to learn when they had found him, he wasn’t now and so InuYasha knew he had no one to blame but himself. Who else had he expected to teach the kid about being a youkai.
“I’m sorry...” Shippou wailed. “I want to find Kagome.”
“Keh, I know you do.” InuYasha admitted quietly. “Let’s go back to Kaede-baba’s. There ain’t nothing we can do until sunrise. Tomorrow I’ll start teaching you to track.”
The young fox youkai quieted. “You... You’re going to teach me?”
InuYasha nodded once and they headed back to the hut. He sat against the wall with his eyes closed so no one would talk to him, even though he would not be going to sleep. Kagome... You have to be all right. I’ll come for you. I promise.
The sun broke the horizon and they started out. InuYasha ran ahead hoping to find some trace of Kagome. He hadn’t told the others how hard it would be to find her after nearly a full day. It had been the real reason he had wanted to look for her last night.
For a long time her scent alluded him, but then it hit him in a rush. He fell to the ground and lowered his face to the dirt. There darkening the earth was a small spot of dried blood. He took a deep breath just to be sure and found that there could be no doubt. It was Kagome’s.
The others stopped behind him. “Did you find something?” Miroku asked.
“Oi, runt get over here.” InuYasha called. He looked at the boy. “Scent this and remember it. It’s the smell of Kagome’s blood.”
“Blood?” Sango gasped.
InuYasha stood up. “It ain’t much, just a few drops.”
The slayer sighed in relief.
“InuYasha!” Shippou cried from several meters ahead. “I found more. There’s lots of little drops and they are going this way.”
The hanyou headed for the kit and sure enough every couple of paces he found another drop of blood. Sango and Miroku climbed on Kirara and Shippou climbed up and the hanyou’s shoulder and he ran following the trail of blood.
The traveled for several hours before stopping. “I smell more.” Shippou said. “Not a lot, but more than a drop or two.”
InuYasha nodded and walked ahead until he came across a small dried pool. “They must have stopped here for something.”
“Have you found something?” Miroku called.
“Yeah. It looks like whoever took her stopped here for a little while. Her blood pooled right by the wheel track. I think she’s being held in the back of a wagon.” InuYasha explained. “Hell, if I didn’t know better I’d say the wench was leaving me a trail to... Fuck! That’s what this is. Maybe there is something in that head of hers after all.”
Having figured out that she had left him a way to find her made InuYasha’s heart swell. Kagome believed that he would find her and she had even used her head to think of a way to make it easier for him. Good girl... Just hold on Kagome. I’m coming.
It was an hour later when InuYasha halted again. The trail had stopped. The others landed behind him. “Is something wrong?” Sango asked.
“It stopped.” InuYasha offered. “The drops have been more wide spread but there hasn’t been one for too long.”
“Wounds don’t bleed forever.” Miroku suggested. “At least not ones that are not too severe. She has been missing more than a full day. Perhaps she fell asleep and did not realize that her cut was no longer bleeding.”
InuYasha knew that Miroku could be right. The only problem and the reason he had stopped was because the road split. “Oi runt do you think you have her scent?” Shippou nodded. “Then we spilt up. You go to the right and I’ll take the left. Kirara can fly between us and whoever finds something will signal her to go get the others.”
Nearly two hours passed before InuYasha found another hint of Kagome. They had lost a lot of time since he had to search slowly to be sure he didn’t miss anything. He leapt into the air and signaled Kirara. The hanyou decided not to wait for the others to catch up. He instead decided to travel slowly enough so that Kirara would catch him eventually, but so that he would also be making progress in finding Kagome.
Night fell and the humans who had been up since before dawn were exhausted. Reluctantly and with much protest InuYasha agreed to let them make camp. As Sango prepared a meal InuYasha couldn’t not shake the feeling that Kagome needed him, and that by morning it would be too late.
He stood up. “I’m going on ahead. I think we’re close. You can find us in the morning.”
The hanyou left no one time to object as he took off at full speed.
Hours passed and Kagome knew that if they didn’t stop soon she was going to end up wetting herself. Most of the other girls already had and she could practically see the defeat in their eyes as they sat there, no longer crying. From the lack of light she knew that it must be close to nightfall.
The wagon halted and the gate behind her opened suddenly, causing Kagome to spill out onto the ground. The men around her laughed as she was pulled up onto her feet. One grabbed her roughly and held her in place. The young miko could only watch as the other girls were hauled out of the cart and lined up beside her.
A man taller than the rest, walked along the line in front of them. He stopped in front of her and she noted that he was much more well dressed than the others as well and that his eyes were cold and cruel. She tried to turn her head away as he gripped her chin and lifted her face so that he could look at her.
Kagome cried out through the gag as his gripped tightened painfully in his attempt to cease her struggles. When he released her she yelled a sting of curses through the gag that would have made InuYasha proud. To her surprise the man laughed.
“I will have her.” He announced. “Take her to my chambers and strip her. No one is to touch her. Is that clear?” The men agreed. “Now lock the others up.”
Kagome fought against the two men dragging her towards the main part of the large compound. They opened a shoji which led to a large room with only a futon and a hooked peg on the wall beside it. Her hands were lifted and her shoulders ached as the rope binding her wrists was placed over the peg.
Panic tried to consume her as one of the men pulled a short sword from his belt. Her entire body heated as he cut away her clothes, leaving her completely bare. This was not how she had always imagined her first time would happen and her mind scrambled for a way to escape.
For a few moments her captors leered at her, but it was clear that they would not go against the orders of their leader and so they left her. The night air was cool and goose bumps broke out over her pale skin. She shivered. Oh InuYasha, please hurry. You have to come...
A few tears escaped her. If he didn’t come, if this man whoever he was forced himself on her then not only would she have to suffer being raped, but surely InuYasha would never want her like she hoped. She knew it was a fools dream that he would chose her over Kikyou, but not impossible. At least not yet.
Kagome started as the shoji opened admitting the tall man who was clearly in charge. He looked her over and seemed pleased by her appearance. She glared at him and hated how it only amused him, thinking that he was going to regret laying a hand on her. Even if InuYasha didn’t come in time to save her from being raped, and even if he never wanted her the way she desired him, he would still kill anyone who hurt her.
She watched, a mixture of dread, horror and fear encompassing her, emotions only out weighed by her overwhelming sadness, as he began to remove his clothing. Once her captor was left in only a hakama he approached her.
Kagome struggled against the ropes holding her to no avail. She shuddered and more tears escaped her as a large hand cupped her breast. Hot breath against the skin of her neck nearly made her vomit as the hand on her squeezed and molded her skin.
The young miko tried to bring up her knee into her would be rapists groin but missed and was rewarded with a hard backhand across the face. The slaver squeezed her breast so hard she cried out in pain, and tears poured down her cheeks.
He halted when just below him he caught a whiff of her blood followed by muffled cry of pain. He jumped down and with snarling growl he tore through the paper door. What he saw before him sent his rage spiraling nearly out of his control. Kagome was completely nude. She was bound and gagged and some filthy bastard had one hand on her breast and the other between her legs.
Wide, terrified slate blue eyes met his and filled with joyful tears. He could hear her crying out his name through the cloth gag in her mouth.
“Get your fucking hands off her you bastard!” InuYasha snarled.
In a blur of red and silver he threw the man off Kagome and into the opposite wall. He turned to his beautiful miko and pulled cut the gag from her mouth.
“Oh InuYasha!” Kagome cried. “I knew you’d come.”
“Keh, You all right?” He replied, reaching up and cutting her hands free, trying desperately not to notice how arousing her nude form was.
Behind him he heard the man rise and he spun keeping Kagome hidden behind him. Quickly he pulled off his haori and held it out to the side in one hand. He felt Kagome take it as he faced off with her captor.
“Who tell hell are you?” the man demanded. “This girl belongs to me and I will do with her what I please.
“Kagome’s mine asshole.” InuYasha growled. “And I’m going to kill you for touching her.”
The hanyou’s eyes darted left as the other shoji opened and a large group of men with swords came bursting in. “Kill him.” Their leader ordered.
InuYasha snarled as they attacked. Kagome watched, pressed against the wall, as her hanyou fought off their attackers. Some he killed and some he left badly, perhaps even mortally wounded. She saw very few that she thought might actually be able to survive. As much as she hated killing she could not fault InuYasha. These men did not give up or beg to live, and she knew that if they were left to do so, that they would continue to kidnap and rape women. Over the years she had come to accept that this was how justice was handled in the feudal era.
When it was done InuYasha remained with his back to her, panting lightly for several moments. When he finally turned she could see that he was worried what she was going to think of him for his actions, so she went to him and took his hand.
“Let’s get out of here.” She said.
InuYasha looked at her with relief. “Okay. You sure you’re all right wench? They didn’t...”
Kagome shook her head. “You got here just in time.”
They left the room through the ruined shoji and InuYasha offered her his back. He stood up and turned when Kagome didn’t climb on. “What is it? I thought you wanted to get out of here.”
“I do, but first we have to find the other woman trapped here. I can’t just leave them. There could be more men, or they could die if no one finds them.” Kagome explained. “Please InuYasha. I doubt any of those poor village girls has a great hanyou protector like I do to come and save them.”
The hanyou beside her snorted and a light blush dusted his cheeks. “Fine, but it better not take too long.”
InuYasha was able to find the small building where the girls were being kept and to disable the two guards standing outside with ease. He removed the board barring the door and opened it. Kagome stepped inside first.
All the women were looking at her clearly surprised to see her again and to see that she was no longer bound, but when InuYasha stepped in behind her they huddled together looking more fearful than ever. Kagome found herself a little irritated that they would judge InuYasha without giving him a chance, but quickly reminded herself that they had been kidnaped and that any man would have probably caused them fear.
“It’s okay.” She said gently. “He won’t hurt you. He saved me and we’re going to get you all out of here.”
She knelt by one of the woman and removed her gag before trying to untie her hands. The knot was so tight she wasn’t able to get it to come free. Her eyes sought InuYasha who snorted and then moved to help her. The girl flinched as he reached for her ropes.
It didn’t take long to free them. They still looked wary of InuYasha but also grateful and one, younger than the rest stopped on her way out of the hut.
“Thank you.” She whispered before hurrying on her way, her cheeks stained red.
“Now can we go wench?” InuYasha grumbled.
Kagome offered him a nod and a smiled. The hanyou offered her his back and they took off into the forest. He halted when he came to a spring a good distance from where Kagome had been held. The young woman looked at him curiously.
“I thought you might like to wash the scent of that bastard off of you.” InuYasha offered with a blush.
“Thank you.” Kagome whispered. “Could you...”
The hanyou blushed even more deeply upon realizing that he was still staring at her and he crossed his arms. He turned his back and sat down, hoping that it would be good enough because he sure as hell wasn’t leaving her alone, not after what had just happened, and how close he had come to being too late to save her. He already felt badly that she had been touched at all.
Kagome realized that InuYasha wasn’t leaving and to be honest, she didn’t really want him to. She trusted that he wouldn’t peek at her and so she dropped his haori and slipped into the warm water. Without soap all she could do was rub the water into her skin with her hands trying to remove as much grime as possible. She payed close attention to the cut on her hand which was painful and an angry red.
The young miko climbed out of the water once she was satisfied that she had done as much as she could and slipped her arms back into the sleeves of the overly large red jacket. She tied it closed and then spoke softly. “We can go now.”
InuYasha turned to find her kneeling just behind him carefully cradling her injured hand in her lap. He reached out and took it gently in his own. Kagome made no protest as he sniffed the wound lightly and examined it, even though she did wince a few times when his soft touches brought pain.
“It’s infected.” He offered and then brought closer to his face.
Kagome stiffened, her eyes wide, as he began to lap at her palm. Over and over again his tongue ran across the wound cleaning it and with each stroke she noticed her pain easing and the skin knitting together. When the wound was little more than a reddened patch of skin he stopped.
“Wow.” Kagome said softly. “I didn’t know you could do that. Why haven’t you ever done that before?”
“Keh.” The hanyou muttered, his lids heavy as he struggled to clear his head, the taste of Kagome’s blood having left him with a heady feeling. He noticed that she was looking at him curiously and forced himself to answer. “It just ain’t something you do with just anyone.”
“Why?” Kagome pressed.
InuYasha ignored her and took her chin in his hand. He studied the split skin on her cheek. “You want I should fix this too?”
The young woman chewed her lip but nodded and she couldn’t help the soft sigh that escaped her as he lapped at her cheek. She knew that he was only trying to help her and that his tender ministrations didn’t mean he held any feelings for her beyond friendship, but she couldn’t help but notice how wonderful his tongue felt against her skin.
Her hanyou stopped and she turned her head just enough for their eyes to meet. Their breath mingled together in the scant few centimeters that separated their faces and again Kagome noticed the slightly glazed over expression his eyes. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe as his lips brushed hers unexpectedly.
She didn’t know how to react until her mind screamed at her not to miss this chance. Who was to know if he would ever get this close to her again? Her lips parted and she pressed them closer to his own, leaning into his body.
InuYasha closed his arms around Kagome and pulled her into his lap, unable to think of anything other than how incredibly soft her lips were and how good she tasted. Shocked only briefly as her tongue brushed against his, inside his own mouth, he took control and thrust into hers.
In the end it was her soft moan and her fingers gripping his kimono tightly that broke into his rational mind and caused him to pull away. He looked down to find his beautiful miko, eyes partially closed, cheeks flushed and her breasts heaving as she panted lightly.
He growled and cursed himself for his loss of control. “Damn it that’s why.”
“Huh?” Kagome tried.
“That’s why I never took care of your wounds before.” He snapped. “It’s only done between mates and sometimes pups. Your blood is powerful and it fucked with my head.”
“Oh.” Kagome said quietly. “I-I-I’m sorry. I thought you wanted to... I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” She tried to push away from him only to find that his hold on her tightened.
“Stupid wench.” He muttered against her neck. “I wanted to. That’s the fucking problem. Your blood wouldn’t have affected me if I didn’t. Fuck, it still is... You smell so good.”
Kagome gasped as his admission and at the feeling of his breath against her skin. “Then why were you upset... and w-w-why did you stop?”
He growled and nipped her shoulder. “This is a bad fucking idea. You don’t want me Kagome.” His head was spinning as the scent of her arousal grew and he knew he was only a few breaths from losing all reason. More than that her obvious willingness was not helping in the least. He licked her neck and continued to nuzzled her.
“I do!” She protested. “I do InuYasha! I want you, to be with you always. I-I-I just never thought that you... that you would ever want me... I-I-I love you.”
InuYasha could almost hear the thread of resistance as it snapped inside him. His youkai blood was perfectly willing to take this woman and claim her as his mate. She was powerful, loyal, and willing. Up to this point however it had been his human blood holding him back, keeping him from acting on instinct, but at her admission, his feelings for her swelled beyond the walls around his heart and poured out into his entire being.
Kagome gasped as his lips fell over hers roughly and in a fury of passion. His hands... His hands were everywhere all at once, sending heat coursing through her body and trails of fire burning their way across her skin. He was growling, not an angry sound, but one of satisfaction and desire as he plundered her mouth. She was only vaguely aware of the cool air on her naked flesh which caused her nipples to harden.
Her hands sought his ears and found them as he cupped her breast and massaged it firmly, but without the pain of her earlier unwilling encounter. A small part of her protested, that small dark part of her not entirely convinced that he really was seeing her and not Kikyou, but the rest of her body and soul offered no resistance at all, and soon that small part was buried by her mounting desire and need for his touch.
InuYasha struggled internally to keep the beast inside of him at bay, but was unwilling to cease his attentions on the woman in his arms. He lay her gently on the ground his haori open revealing her to him completely. Far more youkai than human but still himself he relished every cry from her lips and the feeling of her hands pulling him to her.
With a harsh growl he tore off his under kimono and groaned with the feeling of their skin being pressed together as he kissed her. She held him tightly small hands caressing his back whimpering for more contact and he could not deny her.
She moaned out his name as he left a trail of hot wet kisses and gentle nips along her neck at last settling over one of her rose colored peaks. He drew her off the ground as he pulled her into his hungry mouth, sucking and nipping, to her pleading demands for more.
The young miko was too far gone to notice the faint purple lines on the cheeks of her hanyou or the way his eyes flashed dangerously from amber to red, and even if she had, it wasn’t likely that she would care, as his lips and tongue made their way lower until his nose was pressed firmly against her sex.
Wet, open, intoxicating, she was more than ready from him and her now mostly youkai hanyou growled his pleasure against her, causing her to cry out. His tongue was rough in an entirely wonderful way as it made contact with her heated skin. Kagome fisted the grass beneath her as he lapped at her devouring her. Her entire body shook as he trhust deeply into her with the slippery, wet appendage and then moved upwards flicking against the bundle of nerves just above her opening.
He sucked hungrily at the small nub and did not release it from his grasp until she screamed out his name, her essence pouring from her. InuYasha drank from her until he was satisfied and then urged her onto her stomach.
Kagome was panting and trembling as he turned her. A soft growl spurned her to attempt to aid him as he lifted her, positioning her on her knees so that she could receive him. Her heart raced as she felt something thick and firm rubbing against her and for a brief moment until he began to sink into her she wasn’t entirely sure that it was really happening that she and InuYasha really were about to make love.
Instinctively her body tensed at the intrusion and her hanyou growled draping himself across her back. He nipped at her shoulder as his fingers tugged at her nipples.
“Bitch...” He rumbled affectionately.
Kagome gasped at the lower courser voice of his youkai blood and struggled to pull away, to turn and face him. He growled sharply and held her firmly.
“Kagome...” He tried.
“InuYasha?” She whispered.
“S’okay.” He soothed licking her shoulder and once again fondling her breasts. “I’m okay. He’s helping.”
Kagome wasn’t sure what that meant but she was satisfied that her InuYasha was still in control, even if his youkai blood was more prominent. To signal that she was no longer hesitant she pushed back against him and was rewarded with a low masculine groan.
Her eyes were squeezed shut as he resumed his slow short thrusts and she tried to concentrate on relaxing to make things easier. This was her InuYasha and he would never hurt her. Being with him like this was what she had wanted for so long. As his fingers found the small bud between her folds and began to stroke it carefully, she gave herself over to him completely.
A slight pinch caused her to wince as he entered her fully and she felt stretched to the limit, but other than that there had been no pain, only a glorious feeling of fullness and completion and when he began again to move she couldn’t help but cry out at the pleasure that surged through her.
All words were forgotten as the sound of flesh meeting filled the small clearing. What had begun slow and tender turned into hard rapid thrusts meant to bring them both to their release. Kagome moaned as gasped as he applied more pressure to her with the hand between her legs and she could barely breathe as her body tensed and her climax over took her.
InuYasha growled as she tightened further around him. He tore into his own wrist with his fangs and thrust it in front of her face as he clamped down on her shoulder at the base of her neck. Kagome found herself coming again as he bit her but instead of screaming his name as she had done before she bit down on the arm in front of her face and held it between her teeth as he pushed harder and more deeply into her, holding her in place with his fangs. Firm arms around her middle pulled her over onto her side and the two fell asleep together.
Had there been anyone close enough to see the couple as they lay together, still joined, they would have also born witness to the final bonding. The soft gold of Kagome’s miko aura surrounded them only to be joined by the violent red of InuYasha’s youki. The two essences wrapped around each other seamlessly as a barrier formed of both their energies spread out in order to protect them while their souls became joined.
In front of him, his miko mate began to stir and her movements caused him go firm inside her. He groaned softly at the gripping warmth around him and lapped the small wounds that surrounded his mark, knowing that they would heal, but the characters left behind would remain. He was curious to see the mark she left upon him but didn’t want to let her go to take a look.
Kagome attempted to stretch as she woke only to find herself held tightly in two strong arms and surprisingly full in other places. She let her hands brush over the ones holding her and was answered with a soft rumbling and a warm mouth pressed against the back of her neck.
“It wasn’t just a dream.” She gasped trying to turn and face her hanyou. “We really...”
A sort growl stopped her attempts. “Keh, keep wiggling like that and we will again.”
Kagome felt her face heat at his statement, but only briefly as she recalled the wonderful feelings from the previous night. A soft smile he couldn’t see spread across her face. “So I shouldn’t do this then?” She teased as she pressed her bottom backwards.
Behind her InuYasha groaned and moved his hand to grip her hip. She moaned softly as he began to trust rapidly into her from behind.
“Oh... Oh!” She cried and somehow managed to throw her top leg beck over his hip allowing him to enter her more fully than before.
The new position heightened the sensations for them both and the hanyou groaned thrusting harder. “Fuck! K’gome...”
“Don’t stop... please...” Kagome pleaded as he moved brushing against a sensitive place inside her with each thrust. She screamed as she met her release. “Oh Inu...Yasha... Kami!”
Buried deep inside her he grunted as he filled her. “K’gome... Damn woman!”
The panting girl in his arms giggled and removed her leg from over his hip. She felt him leave her as he rolled onto his back and she took the opportunity to snuggle up against him. She couldn’t help but smile as his arm wrapped around her pulling her head to rest on his chest.
“InuYasha, I-I love you.” She whispered as she toyed with his rosary.
“Kagome...” He tried.
“It’s okay.” She interrupted. “I know you love me, even if it isn’t the same way you love her. I’m just happy to be with you.”
InuYasha growled and he sat up. Kagome was looking at him a little hurt and a lot confused. She didn’t understand what she had said that could have made him mad at her. She was only trying to let him know that no matter what happened in the future that she hadn’t regretted anything they had shared.
“You still don’t fucking get it do you?” He spat. “I could have just rutted with you but I made you my mate and you still think that I’m comparing you to her. What the hell do I have to do to make you understand? You’re not Kikyou. I fucking know that.”
Kagome felt the tears in her eyes spill over and she lowered her head. “I know that too... I-I-I’m sorry I’m not her, that I can’t be her for you. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I just wanted you to know that I don’t regret what happened, that being by your side is enough for me-”
She was halted in her speech as he crushed her to him and nuzzled her neck. “Fuck Kagome don’t apologize for not being her, or for upsetting me. I’m an complete ass. I don’t want you to be her. I made Kagome my mate because Kagome is who I wanted. Kikyou was going to be my wife, but she was never going to be my mate, understand?”
Kagome looked up at him and shook her head. “Isn’t a mate the same as a wife? That’s what Sango said.”
“Stupid humans.” InuYasha snorted. “Fuck! I should have asked, made sure that you understood. When we mated we marked each other and tied our souls together.” He held out his arm and read for the first time the words she had branded him with as she did.
Her fingers brushed the characters on his wrist. “‘Best Friend’ and ‘Lover’” She whispered. She then followed her fingers as he moved them upwards to his chest and found her name directly above his heart. Immediately her eyes flashed downward and though it was upside down she recognized his name over her own heart. “Did- did you mark me too?”
He nodded and moved the hair from her shoulder. “‘Home’, and ‘beloved’” He said quietly.
“InuYasha, if our souls are tied together now, what does that mean?” Kagome asked.
“You should get a little stronger, and heal a little faster. You also won’t be as likely to catch human illnesses.” He explained. “We should be able to feel each others emotions when they’re really strong, like if you’re in trouble or hurt I’ll know and be able to find you. It can’t be undone and... And you’ll age as I do.”
He had muttered the last part clearly worried about her reaction. While she was shocked at his news it also helped her understand something very important. He would not have made her his mate, not when she would live as long as he, if she was not truly the one he desired. Kikyou had wanted him human so that they would have lived a mortal life together, but with her they would have centuries together if not more. She could see, feel his concern at her reaction.
She took his hand. “So then you won’t ever have to be alone again? Good.”
His head shot up and he looked at her with his amazing amber eyes opened wide. “Kagome?”
“I hadn’t had time to think about it yet, but it would have hurt me deeply to think that I would have so few years with you before leaving you alone again.” Kagome explained. “I’m glad to know that we’ll always be together. I love you and I wouldn’t take back last night even if I could... Please tell me you feel the same.”
“Fuck, of course I do.” InuYasha said as he hugged her. “I never want to be without you.”
Kagome smiled. “Then we’re both agreed. Now I think we could both use a quick dip in the spring before someone comes along and see us like this... Where are the others anyway?”
“They were tired and so when they made camp I left to find you.” He replied. “I just had a feeling that if I waited until morning to keep going I wouldn’t have made it in time to save you. The runt is supposed to help them track me down once they wake up.”
“I’m glad you didn’t wait.” Kagome said quietly.
“Me too.” InuYasha admitted. “I would have been there sooner if it hadn’t been for the damn moonless night. I’m sorry.”
“You came in time and that’s what matters.” Kagome assured him. “Now, bath time...”
The hanyou growled and quickly climbed out of the warm water. “Damn! Hurry up wench, the others are almost here.”
Kagome uttered a startled squeak and her face flushed. She didn’t care about her friends finding out that she and InuYasha were together but she did care about being caught naked with him, and that wasn’t even accounting for what Miroku was likely to say or do if they arrive to find their companions in such a compromising state, or what her hanyou would do to said monk.
InuYasha offered her his haori and then slipped in his juban while she tied it around herself. She hoped that someone had thought to bring her bag. She didn’t really feel like making the journey back to the village in nothing more than the outer jacket of her hanyou’s usual garb.
“Keh, we owe Kirara.” InuYasha snorted coming over to hug her. “You’ll have to get her some of those foods from your time that she likes so much.”
“Why?” Kagome questioned out of curiosity more than anything else since she didn’t mind bringing treats for the fire cat.
“She’s stalling them for us, by making them walk.” He chuckled. “I think she dropped them from the way Miroku and Sango are complaining.”
Suddenly InuYasha kissed her fiercely and then stepped away from her, and she realized that the others were now close enough for her to hear as well. She frowned a little. Was InuYasha going to pretend that nothing had changed between them and go back to treating her like nothing more than his friend?
“Kagome?” He said gently, looking at her with concern, having noticed the twinge of sadness in her scent and feeling it in her aura.
She shook her head and put on a smile as her friends stepped out of the tree line. “Hey guys!”
“Kagome!” Shippou cried bounding towards her.
The young fox youkai took a great leapt towards Kagome only to be snatched out of the air by his tail. The kit struggled and was about to wail for help from Kagome when he heard InuYasha growl a soft reprimand before placing him in the young miko’s arms.
He snuggled up to her and noticed the change in her scent. The kit realized quickly that it changed everything, and that he was probably going to have to start listening to the rude hanyou, but he was just so happy to see Kagome that he didn’t care. He did however figure that a little sucking up to InuYasha with Kagome couldn’t hurt.
“We were so worried about you.” he cried against her. “It’s all my fault it took us so long to get here. I didn’t know your scent and so we had to wait for InuYasha to change back before we could leave to come find you, but he’s going to teach me to track and I promise to work really hard...”
Kagome looked to the hanyou who had his arms folded and a light pink dusting his cheeks as she ruffled the boy’s hair. “It’s okay Shippou. It wasn’t your fault and I’m not hurt.”
While the young fox had overlooked Kagome’s state of dress their other two companions did not and both though looking relieved also wore slight frowns.
“Kagome it is indeed a relief to see you well.” Miroku offered. “Will you tell us what happened?”
Kagome wasn’t sure she liked the way the monk was looking at her, as if her was trying to figure something out, but an with encouraging nod from Sango she spoke. “I was on my way to the fields to see InuYasha when I thought I heard someone crying in the back of a wagon. I thought they might need help so I told those walking along side it that the village ahead had a miko if they were in need of one and they grabbed me. The tied me up and threw me in the back with a bunch of other girls and I realized what was happening.”
“Ooh! Is that when you cut your hand?” Shippou asked excitedly.
Kagome nodded. “I remembered InuYasha talking about how the scent of blood is hard to wash away and so I wanted to make it easier for you all to find me.”
“You know Kagome when InuYasha realized what you had done, he actually almost complimented your quick thinking.” Miroku said trying to bait the unusually quiet hanyou. “I believe his exact words were ‘maybe there is something in the head of hers after all.’”
InuYasha snorted but said nothing. He felt his face heat at the surge of Kagome’s affection for him and hated it. He was part youkai and youkai didn’t blush over such things. It was pathetic.
Sensing her new mate’s discomfort Kagome continued her story. “I think I fell asleep a couple of times. The last time I woke when the wagon stopped and they pulled us all out and lined us up like livestock. The leader looked us all over and... and he picked me... he picked me to be his personal slave.”
Sango gasped. “Oh Kagome...”
The girl shook her head. “Like I said nothing happened. InuYasha saved me before... Anyway they took me this room and took my clothes and left me hanging by the rope around my wrists...” She paused as InuYasha stepped closer to her, their bodies nearly touching and the warmth of his youki comforted her. “I was just praying that InuYasha would come in time. I knew he would come... I just didn’t know if he would make it before...”
“There is something you are not saying.” Miroku pressed.
“Keh, it ain’t important.” InuYasha cut in sharply. “I found her and took care of the bastards that took her before they could force themselves on her.” Feeling Kagome’s gratitude through their link overwhelmed him mostly because he didn’t feel that he deserved it. The fact that the slaver had hand his hands on her was a failure in his eyes.
“Then there is nothing else? Are you certain?” Miroku tried again.
Sango elbowed him in the ribs and he grunted. “Can’t you see she doesn’t want to talk about it right now. We are just glad to have you back with us and that you are unharmed.”
“Thank you Sango.” Kagome replied with a smile.
“Kagome would you like to wear my kimono?” Sango asked. “I have my exterminators garb on under it and I can wear that back to the village.”
“Keh, Kagome looks fine in what she’s wearing.” InuYasha said. “Besides I don’t want my mate stinking like that bouzo. I don’t know how you two managed that with kit there...”
Sango turned bright red and sputtered and Miroku wore a lecherous smile as they processed his words. Kagome however turned to him, eyes wide.
“You told them.” She said softly.
He frowned. “They would have figured it out sooner or later. The bouzo already suspected something... Didn’t you want them to know?”
Kagome could feel the hurt projecting from him and realized that he must be thinking that she was ashamed of having him as his mate. She reached out and took his hand firmly in her own and squeezed it. “I don’t care who knows. In fact I was worried that you wouldn’t want to tell them, that you would pretend nothing has changed.”
“Keh,” InuYasha dismissed, but his lips curved upwards in a slight smile. “Let’s go and leave those two gaping idiots to catch up.”
Kagome nodded and accepted his too brief kiss and then climbed onto his back, placing Shippou on InuYasha’s shoulder as she did so. The three took off at a run and Kirara mewed happily as she watched them go.
Several moments later a stunned Sango turned to Miroku who was grinning broadly. “Did I really just hear what I think I did?”
“I believe so. I guess even InuYasha was not able to resist a bound and helpless young maiden wearing nothing more than a grateful smile... Or perhaps it was Kagome who was unable to resist showing her gratitude to her silver haired rescuer... The possibilities...” Miroku trailed off, obviously thinking about how InuYasha and Kagome might have come to be mates. “I suspect thing will be very different now for all of us.” He looped an arm around the taijiya’s waist, one hand lightly brushing her bottom. “At least I hope they will.”
“Hentai.” Sango snorted, but with good humor and minus the usual physical harm that most often followed. “But no matter how much things change, I will take comfort in the fact that you have just proven to me that you, at the very least, will always be a pervert.”
“Only for you my darling Sango, only for you.” The monk laughed.
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, and I will make no money off this work of fiction...
~ * ~
Kagome threw her bag over the top of the well and then hoisted herself up over the edge. She looked around to see if InuYasha was anywhere nearby, even though she had not expected to find him since she was in fact a full day early in returning.The young miko smiled to herself as she picked up her backpack and set off for the village. It was her hope that having brought a bag of potato chips and extra ramen, along with her early return would put her favorite hanyou in a good mood, and that maybe it would even make him amicable enough to allow them a serious discussion, that would perhaps change their relationship for the better.
Kagome surprised herself with just how optimistic she was being and took it as a good omen for things to come, as she had been a little down lately. She sang softly as she headed for Kaede’s.
The elderly miko looked up and greeted Kagome with smile as she pushed the reed mat over the door aside and stepped inside. “Welcome child, though I thought you were not to return until tomorrow.”
“It didn’t take me as long as I thought to get caught up, and I actually managed to pass all my tests the first time, so I didn’t have to stay and retake any of them.” Kagome replied. “Where is everyone anyway?”
“Sango and Houshi-dono have not returned from repairing her weapon at the slayer’s village.” Kaede told her. “The young kitsune went with them as well, but InuYasha is down near the lower fields helping clear some new land. The village has grown much and prospered over these last few years without having to deal with youkai attacking. More crops are needed.”
Kagome giggled. “I’ll bet he put of quite a fuss and grumbled about pathetic humans, but never actually refused to help. I would have loved to have seen that.”
“Aye that he did.” Kaede chuckled.
“I think I’ll go see how things are going and let him know that I came back.” Kagome said after a moment. “Which fields is he in exactly.”
“Just take the road out of the village and follow it, taking the right split when it curves back around the river and you will find him.” Kaede replied.
~ * ~
Kagome headed out walking slowly and simply enjoying the surrounding area. She hardly ever time to take in the beauty of this era when they were hunting shards. She watched as a wagon rolled toward her pulled by a couple of horses and smiled kindly at the man driving the cart.It did strike her as odd that the back was entirely covered so that one could not see what was inside and that the men on both sides of the wagon had swords, even if they were dressed like common villagers, but she shrugged it off as unimportant.
As she passed the back she thought she heard soft crying and paused, wondering if maybe there was something wrong or if perhaps someone was ill and these people were seeking help from a miko.
“Excuse me.” She said kindly. The wagon stopped and all of the men turned to look at her. “I heard crying and I wondered if you might be seeking aid. If that is the case, the village ahead has a miko who is very talented with healing.”
A shiver of apprehension went up her spine as the man who had been driving nodded to the others and they approached her. Without thinking she took a step back.
“Get her before she makes a run for it.” One ordered.
Kagome’s eyes opened wide and her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. She looked back toward the village and at the road ahead. She was too far from the fields and the village for anyone to hear her scream. The young miko turned and took off at a run.
A loud groan escaped her and she was tackled to the ground. For a moment the wind was knocked out of her and it allowed her to be bound, with her hands behind her back and a gag in her mouth. Even still Kagome struggled against the arms holding her as they dragged her to the cart.
One man opened gate and she was lifted and shoved inside. “She’ll fetch good price with those light eyes even if she has seen a few too many summers.”
Kagome tried to see in the darkness as the cloth was dropped back over the gate. Thankfully a little light was let in at the bottom where the wind would occasionally blow the fabric up away from the sides of the wagon. There were about seven other girls with her all a little younger than she and all crying.
She fought the urge to panic that was welling up inside her, knowing that it would do no good. She forced herself to think. InuYasha was at the fields and he might be there all day, so no one would know she was gone until perhaps late in the evening since Kaede wouldn’t worry until InuYasha returned without her.
InuYasha will come for me, but it will be hard to track me after so long... What can I do? Kagome’s brow furrowed as she concentrated on remembering everything InuYasha had mentioned in passing about tracking. Blood! He said that the smell of blood takes a long time to fade. That he can usually smell a battle field for weeks even after it has rained. If I can leave a trail for him to follow...
She looked around and noted the there were many jagged edges to the wooden cage around her. She scooted back on her bottom until she could feel the wood and then closed her eyes preparing herself for the pain. Her courage steeled she drove the tender flesh of her palm down onto a piece of jagged wood. Thankfully her gag muffled her cry.
The young miko could feel something wet and hot rolling across her skin and she knew that she had succeeded. She hung her hands over the edge of the wagon behind her and let her blood fall down onto the dry earth. As time passed she would reopen the wound or clench her fist to make sure that the blood was still leaving a trail to follow.
~ * ~
It was close to sunset when InuYasha looked upwards to see that the others were returning from the slayer’s village. Since he did not want to be caught out after dark on this, the moonless night, he left the men and headed back to Kaede baba’s.When he entered he was greeted by his traveling companions and the elderly miko. “InuYasha, where is Kagome?”
“How the hell should I know?” InuYasha asked, sitting down against the wall, feeling the change upon himself. “She’s probably out with those stupid human girls or that dumb homo.”
“Kagome returned before midday, having finished with her time sooner that expected.” Kaede informed the hanyou turned human. “She wished to see you so I sent her down to the fields.”
InuYasha’s head snapped up. “What? I never saw her... You better not be fucking with me baba.”
“Surely you do not think I would jest about something so serious InuYasha.” Kaede replied with a frown.
“Maybe she went back home.” Shippou offered. “Maybe you were mean to her and just don’t want to admit it.”
“Shippou, I do not think InuYasha would have us worry about Kagome-sama if that were the case.” Miroku said. “After all we all already know what a baka he can be. We would not be surprised.”
“Oi...” InuYasha protested, coming to his feet.
“Where are you going?” Sango asked.
“I’m going to look for that stupid wench.” InuYasha explained. “Who knows what kind of trouble she’s gotten herself into.”
“InuYasha, you cannot hope to track Kagome-sama in the dark without your hanyou senses. It would make more sense to get a goodnight’s rest and set out with the sunrise when your powers return.” Miroku offered reasonably.
“I can’t just sit here!” he yelled, revealing that he cared far more about the human girl than he should. “What if a youkai has her or worse that stinking wolf? Besides Shippou is a youkai. He can track her.”
“Me?” Shippou squeaked.
“Yes, you.” InuYasha snorted. “Now come on.”
The young kitsune followed a human InuYasha reluctantly. “How am I supposed to track her?”
InuYasha made a sound like a very human growl. “You search for her scent on the air and then follow it. Don’t you know anything? Now do you smell her?”
“I-I-I don’t know.” Shippou sniffled. “I can’t... What does she smell like?”
“What?!” InuYasha bellowed. “She’s practically your fucking mother and you don’t know what she smells like?!” He grabbed the kit by his bushy tail and held him at eye level. “What the hell kind of youkai are you?”
Shippou burst into tears. “How am I supposed to know how to track? My father didn’t have a chance to teach me.”
The young hanyou dropped the boy and looked at him as he cried in the dirt. Sure he himself had been able to track at Shippou’s age, but that was because it had been learn or die. He hadn’t found a beautiful and kind miko to take him in and provide for him. While Shippou had been a little young to learn when they had found him, he wasn’t now and so InuYasha knew he had no one to blame but himself. Who else had he expected to teach the kid about being a youkai.
“I’m sorry...” Shippou wailed. “I want to find Kagome.”
“Keh, I know you do.” InuYasha admitted quietly. “Let’s go back to Kaede-baba’s. There ain’t nothing we can do until sunrise. Tomorrow I’ll start teaching you to track.”
The young fox youkai quieted. “You... You’re going to teach me?”
InuYasha nodded once and they headed back to the hut. He sat against the wall with his eyes closed so no one would talk to him, even though he would not be going to sleep. Kagome... You have to be all right. I’ll come for you. I promise.
~ * ~
InuYasha woke the others just before dawn, wanting to set out as soon as his hanyou powers had returned. They gathered their things without so much as a word of complaint.The sun broke the horizon and they started out. InuYasha ran ahead hoping to find some trace of Kagome. He hadn’t told the others how hard it would be to find her after nearly a full day. It had been the real reason he had wanted to look for her last night.
For a long time her scent alluded him, but then it hit him in a rush. He fell to the ground and lowered his face to the dirt. There darkening the earth was a small spot of dried blood. He took a deep breath just to be sure and found that there could be no doubt. It was Kagome’s.
The others stopped behind him. “Did you find something?” Miroku asked.
“Oi, runt get over here.” InuYasha called. He looked at the boy. “Scent this and remember it. It’s the smell of Kagome’s blood.”
“Blood?” Sango gasped.
InuYasha stood up. “It ain’t much, just a few drops.”
The slayer sighed in relief.
“InuYasha!” Shippou cried from several meters ahead. “I found more. There’s lots of little drops and they are going this way.”
The hanyou headed for the kit and sure enough every couple of paces he found another drop of blood. Sango and Miroku climbed on Kirara and Shippou climbed up and the hanyou’s shoulder and he ran following the trail of blood.
The traveled for several hours before stopping. “I smell more.” Shippou said. “Not a lot, but more than a drop or two.”
InuYasha nodded and walked ahead until he came across a small dried pool. “They must have stopped here for something.”
“Have you found something?” Miroku called.
“Yeah. It looks like whoever took her stopped here for a little while. Her blood pooled right by the wheel track. I think she’s being held in the back of a wagon.” InuYasha explained. “Hell, if I didn’t know better I’d say the wench was leaving me a trail to... Fuck! That’s what this is. Maybe there is something in that head of hers after all.”
Having figured out that she had left him a way to find her made InuYasha’s heart swell. Kagome believed that he would find her and she had even used her head to think of a way to make it easier for him. Good girl... Just hold on Kagome. I’m coming.
It was an hour later when InuYasha halted again. The trail had stopped. The others landed behind him. “Is something wrong?” Sango asked.
“It stopped.” InuYasha offered. “The drops have been more wide spread but there hasn’t been one for too long.”
“Wounds don’t bleed forever.” Miroku suggested. “At least not ones that are not too severe. She has been missing more than a full day. Perhaps she fell asleep and did not realize that her cut was no longer bleeding.”
InuYasha knew that Miroku could be right. The only problem and the reason he had stopped was because the road split. “Oi runt do you think you have her scent?” Shippou nodded. “Then we spilt up. You go to the right and I’ll take the left. Kirara can fly between us and whoever finds something will signal her to go get the others.”
Nearly two hours passed before InuYasha found another hint of Kagome. They had lost a lot of time since he had to search slowly to be sure he didn’t miss anything. He leapt into the air and signaled Kirara. The hanyou decided not to wait for the others to catch up. He instead decided to travel slowly enough so that Kirara would catch him eventually, but so that he would also be making progress in finding Kagome.
Night fell and the humans who had been up since before dawn were exhausted. Reluctantly and with much protest InuYasha agreed to let them make camp. As Sango prepared a meal InuYasha couldn’t not shake the feeling that Kagome needed him, and that by morning it would be too late.
He stood up. “I’m going on ahead. I think we’re close. You can find us in the morning.”
The hanyou left no one time to object as he took off at full speed.
~ * ~
Kagome woke with a start. Her hand ached and she was hungry and thirsty. The wagon was still rolling along and she wondered how long she had been asleep this time. She tested her skin with her other hand and found the blood caked and dry. Not allowing herself the time to think about how much it was going to hurt she reopened the wound.Hours passed and Kagome knew that if they didn’t stop soon she was going to end up wetting herself. Most of the other girls already had and she could practically see the defeat in their eyes as they sat there, no longer crying. From the lack of light she knew that it must be close to nightfall.
The wagon halted and the gate behind her opened suddenly, causing Kagome to spill out onto the ground. The men around her laughed as she was pulled up onto her feet. One grabbed her roughly and held her in place. The young miko could only watch as the other girls were hauled out of the cart and lined up beside her.
A man taller than the rest, walked along the line in front of them. He stopped in front of her and she noted that he was much more well dressed than the others as well and that his eyes were cold and cruel. She tried to turn her head away as he gripped her chin and lifted her face so that he could look at her.
Kagome cried out through the gag as his gripped tightened painfully in his attempt to cease her struggles. When he released her she yelled a sting of curses through the gag that would have made InuYasha proud. To her surprise the man laughed.
“I will have her.” He announced. “Take her to my chambers and strip her. No one is to touch her. Is that clear?” The men agreed. “Now lock the others up.”
Kagome fought against the two men dragging her towards the main part of the large compound. They opened a shoji which led to a large room with only a futon and a hooked peg on the wall beside it. Her hands were lifted and her shoulders ached as the rope binding her wrists was placed over the peg.
Panic tried to consume her as one of the men pulled a short sword from his belt. Her entire body heated as he cut away her clothes, leaving her completely bare. This was not how she had always imagined her first time would happen and her mind scrambled for a way to escape.
For a few moments her captors leered at her, but it was clear that they would not go against the orders of their leader and so they left her. The night air was cool and goose bumps broke out over her pale skin. She shivered. Oh InuYasha, please hurry. You have to come...
A few tears escaped her. If he didn’t come, if this man whoever he was forced himself on her then not only would she have to suffer being raped, but surely InuYasha would never want her like she hoped. She knew it was a fools dream that he would chose her over Kikyou, but not impossible. At least not yet.
Kagome started as the shoji opened admitting the tall man who was clearly in charge. He looked her over and seemed pleased by her appearance. She glared at him and hated how it only amused him, thinking that he was going to regret laying a hand on her. Even if InuYasha didn’t come in time to save her from being raped, and even if he never wanted her the way she desired him, he would still kill anyone who hurt her.
She watched, a mixture of dread, horror and fear encompassing her, emotions only out weighed by her overwhelming sadness, as he began to remove his clothing. Once her captor was left in only a hakama he approached her.
Kagome struggled against the ropes holding her to no avail. She shuddered and more tears escaped her as a large hand cupped her breast. Hot breath against the skin of her neck nearly made her vomit as the hand on her squeezed and molded her skin.
The young miko tried to bring up her knee into her would be rapists groin but missed and was rewarded with a hard backhand across the face. The slaver squeezed her breast so hard she cried out in pain, and tears poured down her cheeks.
~ * ~
InuYasha stood, well concealed, in the branches of a large tree. Kagome was somewhere among the buildings before him. Her scent was fresh and he could practically feel her calling out to him. Silently he left his perch and began jumping lightly across the roof tops seeking her out.He halted when just below him he caught a whiff of her blood followed by muffled cry of pain. He jumped down and with snarling growl he tore through the paper door. What he saw before him sent his rage spiraling nearly out of his control. Kagome was completely nude. She was bound and gagged and some filthy bastard had one hand on her breast and the other between her legs.
Wide, terrified slate blue eyes met his and filled with joyful tears. He could hear her crying out his name through the cloth gag in her mouth.
“Get your fucking hands off her you bastard!” InuYasha snarled.
In a blur of red and silver he threw the man off Kagome and into the opposite wall. He turned to his beautiful miko and pulled cut the gag from her mouth.
“Oh InuYasha!” Kagome cried. “I knew you’d come.”
“Keh, You all right?” He replied, reaching up and cutting her hands free, trying desperately not to notice how arousing her nude form was.
Behind him he heard the man rise and he spun keeping Kagome hidden behind him. Quickly he pulled off his haori and held it out to the side in one hand. He felt Kagome take it as he faced off with her captor.
“Who tell hell are you?” the man demanded. “This girl belongs to me and I will do with her what I please.
“Kagome’s mine asshole.” InuYasha growled. “And I’m going to kill you for touching her.”
The hanyou’s eyes darted left as the other shoji opened and a large group of men with swords came bursting in. “Kill him.” Their leader ordered.
InuYasha snarled as they attacked. Kagome watched, pressed against the wall, as her hanyou fought off their attackers. Some he killed and some he left badly, perhaps even mortally wounded. She saw very few that she thought might actually be able to survive. As much as she hated killing she could not fault InuYasha. These men did not give up or beg to live, and she knew that if they were left to do so, that they would continue to kidnap and rape women. Over the years she had come to accept that this was how justice was handled in the feudal era.
When it was done InuYasha remained with his back to her, panting lightly for several moments. When he finally turned she could see that he was worried what she was going to think of him for his actions, so she went to him and took his hand.
“Let’s get out of here.” She said.
InuYasha looked at her with relief. “Okay. You sure you’re all right wench? They didn’t...”
Kagome shook her head. “You got here just in time.”
They left the room through the ruined shoji and InuYasha offered her his back. He stood up and turned when Kagome didn’t climb on. “What is it? I thought you wanted to get out of here.”
“I do, but first we have to find the other woman trapped here. I can’t just leave them. There could be more men, or they could die if no one finds them.” Kagome explained. “Please InuYasha. I doubt any of those poor village girls has a great hanyou protector like I do to come and save them.”
The hanyou beside her snorted and a light blush dusted his cheeks. “Fine, but it better not take too long.”
InuYasha was able to find the small building where the girls were being kept and to disable the two guards standing outside with ease. He removed the board barring the door and opened it. Kagome stepped inside first.
All the women were looking at her clearly surprised to see her again and to see that she was no longer bound, but when InuYasha stepped in behind her they huddled together looking more fearful than ever. Kagome found herself a little irritated that they would judge InuYasha without giving him a chance, but quickly reminded herself that they had been kidnaped and that any man would have probably caused them fear.
“It’s okay.” She said gently. “He won’t hurt you. He saved me and we’re going to get you all out of here.”
She knelt by one of the woman and removed her gag before trying to untie her hands. The knot was so tight she wasn’t able to get it to come free. Her eyes sought InuYasha who snorted and then moved to help her. The girl flinched as he reached for her ropes.
It didn’t take long to free them. They still looked wary of InuYasha but also grateful and one, younger than the rest stopped on her way out of the hut.
“Thank you.” She whispered before hurrying on her way, her cheeks stained red.
“Now can we go wench?” InuYasha grumbled.
Kagome offered him a nod and a smiled. The hanyou offered her his back and they took off into the forest. He halted when he came to a spring a good distance from where Kagome had been held. The young woman looked at him curiously.
“I thought you might like to wash the scent of that bastard off of you.” InuYasha offered with a blush.
“Thank you.” Kagome whispered. “Could you...”
The hanyou blushed even more deeply upon realizing that he was still staring at her and he crossed his arms. He turned his back and sat down, hoping that it would be good enough because he sure as hell wasn’t leaving her alone, not after what had just happened, and how close he had come to being too late to save her. He already felt badly that she had been touched at all.
Kagome realized that InuYasha wasn’t leaving and to be honest, she didn’t really want him to. She trusted that he wouldn’t peek at her and so she dropped his haori and slipped into the warm water. Without soap all she could do was rub the water into her skin with her hands trying to remove as much grime as possible. She payed close attention to the cut on her hand which was painful and an angry red.
The young miko climbed out of the water once she was satisfied that she had done as much as she could and slipped her arms back into the sleeves of the overly large red jacket. She tied it closed and then spoke softly. “We can go now.”
InuYasha turned to find her kneeling just behind him carefully cradling her injured hand in her lap. He reached out and took it gently in his own. Kagome made no protest as he sniffed the wound lightly and examined it, even though she did wince a few times when his soft touches brought pain.
“It’s infected.” He offered and then brought closer to his face.
Kagome stiffened, her eyes wide, as he began to lap at her palm. Over and over again his tongue ran across the wound cleaning it and with each stroke she noticed her pain easing and the skin knitting together. When the wound was little more than a reddened patch of skin he stopped.
“Wow.” Kagome said softly. “I didn’t know you could do that. Why haven’t you ever done that before?”
“Keh.” The hanyou muttered, his lids heavy as he struggled to clear his head, the taste of Kagome’s blood having left him with a heady feeling. He noticed that she was looking at him curiously and forced himself to answer. “It just ain’t something you do with just anyone.”
“Why?” Kagome pressed.
InuYasha ignored her and took her chin in his hand. He studied the split skin on her cheek. “You want I should fix this too?”
The young woman chewed her lip but nodded and she couldn’t help the soft sigh that escaped her as he lapped at her cheek. She knew that he was only trying to help her and that his tender ministrations didn’t mean he held any feelings for her beyond friendship, but she couldn’t help but notice how wonderful his tongue felt against her skin.
Her hanyou stopped and she turned her head just enough for their eyes to meet. Their breath mingled together in the scant few centimeters that separated their faces and again Kagome noticed the slightly glazed over expression his eyes. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe as his lips brushed hers unexpectedly.
She didn’t know how to react until her mind screamed at her not to miss this chance. Who was to know if he would ever get this close to her again? Her lips parted and she pressed them closer to his own, leaning into his body.
InuYasha closed his arms around Kagome and pulled her into his lap, unable to think of anything other than how incredibly soft her lips were and how good she tasted. Shocked only briefly as her tongue brushed against his, inside his own mouth, he took control and thrust into hers.
In the end it was her soft moan and her fingers gripping his kimono tightly that broke into his rational mind and caused him to pull away. He looked down to find his beautiful miko, eyes partially closed, cheeks flushed and her breasts heaving as she panted lightly.
He growled and cursed himself for his loss of control. “Damn it that’s why.”
“Huh?” Kagome tried.
“That’s why I never took care of your wounds before.” He snapped. “It’s only done between mates and sometimes pups. Your blood is powerful and it fucked with my head.”
“Oh.” Kagome said quietly. “I-I-I’m sorry. I thought you wanted to... I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” She tried to push away from him only to find that his hold on her tightened.
“Stupid wench.” He muttered against her neck. “I wanted to. That’s the fucking problem. Your blood wouldn’t have affected me if I didn’t. Fuck, it still is... You smell so good.”
Kagome gasped as his admission and at the feeling of his breath against her skin. “Then why were you upset... and w-w-why did you stop?”
He growled and nipped her shoulder. “This is a bad fucking idea. You don’t want me Kagome.” His head was spinning as the scent of her arousal grew and he knew he was only a few breaths from losing all reason. More than that her obvious willingness was not helping in the least. He licked her neck and continued to nuzzled her.
“I do!” She protested. “I do InuYasha! I want you, to be with you always. I-I-I just never thought that you... that you would ever want me... I-I-I love you.”
InuYasha could almost hear the thread of resistance as it snapped inside him. His youkai blood was perfectly willing to take this woman and claim her as his mate. She was powerful, loyal, and willing. Up to this point however it had been his human blood holding him back, keeping him from acting on instinct, but at her admission, his feelings for her swelled beyond the walls around his heart and poured out into his entire being.
Kagome gasped as his lips fell over hers roughly and in a fury of passion. His hands... His hands were everywhere all at once, sending heat coursing through her body and trails of fire burning their way across her skin. He was growling, not an angry sound, but one of satisfaction and desire as he plundered her mouth. She was only vaguely aware of the cool air on her naked flesh which caused her nipples to harden.
Her hands sought his ears and found them as he cupped her breast and massaged it firmly, but without the pain of her earlier unwilling encounter. A small part of her protested, that small dark part of her not entirely convinced that he really was seeing her and not Kikyou, but the rest of her body and soul offered no resistance at all, and soon that small part was buried by her mounting desire and need for his touch.
InuYasha struggled internally to keep the beast inside of him at bay, but was unwilling to cease his attentions on the woman in his arms. He lay her gently on the ground his haori open revealing her to him completely. Far more youkai than human but still himself he relished every cry from her lips and the feeling of her hands pulling him to her.
With a harsh growl he tore off his under kimono and groaned with the feeling of their skin being pressed together as he kissed her. She held him tightly small hands caressing his back whimpering for more contact and he could not deny her.
She moaned out his name as he left a trail of hot wet kisses and gentle nips along her neck at last settling over one of her rose colored peaks. He drew her off the ground as he pulled her into his hungry mouth, sucking and nipping, to her pleading demands for more.
The young miko was too far gone to notice the faint purple lines on the cheeks of her hanyou or the way his eyes flashed dangerously from amber to red, and even if she had, it wasn’t likely that she would care, as his lips and tongue made their way lower until his nose was pressed firmly against her sex.
Wet, open, intoxicating, she was more than ready from him and her now mostly youkai hanyou growled his pleasure against her, causing her to cry out. His tongue was rough in an entirely wonderful way as it made contact with her heated skin. Kagome fisted the grass beneath her as he lapped at her devouring her. Her entire body shook as he trhust deeply into her with the slippery, wet appendage and then moved upwards flicking against the bundle of nerves just above her opening.
He sucked hungrily at the small nub and did not release it from his grasp until she screamed out his name, her essence pouring from her. InuYasha drank from her until he was satisfied and then urged her onto her stomach.
Kagome was panting and trembling as he turned her. A soft growl spurned her to attempt to aid him as he lifted her, positioning her on her knees so that she could receive him. Her heart raced as she felt something thick and firm rubbing against her and for a brief moment until he began to sink into her she wasn’t entirely sure that it was really happening that she and InuYasha really were about to make love.
Instinctively her body tensed at the intrusion and her hanyou growled draping himself across her back. He nipped at her shoulder as his fingers tugged at her nipples.
“Bitch...” He rumbled affectionately.
Kagome gasped at the lower courser voice of his youkai blood and struggled to pull away, to turn and face him. He growled sharply and held her firmly.
“Kagome...” He tried.
“InuYasha?” She whispered.
“S’okay.” He soothed licking her shoulder and once again fondling her breasts. “I’m okay. He’s helping.”
Kagome wasn’t sure what that meant but she was satisfied that her InuYasha was still in control, even if his youkai blood was more prominent. To signal that she was no longer hesitant she pushed back against him and was rewarded with a low masculine groan.
Her eyes were squeezed shut as he resumed his slow short thrusts and she tried to concentrate on relaxing to make things easier. This was her InuYasha and he would never hurt her. Being with him like this was what she had wanted for so long. As his fingers found the small bud between her folds and began to stroke it carefully, she gave herself over to him completely.
A slight pinch caused her to wince as he entered her fully and she felt stretched to the limit, but other than that there had been no pain, only a glorious feeling of fullness and completion and when he began again to move she couldn’t help but cry out at the pleasure that surged through her.
All words were forgotten as the sound of flesh meeting filled the small clearing. What had begun slow and tender turned into hard rapid thrusts meant to bring them both to their release. Kagome moaned as gasped as he applied more pressure to her with the hand between her legs and she could barely breathe as her body tensed and her climax over took her.
InuYasha growled as she tightened further around him. He tore into his own wrist with his fangs and thrust it in front of her face as he clamped down on her shoulder at the base of her neck. Kagome found herself coming again as he bit her but instead of screaming his name as she had done before she bit down on the arm in front of her face and held it between her teeth as he pushed harder and more deeply into her, holding her in place with his fangs. Firm arms around her middle pulled her over onto her side and the two fell asleep together.
Had there been anyone close enough to see the couple as they lay together, still joined, they would have also born witness to the final bonding. The soft gold of Kagome’s miko aura surrounded them only to be joined by the violent red of InuYasha’s youki. The two essences wrapped around each other seamlessly as a barrier formed of both their energies spread out in order to protect them while their souls became joined.
~ * ~
InuYasha woke before the sun, just in time to see the fading lights of their combined energies around them. While remembering well the events of the previous evening a part of him still wasn’t convinced that it had not been a dream. He was however forced to acknowledge the reality of the situation as he realized that not only were they still joined below the waist but that his fangs were still deeply buried in the soft skin of Kagome’s shoulder.In front of him, his miko mate began to stir and her movements caused him go firm inside her. He groaned softly at the gripping warmth around him and lapped the small wounds that surrounded his mark, knowing that they would heal, but the characters left behind would remain. He was curious to see the mark she left upon him but didn’t want to let her go to take a look.
Kagome attempted to stretch as she woke only to find herself held tightly in two strong arms and surprisingly full in other places. She let her hands brush over the ones holding her and was answered with a soft rumbling and a warm mouth pressed against the back of her neck.
“It wasn’t just a dream.” She gasped trying to turn and face her hanyou. “We really...”
A sort growl stopped her attempts. “Keh, keep wiggling like that and we will again.”
Kagome felt her face heat at his statement, but only briefly as she recalled the wonderful feelings from the previous night. A soft smile he couldn’t see spread across her face. “So I shouldn’t do this then?” She teased as she pressed her bottom backwards.
Behind her InuYasha groaned and moved his hand to grip her hip. She moaned softly as he began to trust rapidly into her from behind.
“Oh... Oh!” She cried and somehow managed to throw her top leg beck over his hip allowing him to enter her more fully than before.
The new position heightened the sensations for them both and the hanyou groaned thrusting harder. “Fuck! K’gome...”
“Don’t stop... please...” Kagome pleaded as he moved brushing against a sensitive place inside her with each thrust. She screamed as she met her release. “Oh Inu...Yasha... Kami!”
Buried deep inside her he grunted as he filled her. “K’gome... Damn woman!”
The panting girl in his arms giggled and removed her leg from over his hip. She felt him leave her as he rolled onto his back and she took the opportunity to snuggle up against him. She couldn’t help but smile as his arm wrapped around her pulling her head to rest on his chest.
“InuYasha, I-I love you.” She whispered as she toyed with his rosary.
“Kagome...” He tried.
“It’s okay.” She interrupted. “I know you love me, even if it isn’t the same way you love her. I’m just happy to be with you.”
InuYasha growled and he sat up. Kagome was looking at him a little hurt and a lot confused. She didn’t understand what she had said that could have made him mad at her. She was only trying to let him know that no matter what happened in the future that she hadn’t regretted anything they had shared.
“You still don’t fucking get it do you?” He spat. “I could have just rutted with you but I made you my mate and you still think that I’m comparing you to her. What the hell do I have to do to make you understand? You’re not Kikyou. I fucking know that.”
Kagome felt the tears in her eyes spill over and she lowered her head. “I know that too... I-I-I’m sorry I’m not her, that I can’t be her for you. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I just wanted you to know that I don’t regret what happened, that being by your side is enough for me-”
She was halted in her speech as he crushed her to him and nuzzled her neck. “Fuck Kagome don’t apologize for not being her, or for upsetting me. I’m an complete ass. I don’t want you to be her. I made Kagome my mate because Kagome is who I wanted. Kikyou was going to be my wife, but she was never going to be my mate, understand?”
Kagome looked up at him and shook her head. “Isn’t a mate the same as a wife? That’s what Sango said.”
“Stupid humans.” InuYasha snorted. “Fuck! I should have asked, made sure that you understood. When we mated we marked each other and tied our souls together.” He held out his arm and read for the first time the words she had branded him with as she did.
Her fingers brushed the characters on his wrist. “‘Best Friend’ and ‘Lover’” She whispered. She then followed her fingers as he moved them upwards to his chest and found her name directly above his heart. Immediately her eyes flashed downward and though it was upside down she recognized his name over her own heart. “Did- did you mark me too?”
He nodded and moved the hair from her shoulder. “‘Home’, and ‘beloved’” He said quietly.
“InuYasha, if our souls are tied together now, what does that mean?” Kagome asked.
“You should get a little stronger, and heal a little faster. You also won’t be as likely to catch human illnesses.” He explained. “We should be able to feel each others emotions when they’re really strong, like if you’re in trouble or hurt I’ll know and be able to find you. It can’t be undone and... And you’ll age as I do.”
He had muttered the last part clearly worried about her reaction. While she was shocked at his news it also helped her understand something very important. He would not have made her his mate, not when she would live as long as he, if she was not truly the one he desired. Kikyou had wanted him human so that they would have lived a mortal life together, but with her they would have centuries together if not more. She could see, feel his concern at her reaction.
She took his hand. “So then you won’t ever have to be alone again? Good.”
His head shot up and he looked at her with his amazing amber eyes opened wide. “Kagome?”
“I hadn’t had time to think about it yet, but it would have hurt me deeply to think that I would have so few years with you before leaving you alone again.” Kagome explained. “I’m glad to know that we’ll always be together. I love you and I wouldn’t take back last night even if I could... Please tell me you feel the same.”
“Fuck, of course I do.” InuYasha said as he hugged her. “I never want to be without you.”
Kagome smiled. “Then we’re both agreed. Now I think we could both use a quick dip in the spring before someone comes along and see us like this... Where are the others anyway?”
“They were tired and so when they made camp I left to find you.” He replied. “I just had a feeling that if I waited until morning to keep going I wouldn’t have made it in time to save you. The runt is supposed to help them track me down once they wake up.”
“I’m glad you didn’t wait.” Kagome said quietly.
“Me too.” InuYasha admitted. “I would have been there sooner if it hadn’t been for the damn moonless night. I’m sorry.”
“You came in time and that’s what matters.” Kagome assured him. “Now, bath time...”
~ * ~
While both InuYasha and Kagome would have enjoyed another coupling in the spring and were building up to just that as they rubbed water all over each other washing away the sweat and the other evidence of the previous night, they didn’t get the chance.The hanyou growled and quickly climbed out of the warm water. “Damn! Hurry up wench, the others are almost here.”
Kagome uttered a startled squeak and her face flushed. She didn’t care about her friends finding out that she and InuYasha were together but she did care about being caught naked with him, and that wasn’t even accounting for what Miroku was likely to say or do if they arrive to find their companions in such a compromising state, or what her hanyou would do to said monk.
InuYasha offered her his haori and then slipped in his juban while she tied it around herself. She hoped that someone had thought to bring her bag. She didn’t really feel like making the journey back to the village in nothing more than the outer jacket of her hanyou’s usual garb.
“Keh, we owe Kirara.” InuYasha snorted coming over to hug her. “You’ll have to get her some of those foods from your time that she likes so much.”
“Why?” Kagome questioned out of curiosity more than anything else since she didn’t mind bringing treats for the fire cat.
“She’s stalling them for us, by making them walk.” He chuckled. “I think she dropped them from the way Miroku and Sango are complaining.”
Suddenly InuYasha kissed her fiercely and then stepped away from her, and she realized that the others were now close enough for her to hear as well. She frowned a little. Was InuYasha going to pretend that nothing had changed between them and go back to treating her like nothing more than his friend?
“Kagome?” He said gently, looking at her with concern, having noticed the twinge of sadness in her scent and feeling it in her aura.
She shook her head and put on a smile as her friends stepped out of the tree line. “Hey guys!”
“Kagome!” Shippou cried bounding towards her.
The young fox youkai took a great leapt towards Kagome only to be snatched out of the air by his tail. The kit struggled and was about to wail for help from Kagome when he heard InuYasha growl a soft reprimand before placing him in the young miko’s arms.
He snuggled up to her and noticed the change in her scent. The kit realized quickly that it changed everything, and that he was probably going to have to start listening to the rude hanyou, but he was just so happy to see Kagome that he didn’t care. He did however figure that a little sucking up to InuYasha with Kagome couldn’t hurt.
“We were so worried about you.” he cried against her. “It’s all my fault it took us so long to get here. I didn’t know your scent and so we had to wait for InuYasha to change back before we could leave to come find you, but he’s going to teach me to track and I promise to work really hard...”
Kagome looked to the hanyou who had his arms folded and a light pink dusting his cheeks as she ruffled the boy’s hair. “It’s okay Shippou. It wasn’t your fault and I’m not hurt.”
While the young fox had overlooked Kagome’s state of dress their other two companions did not and both though looking relieved also wore slight frowns.
“Kagome it is indeed a relief to see you well.” Miroku offered. “Will you tell us what happened?”
Kagome wasn’t sure she liked the way the monk was looking at her, as if her was trying to figure something out, but an with encouraging nod from Sango she spoke. “I was on my way to the fields to see InuYasha when I thought I heard someone crying in the back of a wagon. I thought they might need help so I told those walking along side it that the village ahead had a miko if they were in need of one and they grabbed me. The tied me up and threw me in the back with a bunch of other girls and I realized what was happening.”
“Ooh! Is that when you cut your hand?” Shippou asked excitedly.
Kagome nodded. “I remembered InuYasha talking about how the scent of blood is hard to wash away and so I wanted to make it easier for you all to find me.”
“You know Kagome when InuYasha realized what you had done, he actually almost complimented your quick thinking.” Miroku said trying to bait the unusually quiet hanyou. “I believe his exact words were ‘maybe there is something in the head of hers after all.’”
InuYasha snorted but said nothing. He felt his face heat at the surge of Kagome’s affection for him and hated it. He was part youkai and youkai didn’t blush over such things. It was pathetic.
Sensing her new mate’s discomfort Kagome continued her story. “I think I fell asleep a couple of times. The last time I woke when the wagon stopped and they pulled us all out and lined us up like livestock. The leader looked us all over and... and he picked me... he picked me to be his personal slave.”
Sango gasped. “Oh Kagome...”
The girl shook her head. “Like I said nothing happened. InuYasha saved me before... Anyway they took me this room and took my clothes and left me hanging by the rope around my wrists...” She paused as InuYasha stepped closer to her, their bodies nearly touching and the warmth of his youki comforted her. “I was just praying that InuYasha would come in time. I knew he would come... I just didn’t know if he would make it before...”
“There is something you are not saying.” Miroku pressed.
“Keh, it ain’t important.” InuYasha cut in sharply. “I found her and took care of the bastards that took her before they could force themselves on her.” Feeling Kagome’s gratitude through their link overwhelmed him mostly because he didn’t feel that he deserved it. The fact that the slaver had hand his hands on her was a failure in his eyes.
“Then there is nothing else? Are you certain?” Miroku tried again.
Sango elbowed him in the ribs and he grunted. “Can’t you see she doesn’t want to talk about it right now. We are just glad to have you back with us and that you are unharmed.”
“Thank you Sango.” Kagome replied with a smile.
“Kagome would you like to wear my kimono?” Sango asked. “I have my exterminators garb on under it and I can wear that back to the village.”
“Keh, Kagome looks fine in what she’s wearing.” InuYasha said. “Besides I don’t want my mate stinking like that bouzo. I don’t know how you two managed that with kit there...”
Sango turned bright red and sputtered and Miroku wore a lecherous smile as they processed his words. Kagome however turned to him, eyes wide.
“You told them.” She said softly.
He frowned. “They would have figured it out sooner or later. The bouzo already suspected something... Didn’t you want them to know?”
Kagome could feel the hurt projecting from him and realized that he must be thinking that she was ashamed of having him as his mate. She reached out and took his hand firmly in her own and squeezed it. “I don’t care who knows. In fact I was worried that you wouldn’t want to tell them, that you would pretend nothing has changed.”
“Keh,” InuYasha dismissed, but his lips curved upwards in a slight smile. “Let’s go and leave those two gaping idiots to catch up.”
Kagome nodded and accepted his too brief kiss and then climbed onto his back, placing Shippou on InuYasha’s shoulder as she did so. The three took off at a run and Kirara mewed happily as she watched them go.
Several moments later a stunned Sango turned to Miroku who was grinning broadly. “Did I really just hear what I think I did?”
“I believe so. I guess even InuYasha was not able to resist a bound and helpless young maiden wearing nothing more than a grateful smile... Or perhaps it was Kagome who was unable to resist showing her gratitude to her silver haired rescuer... The possibilities...” Miroku trailed off, obviously thinking about how InuYasha and Kagome might have come to be mates. “I suspect thing will be very different now for all of us.” He looped an arm around the taijiya’s waist, one hand lightly brushing her bottom. “At least I hope they will.”
“Hentai.” Sango snorted, but with good humor and minus the usual physical harm that most often followed. “But no matter how much things change, I will take comfort in the fact that you have just proven to me that you, at the very least, will always be a pervert.”
“Only for you my darling Sango, only for you.” The monk laughed.