InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Reigns Down ❯ All I Need is You ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Dawn was still hours away, but Yash couldn’t sleep. Not with the warm, lithe body of his wife draped over him. He lay quietly, breathing softly. A rustle in the bushes perked his ears forward. What was that noise? Keh, just some animal scrounging for food. After a few moments, silence descended again and he relaxed. It had been a long, long time since he felt the quietness of the forest, the stillness of the air. With his girl in his arms, he could lay here forever.

Cradling Kagome closer to him, happiness infused in his chest as he tilted his head slightly to gaze down at her sleeping form.

Ever since they had left the city two days ago, a sense of calm had fallen over him and he couldn’t help the fervent feeling he had every time he looked at his wife. He thought it would take Kagome longer to relax since he had to practically drag her out of her lab. It was almost dusk by the time they had gone home to grab their supplies. Luckily they had planned ahead and packed everything they had needed the night before.

As promised, Yash donned his red haori much to Kagome’s delight. Kagome had tried to keep her own promise, but her hips and bustline had told her in no uncertain terms that she was no longer fifteen years old. She made a wryly face when she couldn’t button up the skirt and no matter how much she inhaled her old blouse still stretched taut creating wide gaps of fabric. She felt downright silly for even thinking her old school uniform would still fit, but the way InuYasha’s gaze locked on her body made her feel a little bit better.

Thinking of how tight the blouse had stretched across her breasts, the buttons threatening to pop made InuYasha shift his gaze downward. His fire rat hugged the curves of her breasts, hiding the peaks underneath the fabric of red. His eyes softened as he recalled how her face had lit up with pleasure when he had told her that he liked her better curvy.

He continued to watch her in silence, shifting so that he lay on his side, her head cradled on his arm. Her breathing was even and there was something hypnotizing about watching her chest rise and fall. Her face was smooth from anxiety and her lips parted slightly in relaxation. He wanted so badly to kiss her. Ever since they had left the house, he couldn’t get enough of her. He just couldn’t help himself. The minute they stepped foot in the forest, it was like a release. Release from work, from responsibilities, from obligations. They didn’t have to answer to anyone but themselves. And it was heaven. Carrying her on his back like old times, they took off deep into the woods, leaving not only civilization behind but their inhibitions as well. By the time they had set up camp, they had already stopped twice to make love. The first clearing Yash had come to was the first time. He had slid Kagome off his back and pounced on her before she could even blink. Not that she minded he smirked as he recalled just how enthusiastic his wife was. Her soft moans had echoed throughout the clearing as her legs were wrapped tight around his waist. The second time she was pressed up against a tree.

They just couldn’t seem to keep their hands or their eyes off of each other. It was like they were making up for lost time. Perhaps they were he mused to himself. In the city, there were always too many distractions and they tried to behave for propriety sake, but out here in the wild with no one to frown upon them, they were free to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. It was exhilarating.

They spent the next day reminiscing through the woods and at night they made love by the fire. Afterwards, they had snuggled, talking deep into the night — about nothing, about everything —  finally falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Now being awake for the last hour, Yash couldn’t help the sudden rush of blood in the lower regions of his body as his wife unconsciously wiggled her petite, naked body against his.

Closing his eyes, he let out a deep breath. I’m letting her sleep. I’m letting her sleep, he repeated to himself. He took three huge breaths. Under control once more, he opened his eyes and stared down at her. Kagome slept on, oblivious to the way her husband scrutinized her features.

He brushed his free hand lightly down the curve of her body, resting it tenderly on the flat plane of her stomach.

A baby.

Three days ago she had told him that she wanted a baby.

Three days ago, they had left work early to pick up a quick dinner and to pack for their honeymoon. Yash had finished rolling up the sleeping bags and after stuffing them into compression sacks, he had entered their bedroom to find Kagome deep in thought, looking solemnly out the window.

Standing quietly behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and asked, “Everything okay?”

Resting against his chest, she was silent for a moment before she hesitantly asked her own question. “InuYasha…” Her voice was so low that he had to lean down to catch her words. “How do you feel about babies?”

The question took him by surprise. “Babies? Love them. Why do you ask?” He tossed the question out casually, but his heart began beating rapidly.

“I-I just thought…” Kagome stopped and swallowed hard. They had never discussed having children before. Sure, they had discussed hanyou babies at length, but it was all work-related. It was naturally assumed that they would start a family one day, but the subject had never come up. Until now.

Yash turned her around forcing her to face him. “Kagome, what is it?”

With her heart in her throat, Kagome confessed, “I don’t want to be on birth control anymore.” When her quiet confession was met with silence, Kagome looked up to find intense amber eyes staring at her.

“Then don’t.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she studied the serious expression on her husband’s face. “InuYasha, do you know what this would mean?”

“Well… ah… well, that means if we do it, the chances of having a baby are—”

“If we do it?” Kagome grinned cheekily at him, the slight tension broken. “When did your vocabulary become so sophisticated, InuYasha?”

He returned her grin. “I have a very sophisticated vocabulary. Want to hear it?”

She laughed. “No!”

He smiled at her before his lips marginally tightened and his tone became serious again. “Are you sure, Kagome? We just got married. You don’t think it’s too soon?”

Kagome looked at him earnestly and shook her head, biting down on her lower lip. “No, I don’t think it’s too soon,” she said softly. Kagome had always wanted to be a mother, but it wasn’t until lately that she started to feel that tug in her heart every time she looked at a child, a deep stirring of longing that she could no longer deny. She knew that InuYasha wanted kids too. Once she had overheard him talking to his nephew, Daichi, during one of Sesshomaru’s family dinners. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she was coming around the corner and caught sight of Yash horsing around with Daichi and his children, each child clinging onto Uncle Yash’s leg. Daichi had laughing teased his uncle that it really was about time ‘to give him a few first cousins.’ Yash had good-humoredly replied that he “would love to have kids of his own someday. If only so that Daichi could babysit.” Hiding in the shadows, Kagome could hear the longing in his voice. He was more than ready for children. And so was she.

“I thought about it,” she admitted. “About us needing time to be just us, but then I think about how we would have had a family by now if we never…” She stopped and looked up when she heard his sigh. “But I can’t compare then and now, can I?”

“No, we can’t compare. But are you sure you’re ready?” He saw the determination in her eyes, but he had to ask, “Are you sure you want a baby?”

She watched as an array of emotions flirted across the normally poker-faced hanyou: love, longing, hope. A mirror image of her own emotions.

Reaching up and framing his face with her slender hands, she placed a kiss on his lips. With her breath warming his mouth and the scent of strawberries from dessert still fresh on her lips, she whispered, “No, InuYasha, I don’t want a baby. I want your baby.”

His baby.

Yash could feel his throat constrict with emotion. Only she could make him feel this way. In his youth if anyone had foretold that he would be one of the wealthiest men in Japan, that others would look up to him, that he would be happily married and trying to start a family of his very own, he would have scoffed at them. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined how deliriously happy he would be. But he was. All thanks to the beautiful angel currently lying in his arms. Ever since that fateful day that he had met her, his whole life had changed for the better. This sweet, beautiful girl who loved him when he didn’t even deserve her love. Back when loving a hanyou was akin to loving an abomination.

His hand ghosted over her small frame. He could envision her large with his child and the mere thought filled him with indescribable joy. He sniffed delicately. No, not pregnant yet, but, the Kami willing, she would be soon.

Small murmuring sounds fell from Kagome’s slightly parted lips as she snuggled closer to him. The temptation was too much. He had to kiss her. Leaning down, he gently brushed his lips softly against her forehead, feathering kisses along her brows until his lips met hers. He was rewarded when she parted her lips and breathed out “InuYasha.” His smile broadened at hearing his name. She was dreaming about him. A soft groan escaped her, and he couldn’t help himself. He pressed his mouth against her warm skin as her eyes slowly fluttered open. She snaked her tongue out to wet her lips before she gave him a drowsy smile. His heart melted at the sight of her. She was so beautiful and he couldn’t believe that she was his. All his.

When she felt warm lips move over her skin, Kagome closed her eyes and gave into the feeling of pure bliss. A low rumbling sound vibrated against her ear and she smiled as she felt his lips brush her temple, moving slowly across her cheekbones until they were a hair’s breath away from her own lips. Anticipating a kiss she parted her mouth, waiting. Her brows creased when nothing happened and she slowly opened her eyes. Her disappointment abruptly vanished at the sight of liquid golden eyes staring deeply into hers. Her heart quickened at his whispered words, “You are so beautiful.”

Kagome started to reply, but Yash caressed his thumb over her mouth, effective stopping her words so that he could continue in a hushed tone. “I love watching you sleep.” He gently cupped her cheek and slowly stroked the outline of her jaw, resting his fingers lightly on her skin. “I used to watch you all the time, back when we were chasing Naraku. I would be sitting in the trees when you were getting ready for bed and I would sneak down when you fell asleep. I remember the way the fire would cast highlights over you, the light dancing in your hair like fireflies.”

He drank in the sight of Kagome’s eyes as they darkened into deep pools of melted chocolate. He could drown in those eyes. He brushed her brow gently. “The way your eyelids fluttered when you were in deep sleep.”

His attention turned to the full pouty lips that he loved so much. “The way you would sigh and part your lips and make those soft moaning sounds when you were dreaming.” He moved his thumb tenderly over her lower lip. “Were you dreaming of me?”

He laid his palm against her cheek as his other hand trailed down the side of her body, cupping a breast. “The way your body moulded into the sleeping bag, all your curves moving and shifting. So soft, so sweet.” His lips hovered over hers, lingering, as he whispered, “All those times I watched you I couldn’t get enough. I still can’t. I could watch you forever.”

Kagome was intoxicated with warmth at his words. Her breathing hitched and then quickened as her heart hammered fiercely under his gaze.

His arms encircled hers in a tight embrace before his mouth captured hers in a deep, lingering kiss.

He pulled back. “Kagome…”

She opened her eyes and lost herself in pools of dark amber.

“Thank you,” he whispered against her lips.

“For what?” she asked just as softly.

“For loving me.”

Early morning light filtered through the canopy of trees overhead and Yash suppressed yet another urge to wake up the woman pressed against his side. He breathed in deeply, allowing himself to savour the sweetness of her scent before he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Reluctantly untangling her limbs from his, he was careful not to disturb her slumber before he slipped out of the sleeping bag. Tucking his haori over her sleeping form, he added more wood to the fire before slipping through the trees towards the river.

Kagome awoke to the sound of birds chattering in the trees. There was a slight chill in the air, autumn herald its arrival by blowing a light breeze through the trees which were already changing colour. Kagome shivered and snuggled into her sleeping bag, trying to ignore the pocket of cold echoing in the wide open space beside her. Stretching, she expected to feel her husband, but her arms found only empty air. Shaking the grogginess of sleep away, she heard the sounds of splashing water.

She vaguely remembered the warmth of his lips and a whispered “I’m going for a swim” before a gust of cold slammed into her heated body. She had pulled the sleeping bag over her and cocooned in warmth, she had promptly fallen asleep again.

Now yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked around. Shadows still lingered in the trees, but the sun was making an appearance, barely peeking through the horizon. Hearing a splash as if someone had thrown a huge boulder into the water made her smile as she imagined her hanyou in the cold river. Brrr. The thought made her scrunch down lower in her covers. InuYasha had promised to take her to a hot springs later and she couldn’t wait. But she had to make do with what they had and a cold sponge bath early in the morning did not seem very enticing at the moment.

She would rather have stayed in her sleeping bag until the sun came out to warm her, but nature called and she reluctantly got up. Stretching the stiffness from her joints, she tried to ignore the growing soreness between her legs. The way they were going, she’d be lucky if she could walk by the end of the week, she thought wryly. Looking around, she reached over and slipped on Yash’s fire rat, tying it up at the waist.

Kagome rummaged through the backpack and pulled out provisions for breakfast. Setting them beside the fire, she then gathered her clothes before she headed towards the river.

Standing on the bank she took a few moments to admire the lean strong body of her husband cutting through the current as he swam upstream. She watched as the hanyou dipped below the water, his mane of silver hair disappearing beneath the surface.

Stripping out of the haori, she dipped a small wash cloth into the water and began briskly rubbing herself clean before putting on fresh garments. Pursing her lips together to keep them from chattering, she rubbed her arms vigorously to chase the goose bumps away. She sat down, resting against a rock and absently rubbed her stomach. Was she already pregnant? Did they create a child? If not, it wasn’t due to InuYasha’s lack of enthusiasm or his lack of virility. No, if she didn’t get pregnant, it won’t be InuYasha’s fault but hers.

When they had reminisced through the woods yesterday, Kikyo’s name had come up. Kagome’s good mood took a turn for the worse as she thought about the consequences of their marriage and she seized the opportunity to voice her concerns to Yash.

“Did you ever wonder why Kikyo wanted you to turn human?”

Yash looked at Kagome in surprise. The topic had come out of nowhere. True, Kikyo’s name had been mentioned, but he was taken aback by the blunt way his wife had asked the question. And why in blazes was she asking him that? She, of all people, knew the answer to that one and the way he cocked his brow plainly told her just that.

Kagome bit her lip and gathered up her courage to continue her questioning. “What if it was something more?”

Yash’s curiously won out. “What do you mean?”

“What if…” Kagome hesitated, afraid to voice her thoughts. If she said her fears out loud would they become reality?

“Kagome?

She trained her eyes on his collar, not wanting to meet his gaze. In a low voice, she said, “What if Kikyo knew that by being a miko she couldn’t conceive a youkai baby, much less carry one to term? What if that’s the real reason she wanted you to be human. What if that was the only way she could have your children? And if that’s true, what if I can’t have your babies?”

“That’s a lot of ‘what ifs’,” he said trying to keep his tone light as he gently raked his hand through her hair letting the silky strands fall between his fingers. “And what if it’s not as difficult as you’re thinking? What if Kikyo just didn’t want a hanyou husband?”

She whipped her eyes to his, her stress momentarily forgotten as a scowl lined her features. “Why wouldn’t she want you as a hanyou?” she demanded. “She fell in love with you as one. She should have married you as one. Why should she want to change you?”

Kagome’s mood had taken a turn from self pity to anger and Yash hid his smile as he secretly applauded his ingenious method at re-directing Kagome’s emotions. He knew this was only temporary and that she would fall back into an emotional funk if he didn’t stop her concerns before they escalated. And quite frankly, no matter what he said, the only way to dispel her fears was to get her pregnant. And damn it, he was trying. But for now, his words would have to suffice in setting her mind at ease.

“You know as well as anyone, why. She thought that if we used the Shikon no Tama to turn me into a human then that would be enough to vanquish it forever. She wanted an ordinary life and if she didn’t have the burden of being the keeper of the jewel anymore, she could have one. And that ordinary life didn’t include a hanyou husband. She fought demons all of her life and she wanted to leave that behind her. She didn’t want any reminders.”

Kagome nodded. She knew all the reasons why and she felt childish asking Yash to repeat it. Yet hearing his words did bring a measure of comfort, even if it didn’t erase her fears completely.

 “How long has this been bothering you?”

She buried her face into the folds of his shirt, feeling a bit foolish. “A while.”

Trying a different tactic, he said, “Kagome, think about it. If your body really wanted to reject mine, do you think I could have made love to you so many times without you trying to purify me, even indirectly? Not once has your body ever rejected mine, so I don’t think we need to worry just yet about having fertility problems.”

“But…”

“But what?”

“I researched past cases of miko successfully having hanyou babies, but, InuYasha, there hasn’t been any! It just isn’t done.”

He gave her a soothing smile. “Well, Dr. Takahashi, there’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?”

A sheepish look crossed her face as she agreed. “Yes. Yes, there is.”

He kissed her then and then murmured more reassurances: reassurances that did more than anything to calm her frantic heart.

Kagome sighed. Although InuYasha had done a thorough job in cheering her up, she couldn’t help the nagging suspicion gnawing at her gut. What if — NO. Kagome shook her head. I will not think like that. It will be just fine. And if not, InuYasha is right. We’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Pushing away the uneasiness snaking through her thoughts, she focused her attention on her husband. She peeked under her bangs at him, discreetly watching as he lazily floated on his back. He let the current take him downstream as his lean muscular frame caught the rays of light that bounced off his body. He was a like a bronze sun god with his long silver hair drifting out around him. He seemed so carefree with a content grin on his face as he enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his bare skin. She watched as he pulled himself upstream, his muscles flexing effortlessly with the movements. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him.

Yash let the current carry him to the edge of the river. He felt invigorated as he pulled himself out of the water. It was just what he needed to start the day. He glanced up and caught sight of Kagome waving cheerfully from her rock.

He loved her so much. That thought kept echoing through his head, a mantra beating in his heart every time he looked at her. Ambling his way over to her he made sure to properly flex his muscles, giving her a splendid view of his naked body. The way her face flushed told him that he had achieved his objective. He pulled her onto his lap as soon as he reached her.

She squealed as her body made contact with a wet hanyou. “InuYasha, you’re all wet!”

“That’s what usually happens when you go swimming,” he teased, tightening his hold on her when she tried to break out of his embrace.

Knowing he wouldn’t let her go, she settled herself on his lap, wiggling her bottom against him as she made herself comfortable.

His arm tightened around hers, trying vainly to keep her still as his blood rushed southward with her motions. “Kagome,” he gritted out,” stop squirming around like that.” Feeling him hardened against her bottom, Kagome stilled. Yash inhaled deeply and buried his nose into the crook of her neck. “And stop smelling so damn good.”

Kagome turned her head around to face him. “It’s all your fault for sauntering out of that river all naked and gorgeous.” She returned his grin and was tempted to tell him that she had changed her mind after all. So what if she couldn’t walk all week. He could carry her.

He kissed her soundly as he lay back, pulling her around to face him.

“Argh.” He shifted their bodies and reached behind him to dislodge the rock that pushed against his back. He flung the offensive stone across the river and gave a self satisfied smirk when he heard a faint thunk in the distance. “I’m getting too old for this shit,” he said, making Kagome giggle.

“Whose bright idea was it to come camping?” He sat up with Kagome still in his arms. “When we could have been making love on a soft, comfortable bed and not on this damn hard ground.”

Kagome’s lips twitched with merriment. “You never had a problem with it before.”

“I was younger then.”

“Oh, yes, you’re so old now,” she teased. “You must be getting soft.”

“Getting soft, eh? I’ll show you just how hard I am,” he teased back as he nuzzled her ear. “Now, where were we?”

Kagome laughed before she pushed out of his arms. “Oh, no you don’t! At this rate, I won’t be able to walk for the rest of the week. Besides I have to go start breakfast.” She pulled at her damp pants. “And I need to change since you’ve used me as a towel.” She stared down in amusement, confirming with her eyes what she had definitely felt against her bottom. “And you, InuYasha, you need another cold shower. In this case, another dip in that river.” She giggled as she pointed towards the water.

“At this rate, I’d be dousing myself in cold water every damn minute,” he grumbled good-naturally as he tried to grab her hand to hold her in place.

Grinning madly, she sidestepped his advances. Still facing him, she slowly walked backwards as she watched him haul himself off of the ground.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and help me out?” he said to his wife’s retreating figure.

His puppy dog eyes and long suffering sigh made her giggle even more. “And be so sore that I can’t walk? Hmmm… let me think about that.” She tapped her finger against her chin before she mused out loud, “Well, I guess you could always carry me.”

“Feh. Don’t tempt me, wench,” Yash growled and made a move towards her.

Kagome squealed. Turning around, she dashed through the trees calling back, “I was only kidding! Go cool off!”

Yash watched as his wife escaped back to their camp, her pink sweater and blue capris swallowed by the trees. With a chuckle he shook his head and turned towards the river. So sore she couldn’t walk, eh? He could definitely arrange that. After all, they still had four days left.


After a simple breakfast of rice and pickled vegetables, they had set out walking hand in hand through the forest. They spent the morning leisurely exploring the area with Yash pointing out old landmarks and their feudal group’s old haunting grounds.

They stopped in a clearing for lunch. It was a beautiful day. The leaves were beginning to change colours, shedding their greenery to morph into the shades of autumn. Soon they would be engulfed in a potpourri of reds, oranges and yellows.

Kagome leaned back against a tree and with eyes closed lifted her face towards the sun to enjoy the midday heat. Yash, with his head in her lap and a stomach full of ramen, gave a contented sigh as he too closed his eyes to enjoy the peacefulness of the forest. They spent the next few minutes in comfortable silence, both basking in the sun, warming their cheeks to a healthy pink hue.

“It’s going to rain later.” Yash’s declaration broke through the silence. “We better find some shelter.”

“Hmmm…okay.” She murmured her agreement as she stared up at the sky, noticing for the first the cluster of clouds heading their way.

She was still staring upwards when the sound of an airplane ripped through the tranquility of the sky. Turning her head, she caught the tail end of a jumbo jet as it disappeared into the atmosphere leaving behind a trail of white smoke in its wake. They were so wrapped up in each other during the past few days that it was easy to forget that there was a ‘real’ world out there. The airplane was a sudden reminder that they weren’t truly in solitude.

“Do you ever miss the Feudal era?” she asked suddenly.

Following her gaze as he too watched the grey aircraft disappear from their sights, he admitted,
“Sometimes. I miss the silence. The smell of fresh air untouched by pollution. Being able to run hard and free without coming upon traffic or some type of building.” He shrugged lightly. “In some ways, the freedom.”

They were silent for a while and Kagome thought that the conversation had ended, but Yash continued as if he had been pondering it. “But, if you’re asking me if I miss it enough to go back? No, I don’t.”

“You don’t?” Kagome couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.

“No,” he said firmly. “I don’t. Sure I miss the natural state of the past, no pollution, no traffic, a hell of a lot less people, but it’s like looking back on your childhood. You remember and you miss some of it, but to want to go back to it? No, I don’t think so.”

Their conversation was cut short as the sky suddenly opened up and the rain came down without warning. Kagome shrieked and laughingly jumped on Yash’s back as he grabbed their supplies and took off to find shelter from the storm.


Pitter Patter. Pitter Patter. The light beat of rain fell onto the roof of their shelter. Yash had backtracked to the old abandon shack they had come upon earlier that day. It was a simple, one room hunting shack. The small window was boarded up and where the door should have been was a large gaping hole, but it was relatively clean, and most importantly, dry.

The wind blew a haunting melody through the entrance bringing with it the dampness of the leaves and the sharp sting of wet grass. Kagome inhaled deeply before slowing opening her eyes to gaze across the warm body that she was half laying on. She listened to the beat of the rain as it hit against the shrubs outside. She watched, mesmerized, as beads of water hit the branch of the bush before slowly dripping down to be absorbed into the earth once more. So caught up was she in studying the rain, she didn’t notice the amber eyes watching her.

“What are you thinking about?” There was a somberness edging the deep timbre of his voice.

“About what you said earlier. About not wanting to go back.” Resting on the hanyou, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the stroking he applied to her hair. “If I didn’t become a scientist and none of the hanyou problems existed, I would have been happy to have lived in that era with you back then,” she said softly.

“With no hot water coming out of the faucets?” he teased and chuckled softly when he felt her lips curve into a smile.

She gave him an affectionate squeeze. “That’s what hot springs are for.”

“And leaving your family behind?” He felt her hesitation. “No, Kagome, you were meant for this life, here, now. And I was meant to be here by your side. There’s no reason to think of the past. We can’t live on the ‘what ifs’. We have to live for the present. Here is where we belong. Here is where I can spoil you, give you everything you deserve — a warm, safe house, fancy clothes, jewelry. I can take you to exotic places you’ve never seen. When we first met, I didn’t have anything to my name except the clothes on my back and now that I can afford to give you the world, I plan on doing just that.”

“I don’t need all that.”

“I didn’t say you needed it,” he said lightly. “I just said I wanted to give it to you.”

Giving him a sweet smile that never failed to melt his heart, she said, “I love you no matter where we are, no matter where we go. I just want to be with you, InuYasha. And I don’t need any of those things to be happy. All I need is you.”


Two hours later the rain let up enough for them to leave their temporary shelter. Yash, with Kagome on his back, scouted the area to find a more suitable place to camp for the night. Although it was only mid afternoon the sun had disappeared behind a sea of ominous clouds, dropping the temperature a few degrees. The distant rumbling of thunder hurried their pace and they were relieved when they finally found a cave located at the base of a small limestone cliff. It was the perfect refuge from the approaching rainstorm. They hurriedly set up camp, but as Yash looked around the cave, something nudged at the recesses of his mind. Troubled with unease, he pushed the thoughts away before he began to start the fire.


I hope InuYasha comes back soon, Kagome thought anxiously as she stared out at the black clouds overhead. It had started to rain in the late afternoon, slowing down three hours later to a light drizzle before finally stopping. Yash had taken the opportunity to go hunting before the weather took another turn for the worse.

There were in for quite a storm tonight and a cold chill had settled in the air. She pulled Yash’s haori closer to her. If only I didn’t drop my jacket into that water! On their way to the cave, Kagome had dug her jacket out of the back pack and was trying to put it on when a big gust of wind tore the garment from her fingers. Her coat had landed in the stream, soaking it. Yash had simply shaken his head, teased her about it and then draped his own robe around her shoulders.

Oh, but if he doesn’t come back soon, he’ll be soaked. Kagome fretted as she tried in vain to look through the dimness of the early evening light.

After a few minutes, a light rain began to come down and Kagome hurried back inside. She went to the wood pile and bent down to pick up a piece of kindling to throw into the fire.

Ouch! Not seeing the rut in the dirt floor, Kagome tripped and landed heavily on one knee. She dropped the wood and drew her hand back quickly. Awkwardly hunched on the ground she examined her bloody knee. Her hand was no better off as she clutched at it, undecided which injury she should tend to first.

Aha! I beat the storm, Yash thought triumphantly as he entered the cave. He stopped short at the sight that met his eyes. Kagome wrapped in his haori, sitting by the fire as the light weaved into her hair highlighting her dark strands and casting half her face in shadows. The smell of blood and tears.

The smell of blood and tears…

All of a sudden he was transported back in time, to another place, to another girl. He stopped, transfixed to the memory he saw in his mind’s eye.

The cave smelled of blood, sweat and tears. Normally such a combination would make him sick to his stomach, but now he took it all in stride, the smells forgotten at the wonder ofthe miracle that he had just witnessed…

Fuck. Where did that come from? Yash shook his head in disgust and leaped in to land in front of Kagome. The tears on her face and the scent of her blood scared him. “Kagome, are you all right?”

Hastily rubbing her tears away, Kagome gave him a slight smile. “I’m fine. I was just throwing a piece of wood into the fire and tripped. I’m so clumsy, I’m an idiot.” She held out her hand and he noticed the jagged splinter that punctured her palm.

“You’re not an idiot. You just need to be more careful,” he said gruffly as he rummaged through the backpack, bringing out the first aid kit. Taking her hand, he carefully pulled out the offending splinter. Cleaning and disinfecting her wounds, he bandaged her knee and palm before giving both a quick kiss. “There. All better.”

Kagome smiled up at him. “Thank you.” Her smile was dazzling and it pierced his heart with the recognition of a long forgotten memory.

“Welcome. Are you hungry?” At her nod, he gave her a chaste kiss on her forehead before turning back to the entrance to pick up the rabbits he had dropped when he first came in. Squatting down, he made a spit and started roasting his spoils over the fire. It’s a good thing I already skinned and gutted these things, he thought as he took a stick and moved hot coals underneath the rabbits. I wouldn’t have been able to stand the smell of guts and blood in this small space.

The smell of blood…

He looked up and glanced around the enclosure, his brows creased in memories. The rain was coming down strong now, and he could hear the wind howling restlessly against the rocks, filtering through the cave to wail out its eerie song as he lost himself in a storm of memories.

The fire was here. Right here in this very spot. There. There where Kagome is sitting. That’s where she lay giving birth…

A shard of a memory, fragmented and broken pierced his mind.

Shit. It was the same cave. Huh. The hanyou sat back. He hadn’t thought of her in a long time, hundreds of years in fact. Why the hell did he think of her now?

She was only a small drop in an ocean of memories. And why he would even think of that long ago incident now made him shake his head. He always did wonder what happened to her. And if he had ever found her again… well, who knows what would have happened? He shook his head wryly. No, it was a good thing he never found her again. His life started to change after that incident in the cave. No, in this cave. He looked around critically again. Yes, it was the same cave: the cave where he witnessed his first and only childbirth.

“InuYasha?” His wife’s quiet voice broke into his thoughts and he turned amber eyes to her.

She smiled softly at him. “You were so lost in thought. What are you thinking about?”

“Babies.”

“Babies?”

“Yeah.” He went to her and gathered her into his arms. Sitting cross legged in front of the fire, he pushed aside her hair so that he could place kisses on her neck. “And how very much I want to make one with you right now.”

Kagome’s breath came out in a soft hitch. “Right now?”

“Hmmm… yes, right now. We have time before dinner is ready.” He moved his hands to untie the robe, exposing the cotton top she was wearing underneath. Sliding his hand under her shirt, he cupped her breast and squeezed lightly, making his wife moan in his mouth.

It was a while before they were finally sated with one another. And it was only the smell of burning meat that made them laughingly pull apart. They took turns feeding each other bits and pieces of meat. Parts of the rabbit were burnt to a crisp while other parts were still undercooked, but Kagome didn’t mind. She thought it was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten in her life.


Kagome was almost asleep — lulled by the rhythmic beat of the rain — when she murmured, “So, do you think we made a baby?” She stretched and her arms met with solid muscle as InuYasha wrapped his arms around her torso.

“No,” he stated bluntly.

“No?” That woke Kagome up. She tried to twist around to face him, but he pulled her closer to his chest — her bottom resting against his hip — locking her against him. Pulling her head slightly up Kagome caught the amused glint in his eyes before he lowered his lips to nip at her neck.

“I heard that it takes at least five or six tries to get pregnant,” the hanyou murmured against her flushed skin.

“Five or six, huh?” she asked breathlessly as his lips wandered onto her shoulder. His fangs grazed lightly over her shoulder blades, sending shivers of anticipation through her.

“Hmmm… maybe it was ten or twelve.”

“Ten or twelve?” Kagome asked in amusement.

“Yeah, now that I think about it, it was a really high number.”

“I’m sure it was.”

“You know what they say. Practice makes perfect.”

“Oh, InuYasha, you are perfect.” Kagome giggled.

A low rumbling growl sounded in her ear. “I like your answer.”

Kagome fluttered her eyelashes at him, a mischievous grin on her lips. “Can we practice some more?”

Her grin was met with a self-satisfied, masculine smirk. “We’ll practice all night if we have to,” he said huskily before his lips bore down on hers.

He continued to make love to her as the rain came down.


In the darkness of the night, their warm bodies still coupled — with warm hands on hips and warm lips to temple — whispered words floated above the din of the rain outside.

“I love you.”


A/N: Wow, I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last update – yikes! All I can say is that life gets crazy busy sometimes. As always, thanks for reading and Happy New Year! ^_^

Kt: Thanks so much for your review! Quite honesty I wasn’t sure if anyone was even reading this so I really appreciated you taking the time to leave the review. ^_^


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