InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nigatsu no Hoshi (Stars of February) ❯ Heat and Bonds ( Chapter 26 )

Suteki: Alright! Now to confuse you all. To the readers at mm.org, this is the 24th chapter to you, but to the readers at ff.net, this is the 23rd. Thus, I am deeming it the 23 and ONE HALF. Ff.net readers, the reason why you never read chapter 23, is because it is a very explicit lemon. If you wish to view it, go to this link: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_ch.php/55271/277515/ . BUT, this chapter isn't just the edited version, but there's a lot more to it, so whether you read the lemon or not, you should read this chapter too…..alright, now that we are all confused, ON WITH THE CHAPTER! ^_^;

Chapter 23 and one half - Heat and Bonds

Kagome woke in a sweat, her body on fire. She didn't know why, but her entire night had been filled with lust-full dreams. Usually when she woke from something like that, she would feel embarrassed and dirty, but not this morning…she felt, naughty. A smirk broke at her mouth, as she ran her fingers through the wet, sticky mess that had formed between her legs and down her thighs. She slipped out of Inuyasha's arms and quietly made her way over to one of their closets.

"aha.." she whispered as she finally found what she was looking for. She pulled out the stereo, checked to make sure she still had batteries in it, and smiled when it turned on. She set it to the side and continued digging through the closet some more, and pulled out a few articles of clothing she had brought from her time. `hmm, if they were surprised by my school uniform I could only imagine their reaction to these'. She folded them in her arms and tiptoed over to the bathroom and quickly changed and tied her hair up in a messy bun.

In the bedroom, inuyasha stirred and his arms smoothed out over the bed infront of him, searching for the now missing warmth. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he lazily opened his eyes and began to sit up. "k-kagome?" he asked with a yawn as he tried to look around the dimly lit room, his eyes still adjusting.

His eyes caught a silhouette standing in the washroom doorway, and his jaw dropped and he nearly choked on his tongue at what he saw. Kagome stood there, one hand on her hip and other supporting her against the wall, a sultry smirk playing at her lips. Her head tilted slightly down so she was watching him from under her lashes. As his eyes focused, he took in her apparel, which she must have just changed into since he had never seen it before. She wore a black lace gown, with black feathers fluttering around the wrists and bottom. under the gown he could make out a dark red teddy, the right strap falling down her shoulder.

"w-what the…" was all he could get out as she began to walk over towards him, turning on the stereo in the process. The soft music started in the room, and she came to stand infront of him by his side of the bed. She leaned over with her hands propped on her knees as to accent her cleavage, and kissed him lightly. "good morning my love," her warm breath swept across his cheek with her soft whisper. Inuyasha swallowed hard as he continued to stare in awe at her form, `k-kagome must be in HEAT! T-that can only mean one thing,' he smirked to himself, `I don't think we're going to be leaving this bed for a loooong while.'

~*~*~*

Downstairs, Rin, Sesshoumaru, Shippou, and Katasuki were already awake and had finished the morning meal. As soon as the food was off their plates, the children had excused themselves and bolted outside to play in the gardens. Katasuki watched them through the doorway with a smile, it was a beautiful morning, the air still smelt of dew and night. Katasuki glanced to the former lord of the western lands and could have sworn she caught a smile pull at his lips for a moment, and a glimmer or serene calmness in his eyes.

"it's an exceptionally beautiful morning, don't you think so my Lord?" she offered, interested in his reaction. Without turning his head, he looked at her from the corners of his eyes and nodded, "I don't notice such foolish things, but since you mentioned it, I would have to agree that it is pleasantly calm."

Katasuki studied him for a moment, " what do you mean you don't notice such things? Every morning you sit in the same place and watch the sun rise, I know this for a fact, you must have appreciated it at some point." She was being careful to watch the tone of her voice, as to not offend him as most those who dared speak to him did. But from the years she had spent in his service, she had become more comfortable around him, learned when to speak, and when to keep quite. This morning she felt his aura was calmer than usual. `could it be because the responsibility of Lord has been lifted from him?'

Sesshoumaru returned his gaze to the forest that lay thick just outside the castle walls. "I may have observed it, but nothing beyond that. Its true that I watch the world seemingly come to life every morning, but all this has proven to me, is that the same thing will happen every morning, whether anyone cares enough to watch it or not, there's nothing magical about it."

Katasuki kept quite as she thought about his words, and carefully chose her own. after a few minutes of silence between the two, she spoke again, this time completely off topic. "Sesshoumaru-sama…..why is it that you have yet to accept Lord Inuyasha as your brother?" she watched his jaw clench as she finished her sentence and mentally flinched, ` I hope I wasn't too direct…'.

"Inuyasha, is but my half brother. My father…he sacrificed his very life to protect inuyasha when he was born, and that human princess that he had taken as his mate. I thought my father was foolish, foolish and stubborn. I watched him leave that night, knowing he would never return to me. I was as good as a child in mind at that time, I blamed my father for leaving my mother, and for leaving me. But since he was no longer around to hate, I turned it to inuyasha…I see too much of my father in him."

Katasuki sat stunned, her face showing no effort to hide it whatsoever, `I-I never expected that much of an answer from him." Sesshoumaru turned his eyes back to her and watched her emotions flash over her face, "why do you ask and why do you appear so surprised Lady Katasuki?" he asked, his voice showing but a small hint of annoyance.

She quickly turned her eyes away from him, finding her lap interesting at the moment. "I just never expected you to give me an answer such as that. But you said that you were as good as a child then, does that mean that your thinking has changed?"

Sesshoumaru remained silent for a moment too long in the kitsunes opinion. "after fighting along side him, and observing inuyasha, I got to know him. I've watched him, and many mornings, my mind ponders over him. I realized…inuyasha is the one that should despise our father. Chichi-san took a mortal mate, which was selfish of him. Inuyasha may have had a mother, but he watched his mother whither and die of old age as is the fate of every mortal, as he stayed young and healthy. He is well over 200 years old, but he only spent 40 of those with his mother. After she passed, I watched him weep over her grave for months to come. He was left in the world with not one soul that cared for him any longer. He is forever cursed as a hanyou."

Once again silence filled the room as both youkai's minds continued to contemplate Inuyasha's life, Katasuki had never considered that Inuyasha's age meant that he had watched his mothers body and soul whither.

"I no longer despise inuyasha…I pity him."

~*~*~

Rin ran over to Shippou who was watching a caterpillar eating at rose leaves and threw a halo of wild flowers around his neck and giggled. Shippou stood up and looked at his new necklace and laughed, "you really like flowers don't you?" he asked, turning around to face her. But Rin and already busied herself in the patch of multicolored flowers, "Hai! They're just so beautiful, they always cheer up Rin." Shippou laughed again and joined her and started picking a bouquet of his own.

"who are you picking those for Shippou-Chan?" Rin asked curiously in her high-pitched squeaky voice. "for Okasan, Kagome, and inuyasha! Kagome and inuyasha had a hard day at the coronation I heard, so if they cheer people up then I want to give them to kagome," he said with a bright smile. Rin smiled brighter as she continued picking more flowers.

"shippou-Chan, can I ask you something?" the little girl asked, and shippou nodded. "in the past, Rin has heard you call Kagome-Chan `okasan', and `haha-san', but is not Katasuki-sama your momma? Rins confused," she finished, turning to him with a perplexed look on her face. "well, my family and me were attacked by demons a few years ago, and I had found my father dead, and I couldn't find my mother, so I assumed that she had been killed as well. But then kagome found me, and from then on she had been like my mother, which is why I always called her `okasan', I guess I just missed mine so much."

"but is not Shippou's mother alive, she is in the dining hall with Lord Sesshoumaru," Rin said questioningly and shippou laughed again. "yeah well, I didn't find out that she was alive until a couple of months ago!"

Rin smiled and jumped up in rejoice, "how wonderful! I'm sure you were very happy to see her, did you pick her flowers?!" Shippou watched her with amusement, "yes I was very happy, but I didn't know she was coming so I didn't have any flowers ready, sorry."

Rin turned and looked off into the sun rise, her smile slowly fading, not going unnoticed by the kit, "what's wrong Rin-Chan?" he asked, standing next to her. Rin turned back to look at him, tears shimmering in her eyes, "I wish my parents would come back…but Rins parents are dead…I saw them murdered by bandits…" her tears fell silently but she still tried to smile.

"nani?" Rin said quietly as she felt Shippou nudge her and she smiled happily when he handed her his bundle of flowers. "oooh arigato Shippou-Chan," she exclaimed as she took the offered gift and held them close to her chest and took a deep breath and giggled, "see, I told you they make people happy!" she spun around and kissed him on the cheek, causing the young kit to blush.

~*~*~

Katasuki turned back to Sesshoumaru, and smiled warmly but said nothing. He could feel her eyes on him but tried to ignore it, but soon he found even himself very uncomfortable and he glared at her. "what is it woman, why are you looking at me with such sympathy?" he asked in a indifferent tone. She smiled a little wider, "I do not mean to offend you my lord, its just, I've never heard you be so open. By any chance, could the calming aura of Lady Kagome be soothing your soul and allowing you to feel emotions such as these?"

He scoffed and looked away and thought for a moment, "perhaps you are correct, it is actually annoying, emotions are things only humans and fools dwell upon, they are not something I care to give any thought too." The kitsune laughed softly, "it is good for the soul, human or demon. Have you not noticed that Rin has had the same affect upon you Sire? There's something contagious about the smile of a carefree child, do you not agree?"

Sesshoumaru said nothing but gave a small nod. The woman smiled to herself for a while longer as she thought, and the smile faded slowly as another question ate away at her, but this one, would take much more courage to ask her master. `well, I may not get another chance to confide in him, so now is as good a time as any,' she thought with a deep breath.

"why have you refused to take a mate, Sesshoumaru-sama." She asked warily.

She heard his heart skip a beat and him hold his breath, though he hid it from her well visibly, she knew she had hit something that could be fatal, but she knew Sesshoumaru was one to be blunt, and would not hide his anger if offended. "the answer is simple, I have yet to find a female that is compatible with this Sesshoumaru," he replied stoically, and for some reason she felt hurt by his words.

`why do I feel slighted by that response?' she questioned herself.

"I might ask you the same question Katasuki, do you have any plans of re-mating, after the death of Tenraku, your former mate? You became an imposter miko, but have you taken the same oaths of chastity as the shrine maidens must?" Sesshoumaru asked her, seeing the thoughtful look on her face.

She was lightly jumped at hearing his voice, being pulled from her thoughts. "oh well, no, I did not take the vows of a priestess. The miko I trained with knew what I was, and that I could not truly be of their kind, no matter how much spiritual power I may hold. But…the reasons I have yet to seek a mate are more sentimental than any. The bond experienced between mates, is like none other. Most youkai woman never re-mate, mourning their loss till the day they die. But, Tenraku and I made a promise, that if anything were to happen to either one of us, we would move on for the sake of our son."

Sesshoumaru watched her closely, smelling the slight scent of salt that must be tears forming in her eyes. "but have you moved on Lady Katasuki?" he asked, hiding any sign of emotion in his voice, but she could see the sympathy in his usually cold eyes.

The woman shook her head slowly with a sad smile, "I have tried but it is hard. I…I left shippou and fled to china, hoping that my training would help to free me of my disproportioned emotions, so that I may be able to move ahead. I didn't want shippou to see me doing so, watching me to try to forget his father so soon after his death. I knew he wouldn't understand, which is why I left him behind. I made sure that kagome and inuyasha were directed towards him, I did not leave until then.

But…no matter how long I trained and meditated, the memory of him still lingered and held me back. the head priestess meditated with me…and I realized my course of action had been wrong, I needed my son. So I returned, and since I saw him again my mind has been at ease. I will never forget Tenraku, but I feel I am finally moving forward," she said with a small laugh and a shake of her head.

Sesshoumaru continued to watch her for a moment trying to understand what she had said about the bond of mates, "I can only imagine the strength of the bond you speak of, since I have never experienced such a thing. I've never witnessed it either, my father abandoned my mother after she had committed adultery with one of his soldiers, and I refused I accept my fathers relationship with Izayoi. But, you never answered my question, do you plan on taking another mate?" he asked again.

Katasuki looked up at him questioningly, wondering why he was so interested in getting the answer to that. "I hope too, I cant say when but I do hope too. I don't think I have the strength to search for one, but if one does come around, someone that will love me as well as shippou, then I will mate again, but not a day sooner," she answered him quietly and Sesshoumaru simply nodded his head in return.

Rin and shippou came prancing into the room excitedly just then, their laughter filling the formerly quiet room and gaining the adults attention.

Rin looked around the room and with a pout she turned to Sesshoumaru, "Sesshoumaru-sama, where are Kagome-Chan and inuyasha-sama? Rin wants to play with them." Sesshoumaru and Katasuki looked down on her after glancing at each other, not really sure what to say. The little girl `hmphed' and began to stomp towards the stairs while shippou stood next to his mother and watched her, "Rin is going to go wake them up, the sun is already risen, its time for them to get up too!"

Sesshoumaru and Katasuki stuttered and reached out to grab her, but everyone came to a halt and held their breath as a soul shattering scream echoed throughout the castle, though the words inaudible. Rin blinked and slowly turned around, "w-was that kagome-Chan? I-it sounds like she's hurt! Sesshoumaru-sama you must go help them!" she wailed as she ran back to him and clutched his kimono.

The youkai prince just stared upwards with a disgusted look on his face, and looked over to Katasuki who was blushing madly. ~~for such a small woman, she sure does have large lungs…~~ he hesitantly said to the kitsune telepathically, and she looked over at him surprised, but nodded.

~*~*~

Kagome collapsed to the bed, and inuyasha fell to her side, both panting into the bed. Inuyasha pulled out of her and caught his breath, "y-you are amazing my love," he said in a soft whisper as he began kissing against her mark. She shivered and leaned back to kiss his cheek, "but you're better. I love you inuyasha." She replied, nuzzling against him.

"mm, and I love you more, my mate."

"mmm, no, I love YOU more koibito." She said happily. Inuyasha growled behind her, "you dare defy your mate?" he asked, nipping at her back. Kagome smiled naughtily again, "well, I guess you'll just have to prove to me, that you love me more. You cant just go around claiming something like that without giving some proof Inuyasha." Inuyasha turned her over to face him, "is that so?" he asked, smirking now himself, and kagome nodded. "cause I can spend all day and all night proving just how much I love you."

Kagome felt her heart pick up pace at his words, "bring it on, I can take it." she said defiantly. Inuyasha kissed and nipped and her lips, "don't worry wench, I'm going to make sure that by the end of the day, you know who you belong too." he whispered in her ear before coming back to kiss her passionately.

`after today, there is no doubt kagome will be with pup.' The hanyou thought happily to himself and continued kissing his eager mate. `kagome will soon bear our pups, MY pups…'

………..…Rin never did get to play with Kagome and Inuyasha that day…

Suteki: The end!!….of the chapter that is ;) I've decided that I'm going to give you 2 or 3 more chapters of this story, before I call it the end of part one. So things are going to be going a little fast, but don't worry, that doesn't mean it'll be written in a rush, that always ruins it. But, do not worry, I'll be getting started on part 2 after only a short break, I'm going to get my bearings so I can get a nice flow of chapters out for it ^_^ Hope you enjoyed it and thanks again to all my loyal reviewers!! Oh, CM, I'm sorry I never emailed you, but I will soon!! Promise!!

Specail thanks to my boyfriend Inutaishou (Joe) for helping me with this! You all should be grateful to him as well, this chapter, along with the last would never have gotten done without his support. LOVE YOU KOI-Chan!!!!