InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Point of no Return ( Chapter 7 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.15.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.6K | Visits: 297 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.15.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.6K | Visits: 297 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
The Turning Point
WARINING!! This chapter contains a lemon! Normally, I do not post warnings for my lemons, but this one involves does not involve my main pairing! The lemon is marked at the beginning and end, for those of you who wish to pass this one up. Whether you chose to read it or not, please read the author’s notes at the end of the chapter. Thanks.
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The quiet sound of crackling wood met her ears as her single eye slowly opened. The fire had died down a bit, but was still burning brightly enough for her to see. Kaede pulled herself up onto her elbows. A light grunt escaped her lips as she placed a hand over her belly. A dull pain resided there. She had noticed it before, but it had been only fleeting then. As of late however, it seemed to visit her more and more frequently.
Struggling to ignore her mild discomfort, the elder miko looked around the room. A small smile formed on her lips. Her home had provided shelter for many over the years, but never so many all at the same time. Nearly everyone she cared for was here, even young Rin. It was a bit cramped in the small hut, but it warmed her heart to have them all here.
Having long ago decided to dedicate her life to her work as a priestess, she had never taken a husband and had a family of her own. She had never once regretted her decision, but that didn’t mean she never thought about a different life. In her youth, she had occasionally considered what it might have been like to mother children of her own. She’d be a grandmother by now, she noted vaguely. What would that have been like? Sometimes… just sometimes, it stung just a little bit to think of what she gave up in pursuit of her work. It was times like this however, that the pain would shrink away to nothing.
“You okay?” a gruff voice startled her out of her thoughts. She jerked slightly and a hiss of pain escaped her lips.
“Inuyasha, ye are still awake?”
Ignoring her question, the hanyou was instantly at her side. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt or something?”
Kaede smiled, taking in the genuine concern in his voice. “It is nothing ye need to worry over. Just the aches and pains of old age.” she told him as she waved a hand dismissively. While he did not look at all convinced, he didn’t question her further. “Well, you’d better not be getting sick on us.” he paused and then looked away. “We need you, you know.”
Her smile broadened a bit. “I know, Inuyasha… I know.” she breathed quietly, as she struggled to lie back down.
“Here, let me help. You’ll make too much noise and wake everyone else up.”
He carefully held her shoulders to support her weight, as he slowly laid her back down.
She breathed a small sigh of relief. “Thank ye, Inuyasha.”
“Yeah, whatever.” he murmured as he turned away from her to reclaim his position by the door. “Get some sleep, okay.”
The elder miko did not respond verbally, but she did close her eye. For several moments, Inuyasha continued to watch her. Was she really okay? He’d noticed her holding her stomach on several occasions, and she seemed to have lost a bit of weight. No one else really seemed to notice, but he did. Of all of them, he spent the most time with her. A lot of times when Kagome would go home, Miroku and Sango would travel to nearby villages to slay demons, or perform an exorcism. And since the end of last year, Shippou began using that time to further his kitsune training. That often left just him and Kaede.
More often than not, he’d follow her about as she did her chores and they would simply talk. He’d burn in hell before he’d admit it, but on more than one occasion he had found her advice to be extremely helpful. Outwardly, he never really showed much more than mere tolerance for the elder miko, but really, he had grown to care for her a great deal.
A slight frown crinkled his brow. She was getting older, and really, it was just a matter of time before…
He ripped his gaze away from her. No! Kaede was far too stubborn for that. Knowing her, she’d be around to bury him. He allowed a small smile at the thought.
Still, it might be okay to be just a little bit nicer to her. Just a little bit.
He closed his eyes once more.
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“Naraku...?” Izanami’s quiet, urgent voice wafted into the night air. It was dark, really, really dark. The air around her was cool and damp as a thick layer of fog surrounded the entire area. She was becoming more and more nervous with each passing moment. She had not been mistaken had she? Naraku had asked her to come here after midnight, had he not?
“Naraku-san?!” she called a bit louder this time.
She had already checked inside the cave and found that he was not there. She then searched the nearby woods, only to return to the mouth of the cave. Perhaps she should wait a few moments. Or was it possible that he had forgotten? Where could he be?
As her emerald eyes looked up to find the nearly full moon, her heart began to sink. She had slipped away from home, daring the punishment of her parents to see him. Would she be forgotten and abandoned for her efforts? Just as she began to consider leaving, a chill suddenly ran down her spine. Before she could turn around, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist. The miko’s heart practically leapt into her throat. A startled gasp escaped her, but before she could cry out, a masculine hand covered her mouth.
“Do not be afraid. I have no intention of harming you.” A familiar voice spoke from behind her.
The miko sighed in relief as his hand moved from her mouth, and he used his other arm to turn her toward him. A deep blush spread across her cheeks when he did not move to release her. His crimson eyes sparkled with some unnamed emotion and his arms tightened around her.
Just as before, the maidenly teachings at the back of her mind demanded that she pulled away from him; yet she did not. She couldn’t; didn’t truly desire to do so. There was something about the way his eyes were boring down into her that caused her entire body to vibrate with an energy she could not identify. For reasons she could not explain, she began to feel feverish and her knees became increasingly weak. For more than a minute, he just stood there with her as if he was content to hold her forever.
Slowly, she became more and more conscious of their proximity and the heat that thrummed through her veins tinged with nervousness. He continued to regard her intensely and Izanami nervously licked her lips. Naraku subconsciously did the same.
Finally breaking the silence, Izanami quietly spoke up. “So you have come after all.”
“You doubted me?” he asked as he released her.
Instinctively stepping away from him, she nervously answered, “N-no! I-it is not that I doubted you. I merely became worried when I did not find you.”
Only now was she able to get a good look at him. In doing so, Izanami had to forcibly close her mouth least she gape like a pathetic simpleton. Most of the times she had seen him before this, his hair had appeared somewhat haphazard and his clothing (what little he wore) had been tattered and dirty. Even then she was able to see through that and recognize his masculine appeal. But now, he was the picture of male perfection. He appeared before her in beautiful shades of blue. He wore a silk sashinuki hakama, and matching haori. Layered over that, was a short silk kimono which was a darker shade of blue, and adorned with bamboo patterns. His long wavy hair was now considerably more tamed, the lustrous tresses cascading down his back like a silken cloak.
So distracted with his appearance, she did not notice the small satchel he was carrying. As the silence drew out between them, the miko began nervously wringing her fingers. Her mind was racing as she tried desperately to think of what to say.
“Come.” he said suddenly before he spun away from her to enter the cave.
Her brows drew together slightly and she hesitated for a moment, before following after him. She had been alone in this cave with him before, but somehow this was different. Mai and Akira were nowhere nearby, and it was the middle of the night. The idea of being alone in a cave with him now, seemed oddly… intimate. The thought caused her to shudder with an odd but alluring emotion. It was a sensation that she only seemed to feel around him.
Once inside Naraku sealed them in by placing a barrier at the mouth of the cave. He then seated himself on a sleeping pallet, that in her earlier haste, she had not noticed before. She was slightly worried over his actions. Why had he sealed them in?
“Please,” he began, his voice a low, seductive drawl, “sit with me.”
A new rush of color bled into her cheeks and before she could consciously give her legs the consent to do so, they began walking over to him. Though her mouth was dry, she attempted to swallow anyway. It was useless. She sat down next to him, and tried to suppress her nervousness. “Now, perhaps you will tell me why you wished for me to meet with you at such an hour?” she smiled, pleased with how steady her voice sounded.
A smirk tilted the edges of Naraku’s lips. All of his plotting, his carefully crafted schemes and plans for the future had come down to this moment. What he planned for the little miko tonight was not truly necessary, but it would serve to open a place in her soft, trusting heart and expedite her decision to surrender the amulet. He looked into her sparkling green eyes. He had initially thought to dispose of her once she gave him what he wanted, but now he was beginning to reconsider. She had proven herself reliable and even loyal to some extent. Perhaps he would find further use for her.
“You have been so kind in helping me recover. I wish to offer you a gift.”
The miko’s eyes widened in surprise, “I certainly appreciate the gesture Naraku, but I cannot accept a gift for aiding you. It is my duty as a miko to do such things.”
“But you must.” he insisted. “Surely you do not wish to dishonor me by refusing to accept a simple gift, a small token of my heartfelt appreciation?”
“Well, when you say it that way…”
“Good.” he cut her off as he removed the satchel from his shoulder. Izanami watched with interest as he pulled a beautiful fur shawl from the bag. Gasping quietly as he placed the snowy pelt in her lap, she instantly ran her fingers through the silken fur. It was absolutely breathtaking and though she knew she could not accept it, she could not stop herself from repeatedly running her hands over it.
“Naraku… I cannot… w-why would you gift me with something such as this?!”
“You do not care for it?”
Scrambling to correct him, he quickly shook her head indicating a negative response. “No, no! I love it! It is beautiful, but it is far too much. There is no way I can accept such a fine gift.”
Ignoring her words, Naraku took the shawl from her hands, and placed it about her shoulders. “You say that it is beautiful yet it pales in comparison to you. I had hoped you would accept my gift.” he said as he stared into her eyes.
At a complete loss for words, Izanami could only stare at him as she tried to think of what to say. He then turned away from her and she noticed that something about his demeanor seemed off. It was as if his mind was plagued with unpleasant thoughts. “What… what is it Naraku? Something troubles you.”
He looked back to her then. “I have a confession to make. The shawl is more than simply a gift of appreciation. Baboon furs are of particular significance to those of my clan.” he paused thoughtfully, appearing as if he was struggling to find his next words. “We only gift them to those who are very close to us… more specifically…one we intend to mate.”
Shimmering green eyes widened with realization as the miko’s lips parted soundlessly. He… he wanted her to be his mate??!! The opportunity to reply was denied her for the moment as he began to speak again. “I had fully intended to ask you to become my mate tonight, but something has come up. Earlier today, I returned to my home only to find that it had been destroyed. I immediately knew who the culprits were. No one but Inuyasha and his comrades are capable of such destruction.”
He moved a bit closer to her placing one hand on each of her shoulders. “Izanami, I cannot continue running away from them. I have decided that I will face Inuyasha and his comrades. Since I am uncertain of my survival, I will not ask you to be my mate until after the confrontation. It would be unfair to do such a thing to you.”
Izanami’s thoughts were swimming, her mind frantically trying to supply the correct words to say in such an unusual situation. As she mentally pieced together one useless string of words after another, she felt the shawl being pushed from her shoulders before his arms wrapped around her. Almost before she knew what had happened, the male had pulled her into his lap.
Shocked at his audacity to pull her into such an improper position, the miko’s eyes widened and her heart began to race. She soon started squirming uncomfortably before he hooked a finger beneath her chin and forced her to look at him. When her eyes locked with his, her resolve to rectify the situation melted away and his name whispered from her lips.
“There is something I have wished to do since the night I met you.” he drawled, his voice rumbled in a way she had never heard before and a shuddering chill ran down her spine. “If you would allow me the privilege…” he trailed off as he leaned in close to her. Moving with the leisurely pace of a predator, he lazily brushed his lips against hers savoring the feel of her skin. He withdrew slightly to look at her, his crimson eyes traveling from her lips to her eyes. Though she was obviously flustered, she made no move to pull away from or reprimand him for his actions.
(Lemon starts here)
The gentle press of his lips sent blood rushing to her head and her mind replayed the moment over and over again. He had kissed her! Even though she could still feel the faint moisture he‘d left behind, she could hardly believe what had happened. A part of her knew that she should pull away from him, but curiosity over what he would do next held her in place. Besides, could something that felt so nice really be so bad?
They watched one another in silence, each attempting to decipher the thoughts of the other. Her pulse quickened when his hand slowly reached for her, yet she made no move to avoid his touch. Her lips parted as if to speak, though she made no sound when she felt his right hand slide from her waist to her ribs. His movements were slow but he did not pause until his palm came to rest along the side of her breast. Unable to repress it, the miko shuddered when she felt his thumb slide across a sensitive nipple.
A devilish smirk tilting the edges of his lips, Naraku moved in close taking advantage of her surprise and searing her lips with an impassioned kiss. He suckled her lower lip, willing her with his actions alone to do as he wished. Her skin flush from the inferno he ignited within her, the priestess gasp only to have him deepen the kiss with a sweep of his tongue. He threaded his fingers through her hair, lightly massaging her scalp. The miko moaned quietly into his mouth as his other hand slid around her and began rubbing small circles on her back. Her heart was thundering in her chest and with his lips so deliciously pressed against hers, she could hardly breathe.
Time seemed to have lost its meaning so she could not imagine how long they stayed that way before he finally pulled away from her lips. Drawing in much needed air, she attempted to calm down and bravely met his gaze. With the separation of their lips, fine threads of uncertainty wove their way through her mind and the first stirrings of panic settled into the pit of her belly. The cave around them seemed a bit darker, the air that flowed in from outside a bit cooler and the shimmering crimson of Naraku’s eyes, which had always been so comforting, now seemed almost… ominous.
“N-Naraku I…”
Sensing her hesitation, he pressed his lips softly against hers in a heartbreakingly delicate kiss, almost as if in fear he would damage her. He then pulled away just enough to rest his forehead against hers.
“Shhh…” he breathed quietly, his warm breath brushing against her lips. “Before you say anything, I must ask you but one question, my precious Izanami. Do you trust me?”
The young woman only had to think on his question for a moment.
“Y-yes, Naraku… I do trust you.”
He repressed the urge to smirk at her foolishness, yet he felt a strange warmth at her confession.
“Then do not be afraid. As I told you before, I have no intention of harming you.”
Unhurried and deliberate, his lips moved to the crook of her neck. Allowing her lips to part slightly, she exhaled slowly and allowed the lids of her eyes to descend as he began pressing soft kisses against the skin there. Though still nervous, her reservations had begun to melt away as strange new warmth surged through her veins. She had never been kissed in this way before and the feeling it stirred within her was something she could never describe in words. The world around her began to fade from existence leaving her alone with the male who held her so tenderly in his arms. Strong, masculine hands began to tug insistently at her haori and within seconds, it was pulled free from the tuck of her hakama and pushed from her body together with the thin kimono she wore beneath.
She trembled under his touch as his palm slid across her bare skin. His warm, lightly calloused hand trailed softly, almost reverently over the soft flat planes of her belly before making its way to her left breast. His touch gentle but firm, he began a gentle massage over the pleasantly rounded flesh.
She willfully fought the urge to cover herself, even as his soft lips closed over her nipple. A whimper escaped her as her fingers curled tightly against his powerful shoulders. He was causing her to feel things she had never felt before and she had no idea how she should react or what she should do.
For several moments his tongue danced wildly over her hypersensitive flesh as he held her tightly against himself. Suddenly he pulled away, the separation of their skin making a wet little noise as the suction was broken. He took a moment to admire her slightly reddened skin before he laid her back against the pallet.
Locking his eyes with hers, he removed first his kimono, his haori quickly following. By now his injuries had healed completely, leaving no evidence that they had ever been there. Where there had once been angry gashes and smears of blood, there was now smooth, perfect skin stretched taught over hard muscle. His eyes flashed with mischief as he positioned himself above her supporting most of his weight on his elbows. “I have always enjoyed the feel of your hands.” he drawled seductively. “Touch me, Izanami.”
Biting her lips nervously, she cautiously reached for him. She placed the palm of her hands on his shoulders before sliding them carefully down his muscular back. A low groan escaped him causing his chest to vibrate against hers. He captured her lips once again as he began running his hands across her body.
Though she had relaxed a little, the miko was still somewhat tense. Instinct told her what was going to happen between them, yet she had no idea what he expected her to do. Gradually, his moist kisses and roaming hands awakened an odd, needy sensation low in her belly. He placed a final kiss on her lips before moving down her body to drag his tongue along the flat of her stomach.
Izanami fisted her hands at her sides and stared into the darkness above her. She felt him tugging on the ties of her hakama and subconsciously held her breath. When she felt the fabric being slid away, the miko instinctively squeezed her thighs together.
A dark chuckle vibrated the very air around them and the miko couldn’t repress the anticipatory tremble that shook her small form.
Not knowing how to take his apparent amusement, the miko looked away from him before asking, “W-why do you laugh? Does my… does my body offend you?”
The hanyou chuckled again. “Do not speak foolishness, Izanami. It is your timidity that I find amusing. A woman who possesses such beauty has no need to be so shy.”
“Do you really believe that I am beautiful?” she asked as she pushed up onto her elbows to look at him.
“Of course, has no one ever told you so?”
“Only my mother,” the confession brought a small smile to her lips. “But she would say such a thing, as I resemble her.”
“Hn.” he murmured as he rested his hands on the ties of his own hakama. “Have no doubts, Izanami. Your beauty is beyond compare.” he murmured quietly. The words dissipated into the air, their intended recipient unaffected as the miko’s eyes fixed on his hands. A smirk formed on his lips and he watched her as she watched him, enjoying the widening of her eyes and the quickening of her breath. The untying of his clothing was something which required little to no thought, yet he drew it out, tugging at each knot with agonizing leisure. When he was finally finished, he released the ties and allowed the silken material to fall away and pool at his knees. His fundoshi was removed in an equally unhurried fashion before being carelessly tossed aside.
Wide green eyes drank in his unclothed masculinity, their near comical size a result of both her innocence and apprehension. Izanami had never seen a naked man before and even in the darkened cave she was spared little of the very male body that kneeled so precariously close to her. Fleetingly she was struck with the notion that she should say something but the tenuous thought fled in the face of Naraku’s advance. Nudging her legs with his knees, he shrugged free of his hakama while blanketing her body with his own.
Gritting her teeth, the priestess tried to prepare herself for the unknown. Though fear was hinted at the back of her mind seeping into her heart, she took comfort in his warmth and the fact that he was taking his time with her.
Using a delicate touch, Naraku smoothed the stray hairs away from her face before claiming her lips again. He took that opportunity to lower his hips to hers, using his left hand to guide his heavily aroused flesh to her entrance. He ignored her small gasp when he touched her there and slowly rubbed his hardened flesh against her, lubricating himself in preparation for what was soon to come.
He broke their kiss only briefly allowing her a moment to catch her breath before taking her lips again. Then, with one quick thrust, he broke through the barrier of her innocence and entered her body. She ripped away from him and cried out in pain, her sharp nails digging into the flesh at his back. Though eager to proceed, Naraku stilled his movements and placed a chaste kiss to her forehead as if in apology for hurting her.
Pained and near panic, the miko could not control the quaking of her limbs and was on the brink of pushing him away. “It hurts,” she whispered, her voice shaky and unsure.
She felt the tips of his fingers as they gently brushed away a single tear, his warm breath caressing her left ear as he whispered, “Do not be afraid, Izanami. The pain will not last.”
Still feeling uncomfortably stretched, she nodded her understanding and took what reassurance she could from his gently spoken words. When she began to calm, she felt him pull out slightly before pushing back in again. Noting that it was not as painful this second time, she allowed some of the tension to melt from her body.
His body almost shaking with repressed desire, Naraku gazed into her eyes as he carefully rolled his hips again. Though her features still spoke of mild discomfort, the priestess graced him with a tiny smile. Oddly, the half-demon found himself returning the gesture before he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
The sound of her own shuddering breath reaching her ears, Izanami tightened her arms around Naraku and gradually adjusted to the slow and steady roll of his hips as he repeated the motion over and over again. Each time he did it, it felt better than the time before and although the pain was not entirely absent she felt herself beginning to wish he would never stop. Her breathing became increasingly labored until throaty moans began to spill from her lips.
He held her tightly as he gradually picked up speed, his hardened flesh seeming to plunge deeper and deeper with each pass. Groaning as her pleasure, still teetering on the edge of pain, increased together with his pace, the miko made no attempt to stifle her cries.
Threading his fingers through the miko’s silken hair, Naraku latched onto her neck and suckled her heated skin. Their combined pleasure was building rapidly and he increased his pace further when the miko again dug her fingers into his back.
Her injury of his person though not deliberate, only seemed to excite him further and his pace became more and more insistent. Quick and powerful, each thrust stole her breath, allowed her but a second to recover and stole it again. Surrendering herself to the maddening dance completely, the miko arched into him in acceptance of the near debilitating waves of pleasure. She thrashed and writhed beneath him as powerful tremors began coursing through her body. “Naraku…” she panted. “Ah… please!”
Her fingers curling into a tight fist around a thick lock of his hair, the miko urgently rocked her hips to meet his movements. The sensation was growing so intense that she almost couldn‘t breathe, her body thrumming with an anticipation she could not name. Something was about to happen and though she did not know what it was, she felt her body’s hunger for it grow with every passing second.
Naraku pulled away from her neck to focus on her heavily flushed face as she continued to cry out for him. Though inexperienced, her body was deliciously responsive to him. She was so close to falling over the edge and he wanted little more than to watch as the relentless glide of his hips plunged her into the abyss. Her tight, firm little body brought him indescribable pleasure and while he knew release was closing in on him as well, he would be certain to see her go first. She suddenly bucked wildly against him, a loud shuddering cry ripping from her throat. Smirking in triumph, the hanyou rode the waves of her aftershocks, his pleasure increasing with the quaking of her inner muscles. Soon, a low growl tore from his lips and his movements became swifter and slightly erratic. His release hit in a tidal wave of pleasure, his powerful body succumbing to a fit of trembles.
The strength temporarily sapped from his body, he barely stopped himself from collapsing onto her, but somehow remained propped on his elbows. A few moments later, he gently pulled himself from the warmth of her body before taking his place at her side.
With the still of their movements, the cave fell into silence.
(End lemon)
Still attempting to regain her breath, Izanami reflected on what they had just done. It was beyond anything she could have ever imagined; the most beautiful experience that could be shared among two earthly creatures.
Before exhaustion could drag her tired body into the welcoming grasp of sleep, Naraku’s now raspy voice broke into the silence. “I must ask for your forgiveness, Izanami.” he said quietly.
Frowning, she looked over at him and said, “Do not apologize, I do not regret what we have done. Please do not tell me that you do.”
“No. You misunderstand. I should have waited… until after…” he paused for a moment. “I know where Inuyasha and his comrades are. As they do not tend to stay in the same place for long, I will have only a limited opportunity to confront them. I plan to seek them out in the morning.”
Gasping, she stared over at him hoping against hope that he would recant his words. “So soon?” she asked quietly.
“Yes. As I said, they are not likely to remain at the same location for more than a few days. They are searching for me. It is better that I go to them rather than allow them to track me down. He took her hands in his placing a soft kiss to her fingers. “In case I do not survive, please know that I care a great deal for you.”
“No, Naraku! You must not say such things!”
He smiled. “Do not fear for me, Izanami. I will fight valiantly, now that I again have a reason to live.”
The miko felt her eyes begin to brim with tears. How could she let him fight alone, knowing that he might not survive?! Her mind raced, grasping for a solution, but really, she knew there was only one. Emerald eyes hardening in determination, she propped herself up on her elbow and stared blankly into the darkness.
“Naraku, you will not go into battle alone… I know where the amulet is.”
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A/N: For those of you who were following this story before, I just wanted to let you know that for now this will be the last chapter I edit. Over the next few days, I will post the chapters I have already written until it is caught back up. For those who are reading this for the first time, you may notice a decline in the quality of writing for several chapters before it gets better again. Hopefully the plot is interesting enough that you will continue to read anyway. Whenever I can summon the will to do so again, I will resume editing those middle chapters. ^^’
The Turning Point
WARINING!! This chapter contains a lemon! Normally, I do not post warnings for my lemons, but this one involves does not involve my main pairing! The lemon is marked at the beginning and end, for those of you who wish to pass this one up. Whether you chose to read it or not, please read the author’s notes at the end of the chapter. Thanks.
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The quiet sound of crackling wood met her ears as her single eye slowly opened. The fire had died down a bit, but was still burning brightly enough for her to see. Kaede pulled herself up onto her elbows. A light grunt escaped her lips as she placed a hand over her belly. A dull pain resided there. She had noticed it before, but it had been only fleeting then. As of late however, it seemed to visit her more and more frequently.
Struggling to ignore her mild discomfort, the elder miko looked around the room. A small smile formed on her lips. Her home had provided shelter for many over the years, but never so many all at the same time. Nearly everyone she cared for was here, even young Rin. It was a bit cramped in the small hut, but it warmed her heart to have them all here.
Having long ago decided to dedicate her life to her work as a priestess, she had never taken a husband and had a family of her own. She had never once regretted her decision, but that didn’t mean she never thought about a different life. In her youth, she had occasionally considered what it might have been like to mother children of her own. She’d be a grandmother by now, she noted vaguely. What would that have been like? Sometimes… just sometimes, it stung just a little bit to think of what she gave up in pursuit of her work. It was times like this however, that the pain would shrink away to nothing.
“You okay?” a gruff voice startled her out of her thoughts. She jerked slightly and a hiss of pain escaped her lips.
“Inuyasha, ye are still awake?”
Ignoring her question, the hanyou was instantly at her side. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt or something?”
Kaede smiled, taking in the genuine concern in his voice. “It is nothing ye need to worry over. Just the aches and pains of old age.” she told him as she waved a hand dismissively. While he did not look at all convinced, he didn’t question her further. “Well, you’d better not be getting sick on us.” he paused and then looked away. “We need you, you know.”
Her smile broadened a bit. “I know, Inuyasha… I know.” she breathed quietly, as she struggled to lie back down.
“Here, let me help. You’ll make too much noise and wake everyone else up.”
He carefully held her shoulders to support her weight, as he slowly laid her back down.
She breathed a small sigh of relief. “Thank ye, Inuyasha.”
“Yeah, whatever.” he murmured as he turned away from her to reclaim his position by the door. “Get some sleep, okay.”
The elder miko did not respond verbally, but she did close her eye. For several moments, Inuyasha continued to watch her. Was she really okay? He’d noticed her holding her stomach on several occasions, and she seemed to have lost a bit of weight. No one else really seemed to notice, but he did. Of all of them, he spent the most time with her. A lot of times when Kagome would go home, Miroku and Sango would travel to nearby villages to slay demons, or perform an exorcism. And since the end of last year, Shippou began using that time to further his kitsune training. That often left just him and Kaede.
More often than not, he’d follow her about as she did her chores and they would simply talk. He’d burn in hell before he’d admit it, but on more than one occasion he had found her advice to be extremely helpful. Outwardly, he never really showed much more than mere tolerance for the elder miko, but really, he had grown to care for her a great deal.
A slight frown crinkled his brow. She was getting older, and really, it was just a matter of time before…
He ripped his gaze away from her. No! Kaede was far too stubborn for that. Knowing her, she’d be around to bury him. He allowed a small smile at the thought.
Still, it might be okay to be just a little bit nicer to her. Just a little bit.
He closed his eyes once more.
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“Naraku...?” Izanami’s quiet, urgent voice wafted into the night air. It was dark, really, really dark. The air around her was cool and damp as a thick layer of fog surrounded the entire area. She was becoming more and more nervous with each passing moment. She had not been mistaken had she? Naraku had asked her to come here after midnight, had he not?
“Naraku-san?!” she called a bit louder this time.
She had already checked inside the cave and found that he was not there. She then searched the nearby woods, only to return to the mouth of the cave. Perhaps she should wait a few moments. Or was it possible that he had forgotten? Where could he be?
As her emerald eyes looked up to find the nearly full moon, her heart began to sink. She had slipped away from home, daring the punishment of her parents to see him. Would she be forgotten and abandoned for her efforts? Just as she began to consider leaving, a chill suddenly ran down her spine. Before she could turn around, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist. The miko’s heart practically leapt into her throat. A startled gasp escaped her, but before she could cry out, a masculine hand covered her mouth.
“Do not be afraid. I have no intention of harming you.” A familiar voice spoke from behind her.
The miko sighed in relief as his hand moved from her mouth, and he used his other arm to turn her toward him. A deep blush spread across her cheeks when he did not move to release her. His crimson eyes sparkled with some unnamed emotion and his arms tightened around her.
Just as before, the maidenly teachings at the back of her mind demanded that she pulled away from him; yet she did not. She couldn’t; didn’t truly desire to do so. There was something about the way his eyes were boring down into her that caused her entire body to vibrate with an energy she could not identify. For reasons she could not explain, she began to feel feverish and her knees became increasingly weak. For more than a minute, he just stood there with her as if he was content to hold her forever.
Slowly, she became more and more conscious of their proximity and the heat that thrummed through her veins tinged with nervousness. He continued to regard her intensely and Izanami nervously licked her lips. Naraku subconsciously did the same.
Finally breaking the silence, Izanami quietly spoke up. “So you have come after all.”
“You doubted me?” he asked as he released her.
Instinctively stepping away from him, she nervously answered, “N-no! I-it is not that I doubted you. I merely became worried when I did not find you.”
Only now was she able to get a good look at him. In doing so, Izanami had to forcibly close her mouth least she gape like a pathetic simpleton. Most of the times she had seen him before this, his hair had appeared somewhat haphazard and his clothing (what little he wore) had been tattered and dirty. Even then she was able to see through that and recognize his masculine appeal. But now, he was the picture of male perfection. He appeared before her in beautiful shades of blue. He wore a silk sashinuki hakama, and matching haori. Layered over that, was a short silk kimono which was a darker shade of blue, and adorned with bamboo patterns. His long wavy hair was now considerably more tamed, the lustrous tresses cascading down his back like a silken cloak.
So distracted with his appearance, she did not notice the small satchel he was carrying. As the silence drew out between them, the miko began nervously wringing her fingers. Her mind was racing as she tried desperately to think of what to say.
“Come.” he said suddenly before he spun away from her to enter the cave.
Her brows drew together slightly and she hesitated for a moment, before following after him. She had been alone in this cave with him before, but somehow this was different. Mai and Akira were nowhere nearby, and it was the middle of the night. The idea of being alone in a cave with him now, seemed oddly… intimate. The thought caused her to shudder with an odd but alluring emotion. It was a sensation that she only seemed to feel around him.
Once inside Naraku sealed them in by placing a barrier at the mouth of the cave. He then seated himself on a sleeping pallet, that in her earlier haste, she had not noticed before. She was slightly worried over his actions. Why had he sealed them in?
“Please,” he began, his voice a low, seductive drawl, “sit with me.”
A new rush of color bled into her cheeks and before she could consciously give her legs the consent to do so, they began walking over to him. Though her mouth was dry, she attempted to swallow anyway. It was useless. She sat down next to him, and tried to suppress her nervousness. “Now, perhaps you will tell me why you wished for me to meet with you at such an hour?” she smiled, pleased with how steady her voice sounded.
A smirk tilted the edges of Naraku’s lips. All of his plotting, his carefully crafted schemes and plans for the future had come down to this moment. What he planned for the little miko tonight was not truly necessary, but it would serve to open a place in her soft, trusting heart and expedite her decision to surrender the amulet. He looked into her sparkling green eyes. He had initially thought to dispose of her once she gave him what he wanted, but now he was beginning to reconsider. She had proven herself reliable and even loyal to some extent. Perhaps he would find further use for her.
“You have been so kind in helping me recover. I wish to offer you a gift.”
The miko’s eyes widened in surprise, “I certainly appreciate the gesture Naraku, but I cannot accept a gift for aiding you. It is my duty as a miko to do such things.”
“But you must.” he insisted. “Surely you do not wish to dishonor me by refusing to accept a simple gift, a small token of my heartfelt appreciation?”
“Well, when you say it that way…”
“Good.” he cut her off as he removed the satchel from his shoulder. Izanami watched with interest as he pulled a beautiful fur shawl from the bag. Gasping quietly as he placed the snowy pelt in her lap, she instantly ran her fingers through the silken fur. It was absolutely breathtaking and though she knew she could not accept it, she could not stop herself from repeatedly running her hands over it.
“Naraku… I cannot… w-why would you gift me with something such as this?!”
“You do not care for it?”
Scrambling to correct him, he quickly shook her head indicating a negative response. “No, no! I love it! It is beautiful, but it is far too much. There is no way I can accept such a fine gift.”
Ignoring her words, Naraku took the shawl from her hands, and placed it about her shoulders. “You say that it is beautiful yet it pales in comparison to you. I had hoped you would accept my gift.” he said as he stared into her eyes.
At a complete loss for words, Izanami could only stare at him as she tried to think of what to say. He then turned away from her and she noticed that something about his demeanor seemed off. It was as if his mind was plagued with unpleasant thoughts. “What… what is it Naraku? Something troubles you.”
He looked back to her then. “I have a confession to make. The shawl is more than simply a gift of appreciation. Baboon furs are of particular significance to those of my clan.” he paused thoughtfully, appearing as if he was struggling to find his next words. “We only gift them to those who are very close to us… more specifically…one we intend to mate.”
Shimmering green eyes widened with realization as the miko’s lips parted soundlessly. He… he wanted her to be his mate??!! The opportunity to reply was denied her for the moment as he began to speak again. “I had fully intended to ask you to become my mate tonight, but something has come up. Earlier today, I returned to my home only to find that it had been destroyed. I immediately knew who the culprits were. No one but Inuyasha and his comrades are capable of such destruction.”
He moved a bit closer to her placing one hand on each of her shoulders. “Izanami, I cannot continue running away from them. I have decided that I will face Inuyasha and his comrades. Since I am uncertain of my survival, I will not ask you to be my mate until after the confrontation. It would be unfair to do such a thing to you.”
Izanami’s thoughts were swimming, her mind frantically trying to supply the correct words to say in such an unusual situation. As she mentally pieced together one useless string of words after another, she felt the shawl being pushed from her shoulders before his arms wrapped around her. Almost before she knew what had happened, the male had pulled her into his lap.
Shocked at his audacity to pull her into such an improper position, the miko’s eyes widened and her heart began to race. She soon started squirming uncomfortably before he hooked a finger beneath her chin and forced her to look at him. When her eyes locked with his, her resolve to rectify the situation melted away and his name whispered from her lips.
“There is something I have wished to do since the night I met you.” he drawled, his voice rumbled in a way she had never heard before and a shuddering chill ran down her spine. “If you would allow me the privilege…” he trailed off as he leaned in close to her. Moving with the leisurely pace of a predator, he lazily brushed his lips against hers savoring the feel of her skin. He withdrew slightly to look at her, his crimson eyes traveling from her lips to her eyes. Though she was obviously flustered, she made no move to pull away from or reprimand him for his actions.
(Lemon starts here)
The gentle press of his lips sent blood rushing to her head and her mind replayed the moment over and over again. He had kissed her! Even though she could still feel the faint moisture he‘d left behind, she could hardly believe what had happened. A part of her knew that she should pull away from him, but curiosity over what he would do next held her in place. Besides, could something that felt so nice really be so bad?
They watched one another in silence, each attempting to decipher the thoughts of the other. Her pulse quickened when his hand slowly reached for her, yet she made no move to avoid his touch. Her lips parted as if to speak, though she made no sound when she felt his right hand slide from her waist to her ribs. His movements were slow but he did not pause until his palm came to rest along the side of her breast. Unable to repress it, the miko shuddered when she felt his thumb slide across a sensitive nipple.
A devilish smirk tilting the edges of his lips, Naraku moved in close taking advantage of her surprise and searing her lips with an impassioned kiss. He suckled her lower lip, willing her with his actions alone to do as he wished. Her skin flush from the inferno he ignited within her, the priestess gasp only to have him deepen the kiss with a sweep of his tongue. He threaded his fingers through her hair, lightly massaging her scalp. The miko moaned quietly into his mouth as his other hand slid around her and began rubbing small circles on her back. Her heart was thundering in her chest and with his lips so deliciously pressed against hers, she could hardly breathe.
Time seemed to have lost its meaning so she could not imagine how long they stayed that way before he finally pulled away from her lips. Drawing in much needed air, she attempted to calm down and bravely met his gaze. With the separation of their lips, fine threads of uncertainty wove their way through her mind and the first stirrings of panic settled into the pit of her belly. The cave around them seemed a bit darker, the air that flowed in from outside a bit cooler and the shimmering crimson of Naraku’s eyes, which had always been so comforting, now seemed almost… ominous.
“N-Naraku I…”
Sensing her hesitation, he pressed his lips softly against hers in a heartbreakingly delicate kiss, almost as if in fear he would damage her. He then pulled away just enough to rest his forehead against hers.
“Shhh…” he breathed quietly, his warm breath brushing against her lips. “Before you say anything, I must ask you but one question, my precious Izanami. Do you trust me?”
The young woman only had to think on his question for a moment.
“Y-yes, Naraku… I do trust you.”
He repressed the urge to smirk at her foolishness, yet he felt a strange warmth at her confession.
“Then do not be afraid. As I told you before, I have no intention of harming you.”
Unhurried and deliberate, his lips moved to the crook of her neck. Allowing her lips to part slightly, she exhaled slowly and allowed the lids of her eyes to descend as he began pressing soft kisses against the skin there. Though still nervous, her reservations had begun to melt away as strange new warmth surged through her veins. She had never been kissed in this way before and the feeling it stirred within her was something she could never describe in words. The world around her began to fade from existence leaving her alone with the male who held her so tenderly in his arms. Strong, masculine hands began to tug insistently at her haori and within seconds, it was pulled free from the tuck of her hakama and pushed from her body together with the thin kimono she wore beneath.
She trembled under his touch as his palm slid across her bare skin. His warm, lightly calloused hand trailed softly, almost reverently over the soft flat planes of her belly before making its way to her left breast. His touch gentle but firm, he began a gentle massage over the pleasantly rounded flesh.
She willfully fought the urge to cover herself, even as his soft lips closed over her nipple. A whimper escaped her as her fingers curled tightly against his powerful shoulders. He was causing her to feel things she had never felt before and she had no idea how she should react or what she should do.
For several moments his tongue danced wildly over her hypersensitive flesh as he held her tightly against himself. Suddenly he pulled away, the separation of their skin making a wet little noise as the suction was broken. He took a moment to admire her slightly reddened skin before he laid her back against the pallet.
Locking his eyes with hers, he removed first his kimono, his haori quickly following. By now his injuries had healed completely, leaving no evidence that they had ever been there. Where there had once been angry gashes and smears of blood, there was now smooth, perfect skin stretched taught over hard muscle. His eyes flashed with mischief as he positioned himself above her supporting most of his weight on his elbows. “I have always enjoyed the feel of your hands.” he drawled seductively. “Touch me, Izanami.”
Biting her lips nervously, she cautiously reached for him. She placed the palm of her hands on his shoulders before sliding them carefully down his muscular back. A low groan escaped him causing his chest to vibrate against hers. He captured her lips once again as he began running his hands across her body.
Though she had relaxed a little, the miko was still somewhat tense. Instinct told her what was going to happen between them, yet she had no idea what he expected her to do. Gradually, his moist kisses and roaming hands awakened an odd, needy sensation low in her belly. He placed a final kiss on her lips before moving down her body to drag his tongue along the flat of her stomach.
Izanami fisted her hands at her sides and stared into the darkness above her. She felt him tugging on the ties of her hakama and subconsciously held her breath. When she felt the fabric being slid away, the miko instinctively squeezed her thighs together.
A dark chuckle vibrated the very air around them and the miko couldn’t repress the anticipatory tremble that shook her small form.
Not knowing how to take his apparent amusement, the miko looked away from him before asking, “W-why do you laugh? Does my… does my body offend you?”
The hanyou chuckled again. “Do not speak foolishness, Izanami. It is your timidity that I find amusing. A woman who possesses such beauty has no need to be so shy.”
“Do you really believe that I am beautiful?” she asked as she pushed up onto her elbows to look at him.
“Of course, has no one ever told you so?”
“Only my mother,” the confession brought a small smile to her lips. “But she would say such a thing, as I resemble her.”
“Hn.” he murmured as he rested his hands on the ties of his own hakama. “Have no doubts, Izanami. Your beauty is beyond compare.” he murmured quietly. The words dissipated into the air, their intended recipient unaffected as the miko’s eyes fixed on his hands. A smirk formed on his lips and he watched her as she watched him, enjoying the widening of her eyes and the quickening of her breath. The untying of his clothing was something which required little to no thought, yet he drew it out, tugging at each knot with agonizing leisure. When he was finally finished, he released the ties and allowed the silken material to fall away and pool at his knees. His fundoshi was removed in an equally unhurried fashion before being carelessly tossed aside.
Wide green eyes drank in his unclothed masculinity, their near comical size a result of both her innocence and apprehension. Izanami had never seen a naked man before and even in the darkened cave she was spared little of the very male body that kneeled so precariously close to her. Fleetingly she was struck with the notion that she should say something but the tenuous thought fled in the face of Naraku’s advance. Nudging her legs with his knees, he shrugged free of his hakama while blanketing her body with his own.
Gritting her teeth, the priestess tried to prepare herself for the unknown. Though fear was hinted at the back of her mind seeping into her heart, she took comfort in his warmth and the fact that he was taking his time with her.
Using a delicate touch, Naraku smoothed the stray hairs away from her face before claiming her lips again. He took that opportunity to lower his hips to hers, using his left hand to guide his heavily aroused flesh to her entrance. He ignored her small gasp when he touched her there and slowly rubbed his hardened flesh against her, lubricating himself in preparation for what was soon to come.
He broke their kiss only briefly allowing her a moment to catch her breath before taking her lips again. Then, with one quick thrust, he broke through the barrier of her innocence and entered her body. She ripped away from him and cried out in pain, her sharp nails digging into the flesh at his back. Though eager to proceed, Naraku stilled his movements and placed a chaste kiss to her forehead as if in apology for hurting her.
Pained and near panic, the miko could not control the quaking of her limbs and was on the brink of pushing him away. “It hurts,” she whispered, her voice shaky and unsure.
She felt the tips of his fingers as they gently brushed away a single tear, his warm breath caressing her left ear as he whispered, “Do not be afraid, Izanami. The pain will not last.”
Still feeling uncomfortably stretched, she nodded her understanding and took what reassurance she could from his gently spoken words. When she began to calm, she felt him pull out slightly before pushing back in again. Noting that it was not as painful this second time, she allowed some of the tension to melt from her body.
His body almost shaking with repressed desire, Naraku gazed into her eyes as he carefully rolled his hips again. Though her features still spoke of mild discomfort, the priestess graced him with a tiny smile. Oddly, the half-demon found himself returning the gesture before he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
The sound of her own shuddering breath reaching her ears, Izanami tightened her arms around Naraku and gradually adjusted to the slow and steady roll of his hips as he repeated the motion over and over again. Each time he did it, it felt better than the time before and although the pain was not entirely absent she felt herself beginning to wish he would never stop. Her breathing became increasingly labored until throaty moans began to spill from her lips.
He held her tightly as he gradually picked up speed, his hardened flesh seeming to plunge deeper and deeper with each pass. Groaning as her pleasure, still teetering on the edge of pain, increased together with his pace, the miko made no attempt to stifle her cries.
Threading his fingers through the miko’s silken hair, Naraku latched onto her neck and suckled her heated skin. Their combined pleasure was building rapidly and he increased his pace further when the miko again dug her fingers into his back.
Her injury of his person though not deliberate, only seemed to excite him further and his pace became more and more insistent. Quick and powerful, each thrust stole her breath, allowed her but a second to recover and stole it again. Surrendering herself to the maddening dance completely, the miko arched into him in acceptance of the near debilitating waves of pleasure. She thrashed and writhed beneath him as powerful tremors began coursing through her body. “Naraku…” she panted. “Ah… please!”
Her fingers curling into a tight fist around a thick lock of his hair, the miko urgently rocked her hips to meet his movements. The sensation was growing so intense that she almost couldn‘t breathe, her body thrumming with an anticipation she could not name. Something was about to happen and though she did not know what it was, she felt her body’s hunger for it grow with every passing second.
Naraku pulled away from her neck to focus on her heavily flushed face as she continued to cry out for him. Though inexperienced, her body was deliciously responsive to him. She was so close to falling over the edge and he wanted little more than to watch as the relentless glide of his hips plunged her into the abyss. Her tight, firm little body brought him indescribable pleasure and while he knew release was closing in on him as well, he would be certain to see her go first. She suddenly bucked wildly against him, a loud shuddering cry ripping from her throat. Smirking in triumph, the hanyou rode the waves of her aftershocks, his pleasure increasing with the quaking of her inner muscles. Soon, a low growl tore from his lips and his movements became swifter and slightly erratic. His release hit in a tidal wave of pleasure, his powerful body succumbing to a fit of trembles.
The strength temporarily sapped from his body, he barely stopped himself from collapsing onto her, but somehow remained propped on his elbows. A few moments later, he gently pulled himself from the warmth of her body before taking his place at her side.
With the still of their movements, the cave fell into silence.
(End lemon)
Still attempting to regain her breath, Izanami reflected on what they had just done. It was beyond anything she could have ever imagined; the most beautiful experience that could be shared among two earthly creatures.
Before exhaustion could drag her tired body into the welcoming grasp of sleep, Naraku’s now raspy voice broke into the silence. “I must ask for your forgiveness, Izanami.” he said quietly.
Frowning, she looked over at him and said, “Do not apologize, I do not regret what we have done. Please do not tell me that you do.”
“No. You misunderstand. I should have waited… until after…” he paused for a moment. “I know where Inuyasha and his comrades are. As they do not tend to stay in the same place for long, I will have only a limited opportunity to confront them. I plan to seek them out in the morning.”
Gasping, she stared over at him hoping against hope that he would recant his words. “So soon?” she asked quietly.
“Yes. As I said, they are not likely to remain at the same location for more than a few days. They are searching for me. It is better that I go to them rather than allow them to track me down. He took her hands in his placing a soft kiss to her fingers. “In case I do not survive, please know that I care a great deal for you.”
“No, Naraku! You must not say such things!”
He smiled. “Do not fear for me, Izanami. I will fight valiantly, now that I again have a reason to live.”
The miko felt her eyes begin to brim with tears. How could she let him fight alone, knowing that he might not survive?! Her mind raced, grasping for a solution, but really, she knew there was only one. Emerald eyes hardening in determination, she propped herself up on her elbow and stared blankly into the darkness.
“Naraku, you will not go into battle alone… I know where the amulet is.”
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A/N: For those of you who were following this story before, I just wanted to let you know that for now this will be the last chapter I edit. Over the next few days, I will post the chapters I have already written until it is caught back up. For those who are reading this for the first time, you may notice a decline in the quality of writing for several chapters before it gets better again. Hopefully the plot is interesting enough that you will continue to read anyway. Whenever I can summon the will to do so again, I will resume editing those middle chapters. ^^’