InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sanctuary ❯ Sanctuary ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Inu Yasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, and Viz Media. No profit is earned from this simple work of fan fiction.   Lemon Content Warning!   Inu Yasha:   Sanctuary     The Sendou Jikai was sometimes a collection of strange contradictions to Kagome Higurashi. While some people called it a simpler, easier time, when she was there, she spent a lot of time wishing she could bring more modern conveniences along with her, especially indoor plumbing. And while she and the rest of the ‘Inu-tachi,’ Inu Yasha, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo wouldn’t have their rest time at Kaede’s village disturbed by cars, loud noises, or cell phones, squabbles between the hanyou and the kitsune was just as effective at breaking the silence.   “You idiot!” Inu Yasha snarled, displaying his usual flair for debating, punctuating his rebuttal with a blow to the top of Shippo’s head.   Shippo reacted normally, bawling his eyes out, but smiling on the inside, as he knew what would happen next.   “Sit boy!”   WHAM!   “What was that for?!” Inu Yasha shrieked indignantly, getting back to his feet and spitting out the blades of grass that had gotten into his mouth after Kagome had make him take yet another header.   “You were being mean to Shippo again,” Kagome explained, acting as if it should be obvious.   With titanic effort, Inu Yasha bit back the retort that sprung to his lips. He’d had enough experience to realize that trying to defend himself would probably just get him sat again. Settling for merely glaring at Kagome, Inu Yasha wondered once again if he would ever understand his feelings for the girl from the time that had yet to come.   He knew that he was fiercely protective of her, and while he’d sputter denials about having romantic feelings for her, deep down, he cared for her and being with her was time that he treasured. On the other hand, they were constantly bickering with each other, and when he considered his ability to say absolutely the wrong thing at the wrong time, and her ability to ‘sit’ him at will, it was a wonder that they hadn’t strangled each other by now…   “Why are we still here anyway?” Inu Yasha wondered out loud. “We should be going after more jewel fragments, and tracking down Naraku.”   “Sango had a close call our last battle, she should rest for another day or so,” Kagome reminded him. “That’s what the healers said.”   Inu Yasha looked over at the demon exterminator. “Looks well enough to me. And I’d say Miroku agrees…” Sango was dividing her attention between her Hiraikotsu and the monk sitting next to her. She’d scowl at Miroku from time to time, and he’d sheepishly smile back, a clear red outline of a handprint on his face, yet another stinging reminder that she didn’t enjoy getting felt up by the perverted monk.   “Let her rest Inu Yasha, it’ll be better for all of us that way.”   “If we can’t do anything, why are you still here?” Inu Yasha asked. “Why not go home and work on your exams?”   “It-it’s not a good time at home,” Kagome murmured quietly, before another thought occurred to her. “Hey… You trying to tell me to leave?”   “No, but you always whine about your exams, I figured you’d want to go back to get ready for them!”   “So why are you trying to get me to leave?” Kagome asked. ‘Are you planning on seeing Kikyo again?’ she added silently.   “Don’t they ever get tired of that?” Miroku mused to Sango, as the two of them watched yet another argument. “Oofff!”   “Don’t you ever get tired of THAT?” Sango replied without looking up, removing her elbow from Miroku’s ribs, as his hands had been stealthily approaching her butt. “We both know where this is going…”   “Sit boy!”   WHAM!   “Yes..” Miroku remarked, nodding his head sagely, in spite of his aching ribs.   “That’s it!” screeched Inu Yasha. “You don’t want to go through the well and sulk? FINE! You stay here and sulk, and I’ll go through the well. I’ll visit Souta for a while.”   “Wha-?” Kagome stammered. This was a first. “You shouldn’t go through alone Inu Yasha, and Souta isn’t there…” She found herself talking to empty air, as Inu Yasha had bolted towards the Bone Eater’s Well, leaving her behind in a daze. “That idiot… SIT BOY!” she shouted, taking some satisfaction at the faint ‘THUD!’ and the slightly less faint cursing that followed. She debated following him, but she decided against it. In spite of her doubts, she knew that Inu Yasha wasn’t likely to do anything stupid in the future. ‘He’ll just sulk in some tree, that’s all…’   Since she was going to have some peace and quiet for a while, Kagome decided to work on the essay for her English class. She started rummaging through her book bag, grimacing as she considered her task. ‘Tess of the D’Ubervilles…’ Stupid book… Why couldn’t it have been ‘Anne of Green Gables?’ I liked that one, but no-oooo, it had to be that paperback sleep aid…’ Kagome allowed herself a thin smile as she took hold of what she’d been after. ‘Least I won’t have to write it out…’   Since Kagome’s grades were perpetually on the verge of going on a nose dive, her time traveling doing nothing to help her scholastic efforts, even her history class, go figure, her grandfather had bought her something to try to help. The laptop was a rugged model, the manufacturer claimed it would stop a 9mm round, so Kagome hoped it could put up with the stresses she faced. She had a half dozen fully charged batteries, since she doubted she’d be able to plug it in anywhere. And five miles of extension cord would have been too heavy. Turning it on, she opened the word processor and began to type.   “What IS that Kagome?” Miroku breathed, staring in wide eyed wonder at the amazing device. “More magic?”   “It’s a scroll from my time,” she replied. In the Sendou Jikai, that’s all it was really. It had a wireless internet connection, but it would be a few centuries before it would be of any use. ‘Good thing too,’ Kagome realized. ‘If Miroku ever discovered internet porn…’ The thought made Kagome shudder.   ***   A sensation almost like flying, and then…   Arrival.   Inu Yasha leapt out of the well, and exited the building it was in. The future. Inu Yasha would never get used to how different things were here; horseless carts, large metal birds that carried people, story tellers and town criers in a box, people talking to each other through little trinkets… It was all mind boggling, and if he hadn’t had Kagome to guide him when he’d first come here, he might have been driven mad.   Fortunately, the Higurashi Shrine and their ancestral home were here, and these were islands of safety, where Inu Yasha could more or less go without worry, since all there knew about him, and indeed, had opened their home to him on many occasions.   ‘Think I’ll say ‘hello’ to Souta first,’ he decided, jumping up to his window and sliding it open. “Hey Souta! It’s Inu Yasha!” he called out, before he noticed that the room was empty. ‘Maybe he’s out somewhere…’   Entering Kagome’s younger brother’s room, closing the window behind him, Inu Yasha walked into the hallway. “Hello? Is anyone here?”   “Inu Yasha!” Kagome’s mother yelped, placing a hand over her heart. “You-you scared me!”   “S-sorry,” he replied, looking down at his feet.   “Where’s Kagome?”   “I left her back… in…” Inu Yasha’s reply died away when it dawned on him how it sounded to Kagome’s mother. ‘Not good…’   “You left her? Back there? ALONE?” Kagome’s mother’s voice was a combination of numb disbelief and barely repressed fury.   Her tone reminded Inu Yasha that of all the creatures in the world, none was to be feared more than a mother protecting her children. Looking Kagome’s mother in the eyes, and flinching at the look she was giving him, he stammered, “She-she’s not alone, she’s with Miroku and Sango at Kaede’s village! She’s safe, really, I-I’d never have left her if I thought she was in danger, but I’ll just go back now and make sure-”   “It’s all right Inu Yasha, I believe you…” she replied, shaking her head slowly. “Had another fight?”   “…yeah…”   “You can stay then… Why didn’t she come back?”   “She-she didn’t say…”   “I guess she didn’t want to tell you,” Mrs. Higurashi replied, more to herself than to Inu Yasha.   “I’m sorry?”   “Never mind Inu Yasha…” Kagome’s mom replied. “Never mind.”   “Where’s Souta? And grandpa?”   “Souta’s sleeping over with a friend tonight,” Mrs. Higurashi told him. “And father… father’s visiting with some old friends of his from the war. He’ll be gone for a week.”   “You’re alone?”   “Yes. Don’t worry,” she assured him. “I’ll be fine. You could say I’ve gotten used to it by now, what with Kagome going off for days at a time…”   “I see…” Inu Yasha wasn’t sure, but he thought that Kogome’s mom sounded almost… wistful.   “Are you hungry?”   “Hmmm?”   “Are you hungry Inu Yasha? I was just going to make dinner…”   At the mention of food, Inu Yasha’s stomach growled audibly, embarrassing him. “I-I guess I am… But you shouldn’t take the trouble-”   “It’s all right, there would have been too much for me to eat alone anyway. I insist.”   “If it’s not a bother-”   “It won’t be.”   “Okay then… Thank you Mrs. Higurashi…”   “Sakiko.”   “Excuse me?”   “Call me Sakiko,” she told him. “Mrs. Higurashi makes me sound ancient…”   “Kaede’s ancient, you’re not… Sakiko…” Inu Yasha found it a little odd to call Kagome’s mother by her given name.   “Thank you Inu Yasha, you’re like family now,” Sakiko explained. “Family doesn’t have to be formal.” She lead him to the kitchen, and Inu Yasha noticed that the table was set with two place settings. He was about to take a seat when Sakiko saw what he was doing and gasped. “STOP!”   Inu Yasha froze. “What? What is it, what’s wrong?” he looked around, wondering if one of his enemies had somehow followed him through the well.   Sakiko let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry Inu Yasha, that’s my husband’s chair…”   “Your husband? But I thought he-” Inu Yasha slapped both of his hands over his mouth to keep from finishing the rest of the thought aloud. ‘I thought he was dead…’   Sakiko finished his thought for him. “You thought he was dead?” Inu Yasha could only nod shamefully. “He is, he’s been gone over five years. It’s just… Tonight would have been our anniversary. We always had dinner at home for that, he said he wanted to spend the time with only me, and not share me with the rest of the world.”   “I see…”   “Since he died, I’ve always eaten alone on this day, but I’ve never been able to use only one setting…”   “Do-do you want me to leave?” Inu Yasha asked quietly.   Sakiko shook her head. “You don’t have to, everyone says I shouldn’t be alone on this day, and I suppose now’s a good time to start. Go ahead and sit down, and I’ll make dinner.”   Almost solemnly, Inu Yasha slowly took his seat, not being able to completely shake the feeling that he was intruding. Not trusting himself to speak, he settled on watching Sakiko prepare the meal. He did offer to help a few times, but she waved him off, reminding him that this wasn’t like cooking over a fire.   Soon, the aroma of delicious food filled the kitchen, and Inu Yasha felt his mouth start to water in anticipation. With a smile and a flourish, Sakiko set a plate before him. “Here you go. Broiled steak, with baked potato, and a Caesar salad.”   Inu Yasha blinked. “What is this?”   “It’s foreign food,” Sakiko explained. Her smile faltered a little. “It was also Yosho’s favorite meal.”   “It looks good,” Inu Yasha reassured her. “I’ve just never seen it before…”   “Neither had I,” Sakiko admitted. “You wouldn’t believe how long it took me to find a good Caesar dressing recipe.” She went to a cupboard and took out a bottle of red liquid. “Would you like a drink?”   “What is it?”   “Red wine.”   “Is it like sake?”   Sakiko considered that for a moment. “A little. It’s made with fruit, not rice.”   “I’ll try it.” Inu Yasha waited for Sakiko to fill a glass with a long stem, accepting it with a thanks and sniffing it before taking a tentative sip. “It’s good…”   The two of them ate in silence, Inu Yasha enjoying the meal, but not knowing whether or not he should say anything. Eventually the quiet was too much for the hanyou to take, so he asked what he hoped would be an innocent question. “Your husband liked this?”   “Yes.”   “So do I,” he told her. “It’s good.”   Sakiko smiled faintly. “Glad you liked it.”   “Really, it’s great.”   “Thank you…”   “He musta been a great guy,” Inu Yasha remarked.   “Why do you say that?”   ‘Why did I say that?’ Inu Yasha asked himself. ‘I never met the guy, Kagome never talked about him… Kagome…’”Kagome’s a great person, Souta too… Wouldn’t that reflect on him?”   “Really…” Sakiko replied evenly.   “Ummm…uhh…” Inu Yasha stammered, desperately trying to think of something to say. “He… he married you right? He wasn’t stupid…”   For a second, Sakiko just stared at Inu Yasha, before she started laughing out loud.   “What’d I say?”   Sakiko only laughed harder at that, tears coming from her eyes, before she finally regained her composure. “I’m sorry Inu Yasha, but that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s said to me in years.”   “You’re welcome, I think…” Inu Yasha replied awkwardly.   Sakiko giggled at that. “In your own way, you’re very charming.”   Trying to change the subject a little, Inu Yasha asked her, “All the two of you did on your anniversary was eat at home?” He’d heard Kagome talking about relationships in this time, and he remembered enough of it to know that anniversaries were supposed to be important, and woe to the man who neglected them.   “We both enjoyed it,” Sakiko replied. “After dinner, we’d dance in the living room.”   “Dance? Like in a festival?”   Sakiko shook her head. “No, we’d dance slow, listening to jazz.”   “Jazz?” Inu Yasha’d never heard that word before.   “Foreign music,” Sakiko explained. “Here, I’ll show you.” She headed for the living room, gesturing for Inu Yasha to follow her. Once there, she went to the black box that made music, put in what Kagome had called a ‘CD,’ and pushed a button.   Soft, strange melodies filled the air, and Inu Yasha marveled yet again how they were able to get the sounds to fit on that shiny disk. “Nice…”   “Isn’t it?” Sakiko remarked. “We both liked it. Sometimes after Yosho died, I’d listen to it, and remember the time we had together.”   To Inu Yasha, the music was completely alien, but it had a strange, soulful quality to it, that inspired feelings of happiness, as well as melancholy. He found it far more stirring then the brief snatches of music, both from his time and this time, that he’d heard before.   “Inu Yasha?”   “Yes Sakiko?”   Sakiko closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if she was marshalling her courage. “Would… would…” She let out another deep breath before she could continue. “Would you mind if… if you… if I asked you to dance?”   Inu Yasha blinked. “D-dance? W-with you…?”   “Yes…” Sakiko replied timidly. “It’s been so long… and-and I’ve missed being able to do that…”   “I-I don’t know how,” Inu Yasha whispered nervously, the evening having suddenly taken a turn for the surreal.   “I’ll show you Inu Yasha. Please…” The pleading look in her eyes was perfectly complimented by the near desperation in her voice.   “O-okay…” Inu Yasha wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he turned Sakiko down. She seemed so lost and needy, that he couldn’t make himself refuse her. “What-what do I do?”   Sakiko walked up to him. “Give me your hands,” she instructed. She placed his left hand on her waist, not noticing how he stiffened at this sudden closeness, before she put her own right hand on his waist and took his right hand in her left. “Now rock slowly on your feet.”   “R-rock?” a now suddenly dry mouthed Inu Yasha croaked.   “Like this.” Sakiko began taking small steps, slowly moving in a circle.   After a few false starts when Inu Yasha twice stepped on her toes, for which he stammered an apology and very nearly bolted, he was able to fall into a slow rhythm, moving in circles through the living room with Sakiko.   “See, this isn’t so hard, is it?”   “No…” Inu Yasha squeaked, still keeping vigilant to prevent himself from stepping on Sakiko’s toes again.   By the third song, Inu Yasha felt comfortable enough with his footwork to let himself relax a little, and try to let the music take him. The soft smile Sakiko was wearing was contagious, and he found himself smiling back down at her. When she moved her left hand so their fingers intertwined, he scarcely noticed.   Inu Yasha found that dancing with Sakiko was pleasant, and he could feel the tension that had been created start to slip away, as the gentle melody of jazz filled the air. ‘This is nice… no wonder her husband enjoyed this… I could get used to this. I wonder if Kagome would ever like to do this?’ He was jolted out of these thoughts when Sakiko let go of his hand…   …before she rested her head on his chest, slipping her arms around him and placing her hands on his shoulders.   Startled by the increased closeness, Inu Yasha realized that his own arms had automatically wrapped around Sakiko’s waist. ‘What-what’s she doing? Should we be doing this?’ he wondered nervously. The thought of letting go of Sakiko never entered his mind.   The music continued to play, its calm rhythm a counterpoint to the frenzied swirl of emotions that was now going through Inu Yasha’s mind. Images of Kagome, both pleasant and unpleasant, flashed through his head, even as he realized just how nice it felt to hold her mother in his arms, and just how good her hair smelled inches from his nose. When Sakiko let out a contented hum and tightened her embrace, he found himself squeezing her in reply.   Belatedly, the two of them realized that the music has stopped several minutes earlier, but neither made any move to let go of the other. Finally, Sakiko lifted her head from Inu Yasha’s chest and looked up at him, his reflection visible in her eyes. Wordlessly, she lifted her right hand and softly caressed his cheek, sending an involuntary shudder through his body.   Inu Yasha could only stare down at Sakiko as he felt her hand glide through his hair to gently clasp the back of his head. He was far stronger than any normal man, but he was powerless to stop her from slowly pulling his head down until her lips gently pressed against his own. His eyes went wide at the gentle, tentative contact, but he made no effort to break it off. He could taste traces of the meal they’d shared, as well as the wine, and a strange flavor he suspected was the adornment she was wearing on her lips.   Sakiko eventually broke it off and began laying feathery kisses on the side of his neck that made Inu Yasha take in a sharp breath be fore she asked him, in a voice so low he could barely hear, “Inu Yasha, will… will you stay with me tonight? Please?”   Inu Yasha gazed down at Sakiko, feeling himself get lost in the depths of her eyes. An image of Kagome’s face flashed before his eyes, but when Sakiko caressed his cheek again, he turned his head and began kissing the palm of her hand, before she pulled his head back down and kissed him again. They stayed in an embrace for some time, Sakiko running her hands through Inu Yasha’s hair, as he gently rubbed her back, before he felt her hands slide down to the tie that held the fire rat coat closed.   Sakiko took a few moments to undo the knot, but when she succeeded, she gently eased it open, and Inu Yasha let her go just long enough to let the protective garment slide off of his shoulders to fall on the floor in a heap. “Can you take me to my room?” she whispered.   Now unclothed from the waist up, Inu Yasha bent down and swept Sakiko up in his arms, kissing her even as he began to carry her to her bedroom, her hands tracing warm trails on his bare back. He felt her tongue pushing against his lips, and he opened his mouth, feeling it slide over his fangs.   Reaching Sakiko’s room, Inu Yasha pushed the door open with his foot, stepping into the darkened room and gently setting Sakiko on the bed. She reached over and turned on the small lamp on the end table, throwing a soft glow over the room, before she slipped under the blankets, holding them up, wordlessly inviting Inu Yasha to join her under them. Swallowing, as a huge wave of nervousness came over him, Inu Yasha slowly sat down and joined Sakiko, excited, but also more afraid than he’d ever been in his life.   Sakiko seemed to be able to read his mind. “You’ve never done this, have you?”   Not trusting his voice, Inu Yasha merely shook his head softly.   “Don’t worry,” Sakiko cooed softly. “It won’t be difficult.” She traced a finger down his face, starting at his forehead, sliding it down his nose and resting it on his lips. She then sat up and undid the buttons on her blouse, easing it off of her shoulders to reveal a simple white bra. Sakiko then reached behind her back and unfastened its clasp, letting it slide down her arms before she tossed it aside.   Gulping audibly, Inu Yasha found that he couldn’t pull his eyes off of Sakiko’s breasts. From the few brief glances he’d had of Kagome and Sango, he could tell that she was modestly endowed by comparison, but they were beautiful nonetheless. While they weren’t even a handful, as Miroku might have said, they seemed to be perfectly suited to Sakiko. As far as he could see, her figure was softer, which made her seem even more feminine to Inu Yasha, and he wasn’t able to suppress a gasp when she took his right hand and brought it to her breast.   Sakiko let out a gentle moan when Inu Yasha’s callused hand hesitantly gave her left breast a soft squeeze. When she let go of his hand, Inu Yasha slowly rubbed the mound with the palm of his hand, taking great care to not scratch her with his claws, and feeling both the beating of her heart and the way that the nipple stiffened at his touch. When Sakiko leaned down and kissed him again, he kept his right hand where it was, and used his left to stroke her bare back, even as Sakiko opened her lips to allow his tongue to explore her mouth.   Sakiko was running her hands through his hair, and Inu Yasha found the feeling to be irresistible.. When she took hold of his ears and rubbed them between her thumbs and forefingers, he could keep himself from gasping; the sparks that shot down his spine were unbelievable. Breaking off the kiss, Inu Yasha traced his tongue along the side of Sakiko’s throat, before he started kissing it, and with extreme care, placing gentle bites along its length.   Sakiko moaned throatily in response, and she released his ears and moved her hands to his chest, rubbing his pectorals with her hands, pinching his nipples, making him yelp in surprise. With a crooked smile, she moved her head down to his chest, peppering it with light kisses, before she ran her tongue around his left nipple, causing it to harden, she greedily latching on to it and beginning to suckle.   Letting go of Sakiko’s breast, Inu Yasha placed both of his hands on her head and ran his finger through her short hair. He could feel his breathing starting to get heavier as he looked down and met Sakiko’s gaze, the amused glint in her eyes the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. He could tell that he was growing hard, and it was starting to feel uncomfortably constrained in his pants. He let out a hiss when Sakiko slid her right hand down his chest to rest on the now nearly painful bulge.   An icy tendril of fear gripped Inu Yasha; he had no idea whether his body’s natural reaction would be offensive to her or not. ‘May-maybe it’s too early, maybe she’ll think I’m rushing things…’ He began to wonder if human and hanyou were actually compatible. The groan he let out when Sakiko began to gently rub him through his clothes did alleviate his concerns a little. Biting his lip, Inu Yasha was only able to lay there as Sakiko massaged his erect length through his pants.   He watched in wonderment as Sakiko eased herself down to Inu Yasha’s waist, kissing his body the entire way, keeping the bed covers wrapped around her shoulders. Her long fingers deftly worked at the knot that held his pants closed, finally succeeding in undoing it, and she unhesitantly pulled them down his legs, Inu Yasha lifting his hips to help her. Sakiko carefully placed the pants on the floor and turned her gaze to Inu Yasha’s erection, standing proudly before her.   Gasps came from the back of Inu Yasha’s throat as Sakiko gently took hold of him in her right hand and gave him a long, languid stroke. “Sa-Sakiko… That feels… good…” he moaned unabashedly, letting out a surprised hiss when she took his balls in her left hand and caressed them. Through glazed eyes, Inu Yasha watched Sakiko stroking him, his hips pushing up as he tried to increase the sensation of her pumping him.   “It gets better Inu Yasha,” Sakiko whispered huskily. “Much better…” she then moved her head closer to his prick, and ran the tip of her tongue under the base of its head.   Inu Yasha let out an unrestricted groan, his head falling back against the mattress, even as he began gripping the bed sheets. He could feel Sakiko’s warm breath upon him as she swirled her tongue around the head of his member before she took it into her mouth. He found that it was almost impossible to keep from squirming as she bobbed her head up and down, each time slowly taking more and more of him between her lips. Openly panting, he looked down and saw Sakiko watching him, even as her cheeks were drawn in, effortlessly sucking him.   He’d never imagined that anything could possibly feel this good, even in the few dreams he’d had after he’d accidentally gotten a look at Kagome and Sango when they were in the hot springs. Inu Yasha began crying out as he could feel himself building up to a release, astonished that it was happening so quickly. “Sa-Sakiko… I-I’m close, you-you better… move… unhhh… or… or… look out! No, no… aannhhh!” Unable to stop himself, Inu Yasha climaxed with a feral grunt, two jets of his seed splashing against the back of Sakiko’s throat.   Inu Yasha heard Sakiko gagging as she attempted to swallow, but there was so much more than she’d expected, and some of it dribbled out of her mouth, running down the length of Inu Yasha’s now deflating shaft. Shame washed over Inu Yasha when he realized what he’d done, and he was stammering apologies when he belatedly noticed that Sakiko didn’t seem to be angry with him, or even notice that he was talking. She was too busy cleaning up the seed that she hadn’t been able to swallow with her tongue.   Mesmerized, Inu Yasha watched as Sakiko carefully chased down every last drop, even as he lay there panting, trying to get his wind back. He could feel the sweat beading on his exposed skin, and he idly wondered if the sheets under him would be damp. After several minutes, Sakiko took hold of his now limp organ, licked the last drop from its tip, gave the head a final, farewell kiss, and then slowly began crawling up his body, kissing him as she went. She spent several minutes on each of his nipples, making his chest slick with her saliva, before her lips grazed past his collarbone, playfully biting it once.   It was a weakened Inu Yasha who reached down and stroked Sakiko’s short hair, a feeling of fatigue coming over him as Sakiko’s lips pressed against his chin before they returned to his own. He kissed her hungrily, wanting to show her just how amazing it had been for him. Their lips parted and they held each other close, both basking in the intimacy of the moment. After some time, Inu Yasha broke the silence. “That-that was incredible, Sakiko-chan…”   Sakiko gave him a peck on his sweaty forehead. “I’m glad you enjoyed it, Inu Yasha-kun.”   “Can… can I do something like that to you…?” Inu Yasha asked timidly. “I-I mean, I don’t know what to do…”   Sakiko smiled and rolled off of him and onto her back, pulling Inu Yasha so that he was partially resting on her. “Just-just kiss me… use your mouth, anywhere you want to, Inu Yasha…” Sakiko told him softly.   Accepting the invitation, Inu Yasha kissed Sakiko deeply, before he broke it off and began moving his lips down her neck, trailing his tongue its entire length. He nibbled on her earlobes, curious as to whether they were as sensitive as his own ears, and he was pleased to hear Sakiko let out a pleased sigh at his ministrations. Releasing the right earlobe from between his lips, Inu Yasha lowered his head to Sakiko’s chest, and stuck out his tongue, flicking it across her left nipple, feeling it harden slightly at his touch. He looked up at Sakiko, who smiled and nodded at him, before he dropped his head and took it between his lips. He suckled on it, remembering how good it had felt to him, and Sakiko grabbed his head and began stroking his hair. “That-that’s sooo nice…” she gasped.   Releasing the nipple, Inu Yasha began to kiss and suck all over the breast, purposely avoiding the areola, exploring every square inch of the rest of it. When he’d covered every part with kisses and licks, he moved his head to Sakiko’s right breast, once again kissing, licking, and now gently biting everywhere except the areola. Inu Yasha could hear Sakiko practically whimpering in frustration, and she was trying to move his head so his lips would stimulate her more sensitive areas, but he was able to keep his attention where he wanted it. Finally, after having her squirm underneath him, and vainly attempting to move his head, Inu Yasha hungrily latched on to the nipple, and greedily suckled on it, smiling to himself at the throaty groan Sakiko gave him in response.   After several minutes of listening to Sakiko gasp and moan as he sucked and nibbled on her nipple, Inu Yasha decided to try to return the favor she’d given him. Releasing the firm bud from between his lips, he began to kiss and lick his way down her stomach, reaching the waist of her slacks before he stopped, not sure how to undo them. While he could have easily torn them off, he didn’t want to do anything that might upset Sakiko, so he looked up at her with an imploring look on his face.   Sakiko smiled own at him indulgently, and the after easing him off of herself, she sat up and moved so that she was resting against the headboard, before she undid the button and zipper, lifted her hips, and slid the simple black slacks down her legs. She carelessly tossed the pants aside, tugged off her socks, and then she lifted her hips again and eased her white panties off. Placing a pillow behind her, she rested back against the headboard, opened her legs, and gave Inu Yasha her best ‘come hither’ look.   While he’d never heard of the phrase ‘come hither,’ Inu Yasha had no trouble figuring out what Sakiko’s look meant. Crawling towards her, he took the opportunity to lick and kiss Sakiko’s lovely legs. They weren’t as toned as Sango’s or Kagome’s, the demon exterminator’s bodysuit and Kagome’s fuku left little to the imagination, but they were smooth, and had just the right amount of curves. He gently held her calf in his hands as he placed the softest kisses he could on it, slowly making his way up the length of her leg.   When he reached Sakiko’s inner thighs, Inu Yasha began to switch kisses between both of her legs, moving closer to the fragrant junction between them. It was the first time Inu Yasha’d ever seen a woman this close, and he was intrigued by the soft, pink fold of skin, which seemed to be glistening in the soft light, and the patch of soft looking hair over it. Placing two final kisses at the very top of the legs, Inu Yasha carefully ran his tongue along the edge where Sakiko’s soft folds met.   The pleased hum Sakiko let out, combined with the way she slipped her hands into his hair, encouraged Inu Yasha, and he licked her again, this time the tip of his tongue gently parting her lower lips. She tasted… different from what he might have expected, and while it was a little strange, it wasn’t unpleasant, and if she hadn’t hesitated to use her mouth on him, then who was he to not return the favor. Taking a deep breath to focus himself, Sakiko’s heady scent filling his nostrils, Inu Yasha rested his face against her, the soft pubic hair tickling his nose, and he slipped his tongue inside of the warm, damp passage, lapping as if he was drinking from a stream.   Sakiko let out a cry and gripped the back of his head tightly, even as she began to push herself up to meet the strokes of his tongue. “That’s sooo gooood Inu Yasha… don’t stop… please…”   Being too occupied to respond, Inu Yasha simply kept up his assault on Sakiko’s sex, determined to explore every inch of it with his tongue. He noticed something swelling that he hadn’t seen upon his first cursory glance, and he pulled his tongue out of Sakiko, making her whimper in frustration, before he gave it a curious flick with his tongue. The cry Sakiko let out startled him. “Sakiko?” he asked, concerned, lifting his head from between her legs. “What’s wrong?”   “N-nothing, go back there!” she gasped. With strength that surprised Inu Yasha, Sakiko pulled his head back to where it had been, pushing up with her hips to grind herself up against the hanyous face. She took his ears in her hands once again, rubbing them softly, making him squirm. “Please Inu Yasha,” she begged. “Don’t stop…”   Feeling reassured and emboldened by Sakiko’s words, Inu Yasha took Sakiko’s clitoris between his lips and gently nibbled on it, bringing a hand up and tracing a fingertip along the now engorged lips. Sakiko was panting now, pulling his ears hard enough that it was a little uncomfortable to Inu Yasha, and his lips, cheeks and chin were covered in a sheen of Sakiko’s moisture. He glanced upward, finding the unfocused, flushed look on her face incredibly arousing, the open mouthed smile she wore pushing him to increase his efforts.   The cries she was making were like heavenly music to him, and they only got louder when he slipped a finger inside of her, slowly easing it in up to the last knuckle. Even more moisture appeared, and Inu Yasha greedily lapped up all of it, before he gently sawed his teeth along Sakiko’s clit. With a throaty scream, Sakiko climaxed, arching her back and pulling Inu Yasha’s head against her as tight as her small frame could manage. Inu Yasha felt a virtual torrent of wetness against his face, and he struggled to clean up all of it, continuing to lap even as Sakiko thrashed beneath him.   After a few moments, Sakiko quit spasming and regained control of herself, as Inu Yasha finally ceased his efforts. He could hear her breathing start to slow down, and he was a little surprised by how much effort he’d put into it. He realized that there was a wet spot on the sheets under them, and he hoped that Sakiko wouldn’t be upset at that. He stayed where he was, feeling Sakiko run her hands through his hair.   “Ohhh… Inu Yasha… that was… wonderful…’   “R-really…?”   “ ;Oh yes…” Sakiko breathed happily. “Did-did you… not like doing that…?”   “No, I did,” Inu Yasha replied honestly.   “You mean that?”   “Yes… I-I’ll do that again if you want…”   Sakiko simply shook her head, beaming down at him as she slid down to lay by Inu Yasha. She pulled his head so their lips met, kissing him hungrily, their tongues meeting and intertwining with each other. Breaking the kiss, Sakiko rested Inu Yasha’s head on her breasts, continuing to stroke his hair, letting him listen to her heartbeat. “Inu Yasha, I… I… I want you… inside me…”   “You-you’re sure?”   “Yes Inu Yasha. Take me, I want to have you in me…”   Swallowing nervously, despite the fact that he could feel himself throbbing in anticipation, Inu Yasha pushed himself up on his hands, feeling Sakiko place her legs on either side of him. He could feel the head of his prick brushing against Sakiko’s inner thighs, when something occurred to him. “What about pups?”   “Pups…? Oh, I understand… Don’t worry Inu Yasha,” Sakiko reassured him. “I’m too old for more children. Now please, give yourself to me…”   Allowing Sakiko to take hold of him in her hands, Inu Yasha took a breath and slowly eased his hips forward, gasping as the head of his prick gently nudged Sakiko’s delicate folds. The rush of warmth was indescribable, like nothing he’d ever experienced before, and despite a sudden compulsion to simply shove himself forward, Inu Yasha took a moment to look at Sakiko, who merely smiled at him and nodded.   Slowly, so as to not accidentally hurt Sakiko, and ready to push himself off of her at the first hint of trouble, Inu Yasha slowly slid himself inside of Sakiko, letting out a groan as the head of his member was enveloped by her warm, slick tunnel. He eased more and more of himself into her, feeling her grab at him and squeeze as he penetrated her, almost as if she was trying to keep him out. Further and further he pushed, until he’d slipped all of himself into her, and he stayed motionless for a few moments, savoring the experience. Making sure that he was balanced on his hands, Inu Yasha slowly eased his hips back, feeling Sakiko grip him every inch of the way, until only the tip of his shaft was between her velvety soft lips.   Inu Yasha slowly drove himself back into Sakiko, biting his lip to keep from crying out in pleasure. It was… simply the most incredible thing he’d ever experienced, and if asked, he couldn’t have begun to accurately express what he was feeling. He let out a hiss as Sakiko reached up and tweaked his nipples, sending yet another spark of pleasure through his, by now, almost overloaded system. He was aware that she was pushing her hips up to meet his, trying to maximize his penetration of her.   Bottoming out, Inu Yasha pulled himself back again, and pushed back inside with a little more force and speed, prompting a deep, throaty groan from Sakiko. “F-faster Inu Yasha…” she pleaded, gazing up at him hungrily. “I’m not THAT- unhh… fragile…”   Locking his elbows, Inu Yasha began to further increase the rate of his thrusts, keeping his eyes focused only on Sakiko’s, feeling that he could just sink into those bottomless brown pools, as he attempted to quell the hunger that had been awakened in him. Sakiko released his nipples and moved her left hand down his back, resting it on his ass, caressing it briefly before she took hold of it and used it to pull herself up against him. She moved her right hand to stroke Inu Yasha’s face, and he took her thumb into his mouth and sucked on it, even as he continued to hammer into her.   Sweat was beginning to bead up all over Inu Yasha, especially his back and forehead, and he could feel it running in rivulets down his face and chin, flowing into his eyes, making him blink away the stinging salt. Drops were falling off him, splashing down onto Sakiko, dripping onto her chest, which was wet with both her sweat and his saliva. Inu Yasha’s white hair was falling forward, forming a curtain around his head, and blocking all other sights save the writhing and panting Sakiko beneath him.   Sakiko took her thumb from Inu Yasha’s mouth and moved her hand to his lower back, now grinding up against him ever harder, and wrapping her legs around him, desperately trying to hold him as close to her as she could. The grip and strength in the legs of the normally reserved housewife was surprising to Inu Yasha, as he’d never even considered or pondered just what Sakiko was physically capable of. He was nearly delirious by now, the physical sensations threatening to overwhelm his mind, the same way they’d effectively taken over his body.   Inu Yasha was panting and crying out, feeling himself approach the brink with maddening slowness, despite of how fast he was thrusting. He was desperate; he felt that if he didn’t achieve some release shortly, he’d go mad. Sakiko was also urging him on, moving her body in time with his, pulling him against her, and murmuring incoherently. Bending his arms, he lowered his head and brought his lips to hers, kissing her eagerly, their tongues clashing, attempting to push into the mouth of the other. Sakiko slid her right hand up his sweat slicked back and gripped his shoulder, all the time continuing to rise up against his thrusts.   Through the maelstrom of sensations that he was undergoing, Inu Yasha felt the first faint stirrings of an orgasm, and he realized that he wasn’t going to last much longer. Breaking off the kiss, he pushed himself back up, and began to push with all the force he was comfortable with, crying out louder as he felt Sakiko’s warm passage gripping at him with each stroke. He felt his teeth clenching involuntarily as his breathing went shallow, his hands gripping the bed tight, his claws biting into the fabric.   Arching his back, and a guttural cry tearing itself from his throat, Inu Yasha came, firing off three long geysers of his warm essence deep into Sakiko’s hot, wet, and tight passage. He felt her grip him, heard her crying out his name as she arched her own back, grinding herself against him as she reached her peak. For a few moments, both stayed motionless, unable to do anything but wait for the waves of pleasure to pass. Inu Yasha then felt his arms start to tremble, and he slumped bonelessly onto Sakiko, feeling his breathing slowly return to normal. He’d never felt this exhausted before, even after the most savage of battles.   Sakiko was cooing gently, running her hands through his hair, kissing the side of his head, even as her own breathing slowed down. After a minute, Inu Yasha slowly pushed himself up and turned his head, kissing Sakiko languidly, the intensity level much lower, but just as intimate. They ended the kiss and Inu Yasha carefully scooted off of her, planning to lay beside Sakiko, but she gripped him around the shoulders and pulled him close to her, resting his head on her chest. She continued to run her fingers through his white hair, playing with his ears, and she kissed the top of his head, while Inu Yasha listened to her heartbeat, his head moving with the rise and fall of her chest, as he pulled the blankets back up to cover them.   Inu Yasha was still listening to Sakiko’s heart when sleep finally claimed him.   ***   Inu Yasha awoke the next morning before sunrise, disoriented and confused, in an unfamiliar location. ‘Where-where am I? I don’t-’ He broke off this thought as memories of the night before filled his mind. ‘We-we mated, didn’t we…’ A scent hung in the air, and Inu Yasha knew where it’d come from, and it was clinging to him as well. During the night he’d rolled out of Sakiko’s arms, and she was still sleeping peacefully, a gentle smile on her face. Inu Yasha didn’t want to wake her, but she looked so angelic when she slept, that he couldn’t stop himself from giving her a soft kiss on the forehead before he got out of the bed.   ‘Where are my clothes?’ Inu Yasha wondered, as he unknowingly performed a ritual males had done since time immemorial, and crept out of the bedroom. He padded almost noiselessly through the halls, idly knotting his pants back up, and retrieving the fire rat coat from the living room, before making his way to the bathroom. Inu Yasha needed to clean himself up, and he’d been taught how to use the indoor waterfall, what Kagome had called a ‘shower.’   In the bathroom he stripped down and saw his reflection in the mirror. He didn’t look any different, but he knew that he wasn’t the same hanyou that had awakened the previous day, and that things had changed, especially his relationship with Kagome. Images of Sakiko’s daughter filled his mind, but while he felt a little guilt about what had happened, he found that he didn’t have any regrets. Inu Yasha decided it was too early in the morning to think about such things, so he entered the shower and turned it on, the hot water washing over him, sluicing off the sweat and evidence of the previous night’s experience.   Inu Yasha marveled at the fact that in his own time, even the Emperor could not experience such luxury, but it was in almost every home here. He took some soap, finding only one that wasn’t floral or ‘girly’ smelling, and guessing (correctly as it turned out) that it was the soap Souta and his grandfather used. He lathered up his hands and began to wash the obvious area first, wanting to remove the stickiness and odor that clung to him. He scrubbed himself thoroughly, and when he was satisfied that he’d gotten it clean, he rinsed off, reaching for the shampoo, when he heard the bathroom door open.   “Sakiko?” through the frosted glass of the shower stall, Inu Yasha could see someone standing in the bathroom, but he couldn’t make out who it was. Any uncertainty about the identity of his guest was eliminated when Sakiko casually opened the shower door and stepped inside, as naked as he was. “Wh-what are you doing?”   “Good morning Inu Yasha,” Sakiko greeted him warmly. “You weren’t planning on just leaving this morning were you? I was… disappointed when you weren’t there when I woke up.”   “D-didn’t want to wake you,” Inu Yasha stammered. “Needed to clean up too…”   “That’s okay Inu Yasha, I understand,” Sakiko reassured him. “It’s good you’re already here, now I can wash your back and hair.”   “Wash… my…”   “It’s only right of me,” Sakiko explained. “You have so much hair, you probably need some help to do it properly.” Without giving Inu Yasha a chance to argue, she took hold of the shampoo bottle, squeezed a sizeable glob of it onto her hand and immediately began to work it into his hair.   Realizing that there was no way that he’d be able to dissuade her, Inu Yasha lowered his head and let Sakiko work the lather into his hair. He’d intended to accept it stoically, but as it progressed, Inu Yasha soon discovered that the feeling of Sakiko’s fingers working through his hair, gently scraping his scalp, and carefully working around his ears was sensual. He started humming contentedly, closing his eyes and luxuriating in the indulgent experience, absently allowing her to turn him so she could wash the hair at his back.   When Sakiko finished washing his hair, and then began to lather up his back, running her hands over his shoulders, Inu Yasha actually moaned out loud. The feeling of her long, slender fingers scrubbing his wet skin was heavenly, and he found himself not wanting it to end. Sakiko turned him again, moving him under the showerhead, so the hot water washed over him, rinsing away the soap and shampoo. She continued to run her hands through his hair and over his back, helping clear away even the last of the lather, until there was no trace left.   “It’s your turn Inu Yasha…”   “Hmmm?” Sakiko’s nearly whispered statement had broken him out of a sensuous state of mind, and he was aware that he was stirring.   “Your turn to wash me,” she repeated gently.   “R-right…” Inu Yasha couldn’t explain why he was feeling what felt like nervousness. Trying to stay focused, he squirted some shampoo onto his palm, and then he carefully began to massage it into Sakiko’s short hair, taking great pains to not accidentally scratch her or scrub too hard. After a few moments, Sakiko’s head was completely lathered up, and Inu Yasha tried to massage her scalp with his fingers, just as she had done to him. When Sakiko moaned throatily, and looked at him adoringly, he figured that he had to be doing something right.   “That’s nice…” Sakiko murmured.   “What…?”   “Your claws.”   “I’m sorry, I’ll-”   Sakiko cut him off. “No, I-I like them…”   When he was satisfied that he’d done all that he could, Inu Yasha rinsed the last of the shampoo from his hands, before picking up one of the floral scented bars of soap and working that into a lather as well. Gently turning Sakiko around by her shoulders, he started to wash her back with long, slow strokes, letting his fingertips gently play over her wet skin. He didn’t touch her anywhere she hadn’t touched him, but he made sure that he ran his hands softly over every inch of skin in those boundaries.   Once finished, he helped her rinse off, but her shorter hair meant it only took a fraction of the time that he had needed. By now, the entire bathroom was filled with steam, and it made Sakiko look almost ethereal to Inu Yasha, like she’d just walked out of the mists. She looked almost unearthly in this setting, and he found that he was having a hard time keeping himself from openly staring at her. Deciding that finishing his shower would be good idea, Inu Yasha reached for his bar of soap, but found that Sakiko was once again building up lather in her hands.   Without warning, Sakiko reached over and took hold of Inu Yasha’s manhood, causing him to yelp in surprise. She lathered it up with slow strokes, and this had the expected reaction of making it grow completely erect. Embarrassed by his body’s response, Inu Yasha tried to pull away. “I-I already washed that…”   Sakiko paid no mind to him, moving Inu Yasha so she could rinse him off, until she looked up at him, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I know…” She then reached up and took hold of his head, pulling it towards her until their lips touched.   Inu Yasha froze for a moment, before he responded, returning the kiss eagerly, wrapping his arms around Sakiko and pulling her against him. His eyes widened as he felt Sakiko take hold of him in her hands, obviously wanting him inside her again. Not really sure of what was the right thing to do, Inu Yasha simply followed the first impulse that came to him. He reached down ad grabbed Sakiko’s rear, lifting her completely off the floor. Their kiss muffled her exclamation of surprise, but she quickly spread her legs, wrapping them around him, even as she guided his now rigid member inside of her.   Inu Yasha took his lips from Sakiko’s with a sharp hiss. The bathroom was warm, far warmer than the bedroom had been, but the rush of warmth he’d felt upon entering Sakiko was just as intense. Holding her up with his arms, Inu Yasha leaned forward, towards the tiled wall of the shower stall, pressing Sakiko’s back against it as he made sure his footing was sound. Sakiko wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, her arms gripping him around the shoulders, pulling his body tight against hers.   “Is-is this all right?” Inu Yasha asked, concerned that Sakiko would be uncomfortable.   “Yes!” she breathed, now trying to grind up against him, clearly frustrated by his lack of movement. “Take me Inu Yasha, take me now…”   Taking a second or two to make sure he was supporting her, Inu Yasha pulled his hips back, finding it difficult considering how tightly Sakiko had her legs wrapped around him, and thrust forward, feeling himself slide deep into her warm tightness. The two of them quickly found their rhythm, and Inu Yasha was soon pushing in and out of Sakiko, increasingly feral grunts punctuating his movements.   The hot water continued to wash over the two of them, throwing more steam into the air, obscuring everything else from sight except each other. It was like making love in a hot rainstorm, and the experience was something that could never, EVER, have happened back in the Sendou Jikai. It would have been inconceivable, but here, in the future, it could happen anytime.   Inu Yasha’s hair was soaked, and it was falling over his eyes, making it hard for him to see. He whipped his head savagely, throwing the hair off of his face, allowing him to see Sakiko clearly, her face contorted in what could have been mistaken for agony, her eyes unfocused, and a clear blush on her cheeks. She was crying out with every stroke, and Inu Yasha realized that he was doing the same.   Time lost all meaning to the two of them, as they continued to be there for each other, the hot water tank eventually running dry, and the water slowly going from near scalding to frigid. The cold water just made things more intense, as it heightened their senses, and they had to hold on to each other and move faster to keep from shivering. Goosebumps rose on their skin, and Sakiko’s nipples grew even harder as they were pressed against Inu Yasha’s chest.   Inu Yasha felt the signs of imminent orgasm, and he moved his head besides Sakiko’s, nibbling gently on her earlobe, even as he maintained the pace of his thrusts. He could hear her gasping as she clenched his back and shoulders, her arms a warm counterpoint to the now freezing water. He closed his eyes and came with a shout, two volleys of his seed firing into Sakiko.   The climactic rush of heat from Inu Yasha gave Sakiko the last little push she needed, and she shuddered as she came, crushing herself against Inu Yasha, the warmth of his body countering the cold water flowing over her and the cold tiles she was pressed up against. The two of them stayed locked in a tight embrace, even as Inu Yasha’s legs buckled, and they ended up huddled together on the floor of the shower, Inu Yasha having sat down before he would have fallen.   After a few minutes of soft kissing and hugging for warmth, they both slowly stood up, a little stiff from the cold, and washed up as best they could with cold water. Sakiko told Inu Yasha to get dressed while she went to make breakfast, and while he tried to decline, saying she didn’t have to, she wouldn’t hear of it. They turned off the water and dried off, shivering all the while, until Inu Yasha wrapped a towel around Sakiko and held her until she stopped.   Breakfast was a silent affair, as Inu Yasha wasn’t sure what he wanted to say, and he didn’t want to stick his foot in his mouth again. After tea, the two of them went outside to the shrine, and they sat on the steps together, watching the morning, and the building that held the Bone Eater’s Well. Inu Yasha put his arms around Sakiko, feeling like the two of them were much closer now, and that it would be all right.   “You should go back.”   Sakiko’s quiet statement startled Inu Yasha. “But-but…”   “You need to go protect Kagome, keep her safe.” Sakiko’s voice brooked no argument.   Inu Yasha looked at her closely. While Kagome may have been the reincarnation of Kikyo, it was obvious that her mother possessed no small measure of Kikyo’s steel. “But what about what happened…?”   “What happened between us should stay between us,” Sakiko replied, making Inu Yasha recoil. “I would hope that if anything happens between you and my daughter, it stays between the two of you…” Sakiko took a deep breath and gathered all of her courage. “But I-I… would be very happy… if I could see you again, Inu Yasha…”   Inu Yasha stood up, ready to return to his own time, and wondering if he would ever be able to figure out the typhoon of emotions he was feeling, when Sakiko grasped him from behind and rested her head on his shoulder. Her softer voice took his breath away.   “I’m not trying to push you away,” Sakiko whispered. “You need to focus on protecting Kagome, and yourself. I don’t want to lose her… or you…”   “Y-you won’t. I promise…”   “Then go back, protect her, keep her safe, finish your quest.”   “I will.”   “I know,” Sakiko told him. She then hugged him tighter and nuzzled the side of his head. “If you ever need a break from your quest, my home will always be available for…” She paused, searching for the right word, “…sanctuary… You’ll be able to forget it all for a while. I’d like it if you’d stay here again. I’d like it if you’d stay with ME again…”   “…so would I…”   Inu Yasha turned in Sakiko’s arms and the two of them shared a long, passionate kiss, before Sakiko reluctantly broke it off. “Now go!” she ordered. “Take care of Kagome, and yourself!”   “Count on it,” Inu Yasha replied with a smirk, before he turned around and bolted for the well, giving Sakiko a final wave before he entered the building and leapt into the well.   There was the normal sensation of flying, and then he was back in his own time. Inu Yasha crouched down and leapt from the well, giving a triumphant shout as he cleared it.   “Gah!”   “Ka-Kagome?” Inu Yasha stammered. “Wh-what are you doing here?” Looking up from where Kagome had fallen over in surprise, he belatedly noticed that the others were there as well, Shippo, Sango and Miroku on Kilala’s back, watching the two of them with amused grins.   “I was coming to get you,” Kagome replied, brushing herself off as she got back to her feet. “I’m sensing a large jewel shard nearby, I figured you’d want to know…” Her brow furrowed. “What happened to you?”   A vision of Kagome sitting him until he dug his way to Hell entered Inu Yasha’s mind. “Said ‘hi’ to your mother, had something to eat and a good night’s sleep,” he replied hoping that he wouldn’t stammer. “Had a nice shower too…”   “I thought you looked cleaner,” Kagome remarked dryly, before a look of concern came over her. “Is mother all right?”   “She’s fine,” Inu Yasha replied honestly. “Now, where’s that shard?”   “Uhh, that way,” Kagome pointed.   “Then let’s get it!” Inu Yasha bellowed, leaping in the indicated direction.   Kagome watched him go for a few seconds, before walking over to Kilala and climbing back on.   “He seems especially eager today,” Miroku commented as they followed the hanyou.   Kagome shrugged. “A good nights sleep can work wonders…”   Half a mile ahead, Inu Yasha wore not the intense gaze of imminent combat, but a contented smile and a glint in his golden eyes, thinking about Sakiko. He didn’t realize it, and if asked he would have sputtered an indignant denial, but he was absently humming the same music that he and Sakiko had danced to the night before.   End of Sanctuary.   This was pre-read. They will be acknowledged properly once this is posted in a non-competitive forum…                                       &nbs p;