InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Side Effects ❯ United ( Chapter 7 )

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

Disclaimer:  I don’t own Inuyasha.  I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.  


United


Kagome sat straight up, her sudden movements startling Inuyasha, the fear in her eyes causing concern to color his own.  

“Kagome?  What’s wrong?”  

“Inuyasha…” she trailed off, unsure how to find the right words.  But this was too important, so she forced herself to speak.  “You’re still human.  Your youkai side will come back, won’t it?  And…what happens when it does?”  

Inuyasha’s eyes widened, as he too realized the danger.  He considered her questions carefully before responding, his failed attempts to conceal his own nervousness informing Kagome that she was not going to like his answer.  

“It…doesn’t feel like my youki is gone for good.  I feel the same as I did inside Mount Hakurei.  So I think it will come back, but…” he trailed off, unable to finish that thought.  Kagome heard what he didn’t say.  I don’t know what will happen when it does.  The silent admission caused a cold knot of fear to settle in her gut.  

“When do you think it will come back?” she asked anxiously.  How much time do we have left?  

He shrugged miserably.  “Not sure.  Maybe sunrise?  Maybe after…or maybe before.”  

His response frustrated Kagome to no end, but she couldn’t fault him for it.  After all, neither of them had any idea when he would revert to his previous form.  This wasn’t a normal human transformation, so they couldn’t assume that it would end at sunrise.  Or even last that long, she reflected, biting her lip in an effort to maintain her composure.  Fortunately, they were far from powerless here.  

“My spiritual energy helped before.  Maybe I could—”  

“No,” Inuyasha interrupted, as though he’d anticipated her proposal.  “This is something I have to deal with on my own.”  His tone was fierce, but apparently resigned to fighting the coming battle alone.  Every fiber of Kagome’s being screamed in protest.  

“But—”

“I can’t use your spiritual energy, Kagome,” he stated firmly, cutting her off.  “Even if I did, it would just make me human again.  And then it would happen again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.  We would have to go through the same damn thing, every day for the rest of our lives.”  Here he paused, his gaze softening as his eyes reflected a silent apology.  “I can’t live like that.  I can’t force you to live like that.  I…I want to be me again.  I want to be…the man you fell in love with,” he told her, his voice faded almost to a whisper, but still audible, full of life.  “I’m not sure I can force the foreign youki out, but…I have to try.”  

Kagome buried her face into his shoulder, stifling a sob.  He held her as she struggled to compose herself, the determination in his eyes utterly defeating her.  She wanted to tell him that she would happily use her power to help him remain as he was now, every day for the rest of her lives if necessary, to avoid this colossal risk.  But it was damningly clear that he would never accept that.  Not the Inuyasha she knew.  He was too proud and too courageous to live his life in fear, knowing that his true self was locked away forever because he was too cowardly to reach out and claim it.  She wanted to tell him that she didn’t care, that she could love him in this form as well.  While that was true, she knew that deep down they would always feel that something was missing.  So she could understand the reasons behind his decision.  That did not make the repercussions any easier to deal with.  

“Please,” she whispered, “tell me how I can help you.”  She felt his lips press tenderly against her temple.  

“You already have, Kagome,” he told her quietly, the awe and cautious hope in his tone raising her spirits.  “It’s because of you that I have a chance.  You’ve given me all the reason I need.  When I think about what we could have, and what I stand to lose…that’s how I know I’ll win.”  

She sensed that much of his newfound confidence was artificial, but encouragingly, a large portion of it seemed genuine.  Her heart swelled with pride, and she tightened her embrace, allowing a few more tears to fall as his hand rubbed comforting circles along her back.  Finally his ministrations lulled her into a state of fragile peace, aided by pure mental exhaustion.  But she was also coming to accept his decision, even though she fervently wished there was another way.  Inuyasha would not have chosen this course unless he was fairly confident that he could regain control of his youkai side.  In order to achieve the future they both dreamt of, it was evidently a risk he was willing to take.  And despite the dangers and her own reservations, she couldn’t deny that part of her supported his decision wholeheartedly.  As for the rest of her…well, she would just have to make sure he knew that no matter what happened, she would always love him.  

They sat in silence for a long time, each giving and receiving comfort from the presence of the other.  Finally, Inuyasha spoke, his voice subdued, pleading, and she knew that the vulnerability he was about to show was being revealed in large part because of his current humanity.  

“Kagome, I…I don’t want to be alone tonight.  Will you…stay with me?”  

It could be our last night together.  

In the cool of the night, those unspoken words hung heavily in the air between them.  Hearing what Inuyasha said, as well as what he did not say, inspired in Kagome the strangest observation.  His statement was just like what people said in romance movies or novels from her time.  If she followed the script, she was now supposed to take him to bed and make passionate love to him, seduced by his irresistible magnetism.  The only trouble was that Inuyasha didn’t have a seductive bone in his entire body, at least not one he had discovered to this point in his life.  When he said ‘stay with me,’ he meant just that, with no hidden implications.  

So while all of the possible implications of his request undoubtedly escaped Inuyasha’s notice, they most certainly did not escape Kagome’s.  It was not as though she had never thought—or dreamed—about being with him in that manner.  She was in love with him, so she supposed it was only natural to want to be with him physically.  Eventually.  She was still only fifteen, and some days she simply didn’t feel ready for any kind of adult relationship.  In her mind their relationship had always progressed to that level later, during her high school years at the earliest.  She certainly hadn’t expected to find herself considering it in these circumstances.  And yet, here she was, doing just that.  Fate had conspired against them, leaving doubt as to whether they would ever get another chance.  If Inuyasha lost to his youkai side, he would at the very least throw her into the well and seal it behind her.  This truly might be their last night together.  And Kagome could not ignore the undeniable appeal generated by the idea of sharing herself with him in that way, and he with her.  Eventually she was forced to ask herself, why couldn’t they be together physically?  

The obvious practical answer leapt out at her.  Pregnancy.  A legitimate concern, but one which was largely addressed by taking a few moments to remember what she learned in health class.  It simply wasn’t the right time of the month for her to become pregnant.  And while it was always risky to plan intercourse around the menstrual cycle, due to variations in times when certain phases took place, the chances were low enough so that the possibility of pregnancy was no longer a compelling reason not to have sex tonight, in her opinion.  Thinking of health class also made her think of STDs, which almost made her snort.  Yeah, that was a big concern with the two of them.  

So if physically there was no reason for them not to be together, then it came down to whether both of them were emotionally ready.  Kagome searched her feelings and found that she was.  Those butterflies fluttering around in her stomach, which itself seemed to be doing cartwheels in her belly…well, those were both simply signs of nervousness.  So was the heat in her cheeks, though that might also have a little to do with anticipation, an observation which only caused said cheeks to darken.  For once she was glad that Inuyasha was human at the moment, since his enhanced senses would have allowed him to sense that something was bothering her, and he probably would have started asking questions before she was ready to answer them.  She had to fight the urge to forget the whole thing.  After all, Inuyasha seemed perfectly content to simply hold her for the remainder of the evening.  He probably hadn’t even considered the possibility of doing anything more, and even if he had, she knew he wouldn’t entertain any negative feelings if it didn’t happen.  

If she offered and he declined, then she would probably be able to say the same about herself.  Rather than a rejection, it would be an acknowledgment that they weren’t ready at this time, but hoped to have the chance to engage in such intimacy in the future.  That would honestly be fine with Kagome; it very well might be the truth.  If, on the other hand, they didn’t make love because she never offered…that might haunt her.  If things went badly, she would always wonder what might have been, if she could have given Inuyasha a wonderful memory before he lost his true self to the influence of his youkai side.  

So obviously she needed to make the offer, for the sake of her sanity if nothing else.  But how the hell was she supposed to go about doing that?  ‘Hey, Inuyasha, wanna have sex with me?’  Yeah, that would go over real well.  He would probably think she was possessed.  No matter how long she thought about it, she just couldn’t imagine herself actually proposing…that.  At least, not verbally.  But if words weren’t going to help her, then that left…  She gulped, knowing one surefire way to convey her willingness to her unsuspecting love interest.  The question was, did she have the guts to go through with it?  

She sat up stiffly, shyly glancing over at Inuyasha.  The happiness showing on his features, albeit tempered by worry, gave her the courage to place her hand on his chest and lean toward him.  Catching on, he met her halfway, probably expecting a reprise of their earlier kiss.  Instead, after taking a moment to steel her nerves, Kagome parted her lips and slipped her tongue inside his mouth.  She swallowed his gasp, her fingers gripping his hadagi tightly as a shudder passed through him.  Her tongue tentatively sought out his, brushing against it once, twice as it quivered inside the warm cavern of his mouth like a frightened rabbit.  Her confidence shaken by his reaction, or lack thereof, Kagome pulled away from him, leaving a lingering caress against his lips as she departed.  Inuyasha followed subconsciously before catching himself, a sight which provided much-needed reassurance for the young miko, as did his lowered eyelids and flushed cheeks.  When he opened his eyes, she saw a hint of something which quickened her already rapid heartbeat and sent a delightful shiver down her spine.  Encouraged, she leaned forward again.  

This time, Inuyasha was the one with surprise on his side.  His lips cascaded over hers, hot and moist, drawing an involuntary squeak from her.  But she recovered quickly, returning the insistent pressure of his lips as they kissed, hesitantly at first, then more boldly.  His arms encircled her back as he pulled her flush against him, her hands gripping his shoulders in response.  They moved together, their tongues sparring in the space between them, dominating and submitting, and yes, even fumbling at times—they were both novices at this.  Kagome smiled against his lips as he yelped in surprise and annoyance, having accidentally bitten his own tongue in his excitement.  But then he pulled her even closer, tilting her head back as though to devour her, and all coherent thought scattered to the winds.  

When at last they parted, Kagome was left with absolutely no doubt as to the strength of Inuyasha’s desires, or her own.  She was surprised to find herself straddling his hips, his hakama the only barrier between his body and her inner thighs.  When did that happen?  She wondered this dazedly, honestly having no recollection of shifting her position.  Perhaps Inuyasha had no memory of it either.  He gazed at her with somewhat hooded eyes, his slight panting matching her own.  If she lowered herself into his lap, she was sure she would feel the physical evidence of his arousal.  That thought was thrilling, if not a bit frightening as well, but she sensed that they had reached a plateau, and that certain things needed to happen before they could proceed any further.  

“Inuyasha,” she spoke quietly, her voice sounding painfully loud to her ears.  She had meant to convey love, but the unexpectedly husky undertones also spoke of something else.  

“I’m here, Inuyasha,” she told him.  “I’ll stay with you.”  

Forever…or for as long as fate will let me.  

“Kagome,” he breathed, obviously comprehending her unspoken invitation.  If he wanted to simply hold her in his arms until sunrise, then so be it.  If he wanted more, but wished to stop short of intercourse, then that was fine too.  And if he shared her deep desire to join together, to be her first as she would be his, on this night which would perhaps be their last…well, she was ready for that as well.  She only had to wait a few moments for him to reveal his intentions.  

“Kagome…are you sure?” he asked, his tone awestruck.  

Are you sure you want to be with me?  I can’t offer you a safe, carefree life.  I can’t even guarantee that I’ll be around tomorrow.  I—

“I’m sure, Inuyasha.”  

Just your heart is enough for me.  

You have it, his eyes seemed to say as they shimmered in the moonlight.  Then he leaned forward and captured her lips once more.  Kagome was expecting to pick up where they had left off, but oddly, the knowledge that they were going to make love seemed to have taken the desperate edge off of Inuyasha’s fervor.  He kissed her sweetly, his lips simply holding hers as his arms cradled her body.  Kagome tried to deepen the kiss, but he backed away, obviously intent on taking his time.  She quickly relented and merely returned the pressure he exerted against her, content to let him lead for the time being.  It was a good decision.  Sensing her acquiescence, Inuyasha smiled into the kiss and parted his lips, just enough to allow him to brush against her with his tongue.  One of his hands came up to caress her face, his fingers ghosting over her cheekbones, then her jawline, as though only by touching her could he be certain that she was actually there.  Kagome felt herself slipping into a state of tranquility, lulled by his tender ministrations.  

She sighed in bliss as he began planting exploratory, feather-light kisses along her jaw.  She tilted her head to the side, and he took the encouragement, continuing more boldly, moving down the delicate column of her neck and back up again.  Through it all, his hands were far from idle.  They traced up and down her back, slipped inside the sleeves of his suikan to stroke along the smooth skin of her hands and arms, their fingers entwining briefly before he moved on.  Kagome felt something stirring within her, an unnamed compulsion truly awakening for the first time, roused by his touch.  When he neared her lips once more, she turned her head to meet him.  Still he resisted her efforts, holding her bottom lip between his own while stroking it lazily with his tongue, teasing her to the point of frustration.  But his restraint could only endure for so long.  Soon enough, Kagome sensed the inevitable fraying of his fragile patience.  And this time when she wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips to resume their dual, he allowed her to lead him willingly.  

She deepened their kiss, wringing a moan from him as their tongues resumed their dance.  Hesitantly they circled, as though flirting, each touch evoking a separation, and yet, drawing them inexorably closer.  Finally Kagome could no longer tell where one kiss ended and another began; they had all melded together gloriously.  Eventually she mustered the mental acuity to pull away, halting the nearly irresistible progress of her intoxication as she favored her lover with the same treatment he had showered upon her before.  Inuyasha stifled a groan as she kissed along his jawbone, her hands exploring his body over his clothing, from his broad shoulders to the tips of his clawless fingers.  His hands settled on her hips, and she pushed up his sleeves, allowing her to feel the flesh of his upper arms, the muscles tensing under her fingers as she suckled at his pulse point.  The raw power contained within his lithe form was readily apparent, despite his current humanity, and the restraint of that power toward the end of savoring these moments with her was stunningly beautiful.  

As she locked lips with him once more, Kagome realized that Inuyasha’s patience was once again unraveling.  Fortunately, hers was just as tattered.  She placed her hands against his chest, and then, after a momentary hesitation, slipped them inside the folds of his hadagi.  He inhaled a rapid breath at the skin-on-skin contact, tightening his grip on her hips as the frolicking of their lips and tongues became even more heated.  The muscles of his chest and abdomen rioted under her palms, the simplest touch triggering uncontrollable tremors.  Kagome wasn’t sure which was more exhilarating, what they were doing to each other with their mouths, or his reactions to what she was doing with her hands.  A soft whimper escaped her, though whether it was a result of the dizzying sensations bombarding her, or a symptom of her own need, she wasn’t sure.    

In either case, the sound seemed to spark a change in Inuyasha.  One of his hands drifted north, his fingers trailing deliciously along her spine on their way to the back of her neck, which he began massaging tenderly even as his kisses became more desperate.  The other hand moved purposefully in the opposite direction, coming to rest over the gentle, fire-rat covered curve of her backside.  When she didn’t protest—doing so was in fact the farthest thing from her mind—he began squeezing and kneading her flesh in time with the movements of his lips.  They both smiled simultaneously into their kiss, probably sharing the same ridiculous thought.  Miroku had grabbed Sango’s behind how many dozens of times?  And gotten slapped or whacked in the head on every occasion.  Inuyasha on the other hand, the most un-lecherous person Kagome knew, was now one-for-one.  It was all about context, she supposed.  

As if doubling down on his success, Inuyasha’s other hand soon joined its cohort, both appendages now cupping her backside.  Spurred by his boldness, Kagome’s own hands roamed more daringly over his body, one toying with a nipple while the other slipped sinfully low on his stomach, stopping where hard muscle ended and a patch of curly hair began.  He seemed to hold his breath each time she neared the place where he most craved her touch, exhaling shakily against her lips when she withdrew only to return moments later.  She was quickly becoming addicted to the thrill of teasing him, but of course, Inuyasha was not one to let that go unanswered for long.  Nor did Kagome want him to.  She was anything but disappointed when his hands moved to her front, remaining above the barrier of the suikan she wore as he began to trace invisible designs on her stomach.  Gradually his fingers quested higher, grazing the swell of her breast before returning to safer pastures.  Sensing that he needed the encouragement, she leaned back slightly and withdrew her hands from his hadagi, giving him unhindered access to her chest.  He took the hint, his fingers slowly sliding up and over her breasts until at last he was cupping them in his palms.  Kagome bit her lip, but not from overwhelming pleasure.  The sensation of him touching her breasts was pleasant, yes, but his suikan was simply too thick for her to feel him properly.  They were both woefully overdressed for this occasion.  

Despite the strength and clarity of her desires, her hands shook with nervousness as she tried to untie the sleeves of her blouse, which were holding the suikan closed.  Inuyasha also seemed anxious as he followed her lead, but was able to loosen the waist of his hakama with practiced ease, allowing him to pull the hadagi from it.  The sight of his chest, a tantalizing portion of which was bared by the now open robe, did nothing to aid Kagome’s composure.  The sleeves of her blouse were all bunched up; she couldn’t seem to find the ends, or how they wove together.  What the hell kind of ridiculous knot had she tied, anyway?!  An embarrassment-fueled growl welled in her throat, but a pair of masculine hands coming to rest atop her own put an end to her frustrating ordeal before she could resort to drastic measures—like ripping one of the damn sleeves off at the shoulder.  A glance up to Inuyasha’s face did much to soothe her frazzled nerves.  He was not laughing at her, though she could tell it was a close thing.  But oddly, his amusement caused no consternation on her part.  It was as though his eyes were saying, do you think I’m any smoother at this than you are?  Keh!  She chuckled under her breath at her mind’s conjuring of his familiar exclamation.  Inuyasha probably didn’t understand her mirth, but he was obviously glad to see it.  Kagome kissed him sweetly, then leaned back on her hands, one eyebrow raised slightly in expectation.  

Inuyasha swallowed nervously, but he quickly morphed into a man on a mission.  That mission being to unfasten the knot holding her robe closed, and less importantly, to look ‘smooth’ while doing it.  While it was debatable whether he succeeded in the latter, he did manage to accomplish the former.  At last her blouse lay in a heap off to the side, tossed there haphazardly by uncaring hands.  The robe did not fall open on its own, but instead hung from her breasts in what Kagome imagined was a most alluring fashion.  Judging by the enthralled expression on his face, Inuyasha certainly thought so.  She held as still as possible, wishing to give him the opportunity to disrobe her.  He reached out, then hesitated, glancing up to her face.  It was not the first time he had checked to make sure she was okay with what they were doing, and it would probably not be the last.  Each time, he would see only love and desire reflected back at him.  Along with a healthy helping of nervousness, of course.  But he would understand that to be born solely from the newness of the acts in which they were engaging, and if for some reason he didn’t, then she would just have to prove it to him.  

Fortunately, Inuyasha seemed to comprehend everything she meant him to.  He licked his suddenly dry lips, his throat working anxiously as he clasped the edges of the suikan gingerly between his thumbs and forefingers.  He hesitated, as though afraid to disturb the vision laid out before him, but eventually he gathered the courage to slowly draw the robe apart, revealing a vast expanse of silky skin, broken only by a plain pink bra.  Inuyasha’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped open slightly, the sheer amazement in his expression surprising Kagome.  She had seen Inuyasha’s upper body many times while bandaging him, so she knew what to expect.  But this might well be Inuyasha’s first time glimpsing a woman’s body up close.  A wave of sympathy passed through her.  Oh, Inuyasha…  Thoughts of ‘the other’ tried to creep into her consciousness, but she pushed them aside.  Tonight was about her and Inuyasha; there was simply no room for Kikyou.  Kagome had little doubt that her lover was seeing her, and only her, this evening.  

The seconds stretched on in silence as he continued to stare at her, eventually causing her to become self-conscious.  Fortunately, her uneasy shifting seemed to snap Inuyasha back to reality.  He flashed her an apologetic look, then finished disrobing her, sliding the suikan down her arms.  His gaze lingered on the bandages he had applied earlier, but only for a few moments before he evidently decided that making her feel pleasure was a good way to atone for the pain he had caused.  Toward that end, he sensually settled his fingers against her bare stomach.  Whatever Kagome expected that to feel like, ticklish was not it.  She bit her lip to stifle herself, but a small giggle escaped nonetheless as her arms came up reflexively to shield her.  She peeked over at Inuyasha to find him blushing, both mortified and fairly upset with himself over the awkward attempt.  Kagome clasped his hands, drawing his eyes up to meet hers, then tilted her head to the side and grinned wryly at him.  

Come on, did you forget that neither of us are ‘smooth’ at this?

That seemed to restore some of his confidence.  The next time he touched her, he did so in a new location and with a different technique, and Kagome was pleased to discover that her stomach was not perpetually ticklish.  Inuyasha had literally rubbed her the wrong way the first time, and he seemed dead set on not doing so again.  Gradually his strokes became less cautious, and Kagome tilted her head back, closing her eyes in bliss as she enjoyed the sensual massage.  The heat in her blood had subsided a bit when they took a short break to disrobe, and although Inuyasha’s current touches would never be enough to bring it to a boil, she had no cause to complain.  This was nice, wonderfully relaxing, while providing just enough stimulation to make her anticipate what was to come.  

Evidently Inuyasha was anticipating it as well.  His hands drifted higher as they had before, brushing against and finally cupping her breasts through the fabric of her bra.  Kagome inhaled a slightly deeper breath at his touch, but the sensations were still muted, leaving her wondering what direct contact would feel like.  Sitting up, she reached behind herself to unfasten her bra.  Inuyasha’s hands fell away as he realized what she was doing, his eyes reflecting a startling mix of emotions, ranging from hunger to astonishment, along with the same love which had been present for most of the evening.  Finally the clasp came free, and Kagome lowered her arms, once again silently inviting her lover to divest her of the garment.  He did so, his heated gaze never once leaving her chest, the intensity of his stare making it absolutely clear that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.  

His hands returned to her breasts, wringing a hiss from her as her head fell back again.  Inuyasha froze, as though uncertain whether her reaction was born of pleasure or discomfort, but an involuntary buck of her hips against his stomach seemed to reassure him.  Kagome sighed in a different kind of bliss, her breath shaky as he slowly, reverently caressed her tender flesh.  The warmth of his hands proved a delightful contrast to the coolness of the night, and the roughness of his palms and fingers provided the most wonderful friction.  He avoided focusing on her nipples at first, simply massaging the tender globes, as if marveling at their softness.  For Kagome, his loving attentions felt divine, but soon the subconscious gyration of her hips became less leisurely and more insistent.  She was unable to contain a tiny groan of pleasure the first time he grasped one of her nipples, gently rolling the bud between his thumb and forefinger as it became engorged, hardening even beyond what the cool air had caused.  His other hand repeated the process with her other nipple, his now confident caresses leaving her trembling, unsure whether to pull away from the intensity of the sensations or beg for more.  

His lips followed, placing tender kisses along her collarbone which had her anticipation soaring to new heights.  But he seemed content to let his lips meander the safe planes of her upper chest, never moving southward, even when she arched her back in obvious encouragement.  Finally he ventured down toward her twin peaks, his tongue darting out to lave her skin seductively, only to perform an about-face just as he grazed the swell of her breast, kissing and licking his way back to her collarbone.  Kagome growled in frustration, the sound causing her lover to grin slightly against her skin.  And that was when she realized that he was teasing her, bestowing upon her the same treatment she had given him earlier.  Well, she was not one to let that go unanswered for long either.  She forcibly halted the gyration of her hips, raised herself slightly, then quickly lowered her body, seating herself fully in Inuyasha’s lap.  

They both groaned at the new contact, Inuyasha’s hands returning to her hips to hold her steady while each of them adjusted to the feeling of her wet heat pressed up against his erection through the fabric of their clothes.  Kagome gave an experimental buck of her hips, and was gratified when her lover’s head fell back and he collapsed against Goshinboku.  She continued to ride him with short, measured strokes, having to resist the temptation to throw self-control the winds and blindly seek out their mutual completion.  It was beyond exhilarating, kneeling over him like this, feeling the evidence of what she was doing to him pressed up against her most intimate flesh, and knowing that but for the barrier of their clothing, he would be able to feel exactly what he was doing to her as well.  

A cold wind blew through suddenly, the frigid caress against her back sending a violent shudder through her and drawing a choked gasp from deep within her throat.  Her arms flew to her chest in a futile attempt to shield herself, but before she could even think to seek out something to cover herself with, Inuyasha’s suikan was draped gently over her shoulders.  She quickly slipped her arms through the sleeves and closed the heavy robe around her, shivering slightly.  The grateful smile she adopted for his benefit was met with a concerned stare, and a despondent frown which spoke of apology.  

I’m sorry there’s nowhere else we can go.  I don’t even own a hut…

Kagome shook her head, her smile brightening even further.  She briefly considered her bedroom at home, but that was impossible.  Even if her window wasn’t locked, Inuyasha couldn’t exactly leap them up to the second floor in his current condition.  And she didn’t want to see her family right now, or anyone else who might ruin the mood.  Besides, Inuyasha’s apparent belief that this location left something to be desired was misplaced.  Aside from the slightly chilly temperatures, this beautiful evening was nothing short of perfection.  

You and I are here together.  I have everything I could ever want.    

If her ardent gaze didn’t convince him, then her kiss most certainly would.  Sweet and loving, it brought them back to where they had started, sharing their first true kiss what seemed like so long ago.  In that moment they remembered how it felt to learn that love flourished between them, and they cherished the indomitable throbbing of two hearts as one.  Time seemed to slow once again as they held each other, as if life would immediately cease if they let go.  But even the smallest of unconscious movements served to remind them of their intimate position, and of the raw passion which had been momentarily suppressed, but never quelled.  Their kiss took on a fervid edge, as this time Kagome held captive Inuyasha’s lower lip, inflicting upon it sweet torture.  Then she sat up, grinding herself firmly into his lap, and stared down at him with more than a tinge of hunger in her gaze.  Inuyasha had enjoyed his fun.  Now it was her turn.  

He seemed paralyzed, the delicious shockwaves emanating from his lower body rendering him incapable of resistance as she slowly drew apart the folds of his hadagi.  His lean, muscled torso called out to her, a feast for the eyes as well as the hands, and she set out to sample him to her heart’s content with both.  Her questing fingers roamed more bravely over his body now, her intent to please rather than explore.  No longer was she content to shyly toy with his nipples; instead, she reciprocated his treatment of her sensitive buds, earning a pleasured hiss from him.  His darkened orbs burned with promise, but either he had decided that turnabout was fair play, or he was temporarily incapable of stopping her from doing as she saw fit.  When his eyes squeezed tightly shut after a more powerful thrust of her hips, his breath coming in shallow pants, she became increasingly convinced that it was the latter.  

From here, Kagome made it her mission to drive Inuyasha to the brink of insanity.  She attacked his neck with her lips once more, while her fingers traced each abdominal muscle with painstaking consideration.  The first time she scratched him with a fingernail was an accident, but the intensity of his reaction encouraged her to do it again.  He convulsed against her with each light scrape and graze, sending matching tremors radiating through her core.  Soon they were both breathing heavily, wordless gasps and grunts providing ample evidence of their mutual fervor.  Finally Inuyasha drew her up for a searing kiss, one which made everything below their necks turn to liquid.  Time stopped, as did their hips, the reprieve allowing Inuyasha to regain control of his faculties.  Kagome felt the change come over him, as he shifted his backside toward the tree, simultaneously pulling his erection away from her and allowing him to tilt her head back to take control of the kiss.  She moaned as his tongue plunged into her moist cavern, deeper than ever before, his satisfied growl vibrating through her entire being, making her tingle from head to toe.  

His kiss became gentler then, coaxing her to move with him rather than trying to devour her from the inside out.  Kagome gasped as his hands came to rest on her exposed knees, the unexpected touch leaving goose bumps in its wake as he advanced methodically northward.  His clever digits slipped beneath the suikan, then her skirt, finally reaching the outer hem of her panties before descending once more, the lightest touch of his nails on her outer thighs tearing the breath from her lungs.  He leaned forward to nibble on her neck, his hands gradually working their way over the tops of her legs to the forbidden realm that lay between.  A strangled moan broke past her lips at his first tender caress upon the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh, and she pitched forward, leaning her head against his shoulder for support.  She continued to lie there bonelessly, shudders intermittently wracking her small frame, as his fingers drew closer and closer to the area which burned most fervently for his touch.  But he seemed intent on teasing her, denying her the pleasure she sought while setting the rest of her nerves aflame with want.  It was with the last thread of her sanity that she realized she had the power to dramatically alter his sense of urgency.  

Kagome would never be able to describe the sound Inuyasha made when she reached down with one hand and firmly grasped his straining erection through his hakama.  If he wasn’t already sitting, he surely would have toppled over, courtesy of uncontrollable spasms in his legs.  She pumped him experimentally a few times, and was gratified when his fingers dug into her thighs with each stroke, though not uncomfortably so.  A dazed grin worked its way to her features, but it was short-lived.  Inuyasha bent down and took her earlobe between his lips, tending to it as though he was kissing her.  Then, with her reeling from this new sensation and her stroking of his cock all but stilled, he turned his hand over and pressed it to her cloth-covered core.  

“Oh, fuck!” he muttered, the first words either of them had spoken since he had asked her if she was sure she wanted to make love.  If some small part of him had still doubted her answer to that question, feeling how wet she was must have quashed any lingering uncertainties.  She had never been so hot in her entire life, and her love fluids had long ago soaked through her panties.  The schoolgirl in her wanted to feel embarrassed, but the look of absolute amazement on Inuyasha’s face chased those ridiculous thoughts away.  He had become incredibly hard during their lovemaking, but he obviously hadn’t expected her to be as aroused as she was.  Perhaps he had been mentally incapable of imaging that a woman could become so excited by his touch.  Kagome could understand why, considering his past.  She cradled his cheeks and kissed him deeply, trying once again to convey her love, and the convictions she had always held dear.  

This is what you do to me, Inuyasha.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not desirable.  

He returned her kiss, love and gratitude flowing off of him in waves.  Then, before she could properly prepare herself, his hand began gently stroking her through her panties.  She tore her lips away from him, suddenly unable to get enough oxygen to satisfy her skyrocketing need.  She didn’t try to hide her pleasure, not from him, as her hips began moving of her own accord, riding his hand the same way she had ridden his erection before.  He watched her intently, barely daring to blink.  She could feel his confidence growing with every gasp, every broken breath, as her heart swelled in response to the emotions she could see playing across his features through her own lowered eyelashes.  Eventually she decided that he deserved some pleasure as well, and reached down to grasp his erection once more.  But he plucked her hand away, bringing it to his lips and planting several tender kisses upon it as his eyes glowed with a roguish light.  Slowly a small yet sultry smirk worked its way onto his features, the sight warming Kagome both in a purely carnal sense, and from the knowledge that this was her doing.  She had inspired this new Inuyasha, assured in his desirability and confident in her love.  He had always been there, deep down, but she had drawn him to the surface.  It was the single sexiest thing she had ever seen.  

Faced with such determination, Kagome could only give up and let him have his way.  She would make him feel very good later, of that she was certain.  Her acquiescence pleased him, she could tell.  He kissed her again, chastely yet passionately, then pulled back just enough to gaze into her eyes as he reached inside her panties to caress the source of her liquid heat directly.  Her entire body seized at the contact, wringing a muffled cry from her which might have originally been a syllable or two from his name.  For a moment Inuyasha held still, allowing her to regain a sliver of her composure.  Then he began moving his fingers, gingerly running them through her folds.  She inhaled a shuddering breath, clamping down on her lower lip as her hands clutched at his shoulders, needing the support lest the currents of her desire carry her away.  

She was slipping, teetering toward something miraculous.  His fingers moved cautiously against her, as though investigating a strange new marvel.  After the shock of the initial contact, her pleasure seemed something of a mystery to him, but one which he was determined to solve.  His touches so far had been enough to bring to life the fires in her blood, but stoking them to a mighty blaze would require more.  Inuyasha seemed to understand this, his tentative caresses gradually giving way to firmer strokes.  But although she would never say this out loud, the only word Kagome could think of to describe his attempts was ‘clumsy.’  His fingers meandered, seemingly at random, never doing the same thing in the same location for long.  She was thoroughly unprepared when he slipped the tip of his middle finger inside her opening, and had to stifle a grimace at the sudden intrusion.  Fortunately, he noticed her discomfort.  

His movements became even less refined after that, and Kagome opened her eyes to find him frowning in consternation, his pupils dilating with the beginnings of panic.  Deciding to end his suffering, she reached down and gently pulled his hand away from her.  He hung his head, his entire body slumping in dejection.  She had to bend down in order to see his eyes, and even then he refused to meet her gaze.  What was supposed to be a ‘wonderful memory’ was well on its way to becoming a disappointing and embarrassing experience for him.  The male ego was apparently a fragile thing.  For all his bluster and bravado, not being able to please her would clearly screw with Inuyasha’s psyche in a big way.  Kagome had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.  He was being way too hard on himself.  It wasn’t as though anything he did had felt bad, except perhaps for a few isolated moments of discomfort.  Most of it actually felt quite good; it just hadn’t been enough to move her much closer to completion.  His inexperience was bound to catch up with him at some point, she supposed.  The will was clearly there, but the knowledge was not.  

Again, he was being too hard on himself.  His touch had been sufficient to maintain the sweltering heat gripping her body, the torrid pace of her blood as it coursed through her veins.  She was more than ready to continue her upward climb toward that wondrous peak.  Fortunately, she knew enough about her own body to realize what she needed now.  She had never brought herself to orgasm before, but she had experimented a few times, and possessed the second-hand knowledge that came with being a child of the modern world.  Their lovemaking was far from over.  Inuyasha thought he had disappointed her sexually by failing to give her an orgasm?  Little did he know that with a little guidance, he would yet take her there.  She leaned forward and captured his lips, forcing his head back in a move that was too provocative to be misinterpreted as an expression of forgiveness.  His eyes followed her as she pulled away, bewilderment dominating his countenance, especially after a small, seductive smile curled the corners of her lips.  Now that she had his attention, she wrapped her lithe fingers around his hand and, making sure their gazes were locked, brought his fingers to the small nub near the junction of her labia, which he had only ghosted over before.  

Kagome’s mind disconnected for a moment.  Her head fell back, buzzing as though from an electric shock, her view of Goshinboku’s branches above her swimming in and out of focus.  Dimly she heard a feminine, wordless moan, the sound extremely erotic despite her momentary confusion.  Was that really her voice?  Then the sensations cascaded down upon her all at once, thrusting her back into reality just in time to feel the end of her lustful vocalization vibrate in her throat.  Inuyasha, who had withdrawn his fingers due to her reaction, carefully delved back in and pressed more firmly on the same spot.  She hissed and raised her hips involuntarily, pulling away from him, her body nearly spasming out of her control.  What…what was that?  Overwhelming pleasure, to the point of pain.  It astounded her, the intensity of the sensations running through her.  I never knew…my body could be so sensitive.  She couldn’t take any more of those firm strokes.  But she wanted more of his touch, needed it as surely as she needed oxygen.  Reaching down between them, she lowered her hips and once again drew Inuyasha’s hand toward her.  

He explored her cautiously, avoiding her clitoris at first, his fingers massaging the damp flesh all around it, teasing her into a frenzy.  She longed for his direct touch, yet feared that it would be too much.  Then the tip of his finger slowly drew across the surface of her swollen nub, the feather-light caress sending tingles dancing across her skin and tearing a ragged moan of pure bliss from her throat.  Inuyasha continued to tease her, occasionally rewarding her fraying patience with a wonderfully soft stroke to her love button.  Gradually the delay between these touches decreased, as the coil inside her wound ever tighter.  Her hands clamped down on his wrist, her message abundantly clear.  Don’t…stop.  Please, don’t stop.  

Though Inuyasha complied with her silent demand, he did managed to surprise her.  His free hand pushed aside the suikan, exposing her chest and allowing his lips to resume their previous activities.  If his attentions at her core remained tender, his veneration of her breasts did not.  Her nipples were still hard from earlier, and without warning he took one between his lips and began suckling steadily.  Her back arched in rapture, a cry of ecstasy echoing throughout the clearing, his stimulation of her breasts proving a delightful contrast to his gentle caresses down below.  His free hand grasped her other breast, kneading the soft flesh as he intensified his assault on her senses.  He was worshiping her now, loving her body with the same adoration he felt for her heart, her soul.  But although all thoughts of anything other than her lover’s touch had been driven from Kagome’s mind, the outside world would not be ignored so easily.  

The wind’s frigid embrace brought everything to a sudden halt, time itself seeming to stall along with her heartbeat as every muscle in her exposed torso drew taut as a bowstring.  Her jaw worked helplessly, no air passing in or out until finally a violent shudder ripped through her, allowing her to inhale a massive breath.  Even now, she couldn’t say whether the wind’s caress had been wondrous or tortuous, whether she had loved it or hated it.  But another such gust might be her undoing, so she closed the suikan with quaking hands and threw her arms around Inuyasha’s neck, pressing her torso tightly against him.  He kissed her temple as if in apology, but she shook her head.  He had nothing to be sorry for, especially as he resumed his ministrations at her core.  

The fire in her blood swelled to a rampant burn, a glorious conflagration which threatened to consume her.  Inuyasha’s fingers intensified their movements, now exerting near constant pressure against her nub as they circled around it, often stroking it directly or delving lower to massage the rest of her sodden flesh.  It was all Kagome could do to bite her lip and limit herself to soft gasps, punctuated by the occasional mewl of irrepressible delight.  Something wild rose within her, summoned by all-consuming ecstasy and made even more frenzied by the exhilarated panting of the man beneath her.  His masculine, woodsy scent filled her nostrils, tinged with sweat from his excitement.  She considered reaching down to touch him as well, but she didn’t trust herself to do anything except hang on for dear life, and she didn’t want to give him any reason to stop what he was doing with his fingers.  

Finally she sensed her impending climax, a mysterious, almost frightening entity rapidly approaching in the distance.  Inuyasha continued to drive her inexorably toward it with unceasing strokes, never letting up for even a moment.  Soon she found herself gazing into the unknown, a great abyss laid out before her.  But Inuyasha was here with her, in her heart and in her thoughts, and as she teetered over the edge of something devastatingly beautiful, she smiled at the knowledge that it was he who would let her fall.  

Her orgasm stole her breath away.  A series of blinding lights flashed behind her eyelids, dazing her mind as electrical currents paralyzed her body, her muscles spasming erratically of their own accord.  Pleasure on the order of the divine cascaded over her, as she released everything she and Inuyasha had built up together.  Pure sensation overwhelmed her, broke her down and yet, sent her soaring on some mystical plane where man was never meant to go.  She lingered there for a seemingly interminable amount of time, floating above the world yet feeling every iota of pleasure surging through her body, as it churned through the rolling peaks of her high and then began its slow descent.  

Her own heavy breathing rasped loudly in her ears, as her consciousness returned to her, along with awareness of her physical being.  She had somehow shifted her position, and now lay sideways in Inuyasha’s lap, curled in on herself.  Her legs were clamped tightly together, as though her body had known that she had reached her limit, that feeling anything more might destroy her.  One of his hands was soothingly caressing her back, though his heartbeat thundered in her ear and his breathing was still fairly rapid.  She decided to allow herself a few moments to enjoy this, her lips drifting upwards in a lazy smile.  The aftershocks of her orgasm continued to ripple through her, as she lay cossetted in her lover’s embrace.  Finally, when she felt that her body was once again more or less completely under her control, she used her leaden arms to push herself into a sitting position.   

Part of her expected Inuyasha to be wearing a big shit-eating grin, but Kagome was glad to find that this was not the case.  Sure, his male ego had undoubtedly received a boost, but the dark eyes which gazed back at her mostly reflected amazement, relief, and gratitude.  Perhaps in this moment, he was simply too happy and too humbled by her love to be arrogant.  This was not to say that his lust had subsided; if anything, her ecstasy had only drawn it closer to the surface.  His erection practically throbbed against her hip, and his gaze quickly took on a wicked glint.  Then, in a move which was far too erotic to be chalked up to mere indulgence of curiosity, he raised his hand—the one which had given her so much pleasure—and brought it to his lips, sampling her essence with his tongue.  

Kagome licked her own lips in response, her blood heating at the unrestrained desire dancing in his gaze.  Quickly deciding that it was now his turn to experience pleasure beyond all imagination, she raised herself onto her knees and leaned over him, capturing his lips in a scorching kiss.  She tasted something new as she delved into his heated cavern, her tongue tangling with his, and the realization that it must be the heady flavor of her own essence only encouraged her to step up her assault.  Inuyasha groaned beneath her, his hands finding purchase on her hips, perhaps just for something to hold onto as he surrendered to her unrelenting onslaught against his senses.  He apparently didn’t notice as she reached down and loosened waist of his hakama, only fumbling once or twice.  He most certainly did react, however, when she delved inside his clothing and firmly grasped his cock in both hands.  

She swallowed his broken moan, refusing to release his lips as he trembled beneath her.  His member was almost painfully hot, nearly burning her palms.  Even her lightest touch caused it to swell even further.  She might have imagined that it was a separate organism, actively seeking her touch, except for the uncontrollable shudders wracking Inuyasha’s frame.  She began to stroke him, gently at first and then more confidently, loving all of the ways his body involuntarily told her how fantastic it felt.  His hands fell away from her hips and grasped his own hakama instead, fisting tightly in the material.  His breath fanned ever more rapidly against her cheeks, yet she maintained their kiss, even as his tongue seemed to lose strength as his mind became more and more intoxicated by what her hands were doing.  He bucked against her the first time she pulled back his foreskin and caressed the head of his cock directly, and thereafter she took delight in repeating and intensifying the motion, driving him to the brink of utter madness.  Finally he tore his lips away from her, his body needing more oxygen than he could obtain by breathing solely through his nose.  

“Fuck…’gome…fuck!”  

She grinned at his explicit mutterings, but then her lips quirked into a slight frown.  If Inuyasha still possessed the mental capacity to form words, then she could do better.  With a surge of nervousness, she realized that it was time to move on.  She could undoubtedly finish him like this, but she knew of something which would likely feel even more incredible for him.  And with her body heating once more as a result of his erotic display, she felt that she was ready for the next step in their lovemaking.  She released his cock and pulled away from him, moving to stand a few paces in front of him.  His eyes focused on her, blearily at first, and his mouth opened, probably to demand to know why she had stopped.  But his question died on his lips, and he observed in stunned silence as she unfastened her skirt, allowing it to slide past her hips and pool around her ankles.  Then, after tossing him a tiny smile which she hoped was seductive despite her nerves, she slid her panties down her legs as well.  

Straightening slowly, she watched as Inuyasha’s eyes perused her form, starting at her shins and gradually moving up her thighs.  His gaze lingered on her damp patch of curls, glistening in the moonlight, before taking in the flat expanse of her stomach topped by the soft peaks of her breasts, partially concealed by the suikan she wore.  Would she be so bold as to stand naked before him, allowing him to see her, all of her, without the comforting weight of the suikan resting upon her shoulders?  Perhaps not, but Inuyasha didn’t seem to mind.  Finally his ardent gaze reached her face, which he found beaming lovingly down at him.  His jaw had long since dropped open, the muscles of his throat working soundlessly as he stared at her in absolute disbelief.  Finally he reached toward her, the desperate longing of an unworthy mortal hopelessly pining for a goddess, unsure if she was truly about to bestow upon him the indescribable blessing of her affections.  Kagome shook her head, her smile turning wry.  One day, she would convince Inuyasha that he was just as desirable as she, and that she was just as lucky to have him as he was to have her.  For now, all she could do was show him how much she loved him.  Hopefully that would be enough.  

She returned to his arms, settling over him with her knees placed on either side of his hips.  They shared a sweet kiss, and then Kagome leaned back to gaze down between them.  

“W-w-wait!” Inuyasha suddenly cried, causing her to freeze.  

“Wh-what’s w-wrong?” she asked, her own vocal cords having difficulty functioning properly.    

“We…can’t,” he told her, sounding as though he would rather have disemboweled himself with Tetsusaiga than speak those horrible words.  The utter dejection in his tone gave Kagome an idea of what the issue was, and she grinned in amusement.  

“Why not?”

“Because…what if…what if you…”

“Get pregnant?”

His stunned expression told Kagome that she’d hit the nail on the head.  She almost laughed.  Count on Inuyasha to consider the consequences of his actions at the last possible instant.  This was his old ‘fight first, think later’ mentality rearing its ugly head in an entirely different context.  Oh, well, better late than never I suppose.  She was very glad that at least she had considered the possibility before, and had an answer ready.  

“Don’t worry, Inuyasha.  I can’t get pregnant tonight.”  

“B-b-but, how—”

“Trust me,” she interrupted, an element of beseeching in her tone.  The last thing she wanted to do right now was give her would-be lover a crash course on the menstrual cycle.  Fortunately, Inuyasha hesitated only a moment before nodding resolutely, his complete faith in her readily apparent.  He grinned sheepishly, shrugging as if to say, this is what you get for falling in love with a baka.  This time Kagome did laugh, a warm chuckle that quickly proved contagious.  In the jovial atmosphere, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly.  It started out chastely, an expression of pure joy, but quickly took on a heated edge, the passion ebbing and flowing between them as they indulged in the heady taste of each other for several minutes.  In the end, it had the effect of taking them back to the moment before Inuyasha’s foolish declaration, and putting both of them in the proper mood once more.  

Kagome leaned back, gazing down at Inuyasha’s body with no small amount of trepidation.  Was it natural to wonder how that thing was supposed to fit inside her?  Probably.  But that was just her inexperience talking.  There was no way she was allowing this night to end with her virginity still intact.  She could probably make the process a little easier on herself though, she realized, and she didn’t think her lover would mind.  She was still wet from before, and the skillful ministrations of her own fingers only served to increase the natural lubrication.  Inuyasha watched her as she touched herself, unable to resist stroking his own cock in time with her movements, his eyes darkening with lust.  She took the middle finger from her right hand, which was already bathed in her juices, and pressed it to her opening.  She hissed at the intrusion, only slightly from discomfort, and even that soon faded away.  Inuyasha’s hand came to rest on her lower stomach, silently seeking permission.  Her response was to remove her hand and guide his to take its place, first coating it with her fluids and then allowing him to insert his finger as well.  As with her own smaller digit, her tender flesh ached at first, then grew used to the new invasion.  

Finally he withdrew, his eyes boring into her own, silently asking if she was ready.  She smiled, reaching down between them and grasping his erection, figuring that more than answered his question.  His eyes wanted to roll back in his head, but he kept them focused on her, obviously wishing to watch her as they joined for the first time.  She reciprocated, gazing deeply into his eyes as she positioned the head of his cock at her entrance, and began lowering herself upon it.  She stifled a gasp, the sensations produced by their union proving strange at best, painful at worst.  But she ignored the sensory input, choosing instead to focus on the love in his eyes as she forced herself to maintain a gradual pace, until at last she was seated against his hips, and he was fully inside her.  

She closed her eyes and took deep, steadying breaths.  Truthfully, it had not been as bad as she feared.  The invasion was unpleasant, but the discomfort was slowly fading away, aided undoubtedly by her earlier orgasm and her current state of arousal.  For a few moments she forgot everything else, as her body gradually adjusted to the mass of hard flesh penetrating her.  Eventually, a soft grunt reminded her that this mass of flesh had an owner.  She opened her eyes to find Inuyasha grimacing, his hands once again fisted in the fabric of his hakama.  Kagome could only imagine how amazing it felt to be enveloped in her wet heat.  That he was enduring the sweet torture of holding himself still for her sake warmed her heart, and encouraged her to once again pursue her true objective.  At long last, she would get to see Inuyasha’s face as he reached his own earth-shattering climax.  

Gingerly she raised her hips, her insides clutching at him, the friction wringing a choked gasp from her lover as she withdrew so that only the tip remained in contact with her, then lowered herself until he was sheathed fully within her once more.  She repeated this motion, watching Inuyasha’s reaction all the while.  His eyes did roll back this time, his head knocking audibly against the tree behind him.  He began to pant, his breathing punctuated by grunts of ecstasy, his scattered attempts to form words no longer coherent.  Kagome increased her pace even more, ignoring the lingering ache of their joining in her determination to make her lover lose himself completely, to drive him toward the same rapture that he had bestowed upon her.  

Gradually she noticed a change in her own body.  Her head fell back as well, her mouth falling open as the cause of her heavy breathing ceased to be merely physical exertion.  Inuyasha raised his hips to meet her every downward thrust, penetrating deeply inside her with each stroke.  The low burn of discomfort gradually became something else.  Once the newness of this act completely faded away, Kagome knew it was something she would enjoy very much.  That was something to look forward to, but for tonight, she could tell that the fire would probably remain in check.  And that was perfectly fine with her.  She listened as her lover found his pleasure, the muffled impacts of their flesh resonating in time with his panting, his rasping groans scattered seemingly at random.  Her eyes drifted open to view the boughs of Goshinboku above her, the sight bringing a contented smile to her countenance.  Was it crazy to feel that the tree itself was blessing their union, protecting them from any harm?  She didn’t see Kirara, but she knew the fire-cat was there as well, watching over them.  Was it possible to feel any more blessed than she did right now?  

Inuyasha’s vocalizations became louder, more urgent, and she sensed that he was nearing his peak.  But unfortunately, her own muscles were growing tired, and even with his hands latched onto her waist and lending support, she wasn’t sure how long she could keep this up.  She grabbed one of his wrists and tugged meaningfully, and that was all the signal Inuyasha needed.  He quickly flipped them over, remembering at the last instant to cushion her fall.  The soft grass and soil underneath her helped, and though the suikan could not completely shield her back from the coolness of the ground, she could bear it easily.  Especially when Inuyasha raised her legs and practically lunged into her, the new angle drawing a ragged moan from her as fresh sparks burst behind her eyes.  

Within moments, she sensed the rapid approach of Inuyasha’s climax.  He grunted with each thrust, his eyelids screwed tightly shut above her.  But she wanted to see his eyes, and a gentle caress of his cheek drew them open.  He gulped at the love she showed him as he gazed down at her, slowing his pace just long enough to plant a lingering kiss on her lips.  Supporting himself above her with his left hand, he sought out her hand with his right, entwining their fingers.  Then he resumed thrusting in earnest, no longer able to hold himself back.  Kagome’s gasps wove together with his guttural cries as his rhythm quickened, then faltered with impending release.  She wrapped her legs around his backside, encouraging him to find his completion.  Finally he went rigid against her, his body twitching in ecstasy as he climaxed with a silent cry.  Kagome clutched his hand tightly as she felt his seed pouring into her, in one of the most intimate sensations she had ever known.  Then he collapsed on top of her, inhaling oxygen as though on the verge of drowning.  She found that she loved his presence there, above her and inside her as he basked in the afterglow, yet never allowing his full weight to rest on her.  She ran her hands along his back as their heart rates and breathing slowed, wearing a contented smile all the while.  

Finally he withdrew, then flopped onto his back next to her, their hands releasing only for a moment to adjust to the new position.  He met her gaze, his lips adopting a matching smile.  It soon fell, replaced partially by forgotten worry, but no regret.  Thank you, Kagome.  I don’t want this to be our last night together, but if it is…then I can die happy.  

Kagome sniffled, blinking back tears.  Their lovemaking had allowed her to forget Inuyasha’s dire situation, but now cold reality settled over them, causing her to shiver.  Her chest remained warm, however, for like her lover, she too held no regrets.  

Inuyasha settled against Goshinboku and pulled Kagome into his lap, cuddling her against his chest.  They shared several more kisses before they fell asleep, bittersweet affairs overflowing with emotion.  Were they kisses of goodbye, or the first kisses of a new life together?  

Only time would tell.