InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strictly Taboo ❯ Body and Soul ( Chapter 11 )

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

The night before the wedding, Inuyasha didn’t sleep at all. He kept his arm extended to the side, wishing he could have the soft warmth of Kagome next to him instead of the cold nothing that had made its place by his side for far too long. Kikyo had dressed like she was going out that night, which got his hopes up, but it turned out she just wanted to have a quiet night in, effectively preventing any kind of intimacy between him and his chosen love and confusing the hell out of him, because who wears an evening gown to read a book on the couch? Kagome went to bed early, kissing her mother on the cheek and avoiding him completely. He and his too-soon-to-be wife had chatted about nothing half-heartedly, with her revealing that she was trying on her wedding dress and making sure he liked it, until he flipped on the television and she sighed and went up to bed. They didn’t even make it to the count down this time.

Kikyo drove with Kagome to the Shrine early, telling him the night before not to see them off because glimpsing the bride before the wedding was bad luck. He knew she just didn’t want him to see her without her make-up on, but he agreed anyway, even though he desperately wanted to give Kagome one last kiss as a free man before they began their descent into adultery.

Arriving at the Shrine nearly a half-hour before he was to be married, he took a look around at the guests who had already arrived. Kikyo had gathered the bare minimum of people she thought suitable, inviting only those above them (and they were truly few) and those at their own level. No subordinates or real friends or anything. It also appeared as though he was the only one of demonic heritage in attendance, a fact that made him roll his eyes and sigh heavily. A great amount of important business was done with demons. Kikyo and he would have to deal with a lot of pissed off colleagues and clients.

He lurked around for a bit, listening in on snippets of conversation, quickly becoming bored out of his mind. Why couldn’t they have just gone to a damn courthouse and filled out a form? This was just completely unnecessary. When he saw everyone begin to head into the shrine building, he followed, strolling casually down the aisle, not even seeing the rich decorations or smelling the beautiful rare flowers, ignoring the stares and whispers of how unconcerned he seemed. The whole ceremony would be sloppy, since they hadn’t had a rehearsal and he didn’t even have a best man or anything, but he figured he could get by. Kikyo had concentrated more on the reception, claiming the party would be what really mattered, what everyone would remember.

No sooner had he stopped before the priest did the music begin to play and everybody stood, heads turned toward where the bride would enter. Kikyo was dressed in a slim, elegant ivory gown that she had worn the night before. It flowed to her feet and trailed behind her. She had chosen to forgo the veil, instead decorating her pinned-up hair with pearls and fresh jasmine flowers. Everybody murmured about how beautiful she looked, but all Inuyasha could see was the small figure behind her, carrying her train and scattering about jasmine flowers like the ones Kikyo wore in her hair. Kagome’s hair was loose and waved down her back, the glorious mass just as untamed as it always was yet still looking absolutely beautiful. Her dress was long and pale gold and the way it outlined her thighs made his fingers itch to touch her. She was unsmiling and looking at the ground, and as she neared where he stood, his erratic heart beat seemed to be the only thing he could hear. On a fine gold chain around her neck was the ring he had given her, resting just between her breasts.

Giving her a meaningful look, he was disappointed when she kept her eyes on the ground and then suddenly Kikyo was next to him and the priest was saying something and he knew he had to respond appropriately and repeat the words like a goddamn parrot. So he did. He smiled and played the part of the loving bridegroom until it came to the end. When he said “I do”, he looked not at Kikyo but at the one he was really committing himself to, somehow not surprised to see her looking directly at him. He said the words as he stared into her eyes and the moment seemed to last far longer than it should have, and then he quickly kissed his bride on the lips, took her hand, and they were gone, him dragging Kikyo behind him, not even glancing at the blur of human faces along either side of them.

Everyone flooded from the shrine building into the courtyard behind them, attempting to catch up to the newly married couple, but Inuyasha’s pace was too fast for them. He walked straight into the reception building and then stopped abruptly, flinging Kikyo’s hand from him, feeling like acid was making its way up his esophagus begging to be expelled. Nothing felt right. Nothing looked right. Even though he was smiling and shaking hands with people he should know, he was imploding. And then the small hands he knew so well grasped one of his in between them and made the chaos fade into nothing.

“Congratulations, Papa Yasha,” Kagome whispered, the storms that were her eyes raining down on her cheeks.

Inuyasha couldn’t think of anything to say so he just nodded and watched her walk away, wishing it was all over and done with. He glanced at Kikyo and saw her laughing and play flirting with some ancient foreign dignitary. It seemed as though she could handle herself, so he retreated from the sea of humanity, looking around for drinks or hors d’oeuvres or something that could occupy his hands and keep him from touching the girl who was now officially his step-daughter. There was a tower of filled champagne flutes and he took one from the bottom, half of him wishing it would crash to the ground and ruin the party, the other half praying the structure would stand so he wouldn’t draw attention to himself and have the guests descend on him like a swarm of snobby locusts.

Then the music started and since he was expected to dance with Kikyo, he did. She had taught him to dance years back when they were actually dating, and he was surprised to see that his feet still remembered all the steps and didn’t stomp on her once. They did the “leave room for Jesus” thing and didn’t press against each other, him because he didn’t want to and Kikyo because she preferred the more elegant, straight-backed way of dancing. Her posture was impeccable and he caught himself straightening up without realizing several times before their brief lifetime of a dance ended. Inuyasha wondered if her spine even had the natural S-shaped curve anymore.

They held hands and bowed laughingly to applause before separating. Others flooded onto the dance floor and Kikyo was once more surrounded by well-wishers. He was looking for an escape route when he saw Kagome in a corner, chatting with somebody’s son. Her slim fingers were plucking at the necklace she wore as she smiled and laughed at whatever the barely post-pubescent grease ball of a boy was saying to her. Without hesitation, he strode towards the girl, pushing and shoving to get there faster.

“Care to dance with me, Kagome?” he said, his lips pressed in a tight smile he knew must be fearsome, judging by the look on the boy’s face.

Her eyes lit up and she extended her hand to him. “Sure, Papa Yasha!”

He let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding, relieved she had accepted. He didn’t know what he would have done had she told him no. Forgetting about the boy she had been giving her attention to, he led her out on the floor, again pushing and shoving until they were at the corner that was the least crowded. Laughing at his roughness, Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder and began to sway with him.

“So what were you talking about with that walking zit back there?” he whispered, now glad there were no demons present since the likelihood of their conversation being overheard was low with just humans around.

“That’s mean,” she giggled. “It was just about school and movies and stuff. Nothing interesting.”

“Can’t even flirt right, the idiot,” he scoffed. “What was he, like fifteen or something?”

She glared at him. “I’m fifteen, Inuyasha.”

He blushed and looked away. “I, uh, sometimes I forget…”

Her eyes softened and she smiled. “Me too. Sometimes.”

Lowering his head so he was closer to her, he whispered the softest he could, “I wish it had been just you and me up there.”

Kagome’s eyes shone with a new set of tears. “I wish I could kiss you right now.”

Inuyasha eyes drifted half-way shut and he almost closed the distance between them and made her wish come true, but at that moment it was as if glass shattered and he realized the severity of the situation. Their faces were almost touching, there wasn’t even an inch between their bodies, Kagome’s arms had found their way up and were now looped around his neck, and his hands were much too low on her back. Looking around, he saw several people glancing at them and he thought he could read suspicion in their gazes. Abruptly releasing and stepping away from the girl he loved, he gave her a small, awkward wave, trying to ignore the look of stunned hurt on her face.

“Want something to drink?” he asked casually, his eyes begging her to understand.

She shook her head and stormed off toward the head table. He followed, wanting to grab her hand and explain that he was now doing this for the two of them, not only because it was what Kikyo wanted.

“Inuyasha,” Kikyo murmured happily, having snuck up behind him. “The meal is going to be served right away. Let’s get seated.”

He let her drag him to the long table that was facing everyone else’s. There were only three chairs, two throne-like seats for the bride and groom and one little one for Kagome, their only family. These seats were the only ones without nametags and Inuyasha thanked whatever god was listening for that. Kagome was already there, sitting on the chair to the far left, and before Kikyo could, he took the seat next to her. She was surprised, he could tell, and probably more than a little angry. She must have expected Kikyo to take that seat. Plopping down in the center chair, he reached under the table with its long, embroidered tablecloth and held her hand, squeezing it slightly and caressing the back of it with his thumb. He hardly even felt his wife sit down next to him.

“Stop being so obvious!” she hissed, eyes on her empty plate.

He ignored her and stared at his own plate without seeing it, concentrating on the feeling of her hand in his, wishing he could stare at her without anyone thinking it was odd. She looked so lovely in that dress, especially with the ring he had given her hanging just so. It complimented and enhanced her look. Sighing, he didn’t even find himself hungry when the food was placed in front of him, even though the steak was expensive-smelling and cooked just to his liking. He wanted to tell that to Kagome, wanting to hear her laugh and say how that would be impossible with his appetite, wrinkling her nose as she teased him, the same way she did when she came. And then he’d reply, saying how he wanted to eat something else—

“I am so glad I chose these delightful little tarts instead of the more traditional wedding cake, Inuyasha, aren’t you? Cake’s been done. This is the age of the tart, mark my words.”

Grunting in reply, he poked at the chocolate and caramel tart on his plate with a claw, not caring what Kikyo thought about him using his hands to eat. It was basically just a cookie with ice cream toppings resting on it and one of those swirly chocolate straw things, nothing brilliant. It did smell good, so he took a bite, chewing half-heartedly. He still held Kagome’s hand, even though it was hard to eat with only his left hand. Inuyasha couldn’t wait to get out of there and tried to communicate that to her by gently swinging their hands back and forth. She squeezed back lightly, as if telling him to be patient. He smiled and obeyed.

All their guests came up to their table and he felt awkward sitting there like some sort of king, waiting for the lesser nobles to come up and kiss his ring if they dared to be so bold. He felt like a peasant, but Kikyo was definitely a queen, nodding and smiling without showing her teeth, kissing the air beside faces, giving equal time to all so nobody felt special or snubbed. And Kagome? She was out of this world, he thought dreamily. An angel. Nobody else would love him enough to go through this with him, for him. And she didn’t even know all the details. He frowned. That’s right, Kagome didn’t know her mother was dying. Inuyasha kept assuring her they would be together, but he knew his relationship with Kikyo wouldn’t last long, that the end was soon and inevitable. They wouldn’t even have to hurt her. But Kagome didn’t know what he did. She thought her mother was healthy and marrying him for money or something. He wanted to tell her but he settled for lacing his fingers with hers.

Kikyo’s words came drifting to him through the noise of chatter and silverware. “…been wonderful, but I’m afraid my husband and I will have to take our leave. We’d like to thank you, our dearest friends, for coming to witness our somewhat delayed,” there was a spattering of laughter, “nuptials. Please, continue to enjoy the food and drink. Have a wonderful evening!”

Everyone called out their goodbyes and some made ancient innuendoes, and he and Kikyo laughed and rose. At the last moment, he withdrew his hand from Kagome’s and switched to his wife’s, only to keep up appearances. He repressed a shudder; his fingers felt cold and small without hers to complete them. Once they were outside, he dropped Kikyo’s hand, absently wiping his off on his pant leg.

“Darling! I was wondering when they’d release you,” said a tall, pleasant-looking man who seemed to emerge straight from the shadows.

Kikyo smiled in a way he had never seen her do before. “Suikotsu! I thought we agreed to meet at the house. What are you doing here?”

The man, Suikotsu, enveloped her in his arms, nuzzling the top of her head with his nose. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the romantic display. It was all just so cliché. Now he and Kagome had something different, he thought with pride, something special the likes of which the world had seldom seen before. He looked around for her, remembering that she had followed quietly behind them when they exited the hellhole of a reception hall. Not seeing her immediately, he began to panic and walked back to the building, wondering if she had been intercepted by that kid who had been chatting her up earlier. There was a flash of pale gold in his peripheral and he turned. There she was, huddled by some old, run down well house. He jogged over to her.

“What are you doing all the way over here, angel?” he murmured. It was odd that she was crouching close to the ground in an expensive evening gown, but odder still was the expression on her face. It struck him to his core and he nearly fell to the ground himself in his concern for her. It was a look of pure fear.

“I-I need to get away,” she said in a high, shaky voice. “I can’t be here. I can’t be where he is.”

“Who? Who are you talking about, Kagome?” He knelt beside her and gently stroked her shoulder even though she was scaring him so much he felt like shaking her and taking her into his arms all at once.

“That man,” she said with a sob. “The one who’s touching Mother! We have to get her away from him.”

“Kagome, that’s just Suikotsu. Your mom’s been dating him for quite a while now,” he said, then immediately remembered Kikyo had sworn him to secrecy about that little fact. Oh well. They had been the ones all over each other in front of her, they spilled the beans themselves. At least now there was one less thing he had to keep from Kagome.

“They—They—“ Her eyes went wide and her mouth was open in horror.  She shook her head rapidly from side to side in denial. “No! How? No.”

“Hey, calm down. Why are you acting like this? He seems like an okay guy. A bit of a wimp, but okay.”

Kagome turned her pale face to him. “He’s evil, Inuyasha. He’s—He’s—“

He rubbed her back soothingly. “I know you don’t like him, angel. Your mom told me you used to have nightmares about him when you were little. But he’s going on the honeymoon with us. He’s going to keep her occupied so we can have time to ourselves.”

He could feel her shaking, trembling. “He’s…coming with us?” she whispered.

Inuyasha nodded. “They’re gonna be locked up in their room on one side of the house and we’ll be locked up in ours. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” he promised, seriously doubting that this was much more than a childhood fear of the doctor she had managed to hold onto.

“Stay with me, Inuyasha,” she said, leaning against him as he helped her to her feet. “I don’t want to talk to him, I don’t want him to see me. Let’s go to your other house before they do, okay?”

He frowned, looking at her much more frail-seeming form. Her hands were clenched and her knuckles were white. The color had drained from her face, only the pink lipstick on her mouth was bright. Slowly, he nodded. She needed him right now. “Wait here, let me tell your mom.”

Jogging back over to where Kikyo and Suikotsu stood close together, he coughed and got their attention.

“So, uh, I was thinking maybe the two of you could drive up together and I could take Kagome. She’s really tired and she wants to rest.”

“That seems reasonable,” said Kikyo. “My keys are in the car. I’ll leave my baggage in the trunk and Kagome can bring it in once you arrive.”

He nodded and went back to Kagome. He offered to carry her but she shook her head and slipped off her small heeled shoes, taking off at a run to Kikyo’s car. Worried, he followed her. She had never reacted this extreme to anything before. What was going on?

The drive was long and silent. It was five hours away, too short to bother with the hassle of flying yet too long to be borne patiently if driving. Kagome was curled up next to him, her arms wrapped around her knees, eyes staring sightlessly out the window. He glanced at her almost every couple of minutes, becoming more worried each time he did. She just seemed so scared, so blank, and he was starting to panic in response to her emotions.

He cleared his throat. “If you want, you can curl up in back and sleep before we get there.”

Kagome shook her head. “No, thank you. I like being up here with you.”

Her quiet words brought a small smile to his face and he felt calmer. “Do you want some music?”

She shook her head again.

“Can you tell me?”

“Tell you what?” she said, feigning ignorance.

“Why you’re so scared of him.”

She sighed. “Promise you’ll believe me?”

“I know you’re not a liar, Kagome. Angels can’t lie,” he said teasingly, wanting to break the sudden walls down.

“Okay,” she started, taking a deep breath. “Well, we first started seeing Dr. Shichi when I was really little, I don’t remember how young. I really liked him at first. He was nice and gentle and funny and he gave me candy and let me pick my own band-aid and everything. We saw him for a while, and then…”

Inuyasha’s blood ran cold. He was starting to get a feel for where this was going. “He—He didn’t touch you, did he?”

“No!” she cried, waving her hands to show how opposed she was to the very idea. “Not that. Thankfully. But one day, when Urasue was on one of her few vacations, we went to Dr. Shichi’s and Mother said it wasn’t for me, it was for her. I was confused since Mother told me he was a doctor only for children, but she had been sick with the flu lately so it wasn’t too surprising. I stayed in the waiting room for as long as I could. It felt like hours. The receptionist left and turned almost all the lights off. I was the only one there and Mother still hadn’t come back. So finally, I worked up the courage to go and try to find her. I was so scared, I thought she had left me forever. I—,” her lower lip began to tremble and the child in her face was never more apparent to him. “I opened a door, and there was Mother and that man. There was…blood. On the floor. Not a lot, but enough. And in a small cardboard box right in front of me, there was this small little bloody thing. I didn’t know what it was at first, it just looked like a little piece of meat. But then I saw the tiniest little arms…twitching. And a face. But Mother... She was on her knees in front of him. I don’t have to tell you what they were doing. I was too scared to scream. And he looked at me. He looked at me and smiled and that’s when—that’s when he…released into Mother’s—“

Kagome began to shake and sob so violently he was afraid she was going to hurt herself, but as suddenly as it started, she calmed down and dried her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I didn’t know what I had seen until years later, although on some level I think I always did. I named the baby Souta. I never told Mother. She must have been around twenty weeks pregnant. It must have been his, Dr. Shichi’s. What I don’t understand is how could she, after all that, do what she did?” Her eyes were big and she turned to him as though he could give her an answer. “She must have been in so much pain from the abortion. She was bleeding. How? I keep trying not to judge her, but I can still see Souta. He was moving and she was just... I-I begged for a brother or sister. I—“ She pressed her hand to her lips, stopping her sobs and words.

Inuyasha wanted to cry with her, to hold her, to kill Suikotsu and those who caused her pain. But he found himself overwhelmingly grateful that it hadn’t been Kagome in the box, that Kikyo had kept the girl that was now traumatized and shaking by his side. And he wasn’t surprised. Kikyo had more than a few kinks, pain and domination being one of them. She didn’t let anybody boss her around in the real world, but in the bedroom she was anyone’s slave.

“Fucking hell. I’m so sorry, Kagome. I don’t know what to say,” he said, pulling into the garage of his seldom used beach house.

“Nobody does,” she whispered. “That’s because there’s nothing to say to that.”

She let him carry her into the house and he savored the warmth, the realness of her.  Several times he almost tripped over the stepping stones, concentrating on her scent and the softness of her skin more than on where he was going. They made it in alive and he traveled to the second floor, entering through a set of double doors and then setting Kagome on her feet. Pulling a key out of his pocket, he locked the doors behind them.

“This is our side of the house,” he explained. “Your mother and, um, her friend are going to be way on the other side on the first floor. We’re going to take the room at the very end of the hall so there’s no way anyone can hear anything, neither us nor the two of them. My fake room will be two doors down from ours.” He didn’t think his new bride and her companion would be leaving their room. From what Kikyo had told him, they had not seen each other in a while, and knowing her, they wouldn’t be leaving their room much. He and his own companion would be safe at the opposite end of the house.

Kagome nodded and slipped her hand into his, smiling up at him. It didn’t have the radiance her smiles normally did, but it was still beautiful. He leaned down and kissed her, tipping her back like they did in old movies.

“I needed that,” he whispered against her lips, making her giggle.

They ran to the room, hand in hand, both suddenly giddy, the anticipation that had been building ever since they first saw each other finally coming to a head. The room was large, his favorite one, the one he always used when he came here. It was the one he and Kikyo had stayed in the entire weekend they were here, and that was part of the reason why he now wanted to share it with Kagome. He needed to replace the memories he had with Kikyo, with every other woman, with Kagome. She was it. He wanted and needed to give her everything.

When they got into the room, all they did was stare at one other in the soft light. The décor was almost entirely dark blue and gold, Kagome’s dress fitting in perfectly. He looked at her eyes, which were still slightly swollen, at the wetness that seemed to be present on her face at least once a day since they had started this. Twirling her hair around his hand, he pulled back and ran his tongue down her throat, knowing she was biting her lip but not seeing it. He smelled her hair, having long lost his self-consciousness about that particular urge. Kagome smelled so good, so sweet. He had never just wanted to smell someone before he met her. Idly, he wondered if it was possible to manufacture a scented candle or air freshener in her scent so he could fill his office or the house with it while she was at school.

Kagome pulled his head up and kissed him. It was soft and dreamy and timid and insistent all at once. He moaned and walked her to the bed, pushing her down on it, taking a second to memorize the way she looked with her hair fanned out on the bedspread, her lipstick messed up, her breasts almost completely coming out of her dress. And the ring. The chain had pooled at her neck and his mother’s most precious material possession rested on her throat. He kissed it, stroking her shoulder, then made his way down. They both knew this night was different, that it had to be. They either had to grow closer or allow themselves to be torn apart, and neither one of them was willing for the latter to happen.

He was gentler than he had ever been, even during his previous times with Kagome. She was shaking and covered in a fine sweat and he hadn’t even touched any of her most sensitive areas yet. Feeling the time was right, he shed his shirt and jacket, almost getting strangled by his tie when he forgot he was wearing one. Kagome laughed and it took away some of the intensity of the moment, but it was not missed. This was real. This was them.

“You look so beautiful tonight, Kagome,” he said, kissing her left temple, then along her cheekbone, then her lips, tasting the still creamy lipstick and finding it divine since it was flavored with both their saliva. “You were the most beautiful woman there. No one else came close.”

She tugged on a lock of his hair, twirling it around her finger, still not used to his compliments. “I wanted to be pretty for you,” she confessed. “I wanted you to look at me.”

“It worked,” he smirked, feeling a thrill go up his spine. “Even if you had shown up in baggy sweatpants and a raggedy old shirt, I still would have only had eyes for you.”

She laughed and kissed him, rapidly recreating the serious mood they had before with the little licks and flicks of her tongue. Becoming impatient, Inuyasha rose up and searched along her side, finding the zipper to her beautiful dress and yanking it down, slipping it off of her and flinging it behind him. He actually salivated when he saw she was wearing nothing underneath.

“This entire time,” he said wonderingly, circling a nipple with the back of his claw.

“I was wondering if you had realized,” she said, proud she had managed to fluster him.

“Fuck, if I had known earlier we would have done it in the goddamn shrine.”

Without warning, he latched onto her breast, sucking and gently biting the nipple, bringing his head up and then rubbing the shining nub with his thumb, teasing her to the point of gasping. He switched to the other one, pinching the tip of the breast he had vacated. His heart had told him to be gentle on this special night, but he knew Kagome liked a little rough treatment when it came to her breasts so he gave her what she wanted. Kissing his way down her abdomen, he placed himself in front of the area his mouth and hands knew very well. Holding her thighs apart, he licked her clit and stopped when she bucked her hips up, a smile on his face. Caressing the skin below her belly button, he licked again, slowly, then plunged his tongue into her, burying his face in her hot heat. He sucked on the heated little bump, and just as she was about to cum, he stopped and licked his way back up her body, grasping a breast in each hand and massaging them.

“Why—why did you stop?” she asked, out of breath, panting for his tongue.

He kissed her. “I’m going to make you cum another way tonight.”

Her eyes widened, partly in fear and partly in surprise, even though he knew she had been thinking the same things he had. That was the real reason why they had never gone further before. It was because they needed something special, something strong to bind them together on this night. Kagome nodded, and suddenly the gentleness was back in his touch. He kissed her, slow and soft and deep, his thumbs brushing across her nipples. He didn’t warn her and penetrated her quickly, swallowing her cry of pain, surprised when he was out of breath himself at the sensation. He enjoyed the feeling of her tearing around him, because even though it had hurt her, it meant he was the only one, the first and the last. She would never know another, he would make sure of that. Vowing to use all his experience (which could probably fill an entire series of books), he waited until he felt her relax around him to thrust again, making sure it was shallow. Reaching down between them, he found her clit and began rubbing it, surprised and pleased when she bucked up into him just as she had before. Kagome was so strong when she wanted to be, when he needed her to be. A little pain and blood weren’t going to deter her from getting what they both wanted. He nibbled on her lip and thrust again, deeper and harder, and when she only pushed back he let himself love her without restrictions, rubbing her and peppering her face with kisses. The feeling of being inside her was unlike any other experience he’d ever had. He almost wanted to stop and just lay there with her in his arms, make the moment last forever, but that was impossible, especially with how close they both were.

“Inuyasha,” she sighed in a trembling voice. He knew she was close, closer than he. She brought her arms up around his neck and kissed him, their teeth banging together from the force, but she didn’t seem to mind. He pushed her down and gently tweaked a nipple, wanting to see the face she made when she came. It was the only O-face he had seen that was absolutely beautiful, not savage like so many were, like he knew his own was. When she lost control, she did so adorably, in a way he found to be ideal. He thrust, deeper than ever, hitting a spot that made her cry out in ecstasy, and felt her ripple around him. He continued his thrusting, more to please her than to find his own release.  Inuyasha was more concerned with concentrating on her features, watching the wrinkling of the nose, the tiny furrow of her brow, the trembling of her upper lip that was so slight he always almost missed it, and then finally, the single tear from each eye. Without realizing its approach, he orgasmed, filling her with his seed.

They couldn’t be apart, he knew that for certain now. This last surrender had rendered him incapable of ever truly wanting another. He was drawn to her from the start, and the more time he spent with her, the more he couldn’t bear even the idea of not being with her. Was that not fate? It was meant to be.

Inuyasha rolled to the side, taking Kagome with him, not separating from her. He wanted to savor this. Looking up into her bright eyes, he smiled. Gently, he kissed her face, once for each light, little freckle she had on her nose. Nineteen. She had more freckles on that tiny strip of skin than she had years. The thought made him hold her closer, tighter.

“You are the best thing that has ever entered into my life,” she whispered, kissing him between the eyes.

“I love you.” Now was the time to say it.

Her mouth dropped open. “Since—since when?”

“Since before either of us were born,” he answered. What they had was fate. Destiny.

“Why now, then? Why tell me now?”

He laughed. “At first I didn’t want to scare you off, and then I didn’t want you to think I was saying it just to get you into bed.”

“I…love you, too, Inuyasha,” she whispered. “I never thought this could happen to me, not with someone like you. You’re so wonderful,” she said, gently cupping his cheek. Kagome looked at him as if her were the entire world, and in that moment, he felt truly loved, more loved than he had felt in several lifetimes. The warmth ran through him and he had to hold back tears, not wanting to shed them in front of Kagome even though she had done so in his presence numerous times.

“You’re wonderful,” he choked out, turning his head to kiss her palm.

“Am… Am I bad?” she asked in a quiet voice. “Am I bad for loving you?”

“No, Kagome,” he said forcefully. “Love can never be bad. You’re a good, good girl. The best girl. You’re an angel.”

The words seemed to stop another flood of her tears and he smiled at her, wanting her to be happy tonight, on their night.

“Here,” he said, unclasping the necklace. Taking the ring from it, he put it on her left ring finger again. “Wear it there from now on, okay? This night, everything that happened, means we’re committed. We’re together, just us, forever.”

She nodded and rolled off of him and to his side, nuzzling into him. “You didn’t give Mother a ring. Why?”

He sighed. He hadn’t wanted to think about Kikyo or the wedding or anything while with Kagome. “A ring means something, Kagome. You’re the only one who’s ever going to get a ring from me.”

That answer seemed to satisfy her and she quickly fell asleep, leaving him awake and in a slight daze, part of him not believing what had just happened. He drifted off shortly after, holding her to his chest, lulled by their combined scents.