InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Temptation ❯ Chapter 1

"Are we agreed?" Silver-grey eyes ran over the small group assembled. Each nodded their consent, small pouches in their hands and malicious grins spreading across their faces. "We begin at once. You know what to do."

Without another word, they turned and disappeared into the surrounding forest. Each headed in a different direction but had the same goal in mind: Revenge.

* * *

"Inuyasha, LOOK OUT!"

The silver-haired hanyou leapt out of the way at Kagome's scream. With the intricate grace of a dancer, he turned in mid-air and sent a powerful blast known as the Wind Scar towards the offending youkai. In an instant, it had been vaporized and the only signs of the battle were the five claw-like marks in the ground. Inuyasha landed on the ground and sheathed his fang. A smirk played across his face.

"Another victory for the Tetsusaiga," he laughed to himself when the sound of someone clapping greeted his ears. He whirled around, his hand grasping the hilt of his sword once more. Sango, Miroku, and Kagome also turned to see who had approached, weapons at the ready.

Behind them stood a man of considerable height with long, black hair, golden eyes, and elongated ears. He wore a simple violet yukata with black pants. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. He smelled like an inuyoukai, and bore similar markings to his brother, except for the stripes on his cheeks were red and he had no crescent shaped moon on his forehead. Something about this newcomer unsettled Inuyasha, however, and he scowled.

`He's an exile . . . Father marked him . . . I can smell it all over him. But why was he exiled? What's he doing here?'

"Excellent job, Inuyasha," the youkai grinned. "Your father would be very proud of you."

"I knew it," the hanyou growled. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"My name is Shiroi Rei," he stated. "I've been searching for you, Inuyasha."

"Searching for me?" Inuyasha's eyes widened then narrowed once more. "What for?"

"To see if the rumours were true," came the simple reply.

"Rumours? What rumours?"

"That you've inherited your father's fang, the Tetsusaiga . . ."

"Yeah, I have. And?" he prompted.

"That you have quite the traveling party . . . A miko in training, a houshi, a taijiya, a kitsune, and a fire neko youkai. Unusual combination, by the way . . ."

"And what else?" Inuyasha snarled. He didn't like the way this was going. "That can't be all!"

"And that you look just like your father," Shiroi added with a smile and a softness in his eyes.

Inuyasha blinked. Had he heard that right? A youkai who had been exiled by his father was telling him that he looked just like him? Nicely? A tiny voice inside his head screamed at him to not trust Shiroi Rei but his hand slowly withdrew from the Tetsusaiga, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"What do you want?" he inquired quietly. No youkai searched for him without wanting something from him.

"Want? Makes you think I want anything?" Shiroi Rei blinked innocently.

"I'm not stupid, Shiroi Rei," he snapped rather irritably. "You're an exile and a full youkai. I can smell it over you and no one searches me out unless they want something in return. Now spill it before I lose it."

"I see . . . You can smell the mark of exile on me," the older youkai smirked slightly. "Didn't think you'd notice but then you are the son of the most powerful youkai lord ever. Should've known better than to even try."

Inuyasha bristled slightly, his ire slowly rising once more. Shiroi Rei raised his hands up placatingly.

"Forgive me. I meant no offense."

"What. Do. You. Want."

"Not here, Inuyasha. Not in front of your friends. I wish to speak with you in private. I know of a place where we can go so we can talk in private."

"In private?" Inuyasha echoed. "Why in private?"

"Because what I have to say is not meant for mortals to hear," Shiroi Rei replied. "It could put all of them danger should they hear it. Please. You must hear me out."

Inuyasha glared at him. He didn't like or trust Shiroi Rei for one moment. The whole premise seemed faulty. But he could tell his friends' eyes were upon him, expecting him to do something, anything. To at least hear him out. He growled softly then sighed.

"All right. I'll hear you out."

"Thank you," Shiroi Rei began but he cut him off.

"AFTER I see my friends back to the village. We're not that far so stay right here. Got it?"

"Of course, Inuyasha. As you wish."

Night had begun to fall by the time Inuyasha made it back to the clearing where Shiroi Rei was waiting for him. The full youkai had perched himself on a fallen tree, his gaze fixed on Inuyasha as he entered. Something tingled in the back of his mind and he felt inexplicably tired. Inuyasha blinked then tried to shake the falling off.

"All right, I'm here," he growled. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Shiroi Rei said nothing. He grinned at Inuyasha, sending shivers coursing through him. Something about the way he looked at him chilled him and excited him. Inuyasha mentally shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. Shiroi Rei stood up.

"Many things, Inuyasha. Many things. But first . . . how are you feeling?"

"Fine, Shiroi Rei," Inuyasha growled, though he wanted nothing more than to just go to sleep. "What's how I'm feeling got to do with anything?"

"Oh, nothing . . . And, please . . . call me Shiroi, Inuyasha." Again that smile and that look. He advanced upon Inuyasha.

"Whatever. Now tell me what you want to talk to me about or I'm heading back to the village."

"Shhh . . . no need to get testy, Inuyasha . . . I was hoping that maybe . . . you could . . . help me to go back home. I'm tired of living in exile." He stopped in front of him, close enough to touch.

"I can't help you, Shiroi Rei. It isn't for me to decide," Inuyasha began when the youkai placed a finger on his lips, silencing him.

"Oh, but you can," he purred. "You need to sleep, Inuyasha. You're exhausted. I can see it in your eyes."

"No . . ." he protested but no other words came forth.

"Oh but you are . . . Like I said, I can see it in your eyes." Shiroi Rei's voice sounded faint, far away, though he stood a scant few inches away from him. "Sleep."

A groan passed his lips as his eyes closed and he fell forward . . .

* * *

Shiroi smiled as he leaned forward to catch Inuyasha. The hanyou's breathing had become slow and steady as the spell took hold. He didn't know why Inuyasha no longer resided in the Western Lands, but it didn't matter to him. Locating InuTaisho's youngest son had been easy and the oldest son was nowhere around. Not that he needed Sesshomaru for his purposes anyway. Inuyasha had been the favoured son.

"No one here to protect you this time, Inuyasha," he whispered. "You are mine. Mine to do with as I please."

Carefully, he lowered the hanyou to the ground, his head coming to a rest in Shiroi's lap. He reached into his yukata and pulled out a slender, black silk ribbon. Moving Inuyasha's hair out of his way, Shiroi tied the ribbon around his neck, the bow at the base of Inuyasha's neck. Once it was tied, the ribbon glowed briefly then disappeared. He nodded. By the time Inuyasha woke up, the spell would be in full effect and there'd be no going back.

"And then . . . Then real fun begins, Inuyasha. You're going to love it. I know I will."

* * *

Inuyasha swallowed hard as a loud pounding behind his temples began to demand that he woke up. His mouth felt dry and his entire body ached. The last thing he'd remembered had been meeting Shiroi Rei back in the clearing but anything beyond that was a blank spot. Slowly, he opened his eyes and pushed himself off his stomach.

"Awake, are we?" a voice inquired lightly. "Good. I've been waiting for you."

He froze. Shiroi. And he was practically on top of him! He felt the youkai's breath on his ear and the warmth of his body pressed against his. Something was wrong. He knew it, felt it. Something had changed but he couldn't imagine what.

"Yes, Inuyasha," Shiroi purred. "I've been waiting for you to awaken. In fact . . . I've been waiting for this moment for some time, you could almost say."

Shiroi's arm, before he could react, had snaked its way around his waist and had pulled him close. Dangerously close. Shiroi's other hand came down on his thigh and squeezed rather gently before sliding lower. Inuyasha's eyes widened, first in fear then in anger. What the hell did Shiroi Rei think he was doing anyway?!

"Don't even . . ." Inuyasha began, only to have a hand fly to his mouth. His voice . . . it had changed somehow, sounding more feminine.

"You like the changes, Inuyasha?" Shiroi cooed. "It was a rough night, watching as the spell took hold, but the look does suit you rather well, I must say." He then took a long sniff of his hair. "Quite intoxicating as well."

"You bastard!" he/she growled, attempting to turn around so he could attack the youkai. Shiroi released him . . . only to grab both of his wrists, twisting them slightly. Golden-amber eyes glinted back him/her, and Inuyasha found himself/herself panting from the pain and struggling to free himself.

"Tsk tsk, Inuyasha . . . Don't you know that female youkai are delicate creatures? Not nearly as delicate as humans but delicate nonetheless," he hissed, shoving Inuyasha backwards. She just managed to turn around so she could stand up and escape when Shiroi pounced on her, knocking her down. One arm grasped her tightly around the waist while the other grabbed between her legs.

"Yes, the look definitely suits you, Inuyasha. A fine female, indeed. Any male would be a fool to pass you up. And I don't intend to, either," Shiroi whispered huskily. Desire had laced and thickened his voice and the scent of Shiroi's arousal had become strong. His hand began to rub and caress Inuyasha, causing her to gasp softly.

She wanted to tell Shiroi to stop, that he shouldn't have done this. That she'd kill him for having done this, but she couldn't find her voice. As much as she wanted to deny it, she wanted Shiroi to continue. The administrations Shiroi gave him sent shivers of pleasure coursing through her. She shivered then relaxed, moving a little closer to Shiroi. All rational thought left her as Inuyasha reached up to untie the sash keeping her pants up, her hand brushing against Shiroi's arm.

`I don't have a problem with this . . . Why don't I have a problem with this?'

"What do you think you're doing?" came the low growl.

"This . . ." Inuyasha growled back. She quickly untied the sash then turned around to face Shiroi. Hands on the youkai's shoulders, Inuyasha pushed him off far enough to finish turning around, Shiroi's hand still in place. His haori and yukata had loosened considerably since he undid his sash, enough so that he felt cloth against her bare flesh when Shiroi tightened his grip and pulled her close. Lips smashed against hers, sending her thoughts reeling. She moaned in her throat as Shiroi's tongue probed her mouth and his fangs scraped against her lips. The desire for more filled her and she matched Shiroi as best she could.

The next thing she knew she lay flat on her back, a cool breeze caressing bare skin and Shiroi straddling her. He'd broken the kiss, and Inuyasha gasped for air. Her lungs felt like they could burst at any moment.

"Time to end this, Inuyasha."

A strangled cry escaped Inuyasha as Shiroi spread her legs and inserted himself into her core. Her eyes watered as Shiroi began to thrust and each stroke sent tiny shocks of pain slicing through her. The scent of blood reached her nose and it took her a moment to realize that it was hers.

She wanted to say something, anything, to get Shiroi's attention. The position she'd been in when the youkai had entered her had become uncomfortable in the first moment and Inuyasha, at the very most, wanted to readjust herself so that the pain could stop. But no sound came from her. White spots began to form in front of her eyes as she struggled to keep her breath. Was it supposed to be like this?

A grunt and a moan reached Inuyasha's ears and Shiroi quickened his pace. She whimpered once, her groin aching more and more.

"Sh-shiroi . . ." she groaned, her head lolling back and forth, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. A feral growl and a final powerful thrust were the only responses Shiroi gave her, his release filling her. After a moment, Shiroi relaxed then pushed himself off Inuyasha. Without another word, he dressed and walked away.

Inuyasha drew a shaky breath then began to move, despite the wave of nausea rising in her. She had to keep moving. The heat in her body began to drain from her and she shivered. She missed Shiroi's warmth already.

`But he got what he wanted,' Inuyasha thought bitterly. "And I gave myself to him willingly. Baka! Why did I do that?'

With numb fingers, Inuyasha dressed, futilely struggling against the tears already rolling down her cheeks.

* * *

Shiroi stood outside the room, listening as Inuyasha moved around. He had accomplished what he had set out to do. The ribbon had been placed on the hanyou, rendering him a female and allowing him to become with child in the instant that Shiroi released his seed in the hanyou. Everything had gone accordingly, yet . . . yet, somehow, he felt no satisfaction in attaining his goal.

`Perhaps because the hanyou wasn't supposed to have offered himself to you willingly, despite having been turned into a female,' a little voice sneered. `Taika wouldn't give you the love potion. Inuyasha's a half-breed, he said. No one would care if he got raped, he said. He's the filthy half-breed who got you exiled in the first place, doesn't even know it, and yet he gave himself willingly to you. You gave him nothing in return. Who's the filthy one now?'

`What else was I supposed to do?' he argued. `It could have been a trick to throw me off.'

`Right, Shiroi,' the voice countered. `That's why Inuyasha's arousal was nearly as thick as yours. You didn't even allow him to adjust to any of the changes before you made your move. You just took him right then and there, like a human animal in heat. Bastard.'

Shiroi cringed at the truth of his inner voice's words. It was, of course, right. Only the lowest of youkai ever raped and it rarely ever happened. Humans, on the other hand, raped their female if the mood struck them, especially during times of war. It sickened him to even think about such vile acts.

`Yet I've done it to someone who is one of my own . . . I willingly took the hanyou away from his friends to rape him. InuTaisho was right. I deserved to be exiled.'

Shiroi turned and peered into the room. Inuyasha still sat on the floor, dressed but clutching his, no . . . her abdomen. Her face had filled with pain and Shiroi knew he'd been far too rough in taking her. He padded over to Inuyasha and knelt next to the hanyou. Brushing away some of Inuyasha's tears, Shiroi took her in his arms. The hanyou tensed up. Considering what he had just done, Shiroi couldn't blame her.

`She probably thinks I'm going to actually rape her this time. Dammit, I screwed up. It didn't have to be like this.'

"It's okay, Inuyasha," he murmured. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm sorry that I already did. It was selfish of me. Could you ever forgive me?"

* * *

Inuyasha growled at Shiroi's last words. He wanted forgiveness? After what he had just done? Not likely! She clenched her fists and began to punch Shiroi repeatedly in the chest.

"You bastard!" she howled, momentarily forgetting about the pain in her abdomen. "You walk away from me like I'm nothing more than mud under your heel then you want me to forgive you?! What the hell are you playing at?"

Somehow she had managed to free herself from Shiroi's hold and shoved the older youkai away from her. She glowered at him, gulping in air. He had no right. No right at all. Shiroi's reaction shocked her.

"You definitely have your father's temper," came the chuckle. "Have you any idea as to how beautiful you look right now, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha blinked but kept her guard up. She'd heard this talk from Shiroi hours before, fell for it even, but not this time. The youkai crawled towards her.

"Don't even start, Shiroi. I'm not falling for that trick a second time," Inuyasha warned. She didn't like the way Shiroi looked at her. It reminded her of what had happened in the clearing.

"I'm not," Shiroi stated. "No tricks, I swear. You are beautiful. I couldn't believe it after the transformation had occurred. Maybe I'd refused to believe it but you are beautiful. Water?"

The dark-haired youkai had grabbed a water jug from somewhere and filled a small cup. Inuyasha took the proffered drink then sniffed it. No chances this time. When she deemed it safe for drinking, she drank it greedily. Shiroi poured her more until she'd had her fill then took the cup away.

"Better?"

Inuyasha nodded, keeping a wary on the male. The youkai had scooted too close to her for comfort.

"Good," he smiled.

They sat there in silence, each watching the other. It didn't take long for Inuyasha to detect the scent of Shiroi's arousal then skittered back a few inches. She wanted at least a small chance of keeping the other at bay should he go after her again. Shiroi's eyes glittered.

"Inuyasha . . ."

"What?"

"Where is your father? And why don't you reside in the Western Lands like you're supposed to?"

"You mean you don't know?" Inuyasha narrowed her eyes, trying to detect if the youkai was pulling another fast one over her. When Shiroi shook his head (and she decided that the youkai had told the truth), she continued, "Father died when I was little. Mother and I were driving out shortly after."

"Oh . . . I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For having known him when you never got the chance."

Inuyasha softened a little at Shiroi's words. She'd only told Kagome about her father's death when she was around three. It hadn't been too difficult to discuss, really. Inuyasha barely remembered him. Cautiously, she moved forward.

"Why did Father exile you?" she inquired. She had a strange feeling that she didn't want to know that Shiroi had possibly tried killing his mother - that's what most youkai had tried to do - but she had to know.

"It's best left alone, Inuyasha," he replied.

"I answered your questions, Shiroi. The least you could do is answer mine."

Shiroi sighed and hung his head.

"Forgive me, Inuyasha, for I have wronged you, not once, but twice . . . The day after you were born, I . . ." the youkai faltered for a moment then continued, "I had kid-napped you. I had intended to kill you but I just . . . I just couldn't bring the blade down. And that's how your father found me . . . Standing over you with a blade in my hand, ready to strike."

"You tried . . . killing me . . ."

"You don't sound too surprised," Shiroi raised an eyebrow at her.

"Why should I be?" she shrugged. "I'm a filthy, half-breed to both humans and youkai alike. I've been on my own since I was seven, the favourite one for everyone to torment. What's one more? Why didn't you kill me, anyway?"

Everything Shiroi had told him had made a little bit of sense as to why he had turned him into a female and did what he did. Shiroi had probably hated her for the exile, though it didn't excuse him for his actions. Still, he was holding back something and Inuyasha wanted to know everything.

"You looked at me and smiled," Shiroi stated. "You trusted me and you had no reason to. It was in that moment I knew . . . you'd stolen something inside of me, something I've been desperate to regain."

"I was an infant then," Inuyasha snorted, noting how high her arms were when perched on her breasts. "How could I steal anything from you?" She still found it hard to believe that, for the moment, she was no longer male and had yet to have any serious problems with it. "And don't think that I trust you now as I did then. Because I don't."

"Nor do I expect you to trust me, Inuyasha. Especially after what I've done to you, but it doesn't end there."

"It doesn't?" Inuyasha echoed. Shiroi shook his head.

"No. There's more."

* * *

Shiroi took a deep breath as he leaned against the wall. He held Inuyasha in his arms, the hanyou now sleeping rather peacefully against his chest. Inuyasha had been justifiably enraged after he had confessed everything, including the fact that the hanyou would soon be the mother of his child. Eventually, the hanyou's rage had wore itself down and she had collapsed against Shiroi. It had amused him to see her worked up. Her cheeks flushed, her body animated . . . the temptation to kiss her had been overwhelming.

"Oh, Inuyasha," he murmured, nuzzling one of the hanyou's soft, fuzzy ears. "I never thought I'd ever hold anyone like this. Not after that day . . ."

"I never thought I'd be the one being held like this," Inuyasha responded sleepily.

"What are you doing awake?" His eyes widened as he realized he'd almost told Inuyasha what the hanyou had stolen from him.

"Can't sleep." The hanyou raised her head and yawned. "You're poking me in the side."

Shiroi felt his cheeks burn at Inuyasha's implication. He was certain that she'd demand to be released and for him to not touch her. To hear that would have killed him.

`I don't want to let him go. I don't ever want to let him go. I just found him,' he thought, tightening his grip. Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably.

"Shiroi . . ."

"I don't want to let you go, Inuyasha," he whispered. "I'm not letting you go."

A soft, frustrated sigh escaped Inuyasha and Shiroi felt her trying to sit up.

"Somehow, I didn't think you would," Inuyasha replied, "but you could at least let me get into a more comfortable position."

"How about I do that for the both of us?"

Before Inuyasha could say anything, Shiroi slid out from underneath her then stretched out. He smiled as he pulled the hanyou closer than before.

`Should've done this before,' he mused, burying his face in Inuyasha's hair. Having her this close sent delicious little chills throughout him and he wanted nothing more than to bury himself into the body next to him. `But I can't. I'd be taking her against her will and I won't do that. Not again. I can be happy, just like this,' he told himself. `I have to be.'

"Much better," he murmured. He had just closed his eyes and hugged Inuyasha once more when he felt her pull away. His eyes flew open as the younger demon sat up. Shiroi started to say something when he finally detected it: Inuyasha's arousal. He propped himself up on one elbow.

"Inuyasha, if you want . . . I can sleep somewhere else," he offered.

The hanyou regarded him with hooded eyes for a moment then spoke.

"What I want, Rei, is for you to stop teasing me. Don't give me a taste then take it away. You're driving me crazy! Besides, I thought you said you weren't going to let me go?"

Shiroi's jaw dropped. Inuyasha actually wanted him? After what had happened before? He had to be dreaming! Shaking his head, he tried to regain some of his composure.

"I was not aware I was teasing you, Inuyasha. I was merely holding you. Nothing more."

"You grabbed my ass, Rei," she growled. "Twice. Not to mention I can feel your arousal as well as smell it. You're teasing me."

Shiroi's eyes fluttered, trying to ignore the growing bulge and heat coming from the center of his legs. He tried his best to look innocent, though he had not realized he'd grabbed Inuyasha anywhere. The look in the hanyou's eyes, however, told him that she wasn't buying a single word he'd said. He sighed.

"Please understand, Inuyasha . . . I don't want to hurt you like that again. I've always hated humans for doing what I did to you. I just don't want to take that chance . . ."

Inuyasha's eyes softened.

"What's done is done, Rei," she whispered. "Neither one of us can change it, even if we wanted to. So please . . . stop teasing me if you don't intend to take it any farther than that."

"Of course, Inuya . . ." he paused then looked sharply at the hanyou in front of him. "Did you just call me Rei?"

"Yeah . . . Why? Don't you want me to call you Rei?" she inquired, golden-amber eyes shimmering.

"Rei is just fine," he smiled, reaching for Inuyasha. He leaned forward as he tilted Inuyasha's chin up. They were mere inches apart and Shiroi lightly traced the contour of Inuyasha's lips with his tongue. The taste of her lips had not changed, though their first and only encounter had been a few hours ago. His arms wrapped around Inuyasha's waist and held her tight. He knew what he wanted. A kiss, a touch, a mark . . . eternity. The hanyou had stolen his heart and he'd take him. Male, female . . . it didn't matter. Shiroi ran his tongue from Inuyasha's mouth to her jawline then to the crook of her neck. He had taken Inuyasha once and was about to again, only he wanted more.

`Right here,' he thought, nipping lightly at the tender spot. A small gasp and the trembling body pressed next to his spurred him on. `I can make Inuyasha mine.'

Shiroi pulled himself away from Inuyasha's neck to look her in the eyes. Her body shivered in anticipation but she wasn't too far gone. At least, not yet.

"Inuyasha," he murmured. "Are you sure you want this?"

"You wouldn't be hold me if I didn't . . . You want more than this, though. Don't you?"

"I want you to be mine . . . as my mate . . . Forever."

"And you're asking?! You could have done it already!" she exclaimed.

"I told you . . . I don't want to hurt you."

"You're serious about this . . . Aren't you?"

Shiroi nodded and he expected Inuyasha to reject him. The whole situation wouldn't have happened if he hadn't teamed up with Taika and his buddies to extract revenge on their enemies. But now that he was here . . . He didn't want to turn back.

`But Inuyasha is right about one thing . . . What's done is done.'

"I want you more than you'll ever know, Inuyasha," he whispered. "I don't want to let you go. I told you that. But your decision has to be honest and not made in the heat of our actions." As he finished, he pulled away. He didn't want Inuyasha's decision to be influenced by his touch. Should Inuyasha reject him, that'd be the end. They'd stop right there and he'd return her back to her friends. He'd be there for his child but nothing more beyond that.

`I just wish I knew what she was thinking.'

Lips brushing against his brought him out of his musings. Blinking, Shiroi looked at Inuyasha.

"I've never let anyone get as close to me in such a short amount of time or touch me the way that you have, Rei. No one. Not even Kikyou or Kagome and I love them both very much. But only you have ever made me feel like this." She kissed Shiroi again. "I want you to be my mate . . . And I want to be yours."

Their eyes met. Shiroi had his answer. There was no going back. Inuyasha had said the word and that gave him all the permission he needed. His hands grasped Inuyasha's yukata and pushed it up to reveal two cream-coloured mounds as he locked lips with the hanyou's. The cool air kissing his own heated skin indicated Inuyasha had done the same.

`She means it. She really means it,' Shiroi thought fleetingly. He moaned in his throat as their kiss deepened, Inuyasha's tongue probing and teasing. Just as he was about to respond in kind, Inuyasha broke the kiss off. His mouth trailed to her jawline then to crook of her neck. Shiroi shivered. It was time.

"You are mine, Inuyasha. From this day forward, you are mine and I . . . I am yours. No one shall ever break the bond we'll have for the rest of our lives," he breathed before sinking his fangs into Inuyasha's neck. A sharp pain in his neck was the only response he got from Inuyasha.

Suddenly, he shivered, like all the heat in his body had fled him. The only warmth he felt came from the younger youkai's body and he had to get closer to it. He didn't like the idea of freezing to death, though he was quite certain that wouldn't.

"Rei? Rei, what's wrong?"

Inuyasha. She sounded like she was a mile away. Why did she sound so far away? And why was it so damn cold? He just wanted to be warm. Shiroi latched onto the one heat source he could detect.

`I can make it up to Inuyasha in the morning,' was the last thought he had before he blacked out.

* * *

Inuyasha watched in horror and alarm as Shiroi broke into a cold sweat and started shaking. The older youkai then latched onto him and curled up, his eyes closing and his face buried in her breasts. Shiroi's breathing became steady, though, and Inuyasha allowed himself to relax. Carefully, she lowered herself to the ground and found her haori to cover them.

"That's the second time you've left me hanging, Rei," she murmured. "You are going to owe me big time for this."

Her eyes drooped and she yawned. She had no idea as to how Kagome would react to this new situation. To say she wouldn't be happy was the understatement of understatements but beyond that, she couldn't guess.

`I'll figure it out when the time comes. What's done is done. I just hope I can make her see how much I love both her and Rei.'

She drifted to sleep, occasionally stirring whenever Shiroi moved. He had stopped shivering at one point but his left shoulder had begun to burn. Since he had her pinned, she couldn't check to see the cause of it. Finally, after a few hours of Shiroi moving about, he quieted down and the burning in his shoulder subsided, finally allowing Inuyasha to fall asleep for a while without interruption.

"Inuyasha," a voice murmured in his ear. "Wake up."

"Mmm . . ." She swatted at the offending voice. Couldn't Rei tell that she wanted to sleep?

"Come on, Inuyasha. Time to wake up," Shiroi insisted, shaking her shoulders.

"Wanna sleep," she mumbled. "You move too much."

"Do I . . . Well then . . . You leave me now choice, Inuyasha. Time for your wake up call."

Shiroi then kissed her, his tongue parting her lips, teasing, probing. Arms wrapped around her waist as hers went around Rei's neck. The kiss intensified before he broke it off, his tongue trailing down Inuyasha's neck. She shivered slightly as her mate kissed and licked the bite mark he had given her last night. A gasp escaped her.

"Please," she moaned. "Please . . ."

Rei's hands firmly grasped her buttocks as his mouth roamed to her breasts. Inuyasha hadn't paid much attention to them before but they had it now as the nipples were suckled and licked, the flesh kissed and bitten. She felt her pants slide away and Rei adjusted himself so he rested between her legs, his length burning against her flesh.

`No way he's getting in that easy,' she told herself as they shared another molten kiss. One hand delicately traced its way down the youkai's chest until it reached Rei's shaft and she grasped it firmly. A sharp intake of air told her that Rei had noticed. Curious as to what would happen next, Inuyasha ran her fingers along the length.

"You're teasing," Rei moaned. One arm remained tight around Inuyasha's waist while the other sought to release Inuyasha's grip, his hips thrusting with each little rub. He tried repeatedly to get into Inuyasha's warmth but she kept refusing to let him in. The hanyou smiled a little as Rei growled in frustration, his attempts at mating with her thwarted. Rei's already hardened length thickened more and he soon whimpered in Inuyasha's neck.

"Inuyasha . . . please . . . let me . . . You're mine. You know that, you're mine . . . Please . . . just let me . . ."

She toyed with the idea of tormenting her mate a little while longer but knew that she couldn't. Her own need began to match Rei's. She wanted him in, to take that desire and fulfill it, but she didn't want it to be like last time. Rei's hands finally grasped her wrists and he pinned them above her head, her obvious relent to her mate's desire and need. Inuyasha hissed softly as Rei entered her once more, his shaft going in slowly until it was completely sheathed in Inuyasha's core.

"Relax, Inuyasha," came the purr. "This time will be different. I swear it. Just relax."

Rei released her wrists and helped her to adjust. Each tiny movement sent surges of ecstasy flying through her, causing Inuyasha to moan.

"That's right," her mate coed. "This time is different. Just go with it."

Keeping his arms tight around Inuyasha, he began to thrust and stroke, thrust and stroke until they were both panting and moaning, their bodies working in a slow rhythm. A single hiss from Rei sent her over the edge and she cried out, desperately holding on to the older youkai. Her release spent, Inuyasha laid back, keeping her arms and legs wrapped around Shiroi. She still felt the hardened length within her as her mate tried pulling away. Inuyasha refused to let him go.

"You haven't had your release, Rei. Why?" she whispered.

"I did once before," he responded. "It was your turn for the pleasure. Not mine."

"It isn't going to be one-sided. I don't want that, Rei . . . Please . . ."

"Inuyasha, if I do, it'll be animalistic and I'll keep going until neither one of us has anything left. You'll be begging me to stop and I won't be able to."

"Rei, we're mates now. This is what we both wanted," she began then stopped. The look in Rei's eyes told her that nothing she could say or do would change his mind.

`But I can't let him stop. Not now. Not like this. He needs his release as well.'

"I'm not letting you go, Rei," she growled. "I told you no more teasing."

She kissed Rei one more time . . .

* * *

Shiroi winced as another scream followed by "Make it stop! Please make it stop! I'll do anything if you must make it stop!" emanated from Kaede's hut. Inuyasha's voice had started to become a bit hoarse, despite Kaede's attempts at trying to keep the hanyou calm. Even now, Inuyasha whimpered at the old miko's soothings. It had been five days since the younger miko had left and Inuyasha had gone into labour. No one had gotten any sleep during that time, especially not Inuyasha.

`This is my fault,' he thought miserably for the dozenth time. `Dammit, why'd I have to listen to Taika?'

Someone rushed by him and he recognized the scent of the taijiya and fresh water. He wondered idly what kind of look she shot him this time.

Nine months had passed since he had entered Inuyasha's life . . . and had somehow had his mark of exile removed. Inuyasha's friends had found them a few days after they had mated (repeatedly) and Inuyasha had done a lot of pleading with the miko Kagome to not "sit" her, as she had phrased it. The miko had been nothing short of scary in that moment and Rei had thought she'd purify them both, right then and there. But she had eventually agreed not to "sit" her and they were able to explain everything that had happened. It had taken her some time, however, to forgive Inuyasha and accept the fact that the hanyou was now female and mated to another. As the months wore on, she eventually became excited about the hanyou's predicament, often feeling Inuyasha's growing belly whenever the pup kicked. And, as the miko warmed up to the idea, so did the taijiya and the houshi. Only the flea Myouga had not.

`The old fool,' he'd thought with contempt on more than one occasion. `He still can't get it through his tiny, little brain that the mark has been lifted. I'm not an exile anymore.'

"Are you all right, Shiroi?"

He lifted his head to see Miroku in front of him and he offered the houshi a wane smile.

"Inuyasha's the one I'm worried about, houshi. The pup should have been born by now. It's been several days. She can't take much more of this."

"Inuyasha's stronger than what you're giving her credit for," Miroku chastised as he settled himself next to the youkai. "She . . ."

"Is exhausted, Miroku," Shiroi interjected softly. "She's had no sleep since Kagome left. I can hear it in her voice, especially when she calls for the girl. I just wish I knew how to bring her back so she could be here."

"Indeed. She'd be able to focus better with Kagome around," the houshi nodded.

"I wish I could go in there . . . to see her and to assure her that everything will be all right. I . . ."

"INUYASHA!"

Both looked up to see Kagome running as fast as she could. Before either of them could stand up or assess the situation, she flew into Kaede's hut and started rambling. Shiroi blinked. In front of him sat Shippou. The kitsune grinned.

"I told her Inuyasha was having the baby," the kit said. "I waited for her to come out of the well. She nearly danced for joy until I told her when she'd started to whelp. Did I do good, Shiroi?"

"Hai, little one," Shiroi smiled. "You did. But you didn't have to wait for her . . . did you?"

"Well, no," the child began, "but I wanted to. I knew she wanted to be there for Inuyasha and she wanted Kagome to be there, too. So I waited."

Miroku shook his head at that. The kitsune had also been very excited about the baby, not fully realizing just yet how long it would be before he and the child could play together. Shiroi couldn't even begin to count the number of times Shippou had commented on having a new playmate and Kagome trying to explain that it would be a while until he could. His ears twitched slightly in the silence that had followed Kagome's arrival. He still heard the soothings coming from Kaede, even some from Kagome and Sango, but the rest was silence.

"This can't be good," he whispered aloud. A cold knot had formed in the pit of his stomach. Miroku turned his attention to him.

"What can't be?" he inquired.

"The silence . . . I can hear Kaede, Kagome and Sango, but not Inuyasha . . . Something's happened to her. I just . . ."

A plaintive cry cut him off, sending him and Miroku flying to their feet. But it wasn't the cry of a woman in pain. It took him a few moments but he knew. The crying came from a child. His child.

"Congratulations," a cold voice stated. "You have a daughter."

Shiroi slowly turned around. He knew that voice, had fantasized about the expression on his face as he killed Inuyasha before his eyes only to learn that Sesshomaru wouldn't have cared.

"What are you doing here, Sesshomaru?" Miroku demanded but the taiyoukai ignored him. His gaze had fixed on Shiroi.

"So it's true," he murmured. Before Shiroi could blink, Sesshomaru moved in front of him, faster than what normal eyes could have followed. He circled and sniffed, as if trying to discern something. He knew this behaviour, the act of protecting a defenseless pup or an injured family member. InuTaisho had done the same thing before he had exiled him. "The mark is gone."

`He cares more than what he lets on,' Shiroi surmised. `If he didn't, he wouldn't be here to make sure Inuyasha's all right.'

"Yes, the mark is gone though I know not how or why."

"Isn't it obvious?" Sesshomaru sneered a little. "You needed Inuyasha's forgiveness to come out of exile. Father knew he'd never be able to forgive you for what you tried to do yet he still wanted you as part of the pack. The agreement between our fathers still exists, Shiroi. My father got his wish and yours did not."

"What?"

"Your father wanted your sister to be mated with Inuyasha and Father wanted you. So congratulations, Shiroi. You're no longer an exile and now a father. My father would be pleased."

Sesshomaru strode away, leaving Shiroi's heading spinning and whirling. Everything he had gone to . . . his making the pact with three other exiles, the finding of the right spells, his kid-napping of Inuyasha . . . it had seemed pointless and unnecessary now.

`But I now have something that they don't and probably never will,' he smiled to himself as he walked into Kaede's hut. The taijiya and the mikos relaxed and lowered their weapons when they saw him. Inuyasha slept in a corner, her arms wrapped protectively around a small bundle. Suckling noises came from the infant cradled in his mate's arms, warming his smile even more. `I have a mate who will love me and a pack to defend and who will defend me. Thank you, Lord InuTaisho, for your gift and foresight. I'd have nothing if not for you.'

Carefully, he managed to crawl behind Inuyasha. His eyes closed, finally able to relax like he never had before.