InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Fate of a Hanyou ❯ Calling Forth a Mate ( Chapter 2 )

I do not own Inuyasha, these characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. By now I believe everyone has heard of her name…

 

P.S. Sorry for the wait. >.< Enjoy! ^^

 

The Fate of a Hanyou

 

By: Tender Ardor

 

Calling Forth a Mate

 

The new day brought cheery sunlight along with the lilting songs joyfully sung by the birds. Kagome rose with her small village, opting for silence as she began to carry out her day. Kikyou remained in a tranquil quiet, and Kagome wasn't sure she wanted to upset the serene balance between them. The happenings of the previous night ran afresh repeatedly throughout Kagome's mind. She remembered every feeling, every detailed glance or word spoken, along with the fresh scent the forest seemingly caressed her with on her walk back to the village. She didn't know what to think in retrospect—didn't know how she ought to feel. And so she kept silent, watchful and waiting with a hesitance she couldn't quite understand.

 

Feeling slightly uneasy throughout the majority of the day, Kagome decided to get out of the bustling village for a short while and collect the much needed herbs and roots necessary for tending to the sick or wounded. Estranged youkai still attacked an unlucky few throughout the day, their madness evident in their want and thirst for bloodshed. Kikyou would handle any problems or threats from the youkai, however. Kagome simply wanted to be on her own for a while to calm the slight trepidation ever-so-slowly running through her. She only slightly understood its cause, but didn't know how to confront the issue in its entirety.

 

She didn't want the hanyou to die. Of that she was certain. The pain-stricken face of Izayoi and the complete fury belying Inutaisho's mixed feelings of anguish and betrayal at Kikyou's words had Kagome feeling completely heartbroken and inadequate. The love a mother has for her child was never something one could take lightly. Kagome knew this directly from her own bond with her mother. Every time Kikyou went out on her own to purify demons their mother would smile with complete confidence and understanding until Kikyou stepped outside the hut. The expression on their mother's face would then turn to anything between a slight furrow of the brow in worry, to complete pain stricken anguish. Kagome witnessed this occurrence only on a few occasions—most likely because their kaa-san didn't want them to worry over her in turn, but as Kagome took up her training and started joining her sister, she knew she had only heightened her mother's grief.

 

As far as Inutaisho went, Kagome thought she might be able to understand the youkai's qualms with the situation. All of the responsibility fell onto his shoulders. By youkai law, it was he whom would have to finish off his own son if Inuyasha didn't find a mate by the end of his first mating season. Kagome didn't know the extent to the pain or suffering Inuyasha felt while in his youkai form, but she knew it was enough to cause him to go completely insane and would eventually drive him into a blood rage if his mate wasn't found. Once his mentality was consumed by his lust for blood, nothing would bring him back—or so she was told. This was the reason Inutaisho was forced under law to kill his own son if or when things came to be that bad. It was to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of humans and demons alike.

 

But Inutaisho won't be able to do it, Kagome thought to herself, walked toward the less dense part of the forest, a woven basket held in the crook of her arm. She walked at a sedate pace, the day seemingly dreary all of a sudden despite the warming rays of the sun. A light and cooling breeze wrapped itself around her before releasing her and moving on, causing the shrubbery to sway and the leaves from the trees to dance and wave. Kagome glanced up at the life in the sky.

 

Inutaisho-sama would kill himself gladly before harming his own son. I can see how protective he is of his family, even though I was with him for only a short while. He loves both Inuyasha and Izayoi too much to ever want to break up his family. He could never harm his son—or his mate. And by killing Inuyasha, he would most likely be killing a large part of his mate as well.

 

Kagome didn't like it. She didn't like the way Kikyou was going about this. It sounded as though the only two options she was giving the family included killing him, or turning him completely human. If Kikyou turned him completely human, however, it would be like Inuyasha was denying who he was. He would be denying his heritage, his father, and his mother's love for what both Inuyasha and Inutaisho are.

 

“He shouldn't have to turn human!” Kagome shouted abruptly, anger permeating her senses. A few birds gave scare and shrieked agitatedly before flying away to perch elsewhere, away from the angry miko.

 

Kagome huffed and sighed, then trudged toward a small clearing where she could find some sage, along with other plants. She began to pick specific plants with nimble fingers, working on her menial task to push the onslaught of thoughts and concerns to the recesses of her mind. After gathering the certain plants from the surrounding area she continued on her way to find the ever-evasive roots that never liked to make her task easy. Out of habit, Kagome swept the area with her aura to sense the surrounding auras around her in search of any youkai. She didn't want to be taken by surprise, and realized then that she forgot her quiver of arrows. Calling herself ten kinds of idiot, Kagome was relieved to note that only one aura nearby seemed to be strong enough to be any sort of threat. The problem was, however, that the aura also happened to be heading directly toward her.

 

And it was close.

 

Kagome backed away as quietly as she was able, her hand reaching out to steady the basket hanging from her arm. She didn't want to lose all the effort she had spent so far…although the plants meant little if her life was in any sort of danger.

 

The youkai in question seemed to trot toward her, then peeked out of the bushes at Kagome's now stilled form. It was a small feline, with large, bright eyes and a certain presence about it that made Kagome's tensed muscles relax somewhat. For some reason, Kagome didn't feel like she was in danger even while the neko stared at her with an unblinking gaze. Before Kagome could make any sudden moves or talk to the youkai, the neko gave a small mewl and quickly leapt away and back into the surrounding area of the forest.

 

Blinking slowly and then relaxing completely, Kagome gave a small smile and shook her head ruefully. “You see, Kikyou,” she whispered to the hushed forestry around her. “Not all youkai are bad.”

 

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

 

Dusk was fast approaching. Kagome hadn't realized how long she had been out in the forest. Her scattered thoughts as her mind went in and out of focus caused her to lose all trace of time. Her mother would most likely be worried, and her sister suspicious of her whereabouts. Kagome glanced around and noticed for the first time just how deep into the forest she had wondered as her mind drifted off to far off places even more distant that she wanted to acknowledge.

 

Taking in a deep breath, Kagome wondered again at the lengthy period of time she had been away from her village. What if someone needed the herbs she was collecting? And why hadn't any youkai attempted to attack her? She had seen and sensed fewer and fewer youkai as the day transgressed into night, which was odd seeing as how most youkai preferred to hunt at night or were nocturnal in these parts.

 

Shrugging delicate shoulders, Kagome headed off back to her village when a strange tugging sensation caused her to pause. Her heart thumped once, loudly in her ears, before beating at a normal pace. Brow furrowing, Kagome looked back over her shoulder, seeing and sensing nothing out of the ordinary. She spread her aura in a wide arc, hoping to find something before it found her, when her heart decided to be contrary and thump loudly within her chest once more.

 

Every muscle in Kagome's body stilled; she dared not even breathe.

 

What…?

 

The tugging she felt, she realized, did not come from any outside force. She felt something tugging at her heartstrings, something pulling at depths within her being Kagome had never felt before.

 

What's going on? Kagome wondered tremblingly, goose bumps rising on her flesh. Am I in some sort of danger? What is this?

 

Looking around while retreating step by achingly slow step, Kagome courageously attempted to even out her breathing and calm the rapidly beating thrum of her heart. Her aura retreated back into her body and at once Kagome felt as if things were once again as they should be. She was in the forest, nothing was surrounding her, and she was alone.

 

She didn't know why that last part was important, but decided to hurriedly make her way back to her village as quickly as her unsteady feet would allow. It took her quite a while to return to her home, but there hadn't been any mishaps and for that Kagome was thankful. Quickly darting into her family's hut, Kagome slipped off her shoes and brought her bountiful load of plants, herbs, and roots to the corner of the room where she and Kikyou regularly mixed, cleaned, and cut the herbs to make medicine for the villagers.

 

“Where have you been?!” The words were hissed quietly through tightly clenched teeth as a long and slender hand unrelentingly clasped onto Kagome's forearm in a painful grip.

 

Kagome gasped and spun to meet the glaring eyes of her older sister, gulping down her slight fear before huffing angrily and attempting to wrest her arm from her sister's grasp with little success.

 

“Not where you're thinking,” she ground out, glare turning into a sulking and angry pout. “Let go! All I did was go into the forest to gather the needed plants for medicine. Don't bite my head off, Kikyou! I'm a big girl; I can handle myself.”

 

The gouging fingers in Kagome's arm lessened in pressure until the pain was but a memory. Kikyou didn't remove it fully however, and her glare seemingly grew fiercer. “You can take care of yourself so well that you forget to outfit yourself with your quiver of arrows? I was just about to go looking for you! Why are you so naïve and careless, sister? I wouldn't have been surprised to find you slaughtered by a youkai!”

 

“Well, as you can see, I am perfectly fine and in one piece, thank you!” Kagome wrenched her arm out of her sister's grasp and took a few steps away to create some distance between them before huffing angrily once again and crossing her arms defiantly over her chest.

 

“I was concerned. That is all. You made mother worry needlessly.” Kagome winced before scowling at her sister with renewed fervor. Kikyou always knew what to say to make Kagome feel lower than dirt.

 

“You will apologize to mother and show her you are unhurt. Then you will stay inside this hut until morning, is that understood?”

 

Kagome's eyes widened as her mouth dropped open to form a small `o' in shape. Fisting her hands Kagome inhaled deeply before replying.

 

“If you still think I am a weak and unskilled miko who will only cause chaos whenever I try to do the right thing, then you're wrong! I can make decent decisions from time to time as well. I'm not completely immature, you know! I'm not a walking disaster you must lock up in order to preserve this village, so I'd like it if you'd treat me with respect!”

 

Kikyou opened her mouth to speak but Kagome beat her to it.

 

“If you think I'm going to make your situation worse with Inutaisho and Izayoi, then your wrong! If I have to stay in this hut all night to prove to you that I can be responsible, then I'll do it. But,” Kagome continued, noticing the pleased expression settle into place on Kikyou's face, “I still do not agree with what you are doing. You should give Inuyasha more time.”

 

Kikyou brushed aside Kagome's words with a wave of her hand as she turned on her heel and reached for her bow and quiver, then headed toward the hut's exit. “Your concern for the subject is not needed, sister. Inuyasha will chose his fate, and whatever it may be, he and those who created him may only blame themselves in the end.”

 

Kagome's heart froze and she stopped breathing as her sister's words settled over her. The warmth left her body rapidly as bile formed in her throat.

 

Kikyou…don't… She couldn't say the words. Don't…

 

Before exiting the hut, Kikyou looked over her shoulder at her sister. Kagome's mind and heart were so young, though the young woman's body had seemingly already matured. Breathing out a small sigh at Kagome's views, Kikyou could only sadly shake her head. One day Kagome would grasp the horrors of the world—the horrors of youkai. Until that day Kagome would continue to be blissfully ignorant.

 

“You had better keep your word, Kagome. Don't follow me.” Noticing the collected herbs in a bundle in the woven basket by the corner of the room Kikyou motioned toward it with her head. “If you need something to occupy your time with, that should keep you busy.” Then she left.

 

Kagome sighed forlornly after that brief, solitary pause and respite. Grumbling softly, she headed over to the plants she had collected and knelt before them, washing them in a large bowl of fresh water before laying them about to dry. She cut the bad parts off the plants, along with unnecessary parts that weren't needed. Then Kagome shook her head, dwelling again on her sister's words the night before, and then their conversation from a few moments ago.

 

“Your concern for the subject is not needed, sister. Inuyasha will chose his fate, and whatever it may be, he and those who created him may only blame themselves in the end.”

 

Those words sickened her aching heart. Why was the world full of such malevolence? Why couldn't humans and demons meet eye to eye? If some could tolerate the other, why not overlook it and get on with their lives?

 

Why does this bother me so much? Kagome asked herself, inhaling deeply and shaking her head while pursing her lips. Why do I feel like I'm alone in my reasoning? For the first time in Kagome's life, she began to wonder if something might be wrong with her.

 

But Izayoi and Inutaisho overcame their differences, Kagome tried to think positively, hoping to reassure her own doubts. They loved each other enough to have a son.

 

Despite her worries, Kagome found herself smiling. She wondered what Inuyasha looked like when he was a baby. Blinking, Kagome was reminded of Inutaisho's heritage and her grin widened. Or was Inuyasha born as a pup? She imagined a young Inuyasha was most probably just as loud as his older self. Izayoi must have put up with a lot!

 

I wonder what his demon side looks like…

 

As Kagome continued working her thoughts continued to wonder, sometimes bringing short bubbles of laughter to issue forth from her form. For some reason Kagome pictures a demon with hair the color of his father's, with his father's gold eyes, but then the large, pointed fangs she imagined protruding from his lips were comical in size, and she pictured him furrowing his brow, stomping toward her like a sumo wrestler as he boomed in a deep voice, “I am a great, big, powwwwerful youkai!” But then Kagome would giggle and he'd get peeved, stomping toward her as his fangs grew to comical proportions and he slurred his words while trying to portray just how strong he was, right before he tripped and fell flat on his face.

 

Laughing out loud, now, Kagome wiped crystalline tears from her eyes as her mother walked into the room. Kagome shrugged sheepishly and sent her mother a small wave. Guiltily noting the lines of relief on her mother's face, Kagome recalled her sister's advice in finding her mother to let her know she was back and that no harm had come to her. Her mother, however, just smiled warmly and joined her daughter on the floor, helping Kagome cut roots before starting a small conversation to help pass the time of such a meticulous chore.

 

“Has your sister talked with you about the hanyou?”

 

Momentarily pausing, Kagome blinked once as her heart skipped a beat and then continued on its merry way. Releasing a small breath, Kagome nodded.

 

“She doesn't want me going anywhere near there. She thinks I'll interfere.”

 

The small hut was silent for a moment before her mother spoke again.

 

“Would you?”

 

The pause following this question was longer. “I don't know…” Kagome finally stated, shoulders slumping in defeat. “Did she tell you the reasoning behind everything?”

 

Her mother nodded her head in a steady rhythm, her presence and the clam motions of her hands soothing Kagome's nerves. It wasn't until then that she realized she was nervous.

 

What's wrong with me? Kagome asked herself for the upteenth time that day.

 

“Do you agree with what Kikyou's doing?” Kagome whispered, heart in her throat and barely daring to breathe.

 

Her mother inhaled a deep breath before letting it out in one heave. She set her utensil for cutting aside as she turned to meet her daughter's eyes. Kagome hesitantly followed suit.

 

“It is not my place to agree or disagree with the miko that is my daughter.” The woman said at last. “If she came to me for advice as a mother, then that is an entirely different matter. With all things concerning youkai and the safety of this village, its people go to her. I cannot undermine her decisions, or the control she has over these things.”

 

Kagome nodded slowly. Her mother was right. To go against Kikyou now would mean to go against everything Kikyou was. Kikyou was strong and respected. Kagome didn't want to change that, and she certainly didn't want the village to lose the safety of having such a well-trained miko about. Kikyou was the village's hope. Kagome also didn't want Kikyou to think her younger sister, who hadn't even finished her training yet, didn't believe in her and second-guessed her ways.

 

Yet at the same time…

 

`Youkai are merciless creatures that humans must be protected from at all costs!' Kagome recalled the heatedness behind her sister's whispered words. `They don't deserve to live…'

 

“Kaa-san…” Kagome began, waiting with baited breath. “Do you think all youkai are evil?”

 

Kagome's mother looked down at her daughter with pitying eyes. “Does it matter if I did?” She asked in return. Kagome was startled, and this caused he mother to smile warmly. “You are a brave and wonderful girl, Kagome. You are loved by the villagers, and have earned just as much respect as your sister has. You have a strong heart and a sturdy mind. When, do you think, is a good time to start trusting and believing in yourself?”

 

An onslaught of emotion welled up from deep within Kagome's being as she reached over and hugged her mother tightly to her being. With a small, tightly compressed smile, Kagome nodded her head and looked out toward the night sky. The moon was soon to rise.

 

Lifting herself to her feet, Kagome dusted of her dirtied clothing and headed toward the flap hanging over the door to the hut.

 

“Kagome, dear. You are forgetting your bow and arrows.”

 

Kagome looked over her shoulder at her mother, smiled softly, and shook her head.

 

“I won't need them tonight. I promise to be careful kaa-san, so please don't worry.” Then, almost as an afterthought she added, “I love you.”

 

Then Kagome was off, trusting her senses and nothing more; her aura testing those around her constantly as she made her way to where she knew Inuyasha would be. After a moment of startling realization, Kagome acknowledged that she wasn't only trusting herself to find the demon Inuyasha, but also the slight tugging within her being that brought her ever nearer to his whereabouts. He was calling her—had been calling out to her all day. She had been too frightened and nervous to respond. Now, heart beating at a steady pace, Kagome prayed to kami that she wouldn't be too late.

 

Inuyasha… I'm coming! Her soul called out to his, a myriad emotions sweeping through her being. She was so overcome by them that she paid little attention to her surroundings. She was almost there…so close! She could sense them now—all of them. How could they be so close?

 

She senses the power that was Inutaisho, then here sister's miko aura followed by that of a priest or monk. She sensed the barely familiar aura of Inuyasha's mother, Izayoi, and the surprisingly powerful and strong aura of another human being and an unknown youkai. Then she became aware of the amazing power and efforts of both her sister's and someone else's combined efforts to keep, what Kagome suspected was Inuyasha, constrained.

 

Inuyasha!

 

Feet moving rapidly, Kagome broke through the trees and into a rather large clearing filled with six occupants and a very large firecat youkai. Upon seeing the scene before her, however, Kagome's muscles froze up as her body refused to move. The danger surrounding her was literally palpable. A woman in demon slayers garb had an enormous boomerang bone poised overhead in preparation to throw it with the intent of a swift youkai death—or at least serious injury. Inutaisho was straining against his wife's hold as his eyes bled red, gazing at Kikyou with a predator's intent, a rather young monk holding his staff out horizontally between the youkai and the miko as if to hold off the powerful youkai's anger. Kikyou, Kagome observed with growing horror, had her bow drawn and at the ready, eyes having already detected her target:

 

Inuyasha…

 

No! Kagome didn't know if she screamed it out loud or not, but it didn't matter because Kikyou had also chosen that moment to speak.

 

“Choose, Inuyasha! What will be your fate? Do you wish to live, or die? Do you choose humanity… or eternity in the underworld?”

 

An earth-shattering roar rent the place nearly in two. Gasping with wide eyes, Kagome's cerulean gaze rested on Inutaisho's growling and snarling form.

 

“Miko! You tread on dangerous grounds if you think I shall permit you to kill my son!”

 

Kagome had never heard a voice filled with such anger or malice. It shook her to the depths of her being, but glancing at her unwavering sister, Kagome decided the youkai's words had merit. Kagome certainly wouldn't want anyone killing her son if she was in such a situation! If she ever had one…lived long enough to have one… Kagome gulped, realizing the folly in what she had done—what she had come here to do.

 

Nee-chan's going to kiiill meeee… Kagome bemoaned almost mournfully.

 

“Stand down, miko! You needn't bloody your hands unless need be,” the taijiya woman stated in a firm voice. Kagome's eyes widened. With that thing covering the woman's face, Kagome couldn't quite guess her age, but the woman sounded not much older than she was!

 

“Exterminator, though I admire your courage and merit, I only asked for you to come here by chance that something might happen to go wrong. You will not do anything unless my life is threatened, do you understand? Watch Inutaisho for now. He is of greater threat. I must speak with Inuyasha…if he is even capable of having an intelligent conversation while consumed thusly, that is.”

 

“Miko…!” Inutaisho roared once again, lips pulled back in an inhuman snarl, causing hairs to stand up on the back of Kagome's neck.

 

“Beloved!” The cry could have only been Izayoi's.

 

“Stay back, youkai! You asked for the miko's help, now you'll be thankful for it! If you take one more step towards her you'll have me as your opponent!”

 

“Now, now, my dear lady. None of us want that. Inutaisho-sama is merely concerned for his son's welfare—as would be any parent under circumstances such as these. However…if you would like to bear my children—”

 

A feminine scream of pure outrage echoed around the clearing as the sound was bounced back at them from the surrounding trees. Kagome didn't witness the monk's great fall, though she did hear the resulting smack and a dulled thud. Kagome's attention was on her sister, who happened to be fifty paces away from the pink dome of energy protruding from the ground, enclosing the form of what Kagome knew happened to be Inuyasha.

 

She hadn't found the strength to look at him yet, though she could hear his growling snarls even from this great distance.

 

Kagome decided to move quietly forward, hoping to better hear the words her sister and the hanyou-turned-youkai would share.

 

“Will you become a human, Inuyasha? If you become a human…you can live…”

 

The growls grew louder as a particularly evil-sounding snarl ripped its way from Inuyasha's throat. Kagome gulped and had to close her eyes momentarily, the need to look at Inuyasha suddenly too great. Her strength would all but shatter if she saw him now, she knew. She needed as much information as possible before she acted. She knew for certain however, that before the night was out she would do all that she could to save him. Even if that meant taking her sister's arrow for him!

 

“M-mate…”

 

Kagome's heart back-flipped at the deep-seeded growl that spoke out in anguish. She was concentrating on her sister's face, however, when she heard Inuyasha speak. Kikyou's face scrunched up in disgust as she pulled her bow taut, having released some of the tension of it momentarily so the bowstring wouldn't slacken.

 

“You still call out for that which you cannot have?” Kikyou's voice was every bit a snarl at Inuyasha's.

 

Inuyasha gave such a desperately anguished roar after hearing Kikyou's words that Kagome could no longer ignore the one whom had seemingly been calling out to her. The sight before her, however, was like nothing she would have ever imagined. Her mouth went dry, wide eyes riveted to his form as a strong tremor ran its way over and throughout her body so many times Kagome believed her legs would give out from beneath her. Her head tingled and felt light. She suddenly felt hot and cold in strange flashes before a warm and steady sensation swept throughout her entire form, pitting in a place that turned Kagome's face and chest a flushed and rosy color.

 

Kagome suddenly found it very difficult to breathe.

 

Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha was lain out on his back on the cold and damp earth, two clawed hands held above his head and pierced by an arrow fused with miko energy. The dome around Inuyasha's form, fused with miko energy as well, left a wide enough berth that, had Inuyasha been able to truly move, it would not have been close enough to him to have any ill effects. The dome had the effect to not only keep Inuyasha in, but to also keep others from approaching him.

 

How is he supposed to find a mate if that mate isn't able to get to him in the first place?! Kagome demanded silently, thoughts raging within her. Her flushed form tried not to concentrate too much on all that was Inuyasha. Giving in easily to temptation, Kagome acknowledged that she was curious and simply `couldn't help it.' Mightily embarrassed, Kagome's eyes slowly took in youkai Inuyasha's appearance.

 

She was right to have guessed the color of his hair, although his was of a purer white than that of his father's. He had two, fuzzy white triangles for ears located at the top of his head that Kagome felt oddly attracted to. His eyes bled red, markings littered the sides of his face, and two large canines were bared as a loud snarl was ripped from his throat before evolving into an angered roar.

 

The flush on Kagome's face surfaced even further as she took in the wide expanse of Inuyasha's bared chest, and she quickly averted her eyes to his face. She felt like she was being a hentai at that moment. Because before not only her, but everyone else in the clearing as well, the great youkai Inuyasha…

 

Was as bare as the day he was born.

 

Saliva gathered in Kagome's mouth and she fought to swallow it down. Slight tremors invaded her form as her eyes gazed at his form. His movements were restricted because of the arrow piercing the palms of his hands together. He could move his head and neck back and forth as he growled, snapped, and snarled, trying to break free, but it was a useless battle. He would turn to glare at Kikyou or the taijiya, baring his lengthened teeth in fair warning, before beginning the process to free himself all over again.

 

Suddenly Inuyasha's whole form gave a jolt and seemed to spasm. Kagome gasped, along with the others whom hadn't seemed aware of her presence yet. Kagome's eyes strayed to the area of movement she had glimpsed out of the corner of her eye and felt the familiar spread of warmth sear through her being until she positively trembled and ached, going dry mouthed. Inuyasha sans clothing had arched the entirety of his back in attempt to free himself, but the arrow held firmly and neither his arms nor his legs were able to leave the ground. He roared passionately to the sliver of the moon now peeking out to them behind the trees, his thickly excited member standing tall and firm for all to see.

 

Then Inuyasha's back collapsed back to the earthen floor, chest heaving and sweat accumulating on his form. The effort had to have taken a lot out of Inuyasha for him to have been able to move to that extent. Kagome knew he wouldn't be able to do it again for a good, long while, however, because his youki was greatly diminished. Panting, a small whimper left the recesses of his mouth before he cut if off abruptly with what greatly sounded like a sharp bark. His nose lifted to the night air before every muscle in his body gave a quick spasm, then began to turn itself into a tensely wound coil ready to be sprung. His chest stopped moving as he held his breath. Then:

 

“M-mate…”

 

“You will not start up again!” Kikyou admonished, glaring outright at Inuyasha's form, seeming unfazed in the least about his outward appearance. “Your time comes to an end here, halfbreed! Will you become a human or not?!”

 

Inuyasha seemed to have not heard, however, because now he was fighting his restraints with renewed vigor, snarling and thrashing as his own hands cut and gouged into the other, leaving little to nothing but bloodied scraps behind.

 

“Mine! My…m-mate!” He growled, the hard rod between his legs pulsing with his obvious pain and want. Inuyasha groaned, eyes rolling slightly as he deeply inhaled the scent of the woman he wanted—the woman whom had accepted him in human form and given him hope when he would have abandoned it altogether. She was his. He wanted her and would make her his. The youkai in him wanted no other. She smelled incredible, and made his need grow to excruciating heights. He wanted to impale her over and over, desperately trying to reach her yet he couldn't move. He wanted her submissive—or demanding. He wanted her mewling and writhing beneath him as he brought her to new heights yet un-reached. He wanted only his name on her lips. He would hear her cry out his name to the starry skies, and smell their combined scent after their rutting. He would take her again and again, giving her constant release until she was a trembling mass in his arms, subjected to his mercy and his alone. He could already imagine how tight and hot she would be…how wet he would make her…

 

“Mine…” He growled out, deep and low, his lust insatiable. He couldn't get to her. He needed to get to her, feel her pulse around him just as much as he was now pulsing. He needed to have the taste of her on his tongue. “Mine…”

 

“Inuyasha?” Kikyou was there. Her threat was unwavering. He either became human, and lived, or he would refuse her offer and she would purify him. Inhaling the younger miko's scent heavily, Inuyasha's demon debated whether having her while being forever human would be enough for him to choose life as a weakling for all his days, but he knew couldn't do it. He wouldn't be able to. She was worth it, yes, but when he tasted her he wanted his heightened senses so he could relish in the secrets only a youkai could ever know and taste. He wanted to be able to hear every one of her held breaths—her withheld moans. He wanted to feel every tremor, smell the evidence of their deed—of her desire. He wanted the young miko as he was, not only as a human.

 

With a startling revelation, he realized he wanted her as a hanyou. His upper lip pulled back in a wry and silent snarl. How funny…that his true self didn't have a say in any of this.

 

He could hear the beating of her heart from where he lay on the sodden turf. He snorted and growled, his need pulling anxiously, stretching as if it expected something Inuyasha knew he had no reason or hope to ever expect or even dare to dream of.

 

Kikyou's hateful words permeated his senses once again as the promise of death lurked ever nearer. `Will you become human, or not?' What would he choose to be his fate?

 

With a smirk of evil intent and closed off emotions, Inuyasha said the only word that was truly based on primal instinct and a truth to self.

 

“Not.”

 

Kikyou's eyes narrowed in response as she slowly cocked her arrow further, the flash of disgust on her face dissolving to become impassive. Inuyasha vaguely heard his mother cry out and slump to the ground as his father hesitated in assisting her or saving his son from what was imminent death. Inuyasha heard his companion, the hentai houshi gasp, and began to wonder if he and the monk with wandering hands somehow developed an odd sort of friendship during this whole ordeal. He expected all of this, of course. What he didn't expect was…

 

“No!! Stop!” Then a petite, feminine body was between Inuyasha's prison dome and Kikyou's drawn arrow. Inuyasha's eyes widened measurably as he stared at the back of his chosen mate's head. Was she insane?! Did she want to die at such an early stage in life?! Inuyasha's growls increased in volume as his youkai heart thundered with a fear he thought he'd never feel.

 

If she died…

 

He would kill her…

 

The tension within the clearing rose to new heights, only to be broken by the vehement sound of Kikyo's fury.

 

“You promised to stay out of this!”

 

 

AN: Phew! That only took…two and a half hours? I think…? Who knows! I've felt inspired lately however, and I hope this chapter is something you all will enjoy! Heh heh! I can't wait until I start writing the next chapter! I'll probably have it out before the weekend is over!!! I hope I didn't…leave any of you hanging. This chapter hasn't even begun to touch upon what the contents of the next chapter will be like! I shiver in anticipation…