InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Love of a Hanyou ❯ The Love of a Hanyou- Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9

 

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The tense silence hung over like a dreary pall over those gathered around at the kitchen table of the Higurashi shrine. Three sets of eyes darted back and forth watching each other warily, one pair suspiciously, the another nonchalantly and the last cautiously.

 

 

 

 

Inuyasha withstood the silence impatiently, alternatively shifting his weight restlessly and boring holes into the over large man across from him, all the while clicking his nails repeatedly on the tabletop. He wanted badly to get on with business but at the same time he wanted desperately to be with Kagome, however he knew that he wouldn't have been able to be truly content until he did something to ensure her safety.

 

 

 

 

Yamamoto was the first to break the silence and speak up, tired of Nonomiya eyeballing the young man from across the table with a mocking gleam in his dark eyes and the boy's constant fidgeting. The slightly less than rhythmic tapping of Takahashi's unusually long nails didn't serve to alleviate him either. Clearing his throat loudly, he drew the attention of an intense amber gaze that zoomed in on him with alarming pinpoint precision. The sudden stillness that came along with that focused predacious gaze gave him a `deer caught in the headlights' sensation that he couldn't shake. He had never encountered someone before with such unnerving eyes, eyes that reminded one of those of a wild animal hunting its prey.

 

 

 

 

“Well Takahashi, the chief is amenable to bringing you in as sort of a case consultant however, as we said before, there is a condition. We have some of our own people under cover investigating this gang in the matter of another unrelated on going case, however due to some bits of information leaked in through surveillance, we decided to look deeper into the gang's operations. We discovered that the gang has been involved in a number of other unsolved crimes around the city and so have reason to believe that this is a gang that may have had something to do with young Miss Higurashi case.

 

 

 

 

We've spent some time in doing our research. There have been other cases such as hers happening all over the city and in just about every cases- the women weren't as lucky as Miss Higurashi. Also in investigating the cases further we always end up right back at this gang. I got to tell you that at first our boss wasn't all that keen on bringing in an outsider, let alone a civilian and he still isn't b…”

 

 

 

 

“So what did you come here for then? Why are you wasting my time like this when I could've been out there myself - doing something, anything?” Inuyasha angrily interrupted, jumping back from his seat so quickly that the back of it hit the wall with a resounding crash. At his outburst Yamamoto had jumped in surprise, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping in shocked disbelief. He didn't care though. He was beyond caring about anything except for the fat that he had spent an entire week waiting, doing nothing. In all that time he could have been out there, looking for clues, scouting out the area where he had found Kagome. There may have been something left behind that he could have used, that would have helped him in finding them.

 

 

 

 

He was angry. He felt useless and there was nothing more that he hated than feeling as though he didn't have any purpose. He sent a malevolent glare at the two detectives across from him who had dared to waste his precious time, one of them staring at him with a stupid look on his face, the other appearing to be in a half doze, looking as though he were about to fall out of his chair. He slammed his fist against the table in frustration and garnered him some satisfaction in knocking the overweight son of a bitch out of his languor.

 

 

 

 

The sudden noise of that action had Nonomiya popping open his squinty eyes from his deceptive doze, to peer pensively up at the fuming boy, rubbing his pudgy jaw a bit in contemplation. In all his thirteen years working in the force, he had come across all manners of personalities, some pleasant and others he'd rather not think of. He recognized the kid's bluster for what it was- it was nothing more than a brave front that the he put on to protect himself and there had to be an underlying reason for that. It might fool others but not him, not to say that the bravado wasn't real in some sense.

 

 

 

The kid had heart he would wager. Where the attitude came from was anyone's guess but he imagined that Takahashi had a past that would send most young men his age straight in the county asylum. Nonomiya figured that the boy knew what it was like to live on the hard, cold streets, knew what it was like to feel the sharp cutting edge of rejection. Perhaps all that bark came from the need to arm him self from the pain. It was no hard stretch of the imagination for him to figure out that the girl was more than likely his first and maybe only friend.

 

 

 

It was no wonder Takahashi was so earnest in wanting to help in the only way that he probably knew how which was violence. It was sad to say but violence was all too common a part of life for those who lived on the street, especially when one was so young. Nonomiya stared at the boy now who was still bristling with anger. If he looked closely he thought that he could see the fine hairs on his arms standing on end. The interim quiet that rose over them, punctuated every so often by the low growing noise that seemed to be coming from Takahashi's throat, continued to grow and stretch uncomfortably. Nonomiya shifted his weight to place his right elbow on the table and leaned against it, his chin resting in the palm of his hand.

 

 

 

 

“Whoa, whoa there kid. Let Yamamoto finish! Man, you sure are quick to jump the gun there.” Nonomiya groused out, scratching at the back of his ear, as he set one jaundiced eye on the young man. He watched in amusement as Takahashi went still again then the air was expelled heavily from his chest before he righted his chair and then threw himself back into it. Smirking just a bit, he turned and nodded his head for Yamamoto to finish his explanation. If they put on the kid gloves and handled the boy with care, he imagined that the measures that they had gone through to get him on the case would eventually pay out.

 

 

 

The focus was shifted from Nonomiya and right back on a decidedly unsure Yamamoto. Takahashi moods fluctuated so often that it was hard to keep up with him. Yamamoto figured that if things continued as they had been for their entire association, he would be left many a time sitting in some frustration himself. The kid was violence and judging from his lean musculature and the way he carried himself, he imagined that Takahashi knew how to hold up in a fight. He seemed to be something more of a street brawler and those of that type were the most unpredictable because they didn't stick to any recognized fighting protocols. No, they were more the type who fought to survive and that meant completely incapacitating their rivals even if that meant killing them. Yamamoto eyed the now calm Inuyasha then down to his clenching fists and wondered if he had ever killed anyone. He certainly looked like he could. He smiled grimly, he keep his eye on the boy.

 

 

 

 

“Yes well as I was saying, Nonomiya here is real tight with the chief. As a matter of fact they go back a few years at another precinct as beat cops. Anyway, he managed to sweet talk the chief and put in a good word for you. You're real lucky about that part of things `cause he finally decided to take Nonomiya at his word and allow you in on the investigation. However he did stipulate that we had to bring you in to talk with him so that he could size you up himself.” Inuyasha sat there stunned, his wide eyes focused on the broad, lounging figure across from him. Nonomiya couldn't help him-self and so burst out laughing.

 

 

 

 

“Ha ha, close you mouth and thank me kid. I told the boss that you're a hot- tempered young fool. If I hadn't told the boss that if he didn't reign you in now, you were more than likely to go streaking off on your own little vigilante crusade. And that, my friend would most definitely mess up all the head way that we've made in the investigation.” Nonomiya chortled some more when he saw the red color rise up and wash over the boy's face. He continued to chuckle loudly even when he the saw hard glare directed at him before its laser intensity was turned onto his partner.

 

 

 

 

Takahashi bit out through clenched teeth, “Okay, so when do we do this?”

 

 

 

 

“Today, what do you say?” Nonomiya answered the question that was obviously not intended for him. Who cared? He liked messing with the kid, it was some of the best entertainment that he had had in awhile. God knows that he needed to laugh every now and then.

 

 

 

 

“Fine, just give me a minute,” was the muttered reply and with that Inuyasha got up and stomped his way from the room.

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

“Come on girl, wake up. It's time to play! I promise that you'll love it.”

 

 

 

She sucked in a deep breath as she surged up on the bed, a silent scream caught in the back of her throat. The urge to let it out continued to well up in the back of her throat, threatening to spill over and except for the small whimpering noises that managed to escape, she managed to control it and push it back down. She felt the trickle of perspiration on her body, the cool air from the open window raising chill bumps on her skin. That voice, she thought, oh god that voice!

 

 

 

She was trembling terribly she knew that but she just couldn't control the heavy shudders that racked through her small body that had nothing to do with the cold. She was exhausted, so tired of being afraid, of not being able to sleep at night. She ran a shaky hand through her mussed dark hair and worried at her bottom lip as she closed her eyes tightly trying to get a hold on her emotions.

 

 

 

Tossing the sheets aside, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, sat up and pressed her heated face into the cool palms of her hands. Exhaling deeply on a pent up breath that she hadn't realized that she had been holding in, she rose up from the bed and moved across the room to the adjoining bathroom. Flipping on the lights, she was momentarily startled at the image of herself in the mirror. For a second she stood before the mirror, staring at herself in there because she didn't recognize the face of the person staring back in stunned surprised.

 

 

 

The bruises, that had covered her entire face, although mostly healed over, left behind traces of slightly yellow discolorations. The gaunt features reflected back at her was unfamiliar and yet faintly reminiscent of the person that she had been before the incident (as she had now come to call it). It was almost as though another person, almost identical had taken her place.

 

 

 

The deep shadows lining the underside of her eyes were evidence of lack of sleep and the new hollowness of her cheeks were from where she had stopped eating. Her skin was pallid, completely lacking in color, making her look like one of the undead. Where her body had been pleasantly plump and well rounded in femininity, the weight had dropped and made her appear slimmer. Her hair itself seemed to have lost its luster for life as well because where before it had curled wildly and naturally around her face, it now hung dull and limply. All of that however was not what had made her gasp in shock at her reflection, rather it had bee the dead look in her eyes. The lack luster glimmer for life that made her blue- gray eyes seem dull and cloudy. I look like Kikyo now, she thought woodenly.

 

 

 

She smiled grimly to herself in self-deprecation wondering to her-self where the person who had resolved that she would become stronger, and fight had gone. Completely disgusted with herself and her reflection, she ducked her head down, quickly washed her face and trudged back to her room. She glanced around the room at the clothes strewn about the floor before she threw herself across the bed and buried her face into the sheets. She would clean everything up later, maybe after a nap or maybe even tomorrow or maybe not at all. She couldn't bring herself to do anything right now. She was too tired.

 

 

 

 

She was jerked out of her half drowse by the loud and abrupt knocking at her door. Immediately, she knew who it was because there was only one person who would knock so perfunctorily and authoritatively at her door. There was only one person who had continued to come to her door every day even when she had made it clear to everyone that she had wanted to be alone. Inuyasha. She groaned lowly before burying her head back under the sheets. She didn't need this now, she really didn't. She didn't have any more strength left to hold him back, to keep him from seeing her like this.

 

 

 

 

“Kagome, open the door,” came his deep voice, that drifted in, muffled slightly, through the door. She clenched her eyes shut, almost painfully, her hands coming up to cover her ears against the sound of his melodious voice traveling across the room into her starved senses. She couldn't help herself though, couldn't go on pretending an indifference towards him that she didn't feel. She craned her head and strained her neck in an effort to catch another sound from him. All week she had closed herself off from him, unwilling to let him see this weaker side of her. However doing so had not been easy and it had proved to be more draining, both physically as well as mentally, than anything else that she had ever done. She had missed him so much that it was almost like a physical ache. It hadn't all been fair to him but she had been so ashamed of what she had become that she just couldn't have bared to think of the look of disgust that would've come across his face when he finally saw just how pathetic she was.

 

 

 

“Kagome, I know that you're in there. Come on, open up…please!” She caught herself on a sob at the pleading tone that had slipped into his voice. She hadn't meant to punish him this way, had not known that he would've been so affected by selfishness. It had never been her intention to do anything that would've hurt him. She had to make it right, had to have him forgive her. It was that express need, the need to so badly make amends that she found herself propelled across the room towards the door. She hesitated with her shaking hand on the knob and bit her lip with indecision because she was afraid of what she would meet on the other side of it. What if he hated her for being weak? How could he not when he despise it so in himself? He was so strong and brave in wanting to so badly toss aside his frail human side as to go to the extent of risking his very life for the shikon jewel. He wouldn't want anything to do with a crybaby like her. He would have no use for her and there was no way that she could measure up to him.

 

 

 

 

She didn't know how long she stood there, gripping the cool brass knob before she came back to herself, shocked out of her thoughts by a light clicking sound. Inuyasha. He had sensed her nearby and she realized that what she had heard was his nails tap at the door. She pressed her forehead against the wood and closed her eyes as his soft whisper drifted to her in a soothing voice.

 

 

 

 

“Open it,” the quiet authority in his voice was hard to resist and so she complied and finally unlocked and twisted the knob.

 

 

 

 

The moment the door was open, she found her-self swept up into his strong arms and pulled firmly against the solid wall of his chest, the intoxicating male scent of his skin filling her nose, the encouraging warmth of him engulfing her, making her feel safe and wanted. She couldn't help it. She had deprived herself of the comfort of his presence for so long. She took his scent in deeply as she inhaled, wanting to ingrain it in her mind and reacquaint her self with the lulling memory of him. She was dimly aware of him doing the same thing to her when she felt the soft press of his nose and the hot, damp feel of his opened mouth against the crease of her neck as she clutched at his wide shoulders. She shivered in pleasure and tilted her head more to the side to allow him better access when she felt him brushed his mouth lightly against the sensitive flesh there.

 

 

 

 

He had never done that before, she thought numbly. He had never held her so close to his body that her mind was sent on a whirlwind of sensation. She had never before felt the hot, rough feel of his tongue sliding up slowly against her flesh, inciting delicious quakings in the pit of her stomach. She clung to his wide, strong shoulders because her legs no longer had the strength to hold her up anymore. She embraced the feelings that he invoked in her, holding them tightly to her unwilling to ever release them.

 

 

 

 

The feel of him with her again proved to be too much to take in all at one time after spending so long away from him. She whimpered and then started crying, moans of anguish bursting forth and racking her entire body but instead of running back the way he had come in, his hold on her tightened even more instead. The warm, welcoming housing of his arms only made her cry harder. She had missed this so much, missed him even more.

 

 

 

 

“Shh, I've got you koishii. I've got you,” Inuyasha whispered into her ear as he gently rocked her back and forth but it didn't help because she continued to cry, nearly inconsolably in her relief in being with him again. She cried in his arms for a long time after that and he simply stood there and held her until she wore herself out. When she had calmed down enough to only sniffling just a bit, she did briefly wander why he hadn't broken into his usual panicking frenzy. His usual modus operandi whenever she cried all over him. Giving a mental shrug, she heaved a sigh, not really caring why but just glad that he didn't and laid her head back against his chest. She allowed a little wobbly smile to break out on her face, thinking to herself, He was so strong, so solid and warm.

 

 

 

 

Inuyasha stood quietly, simply enjoying the feel of her softness in his arms before bending low, scooping her up and carrying her to the bed. He tried to set her down but she refused to let go and so he sat down, pulling her onto his lap. Once she was settled, she snuggled even deeper against him and it was a long time before either of them spoke.

 

 

 

 

“Sorry about wetting up your shirt,” Kagome finally said, sitting up and brushing a hand down his soaked chest self- consciously. That was when she realized that he wore a plain white t- shirt and a pair of jeans instead of his fire rat robe. She felt him shrug his broad shoulders and turn a suddenly red face away from her.

 

 

 

“Keh…don't worry about it, it doesn't matter,” he said, blushing lightly as she continued to touch him, running her small hands along the smooth, hard planes of his chest. He stole a glance at her and watched warily as her fine brows puckered into a crease in confusion across her forehead.

 

 

 

 

“Where did these come from?” she asked softly, looking up into his flustered face then down again, plucking at the fabric of his shirt, watching in some fascination as the nearly transparent shirt clung to him. He really had the most beautiful chest, so wide and hard, welcoming almost.

 

 

 

 

“Uh… from your mother. She gave them to me, said that I would fit in more in normal clothes,” he whispered back, his breath quickening just a bit a she inadvertently brushed over his nipple. He was only slightly dismayed when it puckered and was clearly outlined by the wet shirt.

 

 

 

 

“Oh,” was all she said as she leaned back against him and continued to draw tiny circles on his chest. She didn't notice when his breathing became just a bit harsher or his golden eyes darken to a deep hazel, completely oblivious to the turmoil that she caused him. She was dangerous in her innocence he acknowledged wryly when her fingers passed over the peaked nipple again. Gods, what she does to me, he thought, exerting a great effort in trying to desperately stymie his raging hormones. He made a grab for her small hand, held it in his own large one and pulled it away before intertwining their fingers. They sat together not saying a word, both unwilling to break the moment of contentment.

 

 

 

 

“Why did you keep me away from you?” He asked, unable to resist his curiosity any longer. He felt her body stiffen before she tried to pull away from him. He was having none of that because he wanted an answer and so he tightened his hold on her. “Oh no you don't, you're not getting away that easily. Answer the question.”

 

 

 

He leveled a reproachful gaze on her down turned face, struggling with himself to remain patient. He didn't want to force her into any type of confrontation but he felt justified in trying to find some way to comfort her. The only way that he would know what he could do for her would be if she told him what had made her pull away from her family, from him. He had thought that the two of them had been through so much together that there would be no more secrets between them. He had been hurt when she had basically pushed him away and resolved to do everything on her own instead of relying on him to support her.

 

 

 

Kagome shifted uncomfortably, once again chewing at her bottom lip. She didn't know if she was ready to talk about this with him but she owed it to him as well as herself to be honest. She thought back and realized that not once in the past had Inuyasha ever been anything less than truthful with her. Evasive, yes but honest, sometimes brutally so but she knew that that was his way in dealing with anything emotional. It wouldn't be fair to him if she were any less truthful.

 

 

 

She felt the stinging prick of tears again and after a few failed attempts, she finally said, “I was too ashamed of myself. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen.”

 

 

 

 

“SORRY? There's nothing for you to be sorry about. You had no control over what happened to you!” he shook her lightly as if to shake some sense into her. “Come on, I know you. You yell at me all the time for the smallest things. I can't believe that you would just curl up and let these ass wipes get the best of you like this. You're stronger than that!”

 

 

 

 

Kagome flinched at the sound of his raised voice before turning angry eyes to him. She struggled to wrest herself from his grip, pounding her closed fists against him. Except for the growls of annoyance emitted from the back of his throat, he barely registered her resistance because he didn't move or slacken his hold on her. She knew that she wouldn't be able to free herself, not if he didn't wish it but that didn't stop her from fighting him.

 

 

 

 

“No I'm not! I wish I were but I'm not, okay! Don't you get it? If I had been stronger, something like this never would've happened. I would've been able to do something.” She struggled against him some more and he finally let her go. She wrapped her arms around herself and started to pace the floor, running her hands agitatedly through her hair. Inuyasha got up from the bed as well and stood with his fists balled into fists, his anger rendered potent by both the need to protect and his wanting to throttle her until she saw her worth.

 

 

 

 

“What? Is your brain broken or something? Don't be stupid! You're just one little girl who just happened to find herself up against some guys determined to do whatever the hell it was that they wanted to do. What could you have done huh?”

 

 

 

 

She sniffled harder, turned and looked at him with watery, red- rimmed eyes, “I don't know! Kikyo would've been able to…”

 

 

 

 

“Would you just shut up about that Kikyo shit? Do you think she was some kind of god or something? She was just a human Kagome. She's a flesh and blood woman just like you, with the same physical weaknesses and strengths. She wouldn't have been able to do a damned thing if she had been in your situation.”

 

 

 

 

He huffed in frustration and turned away to stand in front of the window, hands on his hips. He hung his head down for a moment before turning it back to her to give her an intense glare. “I don't want you to blame yourself for this alright? You're not responsible for these guys or for their actions. You understand?” He glared at her for a long time and was not satisfied until she finally nodded her head submissively. That's my bitch, he thought, grunting softly before he turned fully towards her and continued on, “Listen, I'm going to be in and out for awhile so I'm going to need you to be strong for me.”

 

 

 

 

“Why?” she squeaked out. She had tried to be strong without him before and look where that had gotten her. The thought of his leaving her alone left her with a sense of dread filling her, smothering her.

 

 

 

 

He didn't answer her at first but instead turned back to gaze down at the sunlit pavement through the window. The old man stood at the far side of the yard, sweeping aside the golden and brown hued leaves that had fallen from the tree branches that hung overhead. It was a wasted effort though because by tomorrow morning, more would've fallen to take their place, not to mention that even now Souta ran through one of the neat piles, completely disrupting it and sending the leaves scattering to the ground again. Autumn was nearly over and the wind had picked up, taking on a colder bite. He needed to work fast on tracking these guys before the snow started to fall. It would be difficult to find his prey if they stayed in doors, easier for them to cover their tracks. Finally he answered her, “I'm going to look for the guys who did this to you.”

 

 

 

 

“NO! I don't want that. I want you to stay here with me. Let the police handle everything else.” Inuyasha looked at her, startled by her loud outburst. His face softened slightly when he saw her vulnerability worn plainly on her face and walked over to hold her by the shoulders. He stood close to her, trying to force her to look him in the eyes. It wasn't easy because she twisted her head and refused to do so, so he lifted her chin and held it still when she tried to move away. He didn't speak until she looked up into his intent amber gaze. He saw her pain, her fright reflected up at him. He vowed to her and to himself that he would do all that he could to take that look from her eyes and replace it with something good. Something good like love, for him.

 

 

 

 

“No Kagome, that's not even an option. I wish it were but I have to do this. I need to do this for you.” He whispered so softly that Kagome stopped fighting him. She quailed a bit on the inside when saw the fierce determination that had his strong jaw jutting out in that stern, stubborn line and the hard glint in his golden eyes. She couldn't let him do this, not when she needed him here with her but she didn't know what to do to stop him, especially when he had already made up his mind. His canine tendencies were no more apparent than they were now when he made his mind up to do something. Once set on a course, it was hard to shake him off onto a different path. It would be better if she didn't try to fight and went along with it.

 

 

 

 

She held his gaze for a while before it dropped down to the hard curve of his lips that seemed to be inviting her to take a taste. He had to have had the most beautiful mouth that she had ever seen on a man. The smooth, sensual line of it brought to mind steamy kissing sessions and images of the different ways that he could use them, her mind flashing back to the erotica video that her friends had made her see on one of her rare trips home. His mouth tipped up at the left corner and it made him appear as though he were always on the verge of a very wicked smirk.

 

 

 

 

They were so close now and she wanted another kiss so badly that she couldn't resist the temptation any longer. Tipping up onto her toes, she pressed her lips against his in a chaste kiss that normally she wouldn't have been content with. The feel of his warm lips against her own was more than enough for now she thought dizzily. There was a moment of stunned surprise in which he did nothing but stand there wide eyed in surprise before he took over and heated things up by kissing her back.

 

 

 

 

And man what a kiss, she thought. She was swept away by the feelings that he generated inside her. The hot, eager press of his mouth as he devoured her, the hard steel band of his arms wrapped firmly around her, pulling her into the curve of his body. She shivered at the contact and arched her back, pressing her large, aching breasts against the hard wall of his chest. She felt so small against him, safe and protected and she never wanted to let go of that feeling. She was greedy for him and she never realized how much she had been missing until he had truly kissed her at the hospital. She cried out in dismay when he pulled away from her, both of them breathing harshly, eyes focused on nothing but each other.

 

 

 

 

She gasped at the fierce heated look in his eyes, the mysterious gleam there bringing to mind something that was feral and not quite tame. She shivered again in excitement at the delicious thrill of anticipation that that scorching look sent through her, the possible meaning behind it had the inner muscles in her stomach clenching eagerly. She felt the wetness gathering between her thighs, coating her panties in her arousal and she thought distantly that she should be embarrassed because she knew that he could smell it. She felt wicked instead, sexy in knowing that he knew that she wanted him, that she was ready for him. He groaned out loud as though he were in pain before he bent low again to nibble at her bottom lip before soothing it by sucking it into his mouth again. He pulled away abruptly and she hastily followed after his lips with her own, a whimper of protest on her breath as he gently pushed her away.

 

 

 

 

“If you thought that that would change my mind, you can think again. Damn it Kagome, don't look at me like that!” he said when she stepped back and glared at him, angry that he thought that she would use something like that against him.

 

 

 

 

She turned her back on him and walked on unsteady legs over to her desk to fiddle with the objects there, wanting to do anything to take her mind off of that kiss. Inuyasha stood in frustration for a while, giving her time to calm herself, giving him self time to force down his rampant erection before giving up on that idea. He realized that he had made an error in assuming the way he did. Kagome was not one to employ such tactics to get him to do what she wanted… no she would've railed at him and used the magic of the prayer beads until he did. He moved up behind her and pulled her against his body, his hands coming around and resting just under the heavy weight of her breasts. His mind went instantly blank, her deep cleavage almost proving too much. He had always had a naughty fascination with her luscious breasts, so large and tempting, begging for his touch. Her breathing increased, inadvertently causing his thumbs to brush the underside of them lightly, repeatedly and it was all that he could do to try to focus in on what he wanted to say to her. Soon, he thought, real fucking soon.

 

 

 

 

“Look, these guys are still out there. What they did to you, they could do to someone else and I know that you don't want that. Besides… the sooner I get these guys, the sooner you'll be able to relax and heal. The sooner we can put this behind us and get on with our lives… together.” She sniffed softly but didn't say anything, not really understanding what he was saying, thinking that he referred to their continued hunt for the jewel shards.

 

 

 

 

Putting his mouth against her ear, he pulled her closer to the heat of his body so that she was leaning fully against him. He felt her tremble when she felt the jut of his erection against her back and was encouraged further when she didn't pull away. He wrapped his arms around her, shocked again at how tiny she really was, and rested his chin against her shoulder.

 

 

 

 

“What would you say if I were to ask you to be my mate?” he asked in a husky voice. He didn't know what had led him to ask her that question but the only excuse that he could say was that it had been her response to his kiss and the wild thought that maybe if he gave her something new to focus on that the dead look in her eyes would go away. His hold on her loosened when she whirled around in the circle of his arms so fast that he was almost knocked off of his feet in surprise.

 

 

 

 

“Mate? What does that mean? Is that what I think it is?” she asked in a small voice as she searched his face, looking for a hint that he might be joking. She didn't dare hope that she was really hearing Inuyasha asking her to be his wife. No it was too close to her one of her dearest, most private fantasies to really be true. She didn't know what she would do if she were to wake up and realize that all this was a dream. She watched his lips move but couldn't shake free from her daze long enough to catch all that he said. Instead she forced herself to focus long enough to catch the tail end of what he said.

 

 

 

 

“I had wanted to wait until Naraku was dead and we had gotten rid of the jewel but I think that the present is as good as any other. I want you to know that I'm here for you, that I still think that you are one of the most amazing women that I have ever met.” He watched cautiously as her brows drew down in consternation. He wandered what was going on in that pretty little head of hers but almost cursed a blue streak when she granted him his wish.

 

 

 

 

“What about Kikyo?”

 

 

 

 

“What about her? She's not all that important,” he said shortly, frustrated that she would latch onto the one conflict that had yet to be resolved between him and his former love. He knew Kagome's insecurities but he couldn't do anything to assure her that he was sincere unless he completely broke it off with Kikyo. Something that he couldn't do until he resolved the situation with her attackers in her time. Until then, he didn't want to think or even talk about Kikyo. This was about the two of them and their lives together, no one else.

 

 

 

 

“I thought that… you and she…that,” she was silenced by a clawed finger resting against her lips. He raised his hands and held her by the neck on both sides, his thumbs coming up to graze the sides of her cheeks. He rested his forehead against hers and looked her in the eyes.

 

 

 

 

“Did anyone ever tell you that you think too much?” he said, a little smirk pulling at the left corner of his mouth. Her blue- gray eyes widened before a bright smile burst across her face in response.

 

 

 

 

 

“Only you! Only you,” she whispered the last part as he leaned closer and pecked her lightly on the lips. She sighed happily before wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him closer for another, longer, deeper kiss. Things heated up fairly quickly and before she knew it, she laid on the bed with a very sexy, very amorous hanyou hovering over her. The kiss was steamy, wet and exciting and completely different from previous ones. This kiss was about possession plain and simple. He glided his hands lightly over her throat, dipping into the hollow of her delicate neck bones before sliding lower. She gasped out loud when she felt his large hand close over her right breast, the nipple beading tightly through her shirt. He seemed please with the hard pebbling because he squeezed and rolled it between his fingers before engulfing her breast and kneading it.

 

 

 

 

 

He took advantage of her surprise and delved his tongue into her mouth, mating it vigorously with her own. They both groaned and before she knew it, her shirt went sailing across the room and the heat of his mouth closed over her breast, her hands tangled in his long hair holding him there. She cried out at the searing heat of his tongue laving her nipple, his strong white teeth nipping the coral crest alternatively. The mix of pain and pleasure felt so good that she never wanted him to stop. He shifted his attention to the other breast, suckling just as avaraciously as he did the other, his hot palm kneading the wet bud of the other.

 

 

 

 

She felt the hard intense press of his lips against hers, felt her heart quicken and leap up to her throat. Its pace was frantic and grew more so when the fingers of one hand ghosted up the outer sides of her bare thigh to wrap it around his lean waist, the other hand leaving her breast and reaching up to twist possessively in her hair pulling her head back for a deeper probing of his tongue. His hard jean- clad thighs widened, spreading her own to make room for him and for a while he knelt there, kissing her witless.

 

 

 

 

She felt a heavy twinge at the bottom of her stomach as she felt the rough tip of his tongue caress alongside the corner of her mouth. His breath against her was hot and sweet, the damp feel of his tongue tangling with her own made the knot in her stomach tighten even more and the need to relieve the ache between her thighs became unbearable, made her desperate with need.

 

 

 

 

She pressed her body closer to his, trying in some way to relieve it and heard him moan when her wiggling caused her stomach to brush against the hard bulge of his jeans. His breathing was just as labored and fast as hers and she squealed in delight when his hand wove around to slide into the leg of the shorts to squeeze spasmodically at the bare flesh of her bottom. She moaned out loud again when he shifted his weight and pressed, then tentatively rocked the hard ridge of his erection right where she needed it the most.

 

 

 

 

“Mmm…Inuyasha…oh please, please,” she gasped, when he did it again and again, setting a slow, steady pace that only made her clutch at him and beg him to give her more. She felt his quick hot breaths on her ear as he moved against her and it excited her more that she could do that to him. She mewled and moved her hips against his, meeting his thrusts, clutching and pulling at his hair in her pleasure.

 

 

 

 

“Gods! Kagome…you like that?” he whispered against her mouth, he leaned up to push her full breasts together, the large crests of her puckered nipples enticing him, begging him to taste, instead he ignored them and licked a long wet trail along the deep crease of white flesh there. She was so sweet, so beautiful. Her face was flushed, her eyes closed in pleasure, her little rosebud mouth pursed into a circle and he loved that he was the one to give her that pleasure.

 

 

 

 

“Harder…please…oh please,” was the breathy sound of her stuttered plea. He grinned into her shoulder as she tightened her legs around him and weakly clawed at his bottom, trying to get him to push harder. When he didn't do what she wanted, she swatted him there and was pleased when his jerk of surprise caused him to press against her with just the right amount of pressure. He quickly got over his shock and growled sexily into her ear in mock anger before he ducked his head and gave her a wet, open- mouthed kiss that was so erotic that it left them both gasping afterwards.

 

 

 

Her eyes were wide open now and she looked him in the eyes. They continued that connection as he continued to slowly build her up with that slow and steady rocking, until finally at last, the spasm of her orgasm took hold of her. He watched her shudder, saw her eyes close as she reached that peak, even as he continued to thrust against her, and sent her once again over the edge. He pushed his face into the crook of her neck, licked and nibbled there before he followed after her over the same edge and lay panting against her for a long time. He was careful to keep most of his weight off of her not wanting to reopen the wound on her abdomen.

 

 

 

 

They were both wet from sweat and the pungent smell of sex permeated the air all around them but they were both content and comfortable, damp foreheads pressed together. When he rolled over to the side, throwing an arm over his brow, she felt immediately bereft and so she followed him, throwing one long leg across his waist. His warm hand came around, boldly running up her leg and rested possessively against the generous swell of her hip. Turning onto his side and propping his head against his hand, he looked down at her and smiled goofily, when she pulled close enough to kiss him on the neck.

 

 

 

 

“So I take it that the answer is a yes?” he asked, his wondrous eyes darting over her flushed face almost as if he couldn't get enough of looking at her.

 

 

 

 

“Yes!” was the exuberant reply as she smiled happily up at him.

 

 

 

 

Leaning over her, he kissed her softly, slowly before asking, “Did you like what I did to you?” he was pleased when she smiled again and nodded her head shyly as he twined their fingers together. He stared at her, into her eyes before bringing their joined hands together and kissing the back of her hand, all without looking away from her. His gaze softened as he watched her snuggle closer to him.

 

 

 

 

“Good. Now, maybe the next time when we make love again, you'll be completely naked and I'll be inside you,” he whispered huskily against her ear. He kissed her there and nibbled the edge of her lobe; wanting to love her all over again in the way that he had just described to her, “I promise that you'll love it.” He pulled away and watched in confusion as the happy smile fell away from her face and all color drained from her face. She stared up at him unseeingly for a while before fighting her way free of him to sit up.

 

 

 

 

“No! No!” she was trembling all over and immediately he got up and wrapped his arms around her as she shook her head over and over, crying out no the entire time. He cursed himself for being ten times the fool. How could he have done this to her? He knew what she had been through and he had sworn that he wouldn't push her like this. Now because of his impatience to have her, his gladness that she had agreed to become his mate, that he had allowed himself to forget what had been done to her.

 

 

 

 

“Aww baby I'm sorry…I…I'm an ass. I didn't mean…shit!” he was at a complete loss for words and all he could do was hold her.

 

 

 

 

Kagome felt terrible. She knew that he had mistakenly interpreted her outburst but she didn't correct him or even assure him that her present state wasn't his fault. The truth of it was that she couldn't manage to get any sound around the lump that sat in her throat but she let him hold her because she needed the comfort.

 

 

 

 

“I'm so sorry, Kagome. I wouldn't blame you if you decided not to be with me now. I didn't…”

 

 

 

 

“No! No, please don't. I want to be with you.” Kagome said. What he had began to say had her panicking and turning towards, clutching at him, wanting that to be enough to keep him with her. “Oh please. It's not you. I mean…I want to be with you that way…it's just that…just not now. I don't think I'm ready yet…but I do want to be your mate, if you still want me to be.”

 

 

 

“Shh, don't worry. I can wait. I don't want to rush you. We can take things as slowly as you want okay?”

 

 

 

 

“Okay,” she closed her eyes as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She opened them again as he got up from the bed and stalked across the room to where he had thrown her shirt. He stared at it a moment before looking back at her with a heated look in his eyes that was quickly veiled. That look was what reminded her that she sat up in the bed, her bare breasts out for all to see. She crossed her hands over her ample chest and watched as he prowled closer to her. He stood before her and handed her the shirt before leaning over her and pressing a hard kiss against her already swollen lips. He pulled away slightly and whispered, his hot breath tickling her wet lips.

 

 

 

 

“I'll be back later tonight, okay? I'll send your mother up with a plate for you.” He kissed her again, lingering a second more before walking out, quietly closing the door behind him.

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

Two different sets of emotions warred against each other inside of him. He was unsure of which one he should be feeling but he knew that they both were strong. Happiness at having secured his future with the woman that he wanted fought valiantly against anger with himself for pushing him-self on her the war that he had. He just couldn't understand this strange overwhelming urge to suddenly connect with Kagome on a physical level so badly when he had waited patiently for nearly two years. It was unsettling.

 

 

 

 

“What's wrong dear?” he was jerked out of his reverie by the soft, lilting sound of Itsuko's voice. He looked around him in bewilderment. His mind had been turned so far inward that he had not realized that he had made his way down the stairs into the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

“No, no. I'm fine. It's nothing. Uh…Kagome, could you take her something to eat. I got her to let me in.” he watched the concerned face of Kagome's mother brighten in delight before she set off scurrying about the kitchen preparing a plate of oden to take upstairs.

 

 

 

 

“Oh Inuyasha, I told Dad that you would be good for her. She responds so well to you that I don't know what she would've done if she didn't have you to rely on.” Itsuko, skipped over to him, both hands holding plates and tipped up on her toes to kiss his cheek. She pulled back and smiled at him. “Would you like to take your plate and eat with her dear?”

 

 

 

 

“No thank you. I'm heading down to the station with Nonomiya and his partner. I'll probably be back before dinner, maybe earlier.” He struggled with indecision, wandering if he should tell Itsuko about him and Kagome or leave it up to her. He decided to drop a hint and allow Kagome to broach the rest of the subject.

“Itsuko…” he waited until she put the plates down and turned to him before continuing. “What would you say if I asked Kagome to marry me?”

 

 

 

 

Itsuko stared at him in surprise, obviously unsure where that particular question had come in but before she could open her mouth to respond, both their attentions were drawn by the slamming of the screen door as Nonomiya stepped in from outside a disgruntled look on his craggy face.

 

 

 

 

“Ah, there you are boy. I thought for a minute there that I would have to come up and drag you in by that pretty long hair of yours. Come on then, times a wasting,” looking at Mrs. Higurashi, he tipped his hat to her and stepped back through the door. Inuyasha felt a little awkward after that, subconsciously looking down at the ground rather than Itsuko's face.

 

 

 

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

 

 

“Guess that's my cue then. I'll see you later,” With that he beat a hasty retreat from the house and followed after the detective who had already started down the shrine steps toward the black car waiting below.