InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Trap ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. I am not making any money from this.

Author's note: Kensei, the name of the incarnation of Naraku that I created, means feint or diversion.

Author's note 2: For those of you who have read my other Inuyasha story, “Protect Me, Hold Me, Love Me”, you will notice that there are similar themes. I actually started this story first when the idea for “Protect Me..” came to me, and when I got blocked on this one I wrote that story. I did try to keep things different where I could but there are some things that did still come out very similar.

Author's note 3: Warning: There is mature content later in this story. If you don't like that type of material or are not old enough, do not read.

4/1/10: I edited this to fix the problem with the past and present tense. I also added and changed some minor things. The major change is that the lemon scene has been expanded. I also broke the story up into two chapters as I decided it was too long for one chapter.

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Sengoku Jidai, Naraku's hidden fortress

The evil hanyou sat in his lair contemplating the large shard of the Shikon no Tama. “So beautiful, the taint is exquisite. I can't wait to see how the completed jewel will look once it is whole and tainted.” That thought brought to mind the others who were searching for the shards.

“That damn Inuyasha and his miko are purifying the taint out of the shards that they find. Why must that hanyou keep getting in my why? First he interfered with my plans to possess Kikyou and the Shikon no Tama fifty years ago, now he interferes with my search for the shards. And that miko of his ruins the work I am doing by purifying any shards she gets her hands on. I need a way to get them out of my way, preferably something that will make Inuyasha suffer.”

Naraku thought back on how he had turned Inuyasha and Kikyou against one another fifty years ago. “It was so satisfying to trick them into killing each other back then, but no, I think I want something different this time. I want Inuyasha to live and know that another woman he cared for is dead at his hands. I want him to suffer from that knowledge for a while before I finally put him out of my misery.” Thinking over previous battles with the inu-hanyou, Naraku remembered what happened with Goshinki. “That's right, when Inuyasha lost the Tessaiga, his youkai side took over and he was controlled by the blood lust. All he wanted to do was kill. That is the perfect plan.” Laughing evilly, Naraku summoned his newest incarnation.

“Kensei, come. I have a job for you.”

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Mountain Region, Sengoku Jidai

Inuyasha was leading the others along a rough path through the mountains. They had heard rumors of strange demon attacks occurring up in the area, and so they went to explore hoping to find a Shikon shard or a sign of Naraku's presence. The terrain was barren and rocky, making it difficult to navigate, and the path was narrow so that the group had to travel single file. It was also very hot and the area smelled heavily of sulfur as they were near some dormant volcanoes. They had been traveling for a while and were tired, and the patience of some of the travelers was wearing thin.

As they reached an area where the path widened into a small clearing, Kagome wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at each of her companions before stopping and calling to the hanyou. “Inuyasha, please, we need a break. We've been traveling all day and we need to rest.”

“Keh! No way, wench. We're not stopping until we find a shard or a sign of that bastard Naraku.”

“Inuyasha please, we're tired and need to rest. Some of us are only human, you know, and don't have the same endurance as you do.” Kagome was pleading, she didn't want to have to sit him but she needed to rest or she was going to collapse.

Inuyasha was about to reply with another command to keep moving when he happened to glance back at her and see how tired she really was. Seeing that their companions were in only slightly better condition he huffed and said “Fine, we can stop here for a short time so you weak humans can rest.”

Releasing sighs of relief, the others began making a temporary camp. Kagome took some of their rations from her bag and passed them to the others. She took a bowl and walked to where Inuyasha was leaning against a boulder. “Thank you Inuyasha” she said as she held it out to him with a smile.

“Keh” was his reply though he accepted the food with a slight flush as he looked away. He examined the land around them. It was vaguely familiar, he had passed through here long ago when he was much younger. If he remembered correctly, there was a forest he had stayed in on the other side of these mountains. He shook those thoughts away and began to eat.

The others happily enjoyed the food and rest, desperate to regain some of the energy expended during their long travels. Suddenly Shippou spoke up. “So why are we here anyway? I mean, what could be all the way out here that would attract any youkai.”

“I must admit, similar thoughts have occurred to me as well” Miroku spoke up. “There doesn't seem to be anything here that could attract the kinds of attacks that we have heard rumors of. This is beginning to feel like a diversion.”

As Miroku finished his comment, the ground nearby suddenly exploded upward and an impressive number of low level youkai poured out of the hole in the ground. Inuyasha and the others leaped to their feet, clutching their weapons, their fatigue forgotten as they prepared for the coming battle. “Thank you for the perfect introduction Monk” a voice spoke from the center of the hoard of demons. As everyone looked at the speaker, a tall, black-haired youkai in a formal kimono, he continued “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kensei, an incarnation of Naraku, and the one who will end your pitiful existences.” With that he gestured towards them, and the youkai descended on them.

Inuyasha cursed and attacked with Tessaiga, as Sango struck several youkai with the Hiraikotsu. Miroku was forced to rely on his staff and sutra as there were too many of Naraku's Saimyosho around. The presence of the poisonous insects made it impossible for him to use his Kazaana. In the rear of the group, Kagome tried to hit as many youkai as she could with her arrows, while Shippou used his fox-fire from her shoulder on any that got too close to them.

Kensei watched the battle closely from a point safely out of the reach of any of Inuyasha's group. `So far the plan is working perfectly. What fools to come so far into the middle of nowhere on simple `rumors', and so easy to catch by surprise. Now, I just need to wait for the perfect opportunity to grab the miko. There!' He thought as Kagome was sent sprawling by one of the low-level demons.

At her pained cry, Inuyasha quickly turned with a shouted curse and killed the offending youkai and several others that were nearby. Turning to check on Kagome, he froze upon seeing Naraku's incarnation holding her unconscious form securely over his shoulder. “Bastard! Let her go!” Shippou was lying unconscious on the ground but a quick glance showed he was not seriously injured.

With a dark chuckle Kensei said “Now why would I want to do that. My master has plans for this girl.” He gestured and even more youkai appeared, attacking the group again. “If you want her back so badly, come and get her, if you can.” With another laugh, the incarnation took to the air on the back of one of the low-level youkai.

Inuyasha cursed darkly and ripped through several youkai as he prepared to follow when a sudden rumble caught his attention, followed by a series of explosions that ripped through the area. “Watch out!” he yelled a warning to the others as the rock walls around the clearing began to collapse. As he jumped back to avoid the falling rocks, he saw Miroku grab Shippou before shoving Sango and Kirara into one of the openings in the rock face just before it was covered by a ton of rock. Getting to his feet and shaking his head as the rock slide finally ceased, Inuyasha noticed that all of the youkai had departed. Leaving that thought for now, he ran to the last place he had seen his friends. “Oi! Miroku! Sango! Are you alright?” His sensitive hearing was able to catch their muffled replies.

Slap. “Pervert! We are fine Inuyasha,” came Sango's response.

“Ouch. But Sango I was just checking you for injuries.” Inuyasha heard the monk say and knew the bouzu was fine. “We are in one of the tunnels that the youkai must have been hiding in. Can you clear some of the rocks away?” He called louder to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha looked over the blocked entrance and swore. “It'll take too long. The entrance is completely blocked and doesn't look stable. If I shift anything it could cause another rock slide right on top of your heads. And that bastard is getting away with Kagome.” He swore profusely, torn between helping his friends and going after Kagome.

He could hear a brief, muffled conversation from the others but it was too low for him to make out and then Sango called out “Inuyasha, go after Kagome-chan. We'll be fine and it looks like this tunnel might have another exit. If not, you can always come back to us later but Kagome-chan needs you now.”

That was all Inuyasha needed to hear. With a quick acknowledgment to his friends he took off in the direction he had last seen Kensei and Kagome, allowing his nose to guide him while he thought `Hold on Kagome, I'm coming.' He traveled at full speed deeper into the mountains.

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Kagome woke with a muffled groan. `What happened? Why does my head hurt so much? And what is in my mouth?' As her head began to clear, she opened her eyes and found herself looking around a barren area, surrounded by walls of rock. Her arms were suspended above her and she glanced up to see that she was bound to a wall of rock by thick rope. She also found that she was gagged. She quickly recalled the battle and seeing Naraku's incarnation before everything went black. `Not again.' She thought. `Inuyasha's going to be pissed. I got kidnapped, again.' She futilely pulled on her bindings but they were too tight.

“Finally awake I see.” Turning her head, she spotted Naraku's latest incarnation, Kensei, lounging against a boulder, and renewed her struggles. “Now, now, you don't want to hurt yourself. I wouldn't want you to miss the show. After all you are the main attraction.” She looked at him in confusion. “Uh-uh, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Don't worry, your hanyou should be here soon, then the fun should really start.” And he laughed, dismissing her from his attention.

Kagome spent the next few minutes trying to figure out a way out of the mess she was in while worrying about Kensei's words. `I'm obviously the bait in a trap for Inuyasha but what is he planning.' Her thoughts were interrupted by Kensei again.

“Ah. Here he comes now. Showtime.”

Meanwhile, Inuyasha had traveled as fast as he could, letting his nose lead him to Kagome. He knew it was a trap but didn't care. `If that bastard has so much as hurt a hair on her head I'll rip him to shreds. Forget that, I'm going to do it anyway for daring to lay a hand on her in the first place.' He growled and increased his pace again.

Finally, he reached his destination. Looking down into the former volcano he was unable to stop his snort as he said “What is it with Naraku and volcanoes?” He quickly forgot those thoughts as he spotted Kagome tied to the far wall, and he leaped down. “Kagome!” At least she didn't appear to be hurt.

But he never reached her. As soon as he landed he was swarmed by youkai as they appeared out of their hiding places again. “Damn it. Fucking not again.” He drew Tessaiga and began tearing the youkai apart, alternating between his sword and his claws. “Can't even use the Kaze no Kizu. That would bring the whole place down on top of us, including Kagome. Damn it.” The youkai were no match for him but there were so many and they were slowing him down, keeping him from reaching Kagome.

He growled when he heard laughter and spotted Kensei standing near Kagome. “That's it Inuyasha. You've walked right into my trap. Does the girl mean so much to you that you are willing to throw your life away for her? I wonder what is so special about her. Hmm” and Kensei grasped her head in his clawed hands, tilting it this way and that as if trying to see what made her special, ignoring her feeble attempts to pull away.

Inuyasha saw red. “Bastard! Don't you dare fucking touch her! I'm going to-“ and Inuyasha proceeded to describe in detail exactly what he planned to do to Kensei as he continued to destroy the lesser youkai standing in his way.

Kensei laughed again. “And how do you plan to do that when you will soon be dead? You have walked right into my trap and now it is time for the real fun to start.” A snap of his fingers and the youkai swarmed Inuyasha again. As Inuyasha snarled and tore into the youkai, a whip materialized in Kensei's hand before he unfurled it, lashing out towards Inuyasha.

Inuyasha was taken by surprise and cursed as the whip wrapped around the Tessaiga, dragging it out of his grip. “Now Inuyasha, let's see how well you do without your precious sword” Kensei said as he used his whip to toss the Tessaiga to the other side of the former volcano, completely out of Inuyasha's reach.

“Bastard! I don't need my sword to deal with a weakling like you. You fucking coward! Why don't you fight me yourself?!”

“No I think I'll let my friends here play with you a bit longer.” Kensei gestured again and the youkai swarmed Inuyasha, piling on top of him. As Inuyasha cursed and continued to tear them apart he couldn't help but wonder where they were all coming from. `Where the fuck is he getting all of these youkai from? They're no match for me, but they are starting to wear me down through the sheer fucking numbers of them. I've got to end this soon. Kagome needs me.' With that thought he renewed his struggles, enraged at the thought of Kagome in danger.

`Hmm. Almost there. One more push should do it.' Kensei thought as he watched the hanyou desperately trying to fight his way over to the bound miko. “This is starting to get boring Inuyasha. I think that while you play with my friends here, I'll have some fun with your little miko. I'm sure my master won't mind. He only told me to keep her alive, not unharmed.” He taunted Inuyasha.

Inuyasha saw red at the implied threat to Kagome. His last conscious thought as his body pulsed and rage swept through him was to protect Kagome, rip these youkai to shreds and destroy the bastard that would threaten her. With a snarl he threw all of the youkai off of him and quickly tore through them. He wasn't thinking any longer, completely lost to the blood lust and the need to kill, to destroy. He was reduced to instincts and simple thoughts. The youkai around him were threats and so needed to die. His elongated claws made short work of the lesser youkai, and his red and blue eyes looked around for other prey to satisfy his blood lust.

Kagome watched in horror as Inuyasha transformed into his full youkai form. She had watched him fighting all of the youkai and had had a bad feeling when she saw Kensei separate him from the Tessaiga. She had felt a flash of fear when she heard Kensei make that threat against her, but now, staring at the transformed Inuyasha, she had a sinking feeling of what the incarnation's plan actually was. She renewed her struggles to free herself but the rope was too tight. All she succeeded in doing was causing the rope to bite into her skin and blood to flow down her arms from her wrists.

Kensei watched with satisfaction as Inuyasha transformed into a mindless full youkai only interested in killing. As he watched Inuyasha destroy the last of the lesser youkai, he whispered to the bound girl, confirming her fears. “And now for the main attraction. I wonder how your hanyou will react when he changes back and realizes that your blood is staining his claws.” And with that parting shot, Kensei leaped to an outcropping of rock to watch the proceedings from a position of safety.

Youkai-Inuyasha growled as he finished off the last of the low-level youkai he had been fighting. His blood still boiled for a fight. He sniffed and looked around for more prey. He could sense another youkai but it was weak and he growled when he realized that it was far up on the cliff wall. Considering the youkai as too weak and not worth the climb, he dismissed it as another scent reached him. Blood. He snapped his around and his gaze quickly came to rest on Kagome.

Kagome was frightened. She now knew what Naraku and his incarnation had planned and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She thought furiously, trying to think of a way to snap Inuyasha out of his transformation but she could think of nothing. She was bound to the wall, unable to reach the Tessaiga, and the gag prevented her from calling out to Inuyasha or even using the kotadama rosary to subdue him. She froze as his red and blue eyes locked onto her bound form.

Youkai-Inuyasha smirked as he spotted the miko bound to the rock wall. `More prey' he thought but frowned as something about her scent made him pause. He stared at her and sniffed, a voice in the back of his head insisting that he not harm her. However, his head hurt when he tried to figure out where the voice was coming from and why it was telling him that. He shook his head to clear it and dismissed the voice from his mind, deciding to examine the girl instead. He quickly approached her. Now that he was right in front of her he could tell that there was something familiar about her, about her scent. He could also smell his own scent mingled with hers. He frowned and moved his head near her neck, sniffing carefully.

Kagome clenched her eyes closed, a tear slipping down her face, when Inuyasha approached. `This is it. This is the end. I have no way to stop him. Poor Inuyasha, he's never going to be able to forgive himself.' She gave no thought to herself, only thinking about how much pain this was going to cause the one she loved. She was startled out of her thoughts when she felt something warm and wet on her neck, followed by something sharp. Her eyes flew open in shock and pain. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.

Inuyasha gave a little growl as he breathed in her sweet scent. She was familiar though he could not recall where from. And her scent; it was the most wonderful thing he had ever smelled. He leaned closer to her neck. `Not prey. Mate. MINE.' His tongue darted out of his mouth to taste her flesh and he gave a growl of contentment, before he gently bit down on the exposed flesh, but not hard enough to break skin. “Mine” he growled low as he continued to nip at her neck. He frowned when he smelled fear enter his mate's scent.

`Oh Kami, no.' were Kagome's thoughts as she realized that Inuyasha had bit her throat. She was surprised that other than that brief pain when she first felt his fangs, it hadn't really hurt. `He's toying with me. He's going to make it last. Oh, Kami. Please Inuyasha, snap out of this. I wish there was some way to stop you. I don't care if I die, I just don't want you to have to live with the knowledge of what you are about to do. I wish I could spare you from this.' Tears began to roll down her face.

`Mate afraid? Why is mate afraid?' Inuyasha pulled back slightly to look at her and frowned as he noticed the tears flowing down her face. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her cheek before licking away the tears. He let a low growl rumble out of his chest to soothe her, and then buried his face in her neck, trying to offer her comfort.

Kagome was shocked when she felt his arms wrap around her, and then his tongue on her face. `He's not attacking? It's almost like he's trying to comfort me. Inuyasha?' she thought.

Meanwhile, Kensei had been watching this from his seat high above them. He had laughed and sent jeering taunts to Kagome when Inuyasha approached her; he believed that she was about to be torn to pieces. However, he grew confused when the transformed hanyou wrapped his arms around the girl. `Why isn't he attacking her? He's supposed to be killing her, a mindless beast lost to the blood lust.' He grew angry and started yelling down “Stupid! You are supposed to kill her not hug her. What do you think you are doing?! Use your claws fool!”

Inuyasha heard the other youkai yelling but ignored it as if it were an insect buzzing in the background. Instead he stayed focused on his mate, soothing her and trying to determine what had scared her in the first place. Kensei, not liking that he was being ignored, jumped down from his perch to land a few feet away and continue his tirade against the transformed hanyou. But other than a growl in his direction, Inuyasha continued to ignore him.

`This won't do. I have to get him to attack her or Naraku will kill me. Naraku wants her dead at his hands or I would just do it myself. Hmm. Maybe what he needs is some encouragement. I bet the scent of her blood will drive him wild.' And with that Kensei materialized a dagger and struck, landing a blow in Kagome's right shoulder.

Kensei was right about the scent of Kagome's blood driving Inuyasha wild but wrong about his target. As soon as he heard his mate's pained whimper and smelled her blood, he turned with a snarl and lashed out at the one who had hurt her. He made short work of tearing Kensei to shreds for daring to touch his mate, and then hurried back to her. `Mate hurt. Must take care of mate.' He noted that she had passed out from the pain while he had been fighting the other youkai. He cradled his mate to his body and slashed at the rope where it hung from the rock wall. He made to remove the rope completely but paused as he realized that he wouldn't be able to move as fast if he carried her in his arms. He knew that the easiest way to carry her would be for her to stay on his back but she was in no condition to support herself. An idea came to him as he stared at the rope and he lifted her to his back and slipped her bound hands around his neck so that the rope kept her from slipping off. Looking around he tried to think of a place he could bring her to heal her. `Not safe here. Must get mate to safety, must protect mate.' A hazy memory surfaced in his mind and he quickly took off, leaving only the bodies of the dead youkai and a forgotten sword as the only sign that they had ever been there.

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Inuyasha traveled as fast as he could for several hours. He knew his mate needed her wounds taken care of but he could tell that they were not fatal and decided that it was more important to get her somewhere safe first. He had left the barren mountains behind him a short time ago and entered a forest that seemed vaguely familiar. Upon entering the forest, he had slowed his pace and looked around. Deciding that he had been here before and not detecting any danger, he sniffed and carried his mate to a stream that he smelled nearby.

Sniffing the area carefully and not detecting any threats, Inuyasha laid his mate down next to the stream and carefully examined her wound. He carefully used his claws to slice away her shirt and the strange white binding on her chest then rinsed away the blood with water from the stream.

Kagome awoke to a throbbing pain in her shoulder. She could hear running water nearby and knew that she was no longer in the former volcano. `What happened? How did I get here? Where is Inuyasha?' were some of the thoughts floating through her mind. She opened her eyes as she felt something cold and wet on her shoulder. Kagome relaxed when she saw the familiar fire-rat but froze when she looked up and saw that Inuyasha was still in his transformed state. She began to edge away but was stopped by a warning growl from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha was pleased to see that the wound on her shoulder didn't look too deep, and even more pleased to see that his mate had woken up. However, he frowned and let out a growl when she tried to move away from him. Satisfied that she wasn't going anywhere, he lowered his face to her shoulder and began to lick at her wound, instinctively knowing that his saliva would be able to help it heal. Once that was done he sniffed her again and frowned when he still detected the scent of her blood. Inuyasha looked over her carefully and noticed that her hands, still bound together by the rope, were slightly swollen and that that is where the blood was coming from. He carefully sliced the rope away, not wanting to cause her any more pain, and then proceeded to subject her wrists to the same treatment that her shoulder received.

Kagome was shocked and confused by how gentle the transformed hanyou was being. `He's taking care of me.' She realized. `Does he recognize me?' Once her hands were freed and wrists treated, she rubbed them to renew circulation and then reached up to remove the gag from her mouth. She spat a few times to clear the taste of it from her mouth, and was further confused when a clawed hand gently pressed her head down near the stream while the other carefully brought a handful of water to her mouth. Kagome carefully drank the offered water, and when Inuyasha was satisfied enough to release her, she turned her head to look at him.

“Inuyasha?” she called and he cocked his head at her. “Inuyasha do you recognize me? Can you understand me?” He merely looked at her for a moment before leaning forward and burying his face in her neck again. Kagome could feel her face heat up in a blush at the close contact and muttered “I guess not.” She realized then that she is naked from the waist up and blushed even more. She made to cover herself with her arms only to be stopped by his growl. His actions continued to confuse her though they were having an effect on her body as she felt heat pool in her lower body and wetness between her legs.

Inuyasha continued to sniff at her neck, growling low and placing gentle licks and nips to her soft flesh. When his sensitive nose detected the slight change in scent indicating her arousal, he stood and pulled her into his arms. Ignoring her gasp, he took off to where he vaguely remembered a cave. Pulling on hazy memories he could barely recall, Inuyasha was able to find a suitable shelter.

Kagome blinked in confusion when Inuyasha stopped before what appeared to be a rock wall at the base of a hill. It was obvious that they were nowhere near the mountain that they had been at earlier, and she couldn't help but wonder how far they had traveled while she had been unconscious. The setting sun told her that she had been out for a while. She frowned when she noticed Inuyasha approaching a section of blank wall and called “Inuyasha?” but of course received no response. However, she was surprised when he continued to walk straight at that section of rock and instead of the expected collision with stone, he entered a cave. Looking closer she was able to see how the rocks blended together and you wouldn't be able to see the entrance to the cave unless you knew it was there to look for it. Looking around the cave Kagome could see that it had obviously been occupied at one point but not recently. There was a stack of wood in one corner of the cave and towards the back she could see what appeared to be a pile of furs. There were also a handful of cooking utensils and a couple of bowls piled against the wall. However, the dust and debris that littered the cave floor revealed that no one had been inside for many years. `How did he know to come here?' she wondered.

Inuyasha looked around the cave with approval. He set Kagome down near the entrance and growled to indicate that he wanted her to stay there. He quickly grabbed some wood from the pile and started a fire in the pit at the center of the cave. Once that was done he moved to the back where he saw what was obviously his sleeping place. It was a hole dug a foot or two into the floor of the cave and then lined with fur pelts. As he examined this spot he can tell that several of the pelts at the top had rotted with age but the rest were fine and still provided a decent pad against the cold floor of the cave. He grabbed the old, rotted pelts and used them to clear out all the debris, sweeping it out of the cave and into a nearby ditch. Once he was satisfied that the cave was clean enough he went back to where he had left Kagome and brought her to the bed, gesturing for her to sit.

Kagome had watched in shock as Inuyasha quickly cleaned the small cave. She sat down automatically when he gestured at the bed, too lost in thought to think much of it. However, when she saw Inuyasha start to exit the cave, she immediately got up to follow him. Her movements were halted when he turned and growled at her, indicating that he wants her to stay put. She got the message, and still unsure of what might set him off in this state, she sat back down and absently draped one of the pelts around her body. He grunted in approval and then left.

While he is gone she is able to concentrate on her thoughts. `He knew that this cave was here, and he automatically knew where everything was. But this place doesn't look like anyone's been here in years. Could this be where he lived, fifty years ago?' She looked around the cave again. Another thought occurred to her. `He was able to find this place, even in his transformed state. And he hasn't hurt me; instead he has taken care of me. Does that mean that some part of him is still there, still remembers?' She was shaken from her thoughts when Inuyasha reappeared with a couple of dead rabbits.

Inuyasha quickly offered one of the rabbits to Kagome but she blanched and shook her head. Inuyasha growled at her, not liking that she was refusing to eat the food he had provided. He pushed it at her face and growled again when she pushed it away.

Kagome spoke up when she saw the dangerous look on his face. “No Inuyasha. I can't eat it like that.” He cocked his head at her, confused. Kagome sighed and gestured to the fire. “I need my food cooked. I can't eat it raw like you do.”

Glancing from the rabbit to the fire, Inuyasha was able to understand why she was refusing. He went to the fire and was about to toss the rabbit in but was stopped by Kagome. “No, not like that.” Now he was really confused. First she tells him he to cook her food but when he tried to she tells him no.

Kagome couldn't help but laugh at the look of confusion on Inuyasha's face, which changed to surprise when he heard her laugh. “I'm sorry Inuyasha, I know I must be confusing you. But before you cook the rabbit, you have to clean it. There are parts that I can't eat like you do. Here, can you skin the rabbit and I'll show you what I mean.” Inuyasha followed her directions and soon the rabbit was roasting on a spit over the fire. Inuyasha looked down at the parts she had told him to get rid of and growled. No wonder his mate was so thin if she wasted so much food. Some of the parts she had him reject were the best parts. Kagome heard his growl and saw him look at the remains of the rabbit. “It's okay Inuyasha. If you want, you can have those.” He looked at her and then quickly ate what she had rejected in addition to the other rabbit. Kagome had to turn around as a shudder went through her so that he wouldn't see her react to his eating habits.

Once the remaining rabbit was finished cooking, Inuyasha removed it from the fire and held it out to her. Kagome refused, making him growl again and wonder what was wrong now. Who knew his mate could be so picky about her food? “Sorry Inuyasha. I have to wait a few minutes or I'll burn myself.” Inuyasha quickly understood her meaning this time and decided to help her out. He began to tear off small strips of the meat and held the first to her mouth, growling when she blushed and tried to refuse. Seeing the look on his face, Kagome realized that he must be reaching the end of his patience and hesitantly opened her mouth, allowing him to feed her. The rabbit tasted delicious and made her realize how hungry she was, causing her to quickly forget her embarrassment over Inuyasha feeding her.

Once the rabbit was finished, she sighed and rubbed her stomach in contentment. She felt safe and warm with a full belly. She knew she should do something but was too content to move. However, that changed as she became aware of Inuyasha's gaze.

Inuyasha had watched as his mate had eaten every morsel of the cooked rabbit. He growled in approval at seeing her eat, knowing that she would need her strength. But now that she had eaten her fill, his gaze darkened and he began to emit a low growl as he stared intently at her, sniffing in her direction. His claws flexed and he felt his body tense as he prepared to pounce.

Kagome had become increasingly nervous as she saw the way he was staring at her. She could tell something had changed by his body posture, by how tense he had become but she wasn't sure what. However, as she saw him crouch and prepare to pounce in her direction, she let her fear take over. “OSUWARI!” she yelled as loud as she could and she began to run. She heard the thump behind her but barely made it to the cave entrance before the spell had worn off and he grabbed her.

Inuyasha growled as he felt himself slam into the floor. His mate was trying to run and that set off all of his instincts. He fought against the force trying pin him to the ground, succeeding and going after his mate, grabbing her before she can get away. With a deep growl he turned and tossed her on to her stomach on top of the pile of furs, the movement knocking the pelt she had wrapped around her body aside, and then climbed on top of her, pinning her down. When he felt her struggle against him, he growled louder and bit down on the back of her neck to get his point across, though not hard enough to draw blood. She stilled beneath and he gave one more growl before releasing her and moving off of her back to sit at her side.

Kagome had frozen with fear when she felt Inuyasha bite her. Her heart was pounding in her chest as the full situation hit her. She had used the subjugation command and he had not changed back. Even worse, the command hadn't lasted anywhere near as long as it usually did. 'Is his full youkai form too strong for the kotadama?' she wondered. With him pinning her to the ground and his teeth on her neck she was completely helpless. She let a sigh of relief escape her as she felt him release her, and she rolled over and sat up. She glanced nervously at Inuyasha but he didn't seem inclined to attack her. Instead he looked her body up and down, making her more nervous and embarrassed as she remembered her state of dress. She froze again, closing her eyes when she saw him reach out with his clawed hands, only to be puzzled when she didn't feel him tearing into her. She reopened her eyes in time to see him shred the last of her clothing. With a shocked cry she opened her mouth and started to subdue him again. “Osu-“ She was cut off as she found herself pinned again with his teeth on her neck, this time hard enough to draw blood. She froze, wondering how she will get out of this. She suddenly recalled one of her science lessons on dogs and wolves, and how they submit to alphas. Hoping that the same things would apply to an Inu-youkai, she tilted her head and bared her neck to Inuyasha, showing him her submission.

Inuyasha growled in approval when his mate finally submitted. He gently licked at her neck where he had bitten to show her that he accepts her submission and all is forgiven. He removed the last of her clothing, followed by his own.

Kagome just continued to lay there with her eyes clenched shut as she felt the last of her clothing disappear. She muffled her gasps and whimpers in the pelts but was unable to prevent the tears that leaked out from beneath her eyelids when she felt Inuyasha's hard, naked body lay next to her and pull her to him. His hands ran up and her body possessively, touching her in ways that she had never been touched before and she felt more tears slip free as she felt her body react to his touch. 'This isn't right. I'm not the one he really wants. This isn't really Inuyasha.'

Inuyasha buried his face in her neck again as he wrapped his arms around her body and let his hands wander. He could feel her body reacting to his touch and his own hardened in response. In his head he is chanting `Mine, mine, mine. My mate, mine.' He continued to breathe in her scent, nuzzling and licking her neck. The scent of her body's arousal reached him and he began to move his hands to position her when another scent reached him. The scent of her tears. He paused in his actions as he tried to determine what was wrong. `Mate sad? Why is mate crying?' He cocked his head, turning to look at her. `Comfort mate.' He rolled her over so that she faced him and proceeded to gently lick the tears away and nuzzled her cheek. He then rolled her onto her side so that he could spoon her from behind, holding her gently but firmly against his chest while letting a low growl, more like a purr, rumble out of his chest to soothe her.

Kagome relaxed when all Inuyasha did was continue to hold her against his chest and nuzzle her neck. `This actually feels kind of nice' she thought. The noise Inuyasha was emitting was soothing and Kagome found herself relaxing and leaning back against his chest of her own volition.

When Inuyasha felt her relax and move closer to him he began to lick her neck again. Slowly he made his way down her body with his tongue, licking first her neck, then her throat and collarbone, before moving to her back and down her spine. However, he felt her body begin to stiffen against him again before he was able to move very far. Sniffing, he could detect that fear was beginning to enter her scent again. With a frown he moved back up to her neck and nipped it lightly where it connects to her shoulder before nuzzling her and burying his face in her neck. `Mate not ready yet' he decided. `Soon but not now.' He continued to hold her and soothe her with his rumbling growl.

Kagome was able to relax again when she felt him move his head back to her neck and wrap his arms around to just hold her. Once she was sure that he wouldn't try anything else, she allowed his low rumble to soothe her into a deep sleep. Inuyasha soon followed her.