InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 24

Damn! I didn't think bringing Kikyou in would generate such strong responses. I'm interested to see the reactions she gets in future chapters.

And if anyone is not reading Of Gods and Monsters by Niamh, I highly recommend it. The story is just about flawless.

I wonder…since the whole story is rated NC-17, do I even need to warn people about lemons? Ah, well. Lemon ahoy.

Chapter 24

In a small meeting room, there was silence. Masaharu struggled with the news he had been given. Malia stood next to him, expressionless. Sesshomaru had arrived at his father's summons, and stood watching his brother coldly. Inu Yasha sat on the floor, still unable to lift his head.

"So…she did not die." Masaharu said slowly. "Inu Yasha. Look at me."

Inu Yasha flinched, but could not disobey the command.

"Will this interfere with your ability to fight? Am I going to have to dismiss you and your pack?"

He swallowed before answering. "No, Clan Leader."

"Good. Because if you continue in this way, that will be the result."

"But…" his voice broke, and he started again, voice gaining strength, "It's my fault she's out there. I didn't protect her, and now Naraku has her. I can't leave without setting her free."

"I understand your feeling of responsibility. But do not neglect your current duties. That girl is fighting to kill us all." His father's voice hardened. "If it is ever a choice between her and one of us, she must die."

Inu Yasha nodded, chastened. His expression twisted, and he looked sick, just before a knock on the door.

Masaharu called out permission to enter. A shaken and pale Kagome walked in.

"Daughter." Masaharu's voice was gentle. "My son has done you a grievous wrong. It is well within your rights to demand punishment."

Kagome was silent a moment. Part of her wanted to scream and rail, and cause him as much pain as he caused her. But she knew she couldn't deliberately hurt him like that; it wasn't in her. Besides, if she was fair, she knew he was not hurting her on purpose. He could not help his feelings.

The Clan Leader and Clan Mother waited respectfully for her response. Sesshomaru's face gave nothing away, while Inu Yasha barely stirred from his mental self-flagellation. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and strained.

"I ask no punishment for his action. He will have to live with his decision. I cannot fault him for his feelings of responsibility-but for the rest of his life, he will know that in that instant he chose another woman over me."

Silence met her words, and Inu Yasha fought to contain the agonized howl that wanted to burst from him.

Malia finally spoke, after a look from her mate. "If that is your decision, daughter, then we leave you with your Bonded." She turned and walked out of the room without another glance at her son. Masaharu and Sesshomaru followed a step behind, with the Clan Leader giving his son a sympathetic glance as he went.

The sound of the door closing was the last sound for moments, and Inu Yasha struggled to explain himself.

"Kagome…"

"I know this is hard for you, but understand it's also difficult for me." She interrupted him. "I had almost convinced myself that we were…that you could…" she broke off, unable to continue.

She walked over to where he sat, and sank on the floor next to him. "You loved her, and you thought she was dead. Then she appears, fighting with your hated enemy."

A choked noise escaped from her mate. "Don't…don't…"

She rested a small hand on his stomach, and laid her head on his shoulder. "As much as it hurts me right now, I have to say this." She met his golden eyes and wanted to weep from the pain she saw there. She had blocked off the Bond as much as possible, because she did not think she could function otherwise.

"If you need her to be happy, then I want you to go to her. I told you that I don't want you staying with me out of obligation. I want you to…to love me." This time the tears broke free, but she plowed through. "I want you to love me like I love you. And if I can't have that, then-"

She never finished her sentence as he lifted her onto his lap and curled around her body. He rocked back and forth, wanting nothing more than to end this pain, this agony that stabbed through him with each of her sobs. He couldn't stop her tears, not when it took everything he had to fight back his own.

*I don't deserve you or your love. How can I deserve you when I couldn't protect her? If I can't save her, then I'll never feel worthy of you.* His voice crackled into her mind relentlessly, and she could feel the desperation behind the words.

*But I will never give you up. Never. You are mine, I am yours, and it will be that way until our souls are no more.*

Kagome ruefully noted the contradiction between his two statements, but did not bring it up. Real feelings were like that, she knew.

*I love you. I trust you with my life. And I'll help you help her.* Kagome put as much emotion behind the sending as she could, needing him to believe and understand her. She needed to help him, or the two of them could never move on and become one as they were meant to be.

"Kagome," he whispered in wonder. Running a hand through her hair, he tipped her head back for a kiss. She responded eagerly, and he felt his need for her spike. He had to reconfirm their connection, reinforce their Bond. Perversely, he feared her leaving even though he was the one with the conflicted heart.

He slid his hands under her tunic, sliding his claws up her sides to cup her breasts. She moaned as he lightly pinched her nipples and he inhaled her musky scent as her arousal grew. Pulling back abruptly, he stood, pulling her to her feet.

"I need you now." He growled. At her nod, he fumbled at her breeches. She slapped his hands away and pulled them off herself. He freed his member, not bothering to lower his breeches as he continued to kiss her fiercely.

The only sounds in the room were grunts and soft moans. Inu Yasha lifted Kagome into his arms and pinned her against the wall. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she snaked her arms around his neck.

She blocked out everything but what she was feeling now. The cold of the stone on her back, his scorching heat on her front. No matter what waited for them outside this room, right at this second, she could give him exactly what he needed.

Burying his face in her neck, he began to lower her onto his shaft.

"No!" Kagome gasped. He looked at her, confusion in his molten eyes. "Look at me."

Keeping her gaze the entire time, he continued to enter her, as she struggled to keep her eyes open. He remained unmoving within her for a few moments; she began to squirm, the rough stone scratching her back. Then he began to thrust into her, maintaining eye contact the whole while.

"Kagome," he breathed. True to her word, she kept her eyes on him, even as his movements made her want to close her eyes with pleasure. Looking in his eyes, she could know that she was the only thing on his mind right now.

She tightened her legs around him as his thrusts grew shallower and more rapid. He again dove for her throat, and this time she did not stop him. His growls vibrated against her sensitive skin and she shivered. She could tell he was close, and although he felt good inside her, she was nowhere near the mind-numbing completion that was always the result of their lovemaking.

Inu Yasha could feel his need overwhelming him, but Kagome's scent was not changing to match his own…and he needed it to. He needed her with him. He had done her so much wrong-he never wanted to fail her again, even in this. With willpower he did not know he possessed, he withdrew from his mate, panting heavily.

"Inu Yasha?" Kagome was confused as he lowered her to her feet. He did not bother to answer, but instead simply dropped to his knees and set his mouth on her.

Her eyes grew huge, and she slapped a hand against her mouth to muffle the shuddering moans his actions produced. His tongue mimicked the earlier actions of his shaft, then glided up to her most sensitive spot and worked it back and forth. He placed his hands on her legs as they threatened to buckle and held her steady as he continued to drive her insane.

Kagome didn't believe she could take much more when he suddenly switched from licking that spot to drawing it into his mouth and sucking. A broken cry was wrenched from her, and her nails dug into her mate's shoulders. Inu Yasha could tell she was now close. Remaining on his knees, he pulled her down on his lap and entered her once again.

Kagome came hard as soon as he filled her, stifling the sounds in his shoulder. He continued to move her up and down on his shaft, experiencing her orgasm through all five senses. He felt her convulsing around him; heard her moans of ecstasy; smelled her heightened scent, watched her beautiful face as she rode her peak; and tasted her on his lips.

Now that he had seen to her, he could work towards his own release, which he knew would be any moment now.

Coming down from her own climax, Kagome pushed at her mate's shoulders. He willingly laid back on the floor, but kept his grip on her hips. She ground her pelvis against him, wanting to drive her mate to the same madness she had experienced. His thrusts once again grew rapid and shallow, and she leaned forward to kiss him. The movement drove him deeper within her, and he came with a low groan.

The two lay there spent for a few moments. Then Inu Yasha gently lifted Kagome away and dressed her. After making himself presentable, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to her chamber. She kept her head buried in his shoulder, wanting the outside world to intrude as little as possible. As she heard him kick closed the door to her chamber, she finally looked up at him. Unerringly making his way to her bed in the darkened room, he laid her gently down and undressed her once again. Taking off his own clothes, he lay beside her and took her in his arms. He handled her with such aching tenderness that it brought her to tears all over again.

"Did I hurt you?" he whispered, tracing her features.

"No," she managed.

"Then why are you crying?" he asked.

Kagome's tears threatened to overwhelm her as she struggled to answer him. "I'm crying because you won't." she managed. And with that, her block fell, and their emotions met and tangled along their connection. And rather than overwhelm her, as Kagome had feared, sharing the pain made it easier to bear, and allowed them to draw strength from each other.

***

As Sango guessed, once Miroku had eaten his fatigue caught up to him. As she watched him weaving from exhaustion, Sango surprised them both by offering him her bed. Miroku looked at her incredulously.

"Well, you won't be able to get enough rest in the barracks. I know you gave up your chamber when the army got here." She stammered. "You've been awake too long, you need your rest."

"I thank you then." He said slowly. Without another word, he allowed Sango to guide him back to her chamber.

Once there, he was yawning once again. Leaning his staff against the wall, he could barely keep his eyes open. Sitting on the bed, he began to swing his legs over.

"Are you planning to sleep that way?" Sango asked.

"Like what?"

"Clothed. It can't be comfortable." Sango struggled to keep her voice non-committal.

Miroku's attempt at a seductive look was ruined by another yawn. Sango rolled her eyes. "Stand up." He was all but asleep on his feet in any case.

He obediently stood; allowing her to remove his purple stole and lay it to the side. She then removed his robe, leaving him in leggings. Reaching around him, she pulled down the covers, then pushed him onto the bed. Sighing, she saw he still wore his sandals and bent to remove those as well. At last, she pulled the covers over him and prepared to leave.

She chuckled to herself when she thought of how her actions would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. She fondly looked at the drowsing man in her bed and smiled. Funny how war puts things into perspective.

He reached out and took her hand.

"Stay." He murmured.

She stiffened. "I can't…I'm not ready for that."

He gave a slow chuckle. "You have more confidence in me than I have in myself. I am no threat to you in this condition. I only want to be around you as long as I can." He sleepily stroked her hand with his thumb and smiled.

"You make it sound like you plan to go somewhere." She teased softly.

He forced his eyes open to drive home his sincerity. "I am not sure I could leave you if I wanted to."

She blushed in pleasure. "All right, I'll stay." She replied softly. He moved over, making room for her to sit next to him in the bed.

He closed his eyes, and she assumed he had fallen asleep until he spoke again. "I love you."

"I know." She responded.

"I would do anything to keep you safe."

"I know that." She ran one hand over his forehead and he smiled. Sango sat and watched as the rise and fall of his chest slowed, and his breath evened out. Even as he fell into slumber, his grip on her hand remained firm.

Sango looked at their joined hands. This was not the kind of tenacity and attachment she would have expected from the lecherous monk when they met. This tangible evidence to the contrary caused an almost painful welling in her chest, and an answering burning in her eyes. She was tired of fighting. She knew how she felt about this man; it was time to admit it, if even just to herself.

Raising his hand to her lips, she kissed it, whispering, "I love you, too."

She could tell him when he woke up.