Seasonique and Inuyasha

CHAPTER 1

"Damn wench, just leave me be!" Inuyasha jumped into the God tree, crossed his arms and turned his nose to the side. His arms found his way into the sleeves of his haori and his dog ears even twitched away from Kagome's presence.

Kagome spun around quickly and started stomping her way to the well. "Sit, boy. I'm going home. Don't you dare follow me or there'll be a dog-shaped crater left in my time!"

Kagome made sure she had gotten far enough from the tree that Inuyasha's sensitive nose couldn't pick up the smell of salt before she let a few tears fall. She was a sensitive girl, but really, she was getting downright pissed at the way Inuyasha was talking to her and she cried when she was mad. Reaching the well she dashed the last sprinkling of tears from her cheeks before glancing behind her. Normally no matter how mad Inuyasha was, he would still try to prevent her from leaving. When she had first met him, she thought it was a sign of his affection, but now she just felt like the chew toy that the mean dog down the street from the shrine. That mean ole mutt would protect it anytime he thought a stranger would take it, but as soon as the threat passed, he spit the toy out like it was a frog pissing in his mouth. The more Kagome thought about it, the more like Inuyasha it began to sound. Inuyasha would protect her from Kouga and demons out of jealousy, but as soon as the threat was over, he was right back to keeping his distance. The first year wasn't as bad, he would let moments of closeness happen, as long as there wasn't an audience, but Kagome began to feel like it was because she was still a new toy, a novelty. Plus, she thought bitterly, you couldn't overlook Kikyo. However, close to three years had passed and she was no longer a shiny new toy to the emotionally retarded half-demon.

Kagome was about to throw her leg over the lip of the well when she heard rustling in the brushes in the direction of the village. Gripping the edge tightly, Kagome prepared to throw herself backwards into the well at the slightest sign of danger. Damn, I really gotta start stowing some arrows and a bow around here, she thought. The rustling continued until a little golden twin-tailed neko demon peeked out from the brush. Seeing Kilala, Kagome relaxed. Climbing off the rim of the well, Kagome made her way to the neko. Seeing Kagome approaching, Kilala meowed and turned back into the brush. Confused, Kagome hurried to follow her, but every time Kagome got close enough to brush her hand over Kilala's back to stop her, Kilala would hurry even faster. Scurrying through the forest, unsure of where she was going, Kagome continued to follow closely. Eventually she began to worry that something had happened to Sango and Kilala was leading her to her owner.

Suddenly Kagome broke into a clearing near a hot springs. I didn't know this was here, thought Kagome distractedly. Looking around, Kagome realized she couldn't see Kilala anymore. Cautiously calling Sango's name, Kagome only startled slightly when Sango stuck her head up from a boulder in the spring.

"Kagome, are you finally here? I sent Kilala looking for you a while ago. I wanted to talk to you about something."

Thinking something had happened between Sango and Miroku or if Sango was feeling badly about Kohaku again, Kagome nodded quickly and approached the spring, dropping her yellow backpack near the edge of the spring. Not feeling in the mood to get in, Kagome prepared to sit on a rock near the pool so she didn't get wet. As Kagome bent her knees to lower herself to settle onto the granite counter, Sango stopped her.

"Get in. I'll tell you once you're in here, but hurry before Inuyasha starts looking for you."

Eyeing Sango as if she were some new type of lizard demon, Kagome slowly nodded her head and began undressing. After tossing her clothing towards her bag, she stepped into the spring and edged around Sango to sit across from her.

"You're weirding me out, Sango. What's going on? Are you okay?"

"You've never seen this place before have you Kagome? Inuyasha probably doesn't want you to know about it. I've been noticing something, but I wasn't sure if it was my place to say anything. I'm sure you are confused as to why Inuyasha has been keeping you at a distance more and more this past year."

"No, not really. I was actually thinking about it on the way to the well today and I'm coming to the acceptance that I really am just a shard detector and a poor replacement for Kikyo." Seeing Sango's face darken, Kagome hastily added, "At least for Inuyasha, I mean. I know you are like a sister to me and Miroku is like that older brother you never really want to accept in public, but you love nonetheless. Shippo is like my own child. I know that you all love me for me, but I don't think Inuyasha will ever be capable of that depth of feeling."

"True. Inuyasha is neither the deepest soul nor the most profound thinker, however, there is something I'm pretty sure you are not aware of in regards to demons. In the training in my village, they cover information on both male and female demons. We rarely saw half-demons, so we did not study them because normally they were weaker and the same tactics applied as if we were fighting a full-blooded demon of the same nature. Male demons fight out of aggression and protection. In some cases, if the demon is the right age, they are also fighting to secure a mate."

By this time Sango was eyeing her friend carefully to see if she was following along and to make sure she wasn't scaring her friend with the mature nature of the conversation. Kagome was flushed a dusky rose from both the steam and the embarrassment of talking of mating. Kagome began to think about Inuyasha and whether he was at that right age. Before her thoughts could progress further, Sango began speaking again.

"I believe Inuyasha was close to nearing that age when Kikyo sealed him to the tree 53 years ago. When he was unsealed, I'm sure those instincts were still there, but he had buried them due to bitterness and betrayal. I would bet that within the last year, those instincts have been trying to take center stage in his mind. When a demon is ready to take a mate, he unconsciously looks for a pleasing mate based on traits related to the demon. For example, with wolf and dog demons, their sense of smell is extremely heightened, so a pleasant scent would be sure to attract attention. However, their sensitive noses can easily detect changes in a female's body as she matures, such as when she begins to 'get her period' as I believe you call it. These changes in scent signal a female's fertility and increase the demon's desire to mate. You and I are on the same cycle now and I know you told me it is because we are together so much. Have you ever noticed that the closer to our periods we get, the more tense Inuyasha gets? Not so much with me because I truly don't think he sees me as a potential mate, but with you he almost treats you as if you are purifying him when he touches you. By the time you begin bleeding, he picks a fight within the first day or two if possible and you always go home. Have you not noticed what today is, Kagome?"

Kagome was sunk so low in the water that if she breathed in too deeply, she would snort water. Her face flushed brightly, Kagome slowly sat up and nodded.

"I started this morning and Inuyasha flinched whenever I got close to him. But why does it bother him so much if he loves Kikyo? Shouldn't he be sniffing around her right now? Does he send me home so he can see her without feeling guilty? And why are we here in a spring? You never explained that and I'm going to die from a stroke from this heat or from embarrassment one!"

Kagome was panting by the time she was done ranting and Sango was giggling quietly. Sango ignored Kagome's glare to pad out of the water and grab Kagome's clothes. Tossing them Kagome's way, Kagome squawked as the clothes separated around her into a cloud. Kagome frantically tried to grab her delicates and her uniform pieces before they settled onto the surface of the pond. She only managed to save her scarf from her uniform. Glowering at Sango, Kagome pointed at the seat across from her and Sango quickly sat herself back into the water.

"You've got some 'splainin' to do. Speak quickly!"

"First, sorry about the clothes, but there is something in this water that can mask your scent. That's why Inuyasha probably hasn't shown you this place. As much as he might be disturbed by your scent, he can track you and save you quickly by using your scent. Could you imagine what he would do if he couldn't find you? If you are going to go back to the well, at least your scent will be hidden and all he will smell is your old scent from earlier. It wouldn't have done any good for you to bath in the water and leave your clothes still smelling like you. The water's effect should wear off in about 4 hours, but you should be home safely by then. I have some robes for you to wear back, but this way some of your clothes will be free of scent, too.

About Kikyo, think about something with me. If Kikyo is reborn of dirt and a part of your soul, her body wouldn't have a fertility cycle because her body can't sustain her own life, let alone another life if she were to try to become pregnant. I'm confident that Inuyasha is trying to force himself to remember Kikyo's scent from when she was alive, not what she smells like now. I've been doing some spying when you're gone, too. He doesn't seem to leave his tree except to eat and hunt. Sometimes he will wash his clothes here in the water, too. I'm beginning to think he only does that when he's had to hold you too close to your cycle. The only time he doesn't look like he is bothered is on the nights he is human, and I'm sure it's just because he can't smell you as strongly."

Kagome thought back to the first night she saw Inuyasha turn human and remembered him telling her he liked her scent. I'm not too sure if that is true. I think he can appreciate the smell without being overwhelmed maybe, but I know he still notices my scent. I should really be freaked out talking about my scent, but at least I force Inuyasha to let me bathe frequently, so I know I don't smell. Maybe that's why he complains when I ask for a stream or pond to bathe in?

"Kagome, I know your time has some amazing things that I have never even thought of. If you still love Inuyasha and want to have a chance with him, maybe you can find something to change your scent during your cycle? I'm certain the distance between you two is just that Inuyasha is fighting his instincts. I know we don't see him like this, but to many, being a hanyou is a curse and he probably is afraid he will taint you if you stay with him. I can tell he has feelings for you, and Miroku has mentioned it before, too. Maybe if Inuyasha can get past your scent, you two would be able to get close enough to speak candidly. Just think on it. If you're ready to go home, Kilala should be back soon and she will take you to the well."

Kagome dazedly got out of the spring and dressed in the robes Sango provided. Kagome didn't think she liked not having her underclothes on (since they were still wet), but decided it would be easier to escape Inuyasha if her scent was hidden. Kagome placed her wet clothes in a plastic bag inside her backpack, and Kilala strolled through the bushes as she was finishing combing her hair. Sango hugged Kagome and wished her luck. Kagome told her it might be a couple of extra days before she came back and to try and keep Inuyasha at bay if possible. Sango arched an eyebrow at Kagome's ridiculous request and snorted. Kagome shrugged her shoulders and said, "If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away until at least tomorrow evening."

Kagome jumped on Kilala's back and Kilala flew her back to the well. As Kagome dropped into the flash of blue light, she wondered how she would broach this subject with her mama.