Chapter 1 The Return

Inuyasha sat stiffly in growing frustration while Hayami and Katsumi clambered around on him pulling his hair and ears with innocent delight, an incessant chant of 'Doggy, doggy!' ringing in his ears until he was sure he'd hear it in his sleep as well.

"You're like their toy!" Shippou snickered, adding insult to injury.

He glared at the kit entirely unamused.

A sudden loss of balance had one of the girls catching herself with a hard grip on his thoroughly abused ear, nearly taking it off this time and that was it for his patience.

"Hey, do something about these twins!" He whined.

"Don't tug on his ears." Reprimanded Miroku in a distracted tone, while he continued hanging the wash.

The twins continued as if he hadn't spoken, and he did not repeat himself.

'Yeah, REAL helpful Miroku-'

"Ouch-!"

Sango, preoccupied with consoling Zen, the newest member of their family, at least took a second to offer him a sympathetic look.

"Sorry Inuyasha." She said in exasperation, right as a soft breeze brought a faint scent that immediately lit up his entire body.

Shock and disbelief had him tensing up for a second his eyes loosing focus as he concentrated on 'seeing' with his far more reliable sense of smell.

'This scent...! There's no mistaking it!'

He leapt to his feet in an instant ripping the twins off of him.

"Go slay the fox."He suggested, dropping them on the unsuspecting kit and taking off without another word.

He'd never run so fast in his life, tearing through the forest with truly inhuman speed.

Everything was a blur to his eyes, but it was his sense of smell that guided him, and within seconds he was lurching to a stop to avoid colliding with the well and falling in head first in his haste.

His throat was so tight he couldn't breath, and his heart was thundering in his ears so loud it drowned out everything else including all rational thought.

Taking a deep breath, as much to confirm her scent was really here, as steady himself, he looked down into the darkness and nearly passed out.

Kagome was looking up at him with a tender smile, and she eagerly extended her hand for him to pull her up without a moments hesitation.

In wonder, Inuyasha reached for her still not sure this wasn't another cruel dream.

He lifted her up and out effortlessly with one hand and held her in front of him hungrily taking in every detail of her face.

He had dreamed of seeing her for so long, he couldn't believe this was real.

In this moment he was utterly powerless to move a single muscle.

She was breathtaking!

The changes were slight, but still managed to alter her appearance completely.

She was taller and her face was more angular almost sharp, but it was softened by her warm smiling eyes, and the luscious waves that framed her face and cascaded over her shoulders to curl at the small of her back.

Her curves were more prominent and exquisitely enhanced by the pink v neck shirt and tiny blue skirt she wore, and her full pink lips were driving him to distraction!

'Would she freak if I kissed her so soon after so long?'

She had kissed him back, when they were trapped inside the jewel, and surely her return was answer enough as to whether or not she wanted to be with him, but they had never had a chance to express just how far their feelings went, and he had spent the last three years imagining how he would tell her and what she would say.

He must've been quiet for too long because a delightful blush colored her cheeks and she spoke first.

"Inuyasha," she breathed. "Sorry, were you waiting for me?"

The sweet music of her voice helped him regain some semblance of control over his body, and reality finally sunk in.

She was really here! This wasn't just another dream!

Overcome with emotion, he barely had time to throw his arms around her and bury his face in her hair to hide his complete loss of composure.

Dragging her scent into his lungs with a ragged breath he gave himself up to the fierce joy and crushed her tighter to his chest, saying the only thing he could that wouldn't reveal him as the pathetic sap he was.

"Kagome-You idiot, what have you been doing all this time?"

The words carried no heat and were barely more than a whisper.

She would know what he really meant.

'I missed you so fucking much, I waited for you everyday, I never gave up, I knew you'd come back, I'm so fucking glad you came back, god please please don't ever leave me again…'

His grip tightened pulling her closer still, needing to feel her warmth to believe she was truly here.

Getting lost in all the things he wanted to say, nothing came close to describing how he felt, so he just held her as he shook uncontrollably.

'Inuyasha-'

Kagome returned the embrace with everything she had.

She thought being apart had been hard on her but the relief that the longing had not been one sided was palpable.

Tears threatened but she held them back with force of will and clung to Inuyasha, feeling the emotions coming off him as clearly as the strength of the arms that crushed her to a trembling chest.

Maybe, just maybe, this reunion would be everything she had dreamed it would be!

Said reunion was in fact, short lived though, because a few seconds later they were no longer alone.

Inuyasha bit back a snarl of frustration when he realized that Shippou must've caught Kagome's scent and alerted the others to her arrival.

Suddenly Miroku and Sango were standing a respectful distance away, and Miroku called out a greeting that gave Kagome just enough warning to turn and catch the wailing kitsune that had launched himself at her.

Inuyasha was once again reminded that he was not the only one who loved and needed Kagome and he focused intently on tamping down the overwhelming desire to throw Kagome over his shoulder and find a private place in the woods to mark her as his.

His demon was having none of it.

'MINE!' It screamed.

While Kagome comforted Shippou and Sango introduced her brood, Inuyasha was having an all out, no holds barred, battle of wills with the demon clawing to get out and take what was his.

He was trying to steady himself by drinking in the sight of her standing here, back where she belonged, but the incandescent joy on Kagome's face as she held baby Zen had his mind replacing the little one in her arms, with a silver haired bundle with tiny white ears.

'God, just because she's back doesn't mean You can assume she's got any intention of having Your children! she's just happy for her friend You asshole!'

He looked away but the image was burned into his mind and his blood surged his demon responding eagerly to the image with a resounding,

'MINE!'

'Fuck!'

The urge to take her far away and claim her as his mate was starting to win over his valiant attempts to maintain control.

He didn't know if he could play nice and let the others have Kagome's attention right now.

Kagome chose that moment to pass the baby back to Sango so she could give Miroku a proper hug and that's when Inuyasha lost it completely.

'MINE!'

His demon snarled again, and Inuyasha could resist no longer.

Without a word, as soon as she stepped away from the monk- knowing it would probably get his ass sat, he swept Kagome off her feet and took off into the forest throwing a warning growl that vibrated with the promise of violence if anyone followed, over his shoulder.

Shippou recognized it for what it was; an Alpha's direct command.

It was an undeniable demand for unconditional obedience that called directly to his own demon blood.

With a nod his Alpha didn't see Shippou committed to keeping the rest of the pack away from the Alpha without fail, it was part of his duty to protect the pack.

But everyone else seemed to get the idea without further explanation and no one made any attempt to chase after the crazed hanyou.

Miroku took his daughters tiny hands and followed Sango back to their hut to put the children to bed and prepare the village to celebrate Kagome's return.

Kagome turned deeper into Inuyasha's embrace, they had been running for a while, and she guessed Inuyasha must have a specific destination in mind.

With no small amount of guilt, Kagome found that she was truly relieved to be alone with Inuyasha again.

There were things that needed to be discussed with him before she was ready to socialize.

Inuyasha wracked his brain for a way to explain his irrational behavior while he ran, but the fact that Kagome wasn't struggling or protesting or demanding he 'Sit!', was extremely reassuring.

His destination was a secluded cave that he had once resided in, back when he was first thinking about seeking out the guardian of the sacred jewel.

It was where he had spent most of his time lately, just trying to escape to a place that wasn't tainted with memories of his lost love.

He felt Kagome nuzzle closer and his demon purred with delight.

As far as his demon was concerned she was already his mate.

He realized now that his demon had considered her his mate since Sesshōmaru pointed out the strangeness of his treatment of her during their first battle for Tetsusaiga.

His unconscious acceptance of this, and his desperation to keep her safe, were the reason the sword had chosen to fight for him.

It had been his demon blood rising in defense of its mate that had awakened the power of the ancient blade.

'God, so much has happened since then, so much time wasted trying to protect myself from the one person who could save me from myself –'

He ceased that trail of thought, they were here at last.

He made the twenty foot leap effortlessly even while holding Kagome, and he put her down gently once they were safely inside the cave.

It wasn't very large but it was by no means small, the ceiling high enough to allow for a good size fire to burn throughout the night where the light couldn't be seen from outside the cave, without filling the interior with smoke, or letting out too much heat.

This had been his home longer than Kaede's village, not counting the time he spent pinned to the sacred tree.

It felt right to bring Kagome here, the perfect place to bare his soul.

Kagome looked around in awe, the walls of the cave were unnaturally smooth and the cavern was deceptively large.

They had gone in far enough that the ambient light from the entrance was no longer sufficient to guide her any further.

Looking around, it seemed that was just as well, because this was clearly where they were going to stop.

There was a well maintained fire pit and nearby pile of furs that marked this as the place he slept.

Inuyasha busied himself with starting a fire so Kagome boldly made herself comfortable in the bed of furs

'Holy cow that's soft'

Trying to refrain from throwing herself back and making a 'snow angel' in the furs, she compromised by slipping off her flats and burying her feet in the softness.

She couldn't help the delighted moan the sensations evoked, or the embarrassed laugh when she saw Inuyasha's ears twitch almost violently in response.

Inuyasha was trying to do this right. Trying not to jump her right now and figure everything out after he had already secured her as his mate.

He wanted to talk, but that moan.

God, it nearly did him in, his demon screaming to answer the call and be the one to cause her to make such enticing sounds.

He was able to lock down the muscles that wanted to respond by pouncing on her, but he couldn't stop his ears or the blush, when her giggle told him the uncontrollable reaction had not gone unnoticed.

'Fuck. How am I gonna get through this without losing my damn mind?'

Finished with the fire he padded over to where Kagome was, pulled her into his lap, and had to ask even though he knew.

"What's so funny Wench?"

"I couldn't help it, it looked like your ears had a mind of their own, it was cute!"

He blushed darkly.

"There was nothing cute about what I wanted to do when I heard that sound." He confessed.

Her face heated as well, but not from embarrassment.

The unmistakable scent of her arousal would have knocked him on his ass if he hadn't already been sitting.

There was so much more he wanted to say, things he was supposed to discuss, but with her scent calling to him like that, he was helpless to stop himself.

He cupped her cheek gently in his hand.

Her eyes closed and her lips parted as if she were having difficulty breathing and he could hear her heart race like a cornered rabbits'.

'Fuck it,'

He leaned in and finally pressed his lips to hers with a desperation he could never voice aloud, and now he didn't have to, because she was kissing him back, taking control of the kiss deepening it and moaning in appreciation despite his inexperience with the act.

'MINE.'

He didn't argue. Kagome's scent couldn't lie and it was Kagome that pushed him down onto the furs, slowly pulling open his robing and pushing it over his shoulders baring his chest to her.

She pulled back a bit so he could awkwardly free himself from the sleeves, and then he was completely at her mercy as she trailed hot kisses from his jaw to the center of his chest, his mind completely clouded by sensation lost to what she was doing to him.

When her tongue snuck out to tease one sensitive bud while she gently pinched the other, he cried out, his hips bucking violently nearly toppling her off of him and accidentally breaking the connection.

Taking advantage of the reprieve in her onslaught, he quickly ran his hands up her back under her shirt and struggled briefly with the garment that denied him full access.

With practiced ease she deftly removed the barriers to his exploration, and rewarded him with a delicious moan when he gently raked his claws down her back before smoothing his hands up her torso to cup the tantalizing swells of flesh he had only dared to touch in his dreams, and this time they both moaned.

He was harder than Tetsusaiga and the pulse thrumming through his body was more than just a frantic heartbeat.

He was transforming, but he wasn't losing control as Kagome writhed in pleasure on top of him from the surge of power, seeming lost in sensation and overcome by her lust.

She ground herself against him while he copied her earlier ministrations, eliciting delightful little whimpers from her.

Her eyes opened and were unfocused with need, but not in the least unsure, even though he could feel that his fangs were completely distended, meaning the rest of his face had to be transformed as well.

She smiled gently, touching his cheeks where he knew jagged stripes had appeared, and then she surprised the shit out of him by rolling off him, only to position herself on her knees with her chest flat to the ground her ass high in complete submission.

He didn't know how she knew what to do, but his demon didn't care.

She was offering herself, accepting him as her mate, and he wasn't going to deny her or make her wait.

Ignoring how fast everything was going, and the fact that he hadn't explained any of this to her, he responded to what she offered.

He freed himself from his Hakama and pushed the flimsy cloth covering her core to the side, sliding the tip of his erection against her tight opening driven completely by instinct, rather than experience.

He was not prepared for the blazing heat, the silky wetness, or the crushing tightness that enveloped him as he sheathed himself within her completely in a single thrust.

"Oh FUCK,Kagome!- Oh fuck!"

He sucked in a breath through his teeth as felt the barrier of her virginity give with ease and her body held him in a vise so tight, it took everything he had to remain still so she could adjust to him.

His demon was screaming for him to pound into her over and over, until she was covered with his scent inside and out, but he couldn't bare to hurt her like this, and somehow found the strength to hold himself in place waiting for a sign she was ready for him.

Through the single minded haze of pleasure he heard a plaintive whimper, and he knew it wasn't from pain when she was the one that began to move, rocking back, forcing him even deeper and echoing his cry of ecstasy.

And with that, all reason left him and his body began to pump wildly into hers, the cave filling with the sounds of flesh slapping together and heavy breathing, punctuated by gasps and ragged curses as he began to mark her.

He was completely possessed by instinct. Entirely overcome by pleasure.

The cave began to fill with the combination of her spiritual powers and his youki. The buildup of power driving their pleasure into previously unimaginable heights.

After what seemed like an eternity of endless pleasure he felt himself getting close and Kagome was right there with him, contracting around him with a throaty cry and a rush of warm wetness that seared his flesh and threw him over the edge as well.

"MINE!" He roared as he came, dragging her upright so he could sink his fangs into her throat while he rode out his orgasm.

As the mating mark took hold, he felt the soul altering shift of their bond being forged the power rose and rose suffocating them, and riding on the waves of pleasure flowing over them.

On instinct he broke contact with Kagome's throat, piercing his wrist with his fangs and offering it to her wordlessly.

It surprised him when she took it without hesitation, causing them both to orgasm harder as the power they had released rushed back into them, sealing the bond.

The pleasure was like nothing he had ever experienced, and with great care, he pulled out and collapsed to the side.

Then, pulling Kagome tightly to his chest he held her close just breathing in her glorious scent, which now permanently carried the scent of his marking for her, and couldn't help the slight twinge of guilt that she didn't know what she'd signed up for.

He prayed to whoever would listen as she fell asleep in his arms that when she woke up and he explained everything that had just happened, that she wouldn't hate him for what he had done.

"I love You." He whispered just before sleep could claim him.

His last thought was the blissful purr of his satisfied demon.

"Mine…" it cooed.

Then everything went black.