Bliss

Bright orange sun rose over the trees, making the fresh morning snow shine on field that covered the clearing near The Bone Eaters Well. The forest that surrounded the field was beginning to wake with life. Birds rose from their nests, fluffing up their wings and flying off to dry the frost on their feathers. A Rabbit emerged from her warren, slowly hopping through the soft white powder in search of food for her kits. Winter had left the trees nearly barren, but a few patches of leaves remained here and there, still giving the creatures in the forest some shelter from the cold. The older than time Sacred Tree stood tall and proud among the rest, towering over the little dirt path that led to Kaede's Village.

A thin layer of ice had settled on the many streams that led throughout the village, sparkling in the morning light. People exited the huts, retrieving tools to rack the mounds of snow off the roofs of their homes. Since all the crops had died from the cold, many travelers from surrounding areas always passed through the village to trade animal skins and pelts for other spoils, such as food and clothing. Children ran and dodged though the legs of their parents, tossing a ball back and forth amongst themselves. People waved and yelled greetings to their neighbors, smiling and laughing. Even though the cold had ravaged the land, life had gone on as usual and spirits were not dampened.

A larger hut stood at the edge of the village, smoke rising from the small opening in the roof. Inside, Kaede stirred the thick stew made from the herbs, dried meat and vegetables the villagers had helped her stock up on before the first snow fell. The old woman shivered slightly, pulling the bear skin further up around her shoulders. She smiled and tossed a few more logs into the flames that cooked her meal and heated her hut. Many families often brought her portions of their provisions since the weather made her muscles and bones ache. She only left her home twice a day to survey and check on the village. Peaceful times were here since Inuyasha, Kagome and their comrades finally defeated the beast Naraku a month ago. People no longer feared for their lives and the area had prospered. She sighed and stood up, pushing aside the wheat screen of her door and let her mind wander.

She thought about her sister Kikyo. Kagome had purified Naraku's miasma from her clay form, but her soul did not pass on. She also had not returned to her hut with Kaede. She explained that it was no longer her home and she was seen from time to time walking about the land nearby, trying to find her place in the world she was not meant to be in. Kaede has accepted her choice; for the sister she knew long ago had changed into a hateful and melancholy shell of a human being. She could find no form of peace as she was. She still believed she owned Inuyasha and had rights to his heart and that he would one day come to hell with her forever. Kikyo would not accept that he had moved on and decided to be with Kagome. Also, she was still in this world because she was not going to willingly give back the remains of her soul to her reincarnation. She hated Kagome, hated her because the girl from the future had taken away the life and love that should have been hers. The old priestess would always have love for her sister and hoped she would find peace one day, but did not dwell on those thoughts.

The old woman smiled and thought of all that had changed in a month. Inuyasha and Miroku had built dwellings for themselves and their intendeds. The monk the demon slayer's home was in the center while Inuyasha made his and Kagome's on a hill in the outskirts of the village. It was far away for the purposes of privacy and for the fact that the hanyou still felt like he was the protector of the village. Since Naraku was killed, not many demons or humans ever had the nerve to cause any trouble because they had heard of the formidable group that had defeated the great Naraku. Inuyasha and Kagome often came to see her, Kagome just to share meals once in a while and to keep her company while Inuyasha often brought her wild boars and deer to cook. Even the bear the lad had killed and skinned had filled her belly for a week and its hide was keeping her warm at this very moment. While Kirara stayed with Sango and Miroku always, Shippo, on the other hand was a different story. After the final battle, he realized he had not been much help in defeating Naraku and decided he needed to get stronger for his sake and everyone else's, incase danger ever arose again. The kitsune often left the village for weeks to attend the trials to grow in ranks to become a full-fledged fox demon. When he returned, he stayed with Inuyasha and Kagome in a room they had built just for him. Everything was as it should be. Pulling the bear skin snug around her body, she left her hut to make her first check on the village. She acknowledged her friends and then lifted face and one good eye to the winter sun, basking in it calming rays.

Kagome was sound asleep on the floor of her hut she shared with Inuyasha, her back snuggled against his warm chest, his arm wrapped around her. They both had arrived back with Miroku and Sango yesterday evening after answering the complaint about a demon at a nearby village. Miroku as usual had ripped off the people of it, much to the irritation of the others. Kagome was exhausted and she knew Inuyasha was too, even though he wouldn't admit it. Since they didn't have any plans, Kagome wanted to sleep in today and he was complaining on bit. They both were oblivious to the morning at first, but sun shined into their bedroom window and right into the half demon's eyes. He growled and cursed quietly; he didn't want to wake the beautiful maiden sleeping in his arms. He instead licked her cheek and pulled her closer, burying his nose in her hair. Her scent was like a drug to him. He could not believe when they first met that he had compared it to Kikyo's. He thought back to a month ago.

After she had been sucked into the meido's dark void, he had followed it to where she was. Destiny had told him she was born to be with him. There was no other way he could have possibly saved her if it wasn't for that reassurance. Cutting through the darkness with Tetsusaiga, seeing her eyes tear up and hearing her whimper his name. She had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. The kiss they shared was nothing like the only other they had shared at Kaguya's castle; brief and timid. It was warm and passionate, the way of letting each other know they were real and belonged together. After the jewel and Naraku were no more, they were all that mattered.

After the well reappeared after being gone for days, the pair ended up being back in well house in Kagome's time. Her mother, brother and grandpa were all crying and rushed to embrace her. They both thought her time in the Feudal Era was up, but it didn't matter. Midoriko sent Kagome a vision and told her she had earned the right to be able to live on both sides; for both would be destroyed if it wasn't for her. After spending some time with her family, they returned and headed back to the village. A great celebration was held in the group's honor. Kagome was named the new priestess of the village and everyone adored her. He watched as she laughed and carried on with the others until night had fallen.

After she said her goodnights to everyone, his chance had come to whisk her away. He scooped her up bridal style and ran her with her to the Sacred Tree. Jumping up on to one of its welcoming branches, he settled her in his lap and kissed her. She squeaked in surprise but instantly melted into him, her arms snaking around his neck. After a long time, they broke apart and grinned at each other with flushed faces.

"Kagome … I … I love you so much." He murmured.

She smiled and nuzzled his chin. "I love you too Inuyasha."

He tucked her into his chest and held her as tight as he could without crushing her. "I thought I was never gonna see you again."

She reached up and ran her thumb across his lower lip. "I lost hope for a minute there too. I wanted to give into my fear of being alone forever in the darkness. The jewel's words echoed in my head again and again, but I finally was able to find to will to fight it. I knew you would never let me live it down if I failed at believing in you." She confessed with a smile.

He chuckled before she continued. "Wench."

She punched his arm playfully. "I knew you would never give up on me, so I couldn't have the easy way out either. I'm here now and I am not going anywhere."

He couldn't help himself; he kissed her again. This kiss was hot and wild; before they knew it they were pulling at each other's clothes and panting. He took her lower lip in his teeth, being careful not to cut her with his fangs. She gasped and her tongue found his. His taste and smell were so hot, like crisp pine trees and fire. It spoke to the very woman part of her. She moaned and twisted in his arms so her legs saddled his waist. He grunted when he felt her warm sex pressed against his groin and growled when he felt himself get hard. He has fantasized about her before and snuck away sometimes while she was at the hot springs and found his release with his hand. Having her like this with him was his erotic dreams come true. He adjusted himself so she could feel the effect he she had on him. She whined and rubbed against him. As he pulled her head to the side and greedily sucked at her neck, something clicked in her mind. She wasn't ready and she really didn't want her first time to be in a tree. It took all her strength to clear her mind and make him look at her.

"I-Inuyasha … w-wait, hold on." She rasped as his teeth grazed the now purple love bite on her neck.

He looked at her and cupped her face, his arousal forgotten. "What's the matter?"

She tried to catch her breath as she spoke. "You have how idea how much I want this … want you but, but don't you think this is not the best place for it?"

He swallowed and saw what she meant. There wasn't exactly enough room for what he wanted to do with her. "I guess you're right."

She saw his disappointment and giggled at him. "Don't you think we are a little out in the open? I really do not want anyone to see or hear us and I'm sure you don't either."

He sighed and kissed her nose. "You teasing woman; I suppose I will have to build us a hut then won't I?"

She laughed and hugged him tightly. "I love you."

He worked with the monk and village men to build a hut. He even put a tiny room in the back for the runt whenever he decided to stay over. When Shippo was not there, he and Kagome were intimate every day. She had told him that she was not ready to become his mate yet, after all she was still kind of young. He respected her wishes but was thrilled when she suggested they pleasure each other in other ways. He only knew a few basic things about mating, but she knew much more. He was amazed at some of the things she did, from sucking his member in her mouth to something she called "anal". He never had thought about it, but glad she did. He learned how she liked to be touched too, and it gave him great pride knowing he could make her body shatter with his fingers. He was fine with waiting until she was ready to become his forever.

His thoughts were pulled back to the present when he felt her stir from her slumber. She yawned and stretched, blushing when she realized they both naked. His arm was around her waist, his hand inches from her sweet place. They were covered in a thick bear skin blanket and she shivered when she remembered how cold it was. Inuyasha had kept her warm throughout most of the night after they have fooled around, but now the warm flames were now nothing but ash and glowing embers. She giggled when she felt him grow slightly hard against her back. He growled playfully and turned her over to look at him.

"Hey … good morning." He said, kissing her sweetly.

She smiled and eagerly kissed him back. "Hey yourself, did you sleep good?"

He growled she followed his gaze down every inch of her nude body and she blushed. "You have no idea, wench." he answered.