Sorry for the delay. This story is not getting reviews so I have lacked the motivation to write. Instead, I have been working on my other story(s). Thanks for reading!

I do not own Inuyasha, but I do own this story.

The Count Down

Chapter 4

7: We Learned to Never be too Happy

A few days had passed before we talked again. I continued to try daily to talk to you more about me moving in to your apartment, approaching the subject cautiously as to not seem too forceful. Your mood changed when I brought up the topic and you hid behind your façade again, avoiding me with an abundant work load. I had no idea what you were hiding from me then and I still do not know if it was worth all of the hush hush you went through, though I remember the day when everything came to light.

"I am off today, may I come by for lunch?" I remember talking into my cell phone, staring up at your office window from across the street. I had asked but it was meant to be a surprise. The tender sweetness you had shown me days before at my birthday spoiled me beyond thought and shared my first time in the throws of passion.

"Not today, I have a meeting that will carry me through lunch." No apology, just an excuse and a short curt good bye before hanging up. You broke my heart. Your normal tactful carefully placed words were buried behind a terse statement. A few days ago my heart had wings and flew through the heavens to a plane I never thought existed.

My world had shattered and I felt lost. The voices and people walking the streets swirled together, melting contrast into darkness. Had you changed your mind? I walked away from your office in a daze, watching myself from outside of my body meandering around the streets until I had made it to the park. Faithfully, my bench stood unoccupied in the same spot as always. That day, however, I did not sit to watch the humdrum of the dwellers. They began to fade into colorlessness, sounds drowning under emotions. The necklace you gave me pulsing lightly as I worried the chain. Was it meant to do that? At the time, I never though twice about it. It was purely a comfort.

My phone had rang but I never answered it, the vibration sending ripples through my hip in my pocket. A hand had brought me from my stupor. You were there, a warmth to my aching soul. Your lips were on mine and I was in the mountains again. You were pushing the brisk wind into my heart, cooling my temper. I could hear the trees rustle along the mountain side and the whines of the trunks bending. In the distance was fighting, a battle most likely between a demon and a human. We were inside of your mind, warping to the distant past to see what you saw. I was living in your past for the brief moments you allowed it. Did you even realize that our connection was that strong so soon?

I was scooped up in your arms and rushed out of the park. The air forced out of my lungs from the clout of take off. The air became even colder as we traveled and I had snuggled into your designer suit, refusing to look down. You whispered into my ear, something of an apology and told me to look down. I remember the tears biting at the corners of my eyes as I pried my lids open and looked down. We were riding on a cloud. It was your cloud, formed by your youkai powers. I had never seen anything like it and it was extraordinary.

I had buried my face in your chest once more, unsure if I should be in aw over what was happening or still upset at your foolhardy behavior from earlier. The anger left on the wings of the birds we were passing; my heart once again open for your taking. From day one, you pressed every button and opened me up to more possibilities than I knew existed.

You landed softly on a roof top, holding me a moment longer than necessary before setting me on my feet. The warmth from your chest left too quickly, my bones even felt the chill and loneliness of separation. The roof was covered in mounds overlaid with tarp. What was under the tarps? I remember the anticipation of the moment.

"Kagome." your seriousness never failed to impress. "I am bad at affection and showing my feelings. The past few days I have reached out the agents in an attempt to move into a house."

You were apologizing. How often did you grace me with an apology? Not only did you apologize to me but you were telling me that you expected more out of us than I had originally thought. It was very becoming of us and brought great joy. I jumped into your arms and kissed you deeply.

"What happened to your courting rules?" I managed to ask between kisses, jokingly knowing we had already passed through the rules.

"Damn the rules, I want you." Your golden eyes blazed, the sun outlining your figure. "The agent will send me pictures of places. Move into my apartment until we can find a house."

I had begun crying, lines of water running down my face. Thank goodness I was not a fan of makeup or it would have run with my waterworks. Why would you ever think I would say no. I loved you so greatly.

You proceeded to tell me that you had taken the remainder of the day off and we could start packing immediately. Even mentioning how you had an extra room in the apartment you would designate to strictly storage space. We walked across the roof and into your loft. How did you get so lucky to find that apartment? My living space was a raggedy closet in comparison. I had lost myself in thought, only your hand on my waist leading me through the living room. Into the bedroom you began talking again, what were you saying? The room was rearranged but the only item I could focus on was the lotus resting in bloom on your night stand.

You pulled me from the room, kissing my forehead, and led us from your home through the front door. Scooping me in your arms, we took the stairs in great leaping bounds. I was giggling, enjoying your playful side with how rarely I get to see it. A car was waiting out front, I assumed you called it before leaving the office earlier. The anxiety of this reality of our progressing relationship was beginning to sink in, truly. We traveled quickly from your place to the country. The more urban city turned into the rural district of Shinagawa. I had recognized the area from traveling through but had never stopped and never even considered a house would ever be in my fate.

We pulled up to a house sitting on a small hill off of the main road. The driveway wrapped around a flower bed adorned with a small fountain in the middle. A man stood dressed in a business suit in the doorway, clipboard in hand. I looked from you to the door, slightly confused or maybe I was just in disbelief of the possibility that could be unfolding in front of me.

You exited the car and opened my door for me, taking my hand to lead me to the man on the perch. He introduced himself as Hojo and I immediately recognized him from my high school day but there was no time for reminiscing. He gestured for us to walk ahead. We followed through the offer and stepped into an empty parlor.

Hojo began talking, explaining each room as we walked. The entrance of the house had been marbled floors and solid white walls. As the tour progressed, the floors turned to wood but the walls stayed white. Six bedrooms, all upstairs, with only one staircase starting in the kitchen. A formal dining room, sitting room, living room, and kitchen. He opened the back door for us to step out onto a screened in porch. Through the porch was a small bit of deck with stairs down towards a stone patio looking out onto a garden area that had obviously been lost to time.

All of the conversation had been lost. I remember the rooms but not the renovations. Was anything else spoken of? I was swimming in a dark pool, lost in the percussion of my heart. Blood rushed through my head. How long had I been light headed? I could feel the warmth from the increase in blood flow. My ears were on fire, the backs of my eyes beginning to burn.

"Kagome." You spoke through the fog surrounding me.

"Hmm?" I had known my eyes were glassy when I looked up at you.

"This was to be a surprise." You took my hand into yours and kissed my palm. "Is it acceptable?"

I could have fainted at your words. Acceptable? Acceptable?! This was beyond the scope of my wildest dreams. I must have died and gone to heaven to have been standing in the backyard of a house that I never would have even seen the inside of if you were not standing next to me.

"This...this..." and my words were gone, just like you have so commonly come to do. With words escaping me, I jumped into your arms and kissed your lips, trailing lightly across your cheek to where I knew your marks were hiding. I licked them and felt you tremble under my touch. I hoped there was more to this tremble.

You turned to Hojo then, "We will take it." I landed on my feet softly and you pulled out your check book, scratching the perfect amount on the paper and waving Hojo away.

The keys were handed over and we were left alone, Hojo mentioning something about writing up the final papers and having them sent to your office. You picked me up bridal style and walked us out into the more dense parts of the foliage and under the great trees at the back of the property. Our lips locked and I was desperate once more for your ferocious consuming passion. You laid me in the shade of a twisting Japanese red maple and disappeared. Before I had enough time to be saddened, you had returned with a load of goodies. A large picnic basket and numerous heavy blankets which you laid out for us. I rolled onto the blanket and opened my arms to you, still in high hopes.

You came to me, glamour completely gone, and let me take my time with you. Our first night had been about you showing me your love; today I would show you mine. First your shirt, each button flicked away. You sat up and helped me fully remove the article. I kissed, touched, and licked every inch of your bare flesh and markings, spending extra time on the ones adorning your hips. My finger tips pressed again hard muscle, nails scraping along the dips and valleys. A bulge had begun to grow and catching it out of the corner of my eye, I moved to lick it through the fabric of your pants.

It was as if you could take it no longer. You growled while rolling me over, a thin line of red growing around your iris. Articles of my clothing came off, piled on top of yours to the side of the blanket. I tried pushing you to gain back control, but I quickly learned not to fight for dominance. You growled again, fangs showing through tightly closed lips.

"Ses-sho-maru," your name was a moaned whisper leaving my chest in a wisp of breath.

You purred and nuzzled my cheek before making your painfully slow way down my body, your hot kisses leaving a chilled trail. Heat was building in my lower abdomen and my chest was tightening. When your mouth reached further below, I saw hot white flashes of light behind my closed eye lids. I had hid that you had taken my virginity, but I could not hide this. I buried my fingers in your hair and arched my back, biting my lip so hard I could feel the tear of skin. You nipped and lapped at my flower, opening the bud to your wiles.

A moan rumbled up through my chest and into my throat, seeming to vibrate down to the tips of my toes. You moved away, kissing my thighs before sliding back up my body and locking our lips in passion. You forced mine open, claiming everything you could touch. Sucking on my tongue and nibbling on my lips you slid into my sheath down to the bottom of your sword. Hilt and sheath locking in ecstasy, I gasped in the sudden admittance and sank my nails into whatever flesh I could find quickly.

Another growl and you moved from my lips, teasing my flesh until you reached my shoulder where you bit down hard enough to draw little pin pricks of blood. Licking at the wound, the speed of our connection increased. The pressure and heat built until there was nothing else. My body bucked against yours and a burst of color too my breath away and then there was nothing. You sat back on your heels, gracing me with your beautiful body, and picked my bottom up to meet your movements. Leaving red lines on the outsides of my legs, you came in a howl.

I had had an idea that overtook me and I pushed you down, immediately taking your still erect penis into my mouth. You jumped away from me, exclaiming about sensitivity and how you would make me understand. I giggled and tried to crawl away. We ended up in a tangle of limbs, kissing each other. Together in the slowly setting sun, we laid under the tree wrapped in each other.

"May I share part of my past with you?" You were always so polite and refined, even lying naked for the universe to see clearly.

"I would like to share every part of you." I had made myself blush.

You kissed the tip of my ear and nuzzled right behind it. "I was well into my 200's when my brother and I began to fight over our father's sword. He had left two; one for each of us." He kissed the side of my head. "I lost my right arm during that battle and fled like a coward to lick my wounds." This was the deepest we had delved into your memories.

I turned and kissed you then, deeply, showing you every bit of emotion that I had locked away for your deepest memories. You did not deserve sympathy, you deserved the respect and gratitude that every warrior should receive upon returning home. From the day our eyes met and you scowled at the tiny human sitting on the bench, staring at the most beautiful part of her day.

"I know you were just as regal and empowering then as you are now." I caressed the arm that had obviously regrown over the years since and wondered. Would you have more war stories? Would you tell me of all your great adventures further into your past. You pulled me closer, covering us both with a thin quilt that was laid out by our feet.

We laid there for a while longer before getting dressed and leaving the property. You dropped me off at my apartment, telling me that over the next few weeks the contract would be finalized and you would have people at the house to do anything that needed to be done for maintenance and renovations before we moved. I secretly did not care what the house looked like, I just wanted to be with you. We could have stayed in the apartment and I would have been overly joyed.

Everything passed slowly, work dragged into an abysmal despair. It seemed as if the day would never come for us to be able to move in together and I became restless. Many days I found myself on my bench again, watching the passersby lulled into their false sense of security. How many people walked through the park everyday with not a care in the world, oblivious to how dangerous each day could possibly be. But maybe their colorless lives really were perfect for them.

Every day brought an increase of bird songs as the weather warmed up. Sweaters disappeared with each flower bloomed. However, nothing could change the tedium of each creature's daily life. May was sweeping through the region like wild fire. Trips to the beach were increasingly more popular and I wanted to recreate our day at the beach last year, but this time I wanted that ferocious side I saw then and I would ensure you would not back down. I finally found the courage to ask on a Wednesday.

Ring. Ring. Ring. "Kagome." Your voice carried straight to my heart.

"Sesshomaru, can we go to the beach?" My joy always poured through the phone to you and I hoped every time that you could feel it as greatly as I did.

"The moving trucks will be at our apartments tomorrow and they will unload everything same day." There was the disappointment, I had forgotten about the movers. "But as soon as I get the call that they are done, I will leave work and pick you up. Pack your backs, we will stay until Sunday."

"Thank you so much!" I had jumped up from my bench in the park, squealing with excitement. We were going and I had a surprise for you.

Our conversation continued for a bit before I decided that I had packing to do. We hung up and I ran back to my studio, finishing up the normal tasks and setting up for rest of the week to be taken care of by my secretary. Thankfully all of the shoots I had set up were easily moved to the following week.

I ran home and packed my bags, rummaging through boxes until I had found everything and set packed bags next to the front door. One trip to a store across town and I would be prepared to leave. With the purchases safely hidden, I spent the rest of the night cleaning and finishing any little thing I could find for the big move.

My sleep was restless, each dream changing from one encounter to another. You chasing me through thick forests and through fields. A large castle with secrets hidden behind every door. Your lips again mine, drowning us both in silk sheets and limbs. A sensual encounter beyond any other. a child nestled in your arms as you rested next to me in a hospital bed. So many dreams of the future and everything I was beginning to wish for.

The movers came and went. I joined them at the house, switching between assisting and supervising. You arrived a couple hours later, at the very end as the helpers for leaving. Without exchanging many words, you shuffled me to the car with bags in tow. Together we left, making the moderate drive to the beach house.

I raced inside, carrying my own bags and locking myself in the bathroom. I could see your curiosity peak as your eyes bore into my back when I walked away alone. Knock knock knock. I opened the door after having changed into a black lacy bikini, barely covering any of the private areas and more relative to a piece of lingerie. The red began to bleed into your eyes and your glamour dissipated.

We were on the bed in second, you throwing me down first and landing on top. You licked the valley between my breast, releasing the air in my lungs. I think I told you I needed you desperately but could not remember. Whatever I said stirred something of your bestial side and you ripped my top off with your sharp canines; one clawed hand tearing at the sides of the bottoms, the other used as a prop to keep you above me. Barely covered, I laid there for your consumption. Eager to feel the full force of your vehemence.

Your tongue founds it's way around my skin, leaving wet paths chilled with the room's air. I shivered and arched up to you as a nipple entered your mouth. Teasing and pulling at the delicate floret with your teeth, your hand found the sweet nectar slowly seeping from my core. You purred at my response. Dragging your teeth across my skin, you moved to the other awaiting bud. The hand resting on my wet heat pushed into me and retracted to move up to your mouth. My liquid passion dripped down your fingers and you licked it away.

"Tell me you are mine." You demanded this from me, but your face was peaceful.

"I am yours." I smirked and licked my dry lips. "Show me I am yours."

That was all it took. You flew out of your clothes and sheathed your sword in such a quick motion that I knew I would be more sore than the last two times. Our lips clashed and I sucked my taste from your tongue. You moaned into my mouth, pounding your rock hard erection into me. The warmth flooded through me, throwing my head back and releasing a moan.

I clawed at your back, continuously saying your name and begging you not to stop. You ground yourself into me until I felt the rush of heat again and then flipped us over, instructing me to ride until you came. It was not as easy as you made it sound but I found a rhythm and a spot inside of myself that felt nice. I released again, throwing myself into you and burying my face in your shoulder. You grabbed my buttocks firmly and moved me up and down a few strokes until you ejaculated inside of me.

We laid in each others arm for many hours, I spent most of the time sleeping. Not once did you release me, even though I knew your arm had fallen asleep. You left bed that night only to find us nourishment. Returning after a few minutes had passed, we munched on the fruit you had packed for us and sipped on some wine.

The rest of the weekend passed in a blur. We did not once see the ocean water hit the golden particles of sand resting along the coast. Instead we showered together and spent the time claiming each other. Sunday evening came and I was too sore to even be comfortable sitting in the car. You chuckled at me and gave me a pillow. I slept the whole way back to our house and you carried me to our bed and settled in with me for the night.

Over the next few weeks our house came together, each room decorated and filled with our life together. By the time the last box was emptied and settled, I was left with the extra bedrooms. You said one would be a library and another a study. That would leave three rooms. My heart skipped a beat, did this mean you wanted children? Why had I not seen this the first time we saw the house?! I grabbed my chest and leaned against the wall for support.

We talked about the rooms and decided to fill one as a guest room and leave the others so you could have some room for recreational objects. I suspected that you wanted to leave the rooms for children but never spoke my theories just in case I was wrong.

We spent many nights afterwards talking about your past and our future. Where would we like to travel to, where you had traveled to, and even some intimate moments from your past. I told you about my father dying just weeks after my brother was born, just a memory I was left with. You shared the story of a little girl you took as a ward when she attempted to care for you after you lost your arm. There was another memory of a small fox kit who your ward took a liking to and ended up in your group.

You told me more about the history of the Shikon no tama that hung around me neck. The story of the Shikon miko was so romantic in it's own way, of the creation and history as well as the many wars and battles fought to gain control of the jewel. I had not realized it was so revered all those years ago. You explained that even now, elder youkai will search to control it and that there had not been a Shikon miko since the feudal era when it was said to have been burned and buried with her upon her death. You had found it during a search, your brother having secretly taken it from the miko's grave but unable to do anything with it without the perfect balance of the 'four souls' .

I told you during one of our conversations under the stars that I had seen the gem glow but was certain I had had a moment of insanity; why would the gem glow the way it did if not my imagination? You said that you had known from the first conversation that I had the four souls in perfect unison to hold the jewel. I giggled at your words; even my little bit of training at my family's shrine was not enough to solidify my belief in the jewel and it's story. 'One day you will see for yourself.' That is all you said to me before ravishing me in the grass until I begged you to stop.

Our moments were never ending happiness. From the moment we met, it was nothing but a dream living and being in your presence. I could have stayed in the light of your love forever.

Our dream and happiness ended too soon. I dragged you to the doctor in July, finally tired of you pretending you were not having pain. The doctor had kept a straight face when he set us to the hospital for tests. You grumbled the whole time, saying that there was nothing wrong and these humans knew nothing of a youkai. I wish so much that you were proven correct; instead you were wrong.

July 7th, a couple days into the hospital and more than a dozen tests run, when numerous doctors came into your room with the news. I will never forget. It was a Wednesday, a day that will forever reverberate blue; depression and longing etched deep within the minutes of time. Who would have known that cancer would show up in a full blooded youkai but apparently it was much more common than was publicized. It was so very aggressive.

The oncologist described it as an Osteosarcoma stimulated from Paget disease. You confirmed to him that you had lost and regrown an arm in the years past with him commenting that this is most likely where it began. The Paget disease was destroying and re-growing cells continuously trying to correct the original amputation and keep up with the rebirth of cells keeping you immortal. The disease was often seen in older youkai who had taken damage in battle, but not many documented the treatment or results. The doctor continued to tell us that this rare variation of cancer only attacked youkai genes and it was far beyond medical technology. There was ultimately nothing they could do.

The world was spinning, my head hurt so very badly. This could not be true. I had only just found you, I needed you and the light that constantly surrounded you. No treatment or procedure to cure this? No way to send the cancer in remission? Chemotherapy was completely out of the question and all they could do was introduce medicine in hopes to slow the spreading of cancer cells. I looked at you, your cold façade in place as always. Not a single emotion played on your face.

"Amputate the arm." Without even blinking you instructed the doctors.

"I'm sorry, but there is no guarantee that it will do any good." The Oncologist shook his head.

"You will do it or I will do it." Never missing a beat, you ensured that this surgery was happening.

"We are almost certain that amputation will just cause the Paget disease to be more aggressive." The doctor took a step back when you growled at him, but you did not argue with him further.

They left us alone and I crawled into the hospital bed with you, wrapping my entire being around yours. I wished and wished that my love alone could heal. You stayed quiet, your emotions never showing. I cried into your chest, you ran your fingers through my hair. I complained to every kami I could think of about the cruelty of fate, you kissed my forehead. You left the bed and locked the door before shutting the lights off. You pulled me up for our lips to meet and my tears were kissed away. Slowly you stripped us both down to nothing, hiding our bodies underneath the hospital blankets. Our normal rough encounters seem to pale in comparison to this slow pace you have chosen.

We made slow sensual love in your hospital bed. Each gentle thrust down, I met with an up. Our hands explored each other finding every dimple, scar, and curve of muscle. You whispered sweet nothings to me before biting into my shoulder. I felt the blood well up but you licked it away. You asked me to indulge, bite into your flesh, taste the past and your memories.

I did not quite understand but did as you requested anyway. Your flesh was tougher than I had imagined, though I had never even conceived the thought of breaking flesh. I ground my small canines into the meat between your neck and shoulder. I could feel my jaw begin a slow ache, like I had been grinding my teeth too long, before I tasted the ping of copper. It disappeared, quickly filling up my senses with brisk mountain air and fresh cherry blossoms. This is what you meant; I could taste your past and the feudal era you described so vividly.

It was always colors. You brought so many brilliant expressive colors to my life. Our orgasms were always hot flashes of light ending with stars but beginning with rainbows. The climax was the prism through which we found our release to the heavens. Afterwards was always orange, the warm of a fire and the closeness of a summer day just out of reach.

Then there was nothing, a true absent of color. The pitch black of sleep over took us in that hospital bed, still naked underneath the sheets and in each other's arms. The hospital staff did not return to the room until your discharge papers were in hand in the morning. You continued on as if nothing was wrong. I cried at every step and you kissed every single droplet away. Before we left the hospital, you tried to ensure me that nothing would changing. I knew that was not true and tried to stay strong for you. Unfortunately, all I could find was sadness when all you could find was the silver lining.

How did I catch such an amazing man?


Hope you enjoyed it!
Longest Chapter yet. I am not really sure what overcame me, but I hope you enjoyed this ridiculously long (compared to the previous) chapter.
Please please please review and leave me some motivation to write so I know there are readers out there?