His hand clenched hard on Tetsusaiga's hilt as the irate snarl rolled down the street. "When?!" He demanded of her and snarled again when she shook her head for she didn't know exactly. "Jinenji needs to be told. He needs to stake a damn claim before he loses her!" Hooking her hand back in his elbow he rumbled a command for Kemuri to stand down. The hound was becoming more agitated, his eyes beginning to seep red as he growled low in warning at the gawking humans making those who had stopped to stare scurry on their way.

Kagome refused to budge when InuYasha tried to tug her down the street. "We will, we will warn him but there is time yet." Letting her own soft alpha rise, she slipped her mind against his and sent a wave of calm assurance through him. "He will not lose his mate that I am sure of. I made sure of it."

Startled, InuYasha turned back to face her. They were beginning to gather notice and he made the decision to continue to the meadow allowing the stoic mask of the lord to slide across his features and remove them from the watchful eyes of the villagers. "What did you do mate?" Her fatigue was becoming a tangible scent but she continued onwards, her pace smooth and unchanging, as she held on until they could clear the village; though the light touch on his arm gradually tightened until he began to support more of her weigh. A quick glance down showed the shadows beginning to gather under her eyes.

"I protected her and Miwa. The 'blessing' I gave Ume… it will keep her safe until she makes the choice. Miwa's is similar but will keep her from being used against Ume." She clung to InuYasha's arm in a way she knew could be dangerous if he had to move swiftly but it would be even worse if he had to carry her and they were confronted. Kemuri slipped up on her left and supported her other side, shifting so his shoulder was under her hand helping to keep her steady and she smiled down at him in relief.

"You're telling me you've protected her from being forcibly mated?!" He was astounded and looked down at his mate with proud but shocked eyes.

"Mmm…" She gave a small nod, "It will keep her safe until she chooses. Only then will the spell will break." There was a nasty surprise waiting for any youkai who tried it. "I don't think it will be necessary but… better safe than sorry." She would do whatever it took to make sure Jinenji found his happiness.

She gasped, her knees almost giving out, as her aura gave a weak shudder that had him lifting her off her feet even though they hadn't cleared the village. Sprinting forwards, InuYasha dashed into the woods, stopping a few yards into the trees to sink his fangs down on her throat and feed a steady stream of youki into her over taxed system. "Should have just done that before we left." And normally he would have but humans who weren't used to Inu ways got a little queasy when he closed his fangs into his mate's throat. She, on the other hand, loved it and gave a breathy little moan. "I don't know why it still surprises me that you can do these things." He chuckled softly against her skin and licked at her pulse point as her bow and quiver slid down her shoulder to hang from her elbow.

Heat and warmth wrapped her up almost as tight as his arms around her. "Inu… yasha…" Sighing, Kagome leaned heavily into him as he worked his mouth up the column of her neck, sucking on the delicate skin beneath her ear until she whimpered. Youki swirled through her, strengthening her reiki, as it swayed around her center, twisting and writhing, stroking her into fiery arousal. His hand snuck under the edge of the fire rat through the opening in her hakama to stroke long fingers over her dampening core.

Her little gasps and pants of pleasure caressed his ears and made him purr softly, "Breathe my koi…" Nudging her collar farther to the left, he nipped gently, tracing a fang delicately over the kanji of her mark until she whined. Seeking deeper with his fingers, he found her bundle of nerves and slowly circled, heightening her need until her hips bucked gently into his hand. Lapping at her mark, dragging searing trails of youki over her skin, he rumbled a low deep call against her. "Come for me tsuma." He whispered as his fangs squeezed down on her mark and his fingers stroked her pearl. The wave crashed over them as a soft cry flew from her lips. He worked her gently, continuing to stroke her and extend her pleasure until she gripped his wrist and pulled his hand away. "Better?" He purred seductively against her ear and brought his hand to his mouth. Sucking on his fingers he rumbled a pleased sound at the taste of her.

Turning to face him, Kagome nodded, her body humming with satisfaction and relief after having the heavy weight of desire released. Her skin tingled with the youki he'd poured into her and she felt slightly buzzed again, the feeling making her want to giggle. "You're pretty adept at that watashi no kokoro." His smug masculine pride rippled through her and she released the giggle. Shrugging her weapons back onto her shoulder she slid her hands up his breastplate and hooked her fingers over the edge, tugging to get him to lean down. Once he did, she pecked him a quick kiss and grinned a cheeky smile when he growled at her expecting more.

Pleased to see the dark marks receding from under her eyes and the soft flush return to make her skin glow with heath he grumbled at her and tried to hold back his smirk. "Teasing wench." Grabbing a fistful of her hair he tugged her back to his mouth and ravaged hers, sinking into the kiss and licking at her fangs until she groaned. Much more and he was going to have to start over with her, relieve the ache of desire for her again, but while he'd rebuilt her reiki her need to sleep was growing. Slowly he softened the kiss, pulling back as her lips clung to his and she whimpered her disappointment. "Later mate. Right now you need to rest and I'll go appease the puppies."

She nodded as the yawn caught her. "Mmm… kay." Leaning into his chest when he lifted her again Kagome stayed quiet in his mind and watched for any lingering discomfort. They were just boys, ones who found him fascinating and the fact that he might even be willing to show up had kept them in the meadow longer than usual. Their noisy laughter and camaraderie was quite easy to hear as he turned towards the not too distant meadow.

Resigned to the fact that he was going to be the center of attention for five young humans InuYasha glanced at Kemuri and nodded towards Kagome's bundle of new clothes. The hound picked up the package by the tied string and paced along beside them, willing to be the pack mule for his mistress. "Do you think he'll like it?" Looking down he could see the uncertainty in her chocolate eyes sleepy though they were. "It's a gift from you saiai. Of course he will." Her lower lip ended up caught between her teeth as she worried at it. "It's just… it was made by a human. Maybe I shouldn't-" Stopping abruptly just before the meadow InuYasha growled a sound warning her to stop being foolish. "It's exactly right and you will give it to him. He will appreciate the gesture and like the gift simply because you picked it. Stop with the fretting and sleep." Calling for her softly he wrapped her mind in warmth, dragging her into sleep before she had a chance to agonise more and waited to enter the meadow until he was sure she had dozed off. She was worrying about nothing. Sesshomaru would like the gift, made by a human or not, because she had chosen it for him.

Stepping between the trees and into the tall grass he nodded his acknowledgement to the boys who went still and quiet with their arrival. Kneeling down he sat her at the base of a lilac tree, the white blossoms just beginning to open and perfume the air, before carefully sliding her bow and quiver off her shoulder, his call low and soothing to keep her asleep. His mokomoko dropped from his back and pulling it around he tucked her into his soft fur to keep her off the ground and help keep an eye on her. Kemuri laid down behind her so while Kagome slept in the soft white fluff her hound stayed her vigilant protector against her back.

The shadow hound growled a low warning at the approaching boy and InuYasha scratched his ear when the oncoming footsteps stopped. He was pressed as close to her as he could get and with Kagome curled up the way she was, draped in a tail of white fur, the hound looked bigger than she was. Cocking his head, InuYasha studied the shadow hound. "You have a growth spurt puppy?" He asked softly in Inu. The slightly smug rumble was his conformation. Young yet, the hound had a ways to go before he reached his full size. Eventually, even in his original form of sleek hound he would grow a few inches taller, bulking up in the chest and neck as he matured. In his warning stage he would grow even more intimidating, gaining another few inches to the point where Kagome would be able to comfortably stand against his shoulder, arm around his neck without having to lean down very far. "It's a good thing the bed is big." And that he'd had it reinforced to stand up to a youkai's usage. 'So far… so good.' He chuckled to himself. They'd tested the stability of their bed frame rather vigorously since she'd returned.

Dropping his hand to her belly he took a moment and sank deep, checking on the wellbeing of his pups. The power she'd expended to do what she had for Ume and Miwa had been massive but intensely focused, a full blending of both youki and reiki in a way he would have once thought impossible. But they used to blend their powers all the time, work together to defeat tough opponents, so it was not so far-fetched that she would be able to continue to do the same. Breathing out to calm his mind, InuYasha reached for the lights, touching each one with a delicate brush of youki. After following Kagome a few times when she'd traveled to check their pups, he had a general understanding of what he was looking for and the strength of her power as it wrapped around them and the brightness of their souls relieved his mind. His pups were fine and resting along with their mother. Grinning wide enough to flash his fangs, InuYasha caressed Kagome's cheek and nudged her into soft dreams that would help her rest. One more brush of Kemuri's ear had the hound responding with a lick to his wrist and a look that said he would watch Kagome.

Rising from his position, he turned to face Jirou and the four boys watching a little ways away. "What? You ain't ever seen a woman sleep before? Feh." Waving a hand he motioned Jirou to move away from his resting mate and the low, continuous warning growl of Kemuri.

"Lord InuYasha? Is the Lady Kagome alright?" Jirou asked softly in concern as they moved away.

"Keh. She's fine just carrying, makes her tired is all. Plus Miwa-obaasan fed her so she tends to doze off pretty easy after that." It made him chuckle softly at just how easy.

"It was the same for my Haha-ue." The boy nodded thoughtfully. "When she was pregnant with Kame, she would do the same." Once, he'd found her asleep beside a basket of clean laundry she'd been folding. He'd snuck in and finished it for her so that she could enjoy the rest and not feel guilty for failing to get her work done.

InuYasha snickered softly. "Sounds like Kagome. Just you and your sister then?"

"Hai. She passed away when Kame was little." A cut from a knife had turned, given her the poisoned blood, and by the time her fever had raged hot and she had admitted to the accident it had been too late. His sweet mother hadn't wanted to worry anyone with her silly mistake and it had cost her, her life.

It was no wonder the boy had assumed care of his sister as Jinenji had said. He knew how difficult it could be to lose a mother young. "My condolences Jirou. It is a difficult loss to suffer at that age."

He shrugged a shoulder though his smile was slightly forced. "It gets easier and I have them." Jirou thrust his chin in the direction of his waiting friends. "They help me forget sometimes and Kame is her in miniature when I wish to remember."

Coming to a halt near the excited and essentially vibrating boys InuYasha crossed his arms and waited. It was clear fairly quickly that though they had invited him to join them, they had no idea what to do now that he had accepted the offer. Sighing quietly he looked between five nervous faces. "I'm sure you didn't ask me here to stand around in silence. Somebody must have questions." It was as if they had simply been waiting for permission as the flood gates opened and the barrage of noise pinned his ears back. "One at a time!" He snarled as he raised a hand to halt the noise. "My hearing may be better than yours but I still can't understand you if you talk all over each other."

"Can we see your sword?" Haruo and Ryo asked at the same time. Glancing at each other they snickered nervously.

Well, if he was going to have this fan club he might as well show off a little. "Back up." Thumbing Tetsusaiga out of its sheath as the boys jumped backwards in expectation, he drew the blade slowly, allowing the light to glow brightly off the transforming katana and swung it out in an arch to rest the tip against the ground. Gasps and quiet wows came from the boys making him chuckle. "Yah, Tetsusaiga's pretty impressive."

"Is it true that it changes colors?" Ryo asked shyly as he crept a step closer.

InuYasha looked the boy over thoughtfully. This was the one that stirred Kagome's instincts and he wondered at it but as she hadn't seen the answer yet he had no insights to give on the matter. "For different attacks it will." When they all stared at him with hope filled eyes he rolled his and shifted the blade to the red Tetsusaiga and then into the dragon scale before finishing off with the black. "It has others but there's a couple." Ryo crouched to take a closer look and he turned the blade to watch the meidos swirl within the sword.

"Is it heavy?" Kenta asked, watching as the blade flashed back to silver with his question. The sword was the most impressive weapon he'd ever seen. When Jirou had told them that he had seen the Tetsusaiga in action he had scoffed at him. Then when his friend had praised the sword as the most spectacular thing he'd ever seen Kenta had been sceptical but now… he understood Jirou's claim.

"Not for me. But it doesn't work for anyone else so that's hard to say." InuYasha shrugged. It wasn't heavy… anymore and it did work for Kagome, who also hadn't found it heavy, but they didn't need to know that.

"What do you mean it doesn't work for anyone else?" Ichiro asked, also fascinated with the weapon.

Brow rising as his smirk spread, InuYasha casually handed the hilt to Ichiro. "Take it and see." The boy's eyes had grown to fill his face with his elated enthusiasm.

"Really?" When the hanyou nodded, Ichiro reached tentatively for the hilt and wrapped his fingers around the end. After InuYasha let go he had a moment of fear as the weight of the sword nearly drug him to the ground before the blade flashed and was simply a rusty looking katana weighing next to nothing. "Wow! That's incredible." He breathed out and carefully touched the steel before handing the weapon back.

Chuckling, InuYasha took the offered blade back and returned it to its sheath. "Yah, it's always been like that. Works for me and once or twice for Sesshomaru but no one else has been able to use it since my father." Voice filled with pride, he flicked his ear in Kagome's direction and touched her gently. She was sleeping deep, enjoying the soft dream he'd nudged her into as Kemuri kept watch. Once in a while the hound would drop his nose to her cheek or shoulder and snuffle her softly, keeping an eye on his companion and making sure she was resting comfortably. He could hear the quiet rumble of sound that Kemuri was making and held in his grin at how close the sound was to his own purr.

"How did you get it?" Jirou asked, only a little jealous that Ichiro got to hold the sword.

Glancing at the five expectant faces again he motioned for them all to sit in the shade of another tree not far from Kagome. "Long story, might as well be comfortable." Once comfortable he launched into the tale of how the sword was hidden, waiting for him to discover, and how Kagome had been instrumental in obtaining and learning to use the blade. When they asked how he'd met her, he chuckled a bit and thought about the story she had made up for the girls. It was a fine for Miroku's daughters, still little and easily frightened, but these boys would most likely appreciate the real story. "She released me from a curse and I saved her from Mistress Centipede, a type of insect youkai." His grin turned wicked as he said, "Then I tried to kill her." Shocked gasps and loud exclamations of denial rang out and made him laugh. "It's how I ended up with this." He tapped a claw against his kotodama and explained about waking pinned to the tree, taunting Kagome into releasing him and killing the centipede before he tried to take the Shikon no Tama for himself only to ended up collared and slammed to the ground every time Kagome said 'sit'. "Spend enough time around her you'll notice she uses ever word but that one when she wants you to sit. Told my brother to 'plant his butt once'." It still made him snicker, the look on Sesshomaru's face.

"So… just take them off." Kenta waved a hand and smirked. It seemed a simple answer to the hanyou's troubles.

Pulling the beads upwards he made them glow brightly. "Ain't that simple." InuYasha's smug grin flashed his fangs as the boy's eyes bugged out. "Kagome's the only one that can remove them and I prefer she leaves them where they are." Kenta's mouth opened to ask why and he growled at the boy. "Cause I just do!" He held up his hands in surrender while InuYasha glowered at him.

Reaching out Haruo smacked Kenta in the head, glaring at him to hold his tongue, and quickly changed the subject. "Will you tell us about your shard hunt? So much is speculation."

Starting at the beginning and for the next couple of hours InuYasha told tale after tale to his captive audience leaving out a few things, things that pertained to Kagome's origins, and embellishing others. He answered questions, laughing at some of the rumors the boys had heard and shaking his head at some of their more bizarre questions. They asked about youkai he'd met and fought and wanted to see his scars, to which they reacted with disappointment as he didn't have any, his youkai nature wouldn't allow for it. But through it all, always in the middle, the essential part of the stories was Kagome. Their friends were there to, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, but more often than not it came down to Kagome to find the jewel shard, to sense the danger, to keep him in line with the others. She'd been the guiding force behind their pack, the alpha female, long before he had been willing to acknowledge it. He touched her often, checking on her, but she rested comfortably as the day warmed around them.

Thinking back, even though he knew he would never have succeeded without her, it wasn't until he started telling their adventure that he realized how much they had come to depend on each other, trust each other, and that connection had formed early on. "Never would have defeated Naraku if it weren't for her." He concluded as he leaned back on his hands with his legs stretched out before him and laughed quietly at the boy's enthralled expressions. "And that's not quite half of the stories. There's many, many more." But the day was waning as he tilted his face to look at the sun. "How much trouble you all going to be in for wasting a day and staying here longer than you should have?" Five faces held a guilty flush that had him chuckling again. "Well if you need to use me as your excuse feel free. Maybe a few of you will get out of trouble with it." They all snickered quietly but it was the soft growl from Kemuri and foot falls coming through the woods that had him up and moving in a flash to stand protectively a few yards in front of his mate.

"Told you he was fast!" Jirou hissed at the others as he rose to his feet, his friends quick to follow suit hoping that perhaps they would get to witness a battle between InuYasha and whatever had caused him to move that quickly.

Ignoring the boys, InuYasha tested the air and relaxed only slightly at the familiar scent. It was the headman Yutaka, most likely looking for his son and the other boys. "Looks like you'll get to see how much trouble you're in. It's your father Jirou." The boy gave a pained groan and trudged his way forwards as the man came into view along the forest path. "Yutaka-sama." He gave the headman a nod of greeting.

"Ah Lord InuYasha! I should have known. Jirou would not avoid his chores unless distracted by something of equal importance." Bowing to the hanyou with a smile, he shifted his gaze to the black and gray dog and the woman asleep in the mound of white fur. Long, dark hair obscured her face and he dismissed it as irrelevant. What the Lord and his Lady chose to do was no business of his. "The boys have not been a bother I trust?"

Shifting to block Kagome from the view of the headman InuYasha shook his head. "No. They've kept me company while my mate was resting." He didn't want to see the five of them get into trouble. The discomfort he thought he would feel being the focus of their attention had never happened. Their curiosity hadn't made him as uncomfortable as he thought it would and, in fact, he had enjoyed the time he'd spent with them. Telling stories to five adolescent boys was a lot of fun as he didn't have to leave out the scary parts or the parts that females found rather revolting. The gorier the tale the more these boys had enjoyed it.

"That is good then but as their parents are looking for them I believe it is time for them to be getting home." Lifting a hand, Yutaka motioned them forwards. "I think perhaps a little extra voluntary assistance with the work tomorrow would be advised to offset the understandable lack of help today." A stern look had him receiving four solemn nods from the boys, and a guilty flush from his son, that stood before him and made him grin. "Good, good. I will speak with your families and explain about this afternoon." He waved them away but was pleasantly surprised when all five gave deep, respectful bows to the half demon Lord.

"Thank you for this afternoon Lord InuYasha." Jirou grinned wide as he bowed and the others followed with the same sentiment. "It has been our honour to spend this time with you and to meet your Lady." He as well as Ichiro, Haruo and Ryo began the walk back to the village as Kenta hesitated.

Waiting only long enough for his friends to be out of earshot and taking a deep breath he said what he felt he needed to. "Lord InuYasha… gomen nasai for my brazenness. It was foolhardy and immature. Your Lady's words… they will stay with me and I will not forget what she said. Will you give her my thanks?" The way he had acted and the things she had said had followed him throughout the day and made him think. He was not a child and could no longer act the way he had been if he, someday, wanted to be able to attract and keep a woman as splendid as the Lady Kagome was.

His brow rose as the boy matured before InuYasha's eyes and impressed him. "Keh, I will. But don't give up on the flattery all together. Women appreciate it to." The times he complimented his mate always had her flushing and feeding him pleased little bolts of happiness. Nodding to the boy he watched him race to catch the others and chuckled when Kenta shoved his brother into the dirt and took off at a run laughing. He hadn't grown up that much.

"They are good boys. Though they tend to get into trouble on a fairly regular basis, hence the reason I came looking for them." Yutaka chuckled softly as well. Kenta's words made him wonder just how much trouble he had almost gotten himself into but the apology had obviously appeased the hanyou so he let it go.

InuYasha snorted out a laugh. "So I have heard." Sobering, he wondered if he should warn Yutaka about this Lord Kohai character. Unsure, he left it for now deciding to wait and ask Kagome. They'd tell Jinenji and if he so chose, perhaps it was better left to the large hanyou.

Turning back to face the dog demon, Yutaka covertly looked him over. The armor was spectacular, something he had never seen the like of before and assumed he never would again, but it was the casual relaxed stance that could fool one into believing it was just for show. If he hadn't known better, hadn't seen the dead youkai with his own eyes and didn't know just who this hanyou was it would be rather simple to dismiss him as an easy opponent, all flash and no substance. "My son was very impressed with you. He did nothing but talk about Lord InuYasha this and Lord InuYasha that after your rescue." It interested him that his words seem to make the hanyou uncomfortable.

Trying hard not to sigh InuYasha shrugged. "Like I've said, the snake needed killing or it was gonna be a problem. Nothing more to it than that."

Frowning in bewilderment, Yutaka spoke more harshly then perhaps he intended. "Saving lives should hold more meaning for you than that!" The shift in posture allowed his true face to come through as InuYasha went from relaxed to battle ready in an instant and the headman got a glimpse of what it would have been like to face him across a battle field.

Growling a soft warning at the overly ignorant human InuYasha turned to face Kagome instead of lashing out. "Saving a life holds more meaning for me than you will ever understand. Don't presume to know me human!" Irritated, he reached for Kagome and felt the early stirring of her slowly waking mind.

Confused but wary, he apologized. "Gomen naisai. It was not my intention to offend you, it is just… most would want to be acknowledged for what they have done and you… don't. I only wish to understand." Hard, glittering gold eyes met his and made him shudder under their scrutiny. He was not a small man and rarely had he felt intimidated by anyone but this Inu-hanyou did so with only a look.

"I spent a year doing nothing but saving lives. Every shard we collected, every youkai I killed, added up to countless lives saved. I have no need of recognition for doing something that any capable soul should be willing to do." He gestured towards Kagome. "She is all the reward I could ask for. I only seek her approval." Sighing softly he passed a hand over his ears and pulled on his hair as his eyes returned to Yutaka's. "It's all the ones you don't save, all the lives lost before you get there or can find the evil bastard that weigh on you. The people I saved, even the ones who end up being ungrateful or afraid of me… it is its own reward." Turning to look at Kagome again, his eyes connected with dark ones that glittered softly with gold as she sat facing him and his heart softened. "Saiai… did you rest well?" Kemuri was crouched behind her, head over her shoulder, as she gently stroked his muzzle.

Glancing towards the woman and the large dog, Yutaka felt his breath catch at the beauty who sat surrounded in fur with the black cheek of the silver eyed youkai pressed to hers. 'She would be a reward in herself that is for certain.' Her gaze shifted to him and he felt mesmerized by the dark, hypnotic eyes before she released him and could only stare in awe as InuYasha moved to help her up.

Scratching Kemuri's cheek when he licked at her jaw she smiled and offered InuYasha her hands. "I did, especially with the dreams you sent me." The split tail had wrapped itself around her arm as she stood and she longed to trail her hand down its fur. "In all the time I've been back I can't remember if I ever told you just how incredibly proud I am of you." Cupping his cheek, she smiled a soft radiant smile. "You're all the reward I need as well watashi no kokoro." His fingers threaded through her streak of white hair as his content purr swelled inside her. "But don't carry the burden of the ones you couldn't save. Like me… you can't save everyone my mate."

Pressing his cheek to hers, he brushed back to nip gently at her ear. "I know koi." He whispered but it was not that easy as she well knew. She still carried a lingering sadness, mild though it was, at not being able to help Shin. She wanted to stroke his ear, he could feel it, but settled for kissing his cheek as the footsteps headed towards them. Kemuri joined them to shift his body in front of hers as InuYasha turned to face the headman and kept her secure against his side. "Yutaka-sama, my mate and wife Kagome."

Pressing her left hand against his armor Kagome caught the reflection of light as her ring flashed in the late afternoon sun. "Yutaka-sama." She tilted her head in greeting as he bowed. As per InuYasha's memory he was a very big man, well beyond average for this era, with skin darkened from the sun and hair that had had been highlighted from brown to caramel. For a human male he would have been quite intimidating had she not spent so much time battling all manner of youkai. As it was his eyes were kind if overly admiring but his smile was respectful. The kimono he wore was obviously one of Miwa's, the excellence of the quality giving it away, but not flashy or overstated and she had a brief flash of insight that he had dressed well in case he should encounter them.

"Lady." He said with a respectful bow. She was even more stunning up close even if she was dressed oddly. "An honour." He spoke softly and again felt like he fell into the dark pools of her eyes.

She read him easily and was unsurprised when InuYasha's snarl of irritation rolled through her mind. He stiffened and tightened his hold on her making her smile. "Just because he thinks I'm pretty doesn't mean he'll act on it." Gazing up at her mate, she purred a sultry little sound through his mind and felt him relax.

The look she gave the hanyou said it all and so much more as her clear love and affection for the half demon showed on her face. Sighing as he thought of his own departed wife, Yutaka sketched a second bow. "It has been my pleasure to meet you both and should you visit again feel free to call at my home. I'm sure Jirou would be more than willing to keep you both highly entertained." Turning his attention to the hanyou he said, "Lord InuYasha, whether you wish it or not, my gratitude and thanks is yours for what you have done. May the rest of your visit be peaceful, as well as your journey." His smile was small and his thoughts far away as he headed back towards the village and his home.

"That was sudden." InuYasha snickered softly and called his mokomoko back to his back before bending down to retrieved Kagome's bow and arrows for her.

Kagome watched the headman go for a moment before turning back to InuYasha. "He is ready to love again after the death of his wife." He had a well healed soul and a heart that was open. "He is a kind man, if a bit strict, as far as I can tell. It is no wonder Jinenji respects him." Taking her quiver and bow she slipped them onto her back before scrubbing at Kemuri's ears. "My vigilant companion. Did you nap to?" His eyes rolled up to stare at her in mild exasperation as if to say 'Yah right'. "No sleeping on the job for you then?" Giggling, she bent down and hugged his neck.

Picking up her bundle of clothes, InuYasha tucked them under his arm and grinned at the two of them. "Stop teasing the hound." Taking her by the hand, he led the way through the forest back towards Jinenji's.


Sitting on the roof of Jinenji's home, InuYasha watched Kagome as she walked the rows with the horse hanyou. The sun was setting in the west, washing the sky in brilliant reds and golds, pinks and oranges. They had enjoyed dinner with the big male again though it had been slightly uncomfortable. Unsure of how he would react, they had avoided talking about it until after dinner when Jinenji had offered to take Kagome through a couple more rows of his field. "What do we tell him?" He would not sit idly by and allow the half demon to miss out on his opportunity but he also didn't want to panic the male into acting rashly and doing something foolish. The nasty little surprise she'd weaved into Ume's blessing wouldn't differentiate between him and another youkai if he tried to force Ume's hand. Not that he thought Jinenji would ever do that. It was a despicable, reprehensible action, no different from rape between humans, and if he ever came across such a bond he would slaughter the male responsible.

Smiling at Jinenji when he handed her another bunch of leaves to go in the basket she was packing she took a moment before answering him. "It's not an easy subject to broach with him." Sighing quietly Kagome turned to look up at InuYasha where he sat watching. She worried to but unlike her mate, she was more concerned that Jinenji would retreat, give up what hope had risen within him to finally reach out and grab the life he could have.

"Kagome? Is something wrong?" Jinenji asked quietly. She had been distant since they had returned from the village, distracted, more subdued than normal and it concerned him as she had gone to see Ume. "Did you not enjoy your time in the village?"

"Oh, well yes. We met Jirou's friends." She glanced up into amused blue eyes when he chuckled. "They were sweet and rather entertaining." Needing to move, she began to walk slowly as she tried to find the right thing to say. InuYasha, ever a watchful shadow in her mind, landed a few yards behind them before catching up to walk in the row next to hers. With Kemuri at her back and Jinenji on her opposite side she searched for where to start. "Miwa-obaasan was quite something as well and thinks very highly of you."

The unexpected praise made him flush. "She is very outspoken. Reminds me of my mother at times." Nodding, Jinenji paced slowly along at their side. Uncertainty was brewing inside him as she spoke. Her aura, usually so warm and inviting, was tense and seemed strained. "Kagome what is wrong?" He didn't like seeing the sweet little female, his first ever friend, look the way she did.

She glanced sideways at InuYasha and getting a subtle nod in return sighed softly. "At Ume-san's, something… happened." Lifting her hand to her forehead she rubbed it firmly as the headache tried to return with the images. "There has been a Lord to see her, purchase her wares, and while he hasn't done anything yet… I am concerned."

Stopping abruptly Jinenji turned fully to face her. He felt the rise of rage and fear that came with her words, the despair that wanted to follow at the idea that Ume had another suitor and stiffened. Kagome had said she was concerned and a glance at InuYasha showed he was as well. "Explain." He snarled as his demon stirred violently and surfaced at the threat to his female.

Stepping over the growing green plants, InuYasha put himself between Jinenji and Kagome as the horse hanyou's demon rose. "Easy Jinenji." He warned the larger male as he let his own alpha and demon surface to create a wedge of power between them and Jinenji. "We'll tell you what we suspect but you gotta calm down first." Kemuri had flanked the horse hanyou and silver flames were beginning to lick around his feet and ankles as he prepared to shift and defend his mistress. If it came down to it, if the big male lost control, he would remove Kagome from the danger while the hound took down Jinenji.

Kagome set her hand on InuYasha's shoulder as her alpha swelled to flow over his. "Give him a minute… he's got this." While Jinenji's father's blood didn't have the same effect on him that InuYasha's used to, he was still forced to fight for control against his demon. The instinct to run for his mate, to remove her from harm, was raging inside the male for the first time. "Jinenji…"She called his name softly and saw the shudder race down his body. "She is safe Jinenji. I made her safe for now."

His head snapped up at her words. "How? What aren't you telling me?" Clenching his fists he pushed back against his enraged demon until it relented but it paced inside him in a way he was unused to and it made him feel edgy. When the bugling trumpet of challenge echoed within him it caused the hair on his neck rise. Never before had he heard such a sound from his demon.

The eyes that had started to seep to red, were back to blue except for right around the edges. "Though he looks human, he is not. She has been visited by a youkai whose purpose is unclear. He made her uncomfortable." She felt InuYasha relax as Jinenji found his control. "Call off Kemuri, InuYasha." Stepping around her mate, she was tugged firmly back into his chest as his arm wrapped around her to keep her close. A low rumble of sound reverberated against her spine and Kemuri calmed before pacing forwards to sit protectively at her side.

"How do you know?" He demanded of the woman whose eyes had changed to the gleaming gold of her Inu mate.

"I just do Jinenji. Trust that I know what I speak of." Sighing, she felt the youki slide gently into her through the bond and sent InuYasha her appreciation. The whole day had been incredibly draining and more stressful than she was willing to admit. "I have done what I can to see she is safe. No one will be able to force her into a bond she doesn't want." Lifting a hand towards him she pleaded with him. "My friend, I wish I could tell you have all the time in the world to make this decision… but you don't. Make the choice Jinenji. Either you love her enough to take the chance and offer your heart or you will lose her to another." If not to this Lord then one day to a human who would see past her differences to the sweet soul inside.

He felt like she had torn out his heart with her words. "You don't ask for much do you Kagome?" Frustrated and irritated from his struggling demon he ignored her offered hand and paced away to stare across his fields. "It is not that simple!" He cried in anger and squeezed his hands against his temples. The snarl broke from InuYasha but it was Kagome's words that were sharp behind him and had him spinning around.

Hurt by the rejection when she was only trying to help her emotions shifted and she snarled, "Do you think I want this? No Jinenji I don't! I want you to have time, to seek each other softly, to grow and learn to love each other together and have done all I can to give you time but it will run out!" Slashing her hand through the air, she pulled from InuYasha's arms as her dragon stirred again and pointed at the big hanyou. "What happens from here… it is on you. She is your mate for kami sake! Stop hiding from what you want and start acting like the youkai you are!" Anger poured off her in waves but under it all was the fear that he would fail. That he would give up on having her before he ever even tried. "You asked me how you can tell if someone loves you but maybe you should have asked what one is willing to do when you love someone else. What are you willing to give Jinenji? What kind of effort are you willing to make to have what you want?"

"Kagome…" InuYasha warned quietly as he reached for her arm. Her anger was pounding through the bond, her fear a strong underlying scent, and was pulling on her energy as the youki spiked around her. Sliding his mind against hers he tried to calm her before it became painful.

"No!" She shouted over her shoulder at InuYasha and thrust her hand at him before glaring up at Jinenji. "I loved him enough to give everything I had! Locked in that damn jewel for three days, waiting in the darkness with that condescending voice in my head, because I knew he'd find me! I loved him enough to have the faith to know he would come, that he would never stop looking! If you can't stand up and tell her how you feel," Stepping back as the pain radiated around her heart, she rubbed at her chest and Kagome felt the tear slide down her cheek. "Then maybe you don't deserve her after all." Dropping the basket she still held at his feet, she spun on her heel and stalked away, hand resting on Kemuri's back to keep her upright.

Sighing, InuYasha watched her go. She needed him but he had something to say first to the sputtering half demon. "She's right. Look Jinenji, Kagome's different then she used to be, stronger, more powerful. If she believes Ume's your mate you can be damn sure she's right." Scrubbing a hand down his face he looked up into the hanyou's confused and uncertain blue eyes. "She's had a trying day, one that's put a lot of strain on her and our pups, and she's worried. She wants you to be happy, to have the life you could if you take the chance, and her fear that you will let that slip through your fingers has come out as anger that she doesn't really mean."

"But how can she know all this?" He stared after her as she hesitated at the edge of the forest, waiting for InuYasha to join her.

"Ain't important." InuYasha shook his head. "Just trust that she does. Like she said, she's done what she can to give you time, but it won't last forever. This… Lord… whoever he is will return eventually and who knows when that will be or what his intentions are." Her need was growing as she called for him and he took a step towards her. "Think about what you really want. Don't let all the crap that people have piled on you over the years keep you from all you could have. If I had listened…." He shook his head. "If I had listened to all the people who told me I was unworthy, that I was filthy and not fit to have a mate, I would have missed out on the best thing to ever happen to me." He could already feel her sorrow at how she'd snapped at Jinenji and reaching for her he brushed it aside. Perhaps it was what was needed to kick the male in the right direction. "Tomorrow is our last day here. We need to be going the morning after and I know she wants to spend it with you… if you'll have her." Jinenji sighed but nodded his consent. "She'll already feel bad about snarling at you but her emotions fluctuate easily and you just happened to rile her up. Kagome just wants you to be happy. You'll get an apology tomorrow I'm sure." Smirking up at the horse hanyou he gave him one last piece of advice. "Take tonight and figure it out. Figure out what you really want and what you're willing to do to get it. We'll see you in the morning." Nodding at the silent and rather sullen male, InuYasha sprinted back to the house and collected their gear before racing for Kagome.

Leaning heavily against the trunk of a tree as Kemuri nuzzled her hip, offering what comfort he could, she waited patiently for InuYasha to finish with Jinenji though she sent her call out to encourage him to hurry. Already she felt bad for snapping at the big half demon but he was so close! Ume stood waiting and all he had to do was reach for her and she would fall into his arms. Sighing heavily, she realized how unsettled today had made her. Being what she was and seeing what she did could take a lot out of her, especially when she got pieces of information without any real answers, and she rubbed the heel of her hand over her growing midsection. "Please tell me you three will not be this stubborn."

InuYasha's chuckle was deep as he dropped their stuff beside her to brush her hands out of the way and run his over her instead. "They're a combination of us both mate. They're likely to be pretty damn pigheaded." Dropping his mouth to her jaw he purred for her and helped brush away the rest of her irritation. "You alright?" She'd been all over the place today in her emotions.

"Yes, no, I don't know…" Sighing again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. "Let's just find somewhere to camp tonight. Maybe if I don't move for a few hours things will finally settle down." She felt stirred up, out of sorts in a way she didn't understand, and wanted it to stop.

"Whatever you need Kagome." Brushing his cheek against hers and staying a quiet touch in her mind, he kept up a steady soothing call. She was a mass of conflicting emotions that were slowly becoming more than she could handle. "You pushed to hard today my mate." Leaning her gently back into the tree, he knew one way to help shift her focus and closed his mouth over her mark. She shattered under his hands as her body shook while her whimper sounded close to his ear. "Again watashi no saiai no hanryo!" He growled against her throat and squeezed his jaws around her mark a second time. Her moan caressed him as his hands wandered over her clothing. Her pleasure washed through him, drowned him in sensation as he nibbled on her skin, working his way up to her jaw. "Let's go find a place to for you to rest. I'll make you some of Jinenji's tea and you can sleep off this mood."

She smirked softly, "Are you calling me moody InuYasha?"

Her chocolate eyes danced with laughter and her amusement swept through him making him snicker. "Would I ever?" Her laughter rang out and she tugged gently on his ear.

Her fang flashed in the low light with her grin. "Once or twice."


A/N: R&R as usual! Thanks to my wonderful reviewers! Those of you who review all the time get a special shout out and a big THANK YOU! You all rock!