Disclaimer - I do not own InuYasha nor do I claim too.

A big thank you to everyone who has sent me a review. Sorry I haven't updated for a few days, it's been a bit hectic in my life. I've just returned to work on a rehab program after having major surgery on my spine. (I now have 6 new screws to hold my broken spine together)

Anyway I hope you like this chapter. It's one of the chapters that I don't think I got the flow quite right in. Please let me know what you think.

KittyKaiya

Chapter 10 – Resting at Lady Kaede's

InuYasha carried Kagome to Lady Kaede's hut, where upon entering he was hit with a multitude of questions and one fox demon jumping all over him demanding to know what he'd done to Kagome. Silencing everyone with a growl, he settled in the corner with Kagome cuddle into him, her head resting over his heart, his arms wrapped protectively around her. She sighed in her sleep and nestled closed to him, bringing a smile to his face.

"Well InuYasha, will ye tell us what happened" Lady Kaede asked, smiling at the sight of InuYasha and Kagome. Her heart warmed.

"Koga and I fought; Kagome sat me and passed out. Koga left" He stated simply.

"Why and how did she pass out?" question Sango

"I think my emotions overpowered her" he brushed her hair from her face with his knuckles. She sighed in her sleep as his skin touched hers. "We're still getting used to the link; we haven't learnt to control it"

"Mmmmm…the others did inform me of what had transpired in the cave and after. How is the child?" Lady Kaede spoke as she stoked the fire.

InuYasha looked down at Kagome and lowered his head to rest his chin on her head and using one hand he gently caressed her jaw line, the intimacy of his actions caused Sango to blush and Miroku to grin perversely. Lady Kaede just smiled.

"She's just tired, it's been a long day but she's telling me she's ok"

"You feel that" Shippo asked curiously.

"Yeah, plus she just told me in my mind"

Lady Kaede dropped the spoon she'd been using to stir the stew that she was making for their supper. She knew that the link would pass on their feelings to one another but not thoughts.

"InuYasha, do mean to tell me that her mark on you is that strong"

"It's almost as strong as mine on her." he remarked, rubbing his cheek against Kagome's.

"What is it Lady Kaede?" questioned the monk.

"I've never heard of a human being able to mark a youkai or even a hanyou that strongly" she answered.

"Why not?" Shippo chipped in.

"Their not powerful enough" InuYasha answered "but somehow Kagome is"

"She is a special one that child" Lady Kaede added "How much of you did she take in?"

"Umm…Lady Kaede" Miroku stammered he coughed trying to clear his throat "As much as the details of the union are curious to me I don't think it's appropriate in front of innocent ears" nodding towards Shippo.

WHACK THUMP Miroku hit the floor with a loud thud.

"Pervert!!" yelled Sango "she was referring to his blood and how much of it Kagome consumed when she bit him, gez you are so disgusting" She shook her head, just like him to go to the dirtiest place.

"I don't know old woman but I think quite a bit" InuYasha answered trying not to laugh at the huge lumps that swelled on the lechers head.

"I see and is she aware of what changes may occur?"

"I told her and…." He looked down at Kagome "I also told her I can never change"

"What do you mean InuYasha" asked Miroku as he struggled to sit back up, holding his poor aching head, he glanced nervously at Sango and shifted himself just a little further away from her.

"InuYasha has given up his ability to wish on the jewel" Sango explained "you gave too much to make the link so powerful didn't you?" she said turning to look at InuYasha.

"Willingly. Yes. To be with Kagome always, I'd give up even more" The honesty in his voice and the way in which looked at Kagome's sleeping face brought a peaceful calm to Sango's heart and mind. She had still been concerned that InuYasha didn't share the depth of Kagome's love for him but now she knew he did and that set her at ease.

The others reflected over the last few days whilst enjoying the meal Lady Kaede had prepared. InuYasha made quite a sight trying to eat using only one of his hands because he refused to release the sleeping Kagome. Before long everyone was settling down to sleep. Shippo made his way over to InuYasha and jumped up onto him.

Oi…What ya doin runt?"

"I just wanted to say good night to Kagome" The kitsune cub bent down to lay a gentle kiss on Kagome's cheek "When will she wake up InuYasha?"

"I don't know but hopefully soon" He answered watching the little cub as he stared down at Kagome. The brat could at times annoy the crap out of InuYasha but he recognized that Shippo loved Kagome and he knew that the little runt was just as concerned for her as he was.

InuYasha watched as Shippo bounded over to Kirara and curled up with the cat and soon they were both snoring. InuYasha lowered his head and kissed Kagome's brow, he concentrated on his thoughts.

I hope you're all right beloved, wake up soon ok.

From somewhere deep inside he could sense her presence, feel her soul wrapped tightly with his.

I'm ok InuYasha.

You sure?

Yeah, I love you.

And I you, Kagome.

He leaned back against the wall of the hut and allowed himself to drift off to sleep. He dreamt of the future he would have with Kagome, the pups they would raise and the love that they would share for the rest of their lives. Little did he know that Kagome was sharing the same sort of dream. They both slept peacefully, wrapped in each other arms and love.

InuYasha fought against the sensation that was trying to rouse him from sleep, he tried valiantly to ignore the warmth that was spreading through him, unable to control the desire that was being spread he reached up and clasped the hand that was gently stroking his left ear, causing the owner of the hand to gasp in surprise.

"Oi wench" he growled low not even bothering to open his eyes, he released his grip on her hand and pulled her warm body closer against his chest; lowering his head to capture her mouth with his. He felt her try to resist but not for long, she soon melted into his body and surrendered to the kiss. He released her lips to trail his mouth to her ear where he whispered "If you don't stop doing that you're gonna get it"

He heard her sigh with desire and then she giggled. "I couldn't resist" her hand returned to rub his ear. Just as he raised his head to look at her the air was filled with a might scream that rattled the walls and shook them to their very core.

"KAGOME…Kagome you're awake" and then the hanyou and miko was sent crashing back into the wall as brown buddle of fur launched itself at them.

"Off runt" bellowed InuYasha not impressed in the slightest as having been interrupted or slammed into the wall.

"Shippo, good morning" replied Kagome, trying to right herself in InuYasha's lap. She almost felt like 'sitting' InuYasha for the tone he used with Shippo, but she knew both she and cub would be sorry.

Everyone else had previously been blissfully asleep but their peacefulness was destroyed, shattered into a million pieces the moment Shippo screamed. Kagome smiled as she watched them reluctantly accept that they were now awake.

Kagome thought that the whole village had probably been rudely awakened by the volume of the kitsune greeting.

"Are ye feeling well child?" asked Lady Kaede as she stood and set herself to the task of preparing the morning meal for everyone.

"Much better now, I guess all the excitement from everything caught up with me, especially Koga's visit" At the mention of the wolf demon's name InuYasha growled low and threatening in his throat, a warning that he was unimpressed.

"Aye child, you have had a lot to deal with recently" responded Lady Kaede.

"You look like you could use a dip in the hot springs Kagome" offered Sango "I know I could"

"Wonderful idea, I shall come to watch arr..I mean protect you" threw in the lecherous monk, which earned him a nasty growl from InuYasha and thump on head from Sango.

"I'd love too Sango" Kagome tried to remove herself from InuYasha's lap but he held tight. "InuYasha I need you to let go if I want to go with Sango" Kagome said to him.

InuYasha just gave her a devilish grin, bent his head to her ear and whispered "I think the monk has a good idea for once, maybe I could come and watch" This statement cause Kagome to go every shade of red there was and possibly even some shades that people had never seen before.

And even though he knew all too well from looking at her face that she was embarrassed, he couldn't help but smile as the mark on his neck flared up sending waves of desire through him. Kagome realized that he wasn't just reading her expression but also her feelings and this caused her to feel even more embarrassment, she gasped and shot to her feet. "InuYasha, sit boy" she said as she ran out the door.

"Shit!" grumbled InuYasha as he lay there face first on the floor. But as the warmth in his neck continued he smiled and began to laugh as he thought even though she doesn't want to admit it, she thought it was a good idea too.

Everyone just shock their heads in wonder at what he could possibly have said to warrant being 'sat' and want exactly was so funny about it. Sango hurried out after Kagome.

She found Kagome waiting near edge of the trail that lead to the hot springs, arms folded across her chest.

"I shouldn't have done that, should I, Sango" Kagome said without turning around.

Sango stopped dead in her tracks, she was sure she hadn't made any noise as she approached so then how did Kagome know that she was there.

"Kagome, how did you know I was behind you, did you hear me?" she asked

Kagome turned to face her friend "No, I…." Her voiced trailed off as it dawned on her "I…I smelt you. Oh my, Sango I can smell you" a hint of alarm in her voice.

"Maybe I just really need a bath or I was up wind from you"

Both girls laughed releasing the tension in the air. "Can you still smell me now?" Sango asked moving to stand beside Kagome.

Kagome closed her eyes "No, maybe it was just the wind"

Sango suddenly squealed "Last one to the springs has to wash the others clothes" and took off running up the trail.

Kagome screamed "That's not fair, come back here you cheater" as she took off after the slayer.

At the sound of Kagome's screaming voice InuYasha leapt to his feet but then abruptly sat back down. Miroku and Shippo glanced at each other, then at InuYasha, the door and then back at each other.

"Aren't you going to see what is going on out there InuYasha?" Miroku asked, cocking his head in the direction of the door.

"Nope. She's ok" he placed his hand over Kagome's mark, Miroku nodded that he understood that InuYasha would of felt if she was in any danger; Shippo on the other hand keeping looking between the two men.

"Will someone please tell me what that means?"

Miroku chuckled "I'll explain little one"

Down at the hot springs, Kagome and Sango sat relaxing in the warm water, leaning their backs against the smooth rocks, their eyes closed, their hair messily piled on top of their heads, feeling the beautiful warm water soothing all their cares and worries away.

"So, tell me what it feels like Kagome" Sango asked.

"What, what feels like" Kagome sighed absently.

"You know. What it feels like" she asked again.

Kagome sat up straighter and opened her eyes, "Sex!" Her face flamed red with embarrassment.

Sango snapped her eyes open to look at Kagome's stunned face "No, I meant being marked; I didn't realize you'd gone that far"

Relaxing a little bit, Kagome finally said "We haven't yet; InuYasha said he would wait till I'm ready"

"Oh I see. So, what does it feel like?"

Both girls sank back to their previous positions now that that little misunderstanding was sorted. After a few moments Kagome answered Sango's question.

"It feels weird but in a good way. I'm still learning to decipher what all the sensations mean but I feel his emotions and thoughts and sometimes I hear his voice in my mind"

"So you know what his thinking. That could come in handy"

"Not so much as know exactly but I feel them, here" she raised her hand to her neck, sliding her fingers along the now healing scars left by his fangs.

"How?"

"Well, like now it just a warm gentle pulse but sometimes it throbs with a burning that sends waves of heat and sometimes it's just somewhere in between"

"And he feels the same?"

"Yeah, I think he's having a harder time adjusting to it than me, like before when we were crying and hugging and as the boys would say 'being female', I don't think he enjoyed being hit with that"

Sango laughed, remembering how InuYasha had growled and the tone he used when he said Kagome's name. Kagome had the same thought as Sango and abruptly bust into laughter as well.

Back at Kaede's hut InuYasha felt a burst of warmth in his neck and smiled, 'she's happy' he thought 'I'm glad'

Miroku and Shippo looked at each other, "Miroku, it's kinda scary to see InuYasha smile like that" said Shippo.

"I heard that you little runt!" barked InuYasha and promptly smacked the little cub on the head.