Kagome didn't know what to answer to that, so she stepped inside the small structure. She was aware from the condition of the wood that it was considerably newer than the treehouse on the beach.

Had he built this himself? It was crude, but effective. The roof seemed tight and the walls were snug. There was only a single small window, but it seemed to be covered. The room was dim, but she thought that the entire hut was perhaps the size of her treehouse bedroom. The memory of that bedroom made her think of her mother and grandfather, and she nearly broke down. Hojo and Naraku weren't dead, at least she didn't think they were. They were badly wounded, she was certain of that much. Perhaps she had time.

She was about to turn around and insist he take her home when he stepped through the door and lifted a wooden flap that served as a shutter over the window. Light streamed into the space, and she saw a compact but neat space. There was a bed, perhaps big enough for two, with soft, clean coverings of animal skins and yellowed linen. A couple of steamer trunks sat against the window wall, and there was a crude box filled with various cloth items.

Then her heart caught, because sitting on a shelf was a teddy bear.

At once a tumult of thoughts rushed through her. She looked at him, wondering. His golden eyes, dog ears, fangs and claws clearly indicated that he was at least part youkai. She had heard Naraku say something about Inu, and being half. But half what?

Had he been shipwrecked, possibly with a with a wife and child? She dismissed that idea immediately. No ship's captain would allow such a person onboard his vessel. Indeed, back in Japan such beings were considered myth, and it was said to see one was a harbinger of death.

Could he have been the child to whom that bear belonged? Had he somehow been separated from his parents? But if so, how had he survived, if he had been young? Or was it possible he had simply found this place accidentally?

His hand closed solid and firm around her fingers, and as she looked up at him what she saw in his eyes made her breath catch. Pride. He liked having her in his personal space. The wild man's eyes fell to her mouth and seemed to catch there for the longest moment.

Kagome could hardly breathe. She couldn't imagine wanting anything more at that moment than for him to bend to her and cover her mouth with his. How can I think this way? She had just left her fiancé for dead only moments ago. The fiancé who'd promised to love and cherish her, but who had traded her for a diamond map? The memory made her shudder.

InuYasha frowned. He didn't like the look on his woman's face. She had looked surprised but pleased at the gift of his home. Then she had looked as though she wanted to kiss him, and maybe do the other things they had done back at the other treehouse. But then her expression changed. It became bitter and angry and ashamed by turns. This was unacceptable.

He growled a low rumble to soothe her. It seemed to work. At the very least, she turned her attention back to him, instead of whatever bad thoughts she'd had. He 'whuffed' at her in approval.

She smiled at the distinctively canine sound, and couldn't help reaching out to touch him with her free hand. But before she could touch him, he stepped back, releasing her. Her hands fell to her sides and she looked up at him, confused and questioning. He gestured to the bed, and, drawing one of the coverings up and away, indicated that she was to lie down. Bewildered, Kagome did so. The platform was covered with a large silky fur and she found the skin was soft and inviting. No sooner had she lay back than he settled the blanket over her in a waft of sweet, light cloth.

Kagome suddenly realized how exhausted she was. Exhausted, sore… and overwhelmed. She looked up at the wild man and smiled. How had he known? She could fight it no longer and closed her eyes. In moments, she was asleep.

InuYasha watched the woman for a long time. Kagome. He smiled, something inside him expanding into a great warmth. He settled down next to the low bed and admired how the light and shadows from the open window danced over her lovely face. Beauty that made his insides hurt. He wanted to touch her , but he didn't want to wake her. He could watch over her, and she would sleep in peace. If she slept, she trusted him. The scent of her, that clean, sweet fragrance, filled his home. He rumbled lowly in pleasure at the thought.

He watched her breathing deepen, saw her hands curl under her cheek as she turned. He wanted to press his mouth to hers. He had tasted her before, in that sweet, warm place between her legs… but now he knew he wanted to touch her lips. And all the other parts of her. Beneath his hakama, he hardened.

He frowned down at his erection and turned his thoughts elsewhere. He had no time for that now. He had much to think about. He was only half certain he understood what happened this day. It seemed that the smaller, younger man in some way belonged to Kagome. InuYasha had seen, watching from a high tree when Kagome and the younger man came together in an embrace. He realized that they knew each other. She was overjoyed to see him, clinging to his arm as if she would never let him leave. The other man, the older one who had angered her, watched from a distance. His expression was empty, but the way he stood was not.

InuYasha thought he knew how he felt. He had went away after that, running too fast and jumping too hard through the trees. He misjudged once and fell halfway to the ground before grabbing a vine strong enough to stop his tumble. He hadn't made a mistake like that since he was a young pup, showing off for his mother. But something inside his chest hurt, burned, and he was angry enough at himself, at the woman and her man, to throw himself off a high branch into the cold, deep river instead of wading in.

He emerged from the icy water with nothing but a scraped knee and bruised shoulder, then narrowly missed being attacked by a crocodile. Its jaws snapping closed behind his heel just as he yanked himself up and out of the water using a low branch. Foolish. Such behavior would get him killed. He had to think about this properly.

She belonged with the new man. He was her mate, and mates stayed together until one of them died. This was instinctual to Inuyasha. Still, he had been curious, and later that night, unable to sleep in his cool, dark hut, he emerged. He meant to look on her one more time. To see if the mate slept with her. To ensure that she was safe and content.

But when he reached her treehouse bedroom, it was empty. Perched in the window, he sniffed the air, but the new man's scent was not mingled with Kagome's. He had not been in her bed. It was simple for InuYasha to track her after that.

Still, he had nearly been too late. He remembered the scent of her terror, the smell of her blood and the hungry, angry looks of the men chasing her. He snarled a soft sound with remembered rage. Kagome stirred a bit, but slept on. The men were badly hurt, but might yet follow them. This was unacceptable.

Reluctantly, he stood. Kagome slept on, undisturbed. He wavered in his decision, knowing she would be unhappy with the outcome should she find out. After a moment, he brushed his hand lightly over her hair, then turned and went out.

It wasn't long before he returned, his mission accomplished. It had been quick, and far less bloody than he'd liked. However, his woman was now safe, and that was all he cared about. He leaned against the bed and closed his eyes, but his ears remained mobile. The slightest sound, the barest shift in the wind, would waken him. She was safe, and he, for the first time since he'd met her, relaxed, breathing in the comfort and pleasure of her beautiful scent.

SSSSSSSssssss

So, are the bad guys dead, or did IY do something else with them? Will they make a reappearance? How will Kagome explain her absence? Will IY feature in her future? How will her family take him? Stay tuned to find out.

I may be MIA for a couple/few weeks, as MIL is having knee surgery in the morning, and Dh and I will be helping her to therapy, errands, ect. So I haven't dropped this story, but I'll need a bit to work out the rest of it and get it posted, so be patient, and keep a look out!