Chapter 14-Settling in

Disclaimers? Given.

The next morning, Inuyasha awoke slowly from a deep, dreamless sleep...he thought he heard running water for a bit...reached for her without opening his eyes...which flew open when the bed was empty!

"Kagome!" he yelled, sitting up, and she shyly poked her head into the bedroom door a moment later.

"Yes?" she asked...fully dressed and showered, brushing her hair.

"Where were you?"

"Taking a shower. They sent breakfast," Kagome told him quietly, and as she turned to go finish dressing, hair over her shoulder, he saw a-damned bandage on her mark! He grabbed his robe and yanked it on, pulling his silver hair out of the collar, scowling as he fastened it and stalked to her side.

"Take that off," he ordered, and she froze. There was a rip as he unceremoniously peeled off the bandage to look at her mark. It was on the back of her neck as he'd always intended. The hanyou didn't consider that positioning her to place it...was part of what had put her off last night. Rin's mark was on her shoulder...not the nape of her neck. Sesshomaru hadn't thought to mention the problem, sure even his brother would have more sense.

"OW! What is wrong with you!? It's still bleeding," she went to cover it and face him, and he frowned, ignoring her wince as he turned her again, pushing her hand away.

Damn. He'd bitten her more deeply then strictly necessary. The ritual linking had taken though, he could feel it. A pity she'd yelped, his teeth had involuntarily clamped down to hold her.

"Here, I'll fix it," Inuyasha said gruffly, and to her unhappiness...she had to stand there, making a face as he licked her neck a few times, sealing it again.

"Ew," Kagome couldn't help herself. There was a scowl behind her as he tasted-ointment. Yuck!

"Don't bandage it or put anything on it. It.s not a normal bite. That ought to fix it," he said with a gentle pat on her shoulders. That was what you did with an injury, he reminded himself. Cleaned it, bandaged it, and took care of it. But that wasn't an injury! It was an honor, damn it! The symbol of their union, his public claim to her, a sign of the deepest intimacy and devotion! Three years of miko training and she didn't get it yet? That was what you got when you let the bonzu teach, he suspected.

"Alright. Sorry," she answered with a nod as she stepped away, and went back out into the living room. He just looked after her, puzzled.

"Um..." he followed her, looking more confused as she started taking lids off trays and setting plates on the small dining table in the sitting room. Dark wood, cream couches, touches of vibrant scarlet. Red and white, the colors of good fortune...

"Will you be showering now, or after you eat?" his new mate inquired.

"Uh, I'll shower first-"

"You don't mind if I start then, do you? I hardly ate anything yesterday, I didn't have time," she asked, sitting at the table and looking up.

"Course not," he shook his head as he leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. It wasn't that bad last night...was it? No kiss good morning, no smile or even a hug, just running off to the shower and bandaging her mark. Perhaps it was that she'd been a maiden? That she didn't know how to act this morning, after waking up beside him? Must be it, he decided. "Are you alright?" he asked finally.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. You? Did I wake you?" she asked politely as she opened her napkin.

"Um, no. I'm alright," Inuyasha didn't know how to take this one. Pushing off the doorframe, he headed for the shower himself.

When he got out and dressed, hurrying, she was still eating, finishing her breakfast. A glance up.

"Um, feeling better?" he asked, sitting opposite her with a hesitant smile.

"Yes. It's really good. Here, I'll fix you a plate." She did so, setting it in front of him, and he frowned again as she poured tea for him, then refilled her own cup and sat back.

"Is there some reason you're acting so funny?"

"I'm not acting funny. I'm your wife now, remember? We might as well be civil to each other," she told him with a shrug as he started to eat. Kagome was grateful in a way for those stupid classes in deportment, they were something of a help here.

"Civil?" Inuyasha paused.

"Civil, you know, polite?" she explained, exasperated. His face was priceless.

"I know what civil means! I expect more from my mate than civil!" he snapped and she scowled.

"Look. You don't like me either, I get it. I'm just a weak, greedy, selfish mortal you have to look after now, right? We're stuck, so I thought I'd try and be nice. I'm trying to make the best of it."

"Make the-I-sorry you're put out!" he barked, claws clenching a moment. He growled in annoyance, and Kagome leaned back and stared at him, paling slightly.

"What did you expect? T-that I'd just fall in love with you or something?" Kagome answered carefully. Inuyasha sniffed, and his eyes widened.

"What the fuck are you scared of?" he demanded, looking around and opening his senses wide. Nothing dangerous, no reason she ought to be frightened...she was safer than anyone in the world now, he would protect and care for her as he'd promised yesterday. Besides, he was fond of her. His Kagome should never be afraid, especially not in his presence.

"Nothing," she answered firmly.

"Don't lie to me. I can smell it, Kagome. What scared you?" he ordered and he sniffed again. Yep, her alright. What was it? The hanyou spotted something, and he suddenly slammed a foot down, making her jump.

"That spider?" he asked incredulously, nodding to the floor. Kagome managed a smile. No, but-spiders would do. Yes, they would, she decided. Spiders.

"Um, spiders are creepy," she smiled again.

"Scared of spiders? Keh. Ought to say so, silly," he told her with gruff amusement, one hand reaching out to brush her cheek possessively, running a clawed thumb over her skin. "That little thing's nothing to worry over. See? It's gone. Spider-heads, now, those you ought to have worried about," he chuckled. Still smelled nervy, silly wench. Kagome nodded and pulled away carefully.

"Spider-heads? Miroku mentioned those. Some sort of human-made youkai, right?"

"Sure. Humans who died badly and violently became them, sometimes. Pretty common back in the feudal era, I hear. Not so much nowadays though. I'll keep the evil spiders away from you, alright?" he said with an easy grin at his mortal, accepting her explanation. She probably was embarrassed by her fear of the things, he figured, and dug into his breakfast. Dumb mortals.

Yes, it was better to say that she was afraid of spiders...then that she was a bit afraid-of him. Of his temper. Ever since she saw the news report. Ever since Sango, who she trusted, had explained matters...and she'd really put together what had happened three years ago when he'd saved her from the Panthers. Afraid that he'd find out about Atsuo...and hunt him down and kill him for being kind...for one stupid kiss...

He knew Kagome fairly well now...but she still didn't have any idea who he was.

"You packed? I want to get on the road early. It'll be a shorter drive to the cabin, Kagome, if we avoid the fucking traffic," he told her, glancing up. They were going to a private retreat in the mountains for their weekend-long honeymoon, quiet, near a nature preserve...romantic and peaceful. They'd have some time to get to know one another. A pity, really, but it was all he could be spared from his duties to the Clan. A nod.

Not long after, their luggage was put into the red convertible and he frowned when he saw-her bow case and a quiver with a small scarf wrapped bundle. A sniff...

"Blessed arrows? Ashen salt??" he looked up with surprise. Kagome nodded.

"I'm not supposed to travel without them. I can use them, after all," she answered. Another frown-and he put the case into the trunk. Inuyasha opened the door for her and she climbed in. Going around, he got in as well, and started the car. They headed out, and past the gates of the estate.

He flipped the visor down and selected a CD from the case attached to it. Popping it in with a flick of his claws, she was surprised...one of her favorite bands. He preferred classical, but was happy enough to indulge her in this even as he winced at the higher range sounds.

"Good, isn't it?" he asked, shifting gears with a grin, smoothly enough to hardly make the car jump.

"Yes! I thought you liked classical? Souta said you did," she answered. Kagome looked over, and sighed. Except for the hanyou aspects of his appearance, he looked-normal. He was even wearing a hat, with jeans and a cream button-down, sleeves rolled up.

"Eh, mostly. You like this stuff," he answered, and Kagome blinked. That was...nice of him.

"You're very good at driving," she commented after a bit.

"Well, I've been driving for...damn, about seventy years now. I guess I've learned how," he said with a chuckle. "These newer cars are much better than the first ones mortals put out. Those things were a royal pain in the ass, keeping them steaming, bad handling, no heater, you name it."

"If you say so," Kagome replied, looking out the window. For a long time, there was silence.

"You're awfully quiet," he said finally, as the hills got steeper.

"Is it bothering you?"

"No. Just-never mind." She was usually more of a talker, he knew that from their chats-just as he knew her taste in music long before he'd gone through her CD collection during his visit to the Shrine.

When they got there, a curious Kagome looked around. So. This wasn't the rustic place she'd expected. A small, elegant home, tucked away in the woods, near a pond. They pulled into the garage, and he let her out of the car, handing her the house keys and going to get their bags. She fumbled with the lock, and glanced back to see him easily scoop up their stuff.

"Go on in. This is your home now too, Kagome," he suggested. She did, leaving the door open for him to get inside.

Nice. The garage door led into a small, but tidy kitchen decorated in white and blue. A fireplace in the high-ceilinged living room she walked into, couches and low tables, it was cozy, with a surprising number of...stuffed fish on the walls. This was their hunting cabin, where they came to fish, take time off, enjoy themselves in the country. Steps led up to a balcony in the big room, with doors that led to bedrooms, she guessed. The front door was opposite the fireplace, and the warm, elegant place surprised her.

Her husband walked past her up the stairs, arms full, and set them in the bedroom he picked. This ought to make her happy, he figured, a good compromise. It was not the master bedroom...that was the old man's, and sleeping with his Father's scent in his nose all night was not his idea of a romantic getaway.

Kagome poked around, the fridge was fully stocked, the place spotless and-her eyes narrowed. A thin binder was on the dining room table with a note. Her mind wandered back to previous bad experiences with binders and youkai.

Picking it up, she leafed through it-and relaxed. Just a few notes from the caretakers, and a letter hoping they enjoyed the place, that all of Lord Inuyasha's orders had been seen to-whatever they were, and a list of upkeep and supplies. She could handle that.

Then a voice behind her made her jump.

"What's it say?" Inuyasha asked, looking over her shoulder. Kagome showed him, and set the binder down.

"I ought to unpack," she commented, heading upstairs.

"Third door from the stairs," he called after her. Walking into the bedroom he'd selected...she stared. Two beds, a dresser, nightstands... Her bag and bow at one, with a dozen scentless red roses on it-his suitcase at the foot of the other and his sword now rested on pegs over the head of it. Glancing behind her, she wasn't sure what to think. Rubbing her neck absently, she opened her bag and took her things out, putting them in drawers.

Downstairs, he looked up at something tinged across his nerves. Touching her mark, he figured. No screams, so she was probably not in trouble. Inuyasha hoped it would be less nerve-wracking soon, having a mortal to protect. He didn't have much faith in her miko skills, honestly. But the two bed solution ought to make her happy at least. No reason to not take things slow...for both of their sakes.

He was extremely nervous...because tomorrow night was the night of the New Moon. He'd tell her-everything, and hope for the best. He had to trust her. The Kagome he'd met as Atsuo was worthy of that trust, had cared for him, she would care and be his mate in truth when she knew. He hoped. Maybe some fishing this afternoon, a nice dinner with fresh fish broiled over a fire, maybe play some cards later...just spend some time together first though. Yep, better that way. After he told her, well...perhaps this would be a more pleasant honeymoon than it was shaping up into.

Author's notes- Welcome to what was part two! I hope you're enjoying it. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo