21. Uncomfortable Moments

Kagome looped her arm through Inuyasha's left arm, resting her head on his toned shoulder, his musky scent filling her nose; not quite animal and not quite human, but pleasant none the less. Inuyasha looked down on her, a blush coloring his cheeks, the closeness of Kagome was making him uncomfortable, as his youkai blood began to burn with a domineering lust for his young mate. It was not that Kagome had never come into heat before, but most of the time he sent her home to her Mother, but now, that was not an option in this cycle.

Problem was, every youkai around knew what was happening, yet Kagome did not, very few humans ever did, it seemed conception to the human kind was a guess, or a mistake, but not with his fathers kind. All males knew when their mates entered the fertility cycle, most creatures in nature did, maybe humans lost that sensitivity somewhere through the ages. It seemed a shame to Inuyasha, he could take her, the thought of Kagome with pups caused a new feeling of pride to swell through Inuyasha's soul, by all rights it was his prerogative, but women in Kagomes time expected a choice. At that uneasy thought Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head, the warm feeling within in him faded quickly with the realization of the vicious scolding Kagome and her Mother would unleash, not to mention the "S" word would do some major damage.

"Inuyasha. Inuyasha?" Kagome was looking up at him with a disturbed look on her face. "Are you feeling alright? I mean you just went pale, and your ears are drooping, what's wrong?"

"No, its nothing." Inuyasha's ears perked up, as his amber eyes met Kagome's beautiful gaze, and he smiled as the look of worry left her face. "You need a bath." Inuyasha bluntly blurted out, realizing the folly of his words as the shock overtook Kagome's features.

"What? Do I smell or something Inuyasha? I mean that's kinda rude you know to say to someone." Kagome stopped her progress down the hall, her hands firmly planted on her hips.

"Yea Inuyasha." Shippo chimed in, getting a growl from Inuyasha for his opinion in the matter. "You never think."

"Baka hanyou." Makkura whispered to himself, shaking his head sadly, even he knew better than that.

Makkura walked on down the hall alone, but only briefly, because with a sharp yelp from Shippo the Kitsune came sailing over his head in an arc, Makkura could quickly make out a lump on his head the size of a walnut. The flying kit hit the floor skidding on his rear till he came to a halt; Makkura casually sauntered by, giving Shippo a look of sympathy.

"I'm going to find Rin, you coming?" Shippo leapt up looking back at Inuyasha making faces as Makkura heard the "sit" word breach Kagome's lips.

The hanyou lay supine, face down on the floor, trying to figure out just how he had ended up in this position once again.

"What was that for?" Inuyasha groaned as he clambered to his feet glaring at Kagome.

"You should not be so mean to Shippo Inuyasha, he looks up to you like a brother." Kagome caressed the side of the perturbed Inuyasha's face. "I'm sorry."

"Yea right." Inuyasha grumbled rubbing the knock to his forehead.

"You said something about a bath." Kagome smiled at Inuyasha, going up on her tippy toes to kiss his still pouting mouth. "Come on, don't be that way."

"You just don't get it, I really hate these beads Kagome." Inuyasha followed Kagome down the hall his eyes locked on the floor, briefly wondering where the fox and runt ran off to, his train of thought was abruptly derailed when Kagome's red scarf hit him in the head draping one of his ears. Inuyasha looked to Kagome who was wriggling out of her school blouse before his eyes, the shirt landed in the hallway floor at Inuyasha's feet, for once Inuyasha was thrilled she wore one of those bra things. "Kagome stop that!"

Inuyasha trotted behind her picking up discarded articles of his mates clothing. "Kagome that could be dangerous."

"Oh so you noticed me?" She giggled as she turned to face him walking backwards as she unzipped her skirt.

"Kagome I'm warning you. Don't do it!" Inuyasha watched wide eyed, for a moment he thought he could be dreaming, but no, the skirt slid down her alluring legs, as Kagome skillfully hooked the article of clothing on her foot kicking it Inuyasha's direction. "Kagome!"

"Oh I'm so scared Inuyasha." Kagome mocked. "What's the big bad Inuyasha going to do with lill' ole' me?" She smiled an innocent smile to him, then spinning around on bare feet raced off down the corridor, around a corner and out of sight.

Inuyasha stood in the hall, a red scarf over one ear, a skirt at his feet, and an arm full of shirt, socks, and one shoe. Just what was she playing, hell, he didn't need to overanalyze the moment, with a predatory smile Inuyasha dashed off after his fleeing mate, scooping up the remaining shoe in his pursuit. Rounding the corner, Kagome was nowhere to be found, however a stunned Shippo and blushing Makkura met him at the next junction of hallways, both boys standing flush to the wall. Inuyasha skidded to a stop as a thoroughly embarrassed Makkura handed Inuyasha Kagome's bra. The wolf pup couldn't meet Inuyasha's eyes for fear of some misplaced retribution.

"You, you didn't see nothing." Inuyasha grabbed the lacey item of clothing, feeling the heat rise to his face as well.

"No sir." Makkura gulped hard, still averting his eyes from the hanyou.

Shippo just stood speechless, his blue-green eyes wide with amazement at the forthright attitude of Kagome.

Inuyasha grumbled to himself, praying to the Kami that Kouga was nowhere around. His sensitive nose picked up the sulfuric scent of the hot spring that was in the castle, he sighed thankful it was close. Taking another right hallway, Inuyasha cautiously entered the bath, part of the structure was within the castle itself, but another was area was outside surrounded by his brothers meticulously kept gardens. Closing his eyes Inuyasha entered the interior portion, afraid to startle any other bathers.

"Kagome?" Opening his eyes ever so slowly, he exhaled hard, relieved that both the male and females' baths were empty. So by deduction Kagome should be in the exterior spring.

Inuyasha dropped Kagome's clothes by the closed shoji that opened to the outside, he stood listening for any sound of his quarry, unsettling to him there was none, but Kagome's scent was definitely there. Little by little he slid open the door, when he saw nothing but the moon's reflection in the spring he became confused. Then like a newly born water spirit Kagome emerged from the spring in a spray of silvery moon lit drops, her smoky blue eyes locked onto his own, no vulnerably in her stance, as she captivated his heart with a beguiling smile on her perfect rose petal lips.

The water droplets clung to her skin like glimmering jewels in the exquisite rays of the moon, her pitch hair was draping down her back, leaving her completely exposed to him as she made her way closer to his position, stopping at the springs bank.

"Join me Inuyasha." Kagome purred to him, she was afire inside, surprising even herself; Kagome realized how liberated she now felt with the death of Naraku, even if the memory of his demise was not clear to her.

No longer was there the looming evil over their heads to keep her group uneasy anymore, she could finally try to fashion some normality into her life, and she was free to love Inuyasha with out the fear of his death gouging out pieces of her heart, they could breath unabated. At least in this moment in time, they were all free to be happy.

"Come on Inuyasha, the spring is perfect."

Inuyasha fidgeted, finding his claws fascinating quite suddenly, his ears twitched in her direction at each breath Kagome took, the internal fight within his was waging to a fevered pitch.

"I can't." Inuyasha scratched the back of his head, leaning against the shoji frame.

"What?" Kagome crossed her arms on the bank, resting her chin atop of her arms, Kagome's eyes delighted at his uncomfortable stance, still refusing to look at her again.

"I mean I want to but I can't Kagome." His inner youkai was screaming at him, nearly deafening within his head. I'm okay as long as I don't look at her.

"Why?" Kagome was not going to let this drop, she was rejuvenated, and wanted to celebrate their good fortune, but her hanyou was being difficult. "Come on, you know you want to join me, don't you Inuyasha."

You have no idea Kagome. "I just can't, you know, it is not that simple. I get in the spring with you and you know…" Inuyasha cursed under his breath, something that Kagome was unable to make out.

"You know…what?" Kagome pushed, still smiling. Inuyasha began to tap his foot in irritation on the floor, his claws scraping, gouged marks in the wood.

"Please, don't make me say it Kagome." Inuyasha looked into Kagome's eyes finally. "You know…we'll do stuff. An' I'm not sure you are ready." Baka, why did you go and look at her!

"Well I would hope so, come here, there is something I would like to do for you Inuyasha." Kagome beckoned him to her with her hand. "I promise I won't bite. Unless you want me to." Kagome giggled, as Inuyasha looked as if he wished to run away. "Just come here silly."

"I'm not being silly, I'm being serious." His voice came as a whisper; Inuyasha's resolve was quickly waning, without his mind's approval his feet shuffled to Kagome.

Inuyasha hung his head as he dropped to his knees before her, his hands shaking as Kagome drew him into the water, hakama, haori and all, she cared not, so why should he. Kagome cupped his chin in her cool hand forcing his eyes to look at her. Inuyasha firmly shut his eyes, still clinging onto some shred of self-restraint. Kagome tugged him to her, he felt her arms loop around his neck, moving his main of hair she kissed him fully on the lips, her tongue licking at his lips, Inuyasha whimpered as he said goodbye to his self control.

"Inuyasha. Look at me."

"Do I have to?" The feel of Kagome's body pressed to his was too much. "Please stop." To Inuyasha's surprise she did, Kagome stepped away from him, her hand lingering on the side of his face briefly, then it was gone.

"Inuyasha. I love you."

Scared of himself, he peeked his right eye open, Kagome was still there, but there was something in her hand, something smooth and black. Taking a deep breath Inuyasha opened his eyes, but the air in his lungs left his as the realization of what Kagome held hit him like a brick wall. Her right hand held the prayer beads that bound him for so many years, the moonlight glistening in the onyx orbs, they almost appeared pretty, almost. The smile that overtook Inuyasha was nearly the biggest Kagome had ever seen grace his face.

In a fluid movement Inuyasha gathered up Kagome in his arms, nearly crushing her to his body. "I love you too! Can we have pups now?"

Kagome's chin rested on his shoulder as Inuyasha embraced her with ferocity, she laughed briefly, until his last words sunk in.

What did he say?

A/N: I'll get to the date next chapter, I needed a light hearted break with everything that has been going on in my life. Please R & R, I beg of you!