A/N: So I know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but… plagiarism is not flattering its infuriating. Cut it out!
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It was the fastest butchering he'd ever done. Slicing off the cuts he wanted for Kagome, then divvying up enough for Hiro, Tuseno, Miroku and finally, grudgingly Kaede. He was still annoyed with the old miko but she was important to Kagome so he put it aside. When Shippo popped up beside him, he snarled at Kagome. "Why isn't he with you mate?"
"He brought you bowls for the meat InuYasha. Then he's coming right back." She kept her voice calm, a soothing slide through his mind. He was already on edge, worried for her.
"Kagome sent you some bowls InuYasha!" Shippo trotted towards him and set them near the carcass. "Wow that's a big pig!" He snuffled a little checking out the scent.
Sighing InuYasha filled the bowls. "Shippo you need to go back to Kagome." The fox demon whimpered, wanting to stay and learn. "I would let you stay kit but…" he wasn't sure if he should tell the little fox what he suspected. He hadn't handled Nobu well but the boy was pack and he deserved to know something might be coming. "The boar wasn't just an accident. Someone sent it at Kagome." As soon as he said the words he knew he was right. This hadn't been an accident it was an attack on his mate.
Shippo stiffened, "Someone drove the boar at Kagome?" He turned and looked back towards the house. His furry tail had almost doubled in size with his outrage and concern.
"Keh. I couldn't find the scent to figure out who, but I know this wasn't an accident. I need you to go back to Kagome." Handing the kit a bowl of meat he sent him home. "And Shippo," he called knowing the fox would hear him. "Don't freak Kagome out about this." The soft yip his confirmation that he'd heard. It was going to be hard enough keeping from scaring Kagome himself.
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After they finished dinner he sent the fox demon to the village with the offered meat. He couldn't leave Kagome again, his demon wouldn't let him. It stayed very still watching their mate and every time she left the room it would snarl. He kept a clamp on his emotions, not letting his stronger suspicions and anger through to her.
Kagome had invited Rin to stay the night. The girl was still a little shaken after the boar incident and seemed to be more comfortable staying with them. She told Shippo he could come back as well, giggling when he bounced in excitement. The sound finally helped him relax, his mate was safe and happy and he would keep her that way. Shippo balanced his bowls and headed out the door to make his deliveries promising to let Kaede know where Rin was staying that night.
Shortly after Shippo left Kagome got InuYasha's help heating water for the bath. "Now Rin-chan come, see what I have for you!" she took the girl by the hand and led her down the hall to the bathing room. InuYasha was getting the last pot of hot water but could still her the girl's excited squeal and it made him chuckle. Taking the pot and a bucket of cold water he wandered into the bathing room to find Kagome, sleeves rolled up sitting beside the tub helping Rin wash her hair. It struck him that someday she'd be doing this for their own pups and his heart turned over.
"I see you InuYasha, you don't need to hold this back from me. You're not the only one who wants a family." Kagome felt his joy pulse through her at the words. She smiled at him before turning her attention back to Rin.
InuYasha's joy knew no bounds at her soft words in his mind. She'd given him so much already and the fact that she wanted his pups as much as he did… it humbled him. "What did I ever do to deserve you Kagome?" Her answer, a stroke of love through the bond.
She'd put a few drops of her fragrant oil in the bath for Rin and the scent hung heavy in the room. Placing the buckets near the tub he slid down the wall and watched as she played in the bath with the girl. They giggled and splashed water at each other, Rin winning because she didn't care if she got wet. Head's close together, they whispered secrets to each other that weren't really secret. He listened to every word with his enhanced hearing, resting his head against the wall with his eyes shut.
Rin glanced at InuYasha where he sat against the wall. "Kagome-oba," she whispered softly, "This Rin is happy to be staying here tonight. She feels safe with you and InuYasha-oji."
Kagome wasn't sure why they were whispering but followed Rin's lead. "I'm so glad Rin-chan that you feel safe with us. Don't you feel safe at Kaede-sama's?" If the girl was unhappy or scared they needed to know, preferably before Sesshomaru.
Rin smiled her bright smile and shook her head. "Oh no Kagome-oba! Rin is very safe with Kaede-sama it's just…" she glanced back at InuYasha and chewed her lip a little.
"What sweetie?" Relieved that the girl wasn't having doubts about staying with Kaede she waited for whatever revelation was coming.
Sighing, Rin crossed her arms on the edge of the tub and rested her chin on them. "It's just InuYasha-oji is so very much like Rin's Lord. When Rin is here she misses him a little less." She liked living in the village well enough and she liked helping Kaede, but her heart ached for her Lord. He had been her companion and friend for many months and sometimes Rin was lonely without him. "Sometimes the other children…" she sighed again, "They are not always…comfortable… with Rin. They make fun of her." She sniffled a little as her eyes filled with tears.
Rising, Kagome went and got the girl a towel. Helping her from the water she wrapped her up tight and took her to the bed room. She could feel InuYasha staying with her, his heart hurting for the girl too, as he went about emptying the bath. She sat Rin on their bed and getting her comb began to work the knots from her hair. "Rin-chan, I'm sorry if the other children aren't very nice. Sometimes, when you're unique, people don't understand and chose to make fun and tease because they are afraid of what they don't know. To most people your lord is very scary and the fact that you are not afraid, have never been afraid, confuses them." Kagome kept up the gentle stroking of her comb even though Rin's hair was now knot free. "It doesn't matter what they think though because there are many of us who love you just the way you are. InuYasha and I love you, Kaede and Shippo, Miroku, Sango and their children all love you and most important… your lord loves you very much even if he doesn't say the words." When Rin turned to face her Kagome opened her arms.
Rin turned to look at her oba. Never had anyone said such nice things to her. When Kagome opened her arms Rin threw hers around her oba's waist and cried out her loneliness and hurt. Breath hitching she turned her drenched eyes up to Kagome. "Why did he leave Rin behind? Did she do something wrong?"
"Oh Rin, baby, no! You did nothing wrong!" Kagome squeezed the girl a little tighter. "Rin you are young, still a child. They thought it would be a good idea for you to learn to live with humans, then when you're older you can make the decision to travel with Sesshomaru if you wish." She brushed the tears from Rin's cheek but more fell to replace them.
Crying harder, Rin's voice was small when she said, "But no one asked Rin what she wanted."
InuYasha settled on the bed behind her. Drawing Kagome into his lap so her head rested over his mark, he pulled Rin up on the other side. Her towel dampened his clothing but it was her tears that broke his heart. "Rin…" He waited for the child to look at him and when her eyes met his, he looked into ones much too old for the face they graced. Soaked, and red from crying he realized she was aged beyond her years just like Kagome. She'd been through so much in her young ten years of life. "Rin… what do you want?" He would do whatever he had to, whatever was within his power to make this child happy. Rin's sorrow was heavy in the air. Taking a breath he let his call flow in the room, a soft vibration against her ear. Kagome's surprised gratitude was its own reward.
Rin let her head rest against InuYasha. That was the same sound her lord made when he thought she was sleeping. "InuYasha-oji, Rin likes that sound very much." She snuggled in closer and sighed, feeling a little better. "This Rin doesn't know anymore… she likes it here but…she liked it out there too. Maybe they were right, maybe Rin isn't grown up enough to know what's right." Yawning she closed her eyes, listening to the rumbling purr she knew so well she went to sleep.
Kagome's silent tears were soaking his collar. Had been since he'd pulled her into his lap. "Onegai saiai, your tears are killing me." He called for her, purred for both of the females he held. He hadn't known how Rin was feeling, hadn't seen anything but a happy little girl. All it took was one bath with Kagome to have her pouring out her heart. Kagome's innate goodness had given the girl the confidence to express herself and let out the confusion and pain she'd been carrying. "You were so good with her Kagome. I didn't even know she was lonely."
"She's not the only person to be made fun of for being different in this room." Kagome herself had been considered an odd child, often made fun of and teased for being different. His call was helping her feel better, relax against him and let her sorrow for Rin wash away with the sound. She too yawned. Kissing his throat she slid from his lap and off the bed, she lifted Rin from him and took her down the hallway to the room she had wanted to share with Shippo. The kit had come back while they were helping Rin and had fallen asleep waiting for them to be done. Gently she stripped Rin of her towel and slipped her back into the under kosode she'd worn before her bath. She tied it shut and covering her leaned down and kissed the child's forehead, releasing a touch of reiki to keep her from having a crying headache in the morning.
InuYasha watched her from the doorway and when she rose he held out his hand. "Come koi you're tired, I can feel it. Come to bed with me." When she took his hand he pulled her to him and lifting her against his chest walked with her back to their room. After setting her on her feet he gently undressed her to her skin and tucked her into bed. Stripping down he crawled in with her, having gotten everything shut and secured for the night while she'd looked after Rin. She rolled into him lifting her head to his shoulder, arm across his chest and knee on his thigh and was asleep almost before she'd completed the move. Pressing his nose to her hair and smelling her sweet cinnamon scent he followed her into sleep.
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InuYasha woke well before Kagome the next morning. She'd had a restless night, waking up often, only to roll back into his embrace and settle back into sleep. After the third time she'd woke him up he'd lifted her until she laid mostly on top of him, her arms around his neck and leg resting between his. Once most of her skin touch his, she finally seemed to settle, sighing heavily as she went into the deep sleep she needed. He slipped into her mind the first time she'd woken up but she hadn't been dreaming, her emotions seemed disturbed after her talk with Rin. Her sorrow for the child's loneliness was keeping her from sleeping. InuYasha had let his purr rumble for a long time before he too had gone back to sleep.
Now awake once more he listened as it rained softly against the roof. It smelled fresh and clean, washing the air. Kagome was still pressed against him, sleeping a deep dreamless sleep. Moving slowly and carefully he slid out from under her, staying soft in her mind and coaxing her back into sleep when she stirred at his movements. She grabbed his pillow, wrapping her arms around it, inhaled deeply and was back under before he got his hakama pulled up. Smirking at his mate's enjoyment of his scent even in sleep he went to start breakfast and prepare Kagome a bath.
Stopping at the door of the room Rin and Shippo were sharing he checked on them only to see they were still asleep as well. The kit was asleep with his tail in the air looking like an earthworm mid slide and it made him want to chuckle. Rin was smiling in her sleep and he wondered if she dreamed of his half-brother. Humour fading, he scrubbed his hand over his face. After what she'd told them last night he knew he needed to talk to Sesshomaru. Rin's life had been hard before he'd found her and whether he'd meant to or not lord fluffy had changed it drastically and, he thought, for the better in many ways. But he'd also changed the child considerably and none of them had taken that into account when he'd left her behind. Sliding the door shut he went and started their breakfast.
Kagome woke up groggy. She hadn't slept that poorly in ages and it was only once she'd found herself pressed full length to her mate that she'd finally been able to rest. Rin's words from last night still bothered her and she wasn't sure what to do about it. Sighing she went and got an under kosode from her cabinet, sliding it over her arms and tying it tight. She shut the cabinet with a snap and went back to the bed. Crawling back under the covers she hugged InuYasha's pillow and let the frustrated tears fall. Rin deserved better! The child had been through so much and to feel so…abandoned wasn't fair to her. When the bed dipped down behind her she wasn't surprised.
InuYasha had felt her frustration and when the tears started he went to her, desperately wanting to comfort his mate. "You're right Kagome. She does deserve better. I'll be speaking with Sesshomaru about it next time he comes to see her. This ain't fair to her and he needs to know how she's feeling." He wrapped his mate tight in his arms, surrounding her with his love purring softly, letting it flow over her until she calmed. Surprisingly, she dropped back into sleep and he was happy. She was exhausted. After all the crazy that had happened since she'd gotten back he didn't blame her for being tired. He knew what she needed though. Returning to the room with the kids he carefully picked Rin up and returning to Kagome tucked the child in with her. Kagome's arm immediately cuddled the girl close and he watched as she breathed a sigh of relief before relaxing for the first time all night. Shaking his head at his own foolishness he realized he should have done that last night. She took almost as much comfort in the giving of comfort as the person got in the receiving.
Smiling as he went back to the fire he knew they needed to have pups and soon. At least then the added bodies in their bed would belong to them. Chuckling he realised Rin and Shippo did belong to them, even if they weren't blood relations, they were pack. Coming to a decision InuYasha knew that if Sesshomaru wasn't willing to do anything about Rin's loneliness then he would, they would. She'd be coming to stay with them… permanently.
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When Kagome woke up the second time, it was to find a small warm body snuggled under her arm. "InuYasha… why is Rin in our bed?" she reached out to him cautiously, confused at how Rin had gotten there.
"She needed you and you needed her koibito, so I put her there." Arriving at the door to their bedroom he watched as she untangled herself from the still sleeping child. Walking to her silently he kissed his mate good morning. He rubbed his cheek against hers and just held her for a moment. "I should have done that last night when you couldn't sleep." He smiled down into her grateful chocolate eyes and stroked his fingers over her cheek. "Sometimes I forget that you get as much as you give when you comfort people. Your heart is so soft watashi no saiai no hanryo, it makes me love you that much more because of your compassion. Only you could be as heartbroken for Rin as she is." He ran his nose up her neck, scenting her before kissing her throat gently.
Her arms came up around his neck and she held tight to him, overwhelmed with his words and how well he knew her. Heart, mind and soul, he read her so well. "Watashi no saiai, every day you surprise me. You know me better than I know myself sometimes. Thank you for Rin." Rising on her toes as she pulled him down to her, she poured out her love and gratitude into her mate as she sealed her mouth to his.
Rin had woken up but stayed still and kept her breathing the same. She'd learned to do so with her lord, for when she could fake sleep really well she got to stay wrapped in his arms or with his mokomoko that much longer. She watched as her oba kissed InuYasha and wanted to giggle. They were so romantic sometimes. The passionate looks that spoke volumes without words, the fact that InuYasha was always touching her, gentle brushes of his hand on her arm or back, and when she caught them kissing like now… it made her sigh in longing, hoping to one day have the same depth of love that they shared for herself. She saw InuYasha's ear twitch towards her and knew she'd made to much noise. Rin yawned wide and stretched before sitting up and looking around. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten there but the room was very pretty and the big bed was so comfy. "How did Rin get here? It is a very pretty room Kagome-oba."
Kagome smiled at the girl, ran her hand over InuYasha's heart and started her day. She went to help Rin get dressed and explain how she'd ended up in their bed.
"There's a bath waiting for you koi, when you're ready." He caught her hand and pulled her back for one more kiss before letting her go. InuYasha left to get them breakfast, the girls having slept longer than he'd expected, he'd fed Shippo and sent him off to see if Sango need any help before coming over later. He'd told Shippo to ask Sango not to come until later after lunch hoping to convince Kagome to nap today. Hopefully in a quiet and this time uninterrupted hour. She never seemed to be able to catch a whole nap when she needed it.
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Kagome had her bath, taking the time to soak for once, enjoying the quiet in the house. InuYasha was looking after Rin and every so often she'd feel his humor as something she said would strike him as funny. It made her smile to feel his laughter. She knew he felt as bad for Rin as she did and was determined to give Rin a happy day. The fact that he'd already decided to speak with his brother about Rin pleased her too. He had such a good heart even if he covered it with gruffness at times.
Rising from the water, Kagome grabbed a towel and headed back to the bedroom. The day was gray, the rain drizzling away for a while before stopping then starting up again. It would have been a good day to curl up with a book and a cup of tea and just stay in bed. "If you want to stay in bed my mate then do so." InuYasha's sultry voice brushed across her senses and made her smile.
"Eavesdropping again saiai?" her laughter soft as she opened her clothing cabinet. His arms wrapped her from behind, chin coming down to rest on her shoulder. Kagome leaned against him, resting her hands over his and just breathed him in. Her mate, the hanyou she loved more than life.
"Only a little Kagome. No more than you listen to me." InuYasha dropped a kiss on her shoulder. Her skin still damp from her bath and smelling of lavender and vanilla made him purr in appreciation. With her hair piled on her head the long line of her throat called to him. He licked her from shoulder to ear making her give a giggling moan as the sensation both aroused and tickled. She turned in his arms and wrapped hers up around his neck.
Kagome kissed his throat right above where his collars crossed, giving the skin a little flick with her tongue. "Where's Rin?" she nibbled the skin along the edge of his shirt, slowly moving higher.
Her mouth was a hot lash on his skin making him groan. "Sorting flowers… for….Kami… tomorrow… Kagome if you don't stop I'm going to be joining you in that bed." InuYasha's hands found her towel and pulled, leaving her pressed bare against him. He stroked the smooth skin of her back letting his youki flow gently to assess her reiki.
"Mmm, maybe that was the point." Pulling back his collar she licked his mark slowly. Helping his desire rise in the same way. Her reiki a gentle brush against his skin.
Picking up his mate, InuYasha shut the door and slid the bolt across Kagome hadn't even realized was there. He chuckled at her surprise, "Well someday we'll have pups. Figured we might need to lock the door." He waggled his eyebrows at her making her giggle. Taking her back to their bed he laid her in the center, stripped out of his clothes a little slower than normal as he watched her eyes heat. She was enjoying the slow reveal of all his skin. When he finished his 'striptease' as she called it he laid down beside her.
Something felt different this morning. The last few days had almost been frantic in their intensity. The drive to mate with her extreme and overwhelming. Now it was softer, still there, but he felt calmer. Full of love and desire he wanted to linger over her skin, soak in her warmth, stroke her softly, kiss her gently and love her slowly. Her feelings mirrored his as her hands drifted over him. Her mouth soon following the path her hands had taken making him groan. He rolled her to her back, his mouth finding her mark and swept his tongue over it. Using only the pads of his fingers he let them glide over her skin, releasing his youki in a gentle trickle. Starting at her shoulder he touched her everywhere, slowly brushing down her arm to her finger tips, back up to her shoulder and down over her ribs to her hip, learning all over again the feel of her skin. Back to the dip at the base of her throat he glided his fingers down between her breasts, he stroked the skin over her abdomen, his youki flowing into her making her quiver, before sliding down between her thighs and stroking gently through her wet center. Placing open mouth kisses on her shoulder, he worked his way to her breasts, loving the little gasps and moans she was making. His tongue found her nipple, lapping at the tight bud before sucking it gently into his mouth, caressing it with his fangs.
Kagome wasn't sure what he was about this morning. His intensity had lessened but his need was still pounding through the bond. She could feel how much he want to love her slowly, gently and so thoroughly she would melt into a puddle of bliss. He was succeeding. Her reiki had settled back into her, simply swirling with his youki were it flowed in, seducing her with the twisting, turning act it was preforming in her body. She could feel the slow build up as his hand stroked her and his tongue on her washed her in fire. Kagome could only lay still, her hands on his arms and let him do what he wanted so muddled was her mind from the emotions he was pouring into her. Moaning she arched into him.
InuYasha slid down her body, licking the smooth skin of her abdomen, nibbled her hip bone and upper leg. Slowly he drew his fangs up her thigh the way she liked, he closed them gently on the muscle there making her whimper and gasp. Her cinnamon scent was the only thing he could smell. It was drugging, heavy and alluring, making him desperate for a taste. The first swipe of his tongue made him groan as he lapped at her, pressing against her pearl and swirling his tongue around it, dragging quiet sighs and moans from her.
He could feel how close she was. Her body a mass of softly vibrating nerves as their powers tangled and seduced each other. Rising over her, he settled between her thighs, her knees coming up to caress his hips. He stroked her cheek, brushing her hair back. His hands found hers, interlacing their fingers. Looking into the eyes of his beloved mate he opened himself fully to her and merging with her mind, he slid himself home.
InuYasha kissed her, a soft possession of her lips, seeking all the hidden corners of her mouth. He thrust slowly, gently into her, his need and love flowing over her, showing her everything he felt for her. She was his life. His whole world came down to her and he would do anything, be whatever she needed to keep her happy and safe. Her cries were soft in his ears as he loved her like the treasure she was to him. "I love you Kagome. More than I ever thought possible. You are my everything koibito." As her love crashed over him and he felt her release burn through them, he followed her, dropping his fangs to her mark softly as his own release burned through him.
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A/N: One of my favorite chapters so far! Hope you enjoyed. R&R as you like and yes the wedding is coming soon!