Make you stay while I wait

A watery laugh escaped Inuyasha as he reemerged on his side of the well and Kagome's scent. Her wholly alive, vibrant, exquisite, perfect scent. That damned hint of death that had dared tarnish it long gone and erased from this world.

Running like his very life depended on it, he damn near burst into the hut where Sango was just setting the woman that made life worth living down onto a mat. Her confused and yet relived sapphire eyes blinking at him while a tired smile graced her lips.

"InuYasha," she breathed and a deeply, truly happy chuckle escaped him before he rushed to her side and drew her small form into his arms.

"I thought I lost you," he breathed and then his mouth was on hers before she could even formulate an answer. Kagome hummed in appreciation as he enveloped her completely. He was everywhere up her back, down her arms and suddenly he was kissing her harder, deeper with a fervent urgent need she'd never known he was capable of having. She almost wanted to cry when he pulled back.

"Never, never do that again," he panted as he rested his forehead against hers and pulled her into his lap, "Never. If you're going to die a second time, wait till I'm gone. When you're old and grey and wrinkled and I'm long since dead in the ground. That is the only, only time you're ever allowed to leave again. Ever."

She opened her mouth to say something - presumably argue or point out that he was being presumptuous but her words were lost against his mouth. She groaned, low in her throat, and returned the kiss with equal vigor until a pointed cough had her remembering there were other people in the room.

"No, no, by all means please continue," Miroku teased hoarsely, "I'm quite enjoying the show."

InuYasha chuckled, actually chuckled, before scooping his woman into his arms and rushing out to the Sacred Tree. Ignoring the protests of the old hag and the slayer as he went. Kagome was alive. Alive! He didn't give a shit who saw him. Not anymore. He wasn't going to waste another god damn second. He'd wasted enough already.

"Why did you do that?" Kagome asked breathlessly when he finally settled against his favorite branch and drew her tightly against his chest.

"Because I wanted to," he replied with a happy hum as he buried his nose into her neck.

"You're acting weird," Kagome giggled playfully as he pressed a lingering kiss against her collar bone.

"So?" he laughed as he nuzzled her ear.

"I mean I only died a little bit," Kagome teased before a soft moan escaped her when his teeth gently tugged on her earlobe, "I got better."

"Yeah well I'm not going to wait around anymore," he countered more playfully than she thought he was capable of being.

"InuYasha," Kagome groaned half in amusement and half in frustration, "You can't just do this. Shouldn't we talk first?"

"What's to say? I love you. You love me," he purred as he turned her in his lap so she was facing him. Kagome blinked once as her mind went blank. His smile faltered and some of the bitterness usually present seeped back in as he released her.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" she asked as her mind finally caught up to the present.

"Does it matter?" he huffed as his grin was replaced with a scowl, "Its true, right?"

A breathtaking smile graced her lips and InuYasha looked like he was going to melt into goo. Her smile widened and he visibly sagged while his eyes shone with true happiness in the first time in his life. Reaching up, he pulled her face firmly down to his own and crushed her small form to him willing her to just melt into him so he'd never have to let her go again.

"Live with me," he panted when they finally pulled back for air before he laughed and gave her a wicked grin, "Kagome. Will you bear my children?"

Kagome laughed so hard her stomach hurt as she nodded and tears welled in her eyes.

"Don't tell the monk I used his line," he hummed happily as he gently brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, "I'll never hear the end of it."

"Oh I agree," Kagome continued to giggle as she leaned into his touch and sighed in utter bliss, "I think we've had enough trouble for one week."

InuYasha nodded at the understatement of the century as he rubbed his palm passively up and down her back.

"I love you," he breathed as he placed a chaste kiss against her lips, "Now and always."

"I could get used to hearing that," she sighed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Good," he chuckled as he gave her a michevious grin," Because you're going to be hearing it a lot."

~o~o~o~o~o~

A week passed as the group gave themselves some time to recover and a second passed just as lazily the week after that. Many, many things had changed. Their group had...expanded slightly and somewhat against everyone's will. No matter how many times Sango has ordered the soul collectors to leave they stuck to her like glue and had taken to bringing her small rocks, leaf covered branches and the occasional bug instead of souls. It was amusing, to everyone not the slayer, that the poor things seemed to think gently tossing offerings at her chest was the best way to bestow their offerings. Miroku tried his best to keep them away but even with a barrier in place they hovered and waited him out. Sango couldn't get too mad at the little creatures though. Kikyo had done a number on them.

Miroku had decided to take the plunge into monogamy and had pledged himself to Sango bluntly. Laid his heart out on the line and said what needed to be said. While not as aggressively enthusiastic as InuYasha had recently become, it wasn't uncommon to see the slayer and monk cuddling next to the hearth these days.

All in all everything seemed to be going well. So well that InuYasha and Kagome had gone back to her time for a spell. For many reasons, school being among them.

Kagome yawned and snuggled into the solid form pressed against her back. Rubbed her cheek happily against the arm serving as her pillow. They hadn't gone 'all the way' but they both decided they'd been keeping each other at arm's length long enough. It surprised her that InuYasha was usually the one to initiate things. It was like he needed to touch her just as much as his lungs needed air and his body needed water. Even when she tried to study, he was there with his head in her lap or his claws gently gliding through her hair in an effort to soothe away the stress. It was hard to believe he was the same man.

"Too early," he complained as he tightened the arm around her waist and pouted, "You don't have to go to class for another hour."

"I have to get ready though..." Kagome groused playfully and InuYasha huffed.

"You'd leave me when I'm still recovering?" he tried to bluff before adding a whine for good measure. Kagome wasn't buying it.

"I saw you lift a boulder yesterday. I'd say you've recovered InuYasha," Kagome groaned.

"Says you," he pouted before his lips twitched upwards, "What if I need you to kiss me and make it better?"

"You'll live," Kagome replied wryly as she tried to escape but he held firm.

"If I miss anymore school I'll fail," she reminded him as she tried a different angle, "We can't mate until I graduate."

"Technically obtaining an education is not required for that to occur," he replied snarkily repeating verbatim something Miroku had said just the other day when InuYasha had been complaining about the delay.

"Well it does if you want to mate me. Let me up," Kagome quipped back before rolling her eyes when InuYasha merely adjusted himself so he was even more flush against her in silent protest.

"Just let me hold you a little longer," he hummed as he closed his eyes and gently began dragging his claws against her stomach. To his delight, Kagome settled back down and snuggled against him.

"Fine. Five more minutes," Kagome sighed and InuYasha hummed his approval. The next few minutes passed in companionable silence before Kagome spoke again.

"Jiro wants to come over later," she hummed as she gently traced little circles on his arm and she could almost feel the eye roll he undoubtedly was doing.

"I don't want to watch another stupid movie," he groused as he buried his face into her shoulder, "Can't you guys train another time?"

"He helped save your life and mine," Kagome reminded him gently and she could feel his pout, "And he needs help controlling it. I'm pretty much the only person who can teach him."

"Have Miroku take a turn. Besides, Jiro is using those crutch things anyway," InuYasha groaned as he gently maneuvered her onto her back and hooked one leg over hers while his head located itself onto her chest, "Why can't you put this off until he can walk on his own?"

"Because he doesn't know what he's doing and thats dangerous. InuYasha, you need to let me up. Its been five minutes," Kagome snorted as InuYasha wrapped his free arm underneath her body.

"Nah," he replied as his lips twitched upwards, "I have you trapped. You cannot leave. I'm too heavy."

"Let me up. I have to go to school," Kagome sighed, amused despite herself.

"What're you gunna do?" InuYasha teased as he tightened his hold, "The evil demon has you in his clutches. There is no escape for you little girl."

"Yeah well the little demon needs to let the miko go or else risk getting purified," Kagome replied as she tried to wiggle out of his hold. He wouldn't budge and snickered at her pointless struggles.

"Honestly I sometimes miss the days when you acted like me touching you was offensive," Kagome huffed as she pushed on his arm with all her might, "You can't keep me here forever."

"I can try though."

"InuYasha," Kagome warned in a tone that suggested a 'sit' was incoming and he raised his head to give her a wicked smirk.

"Go ahead. Sit me," he challenged as his amber eyes sparkled, "Make my day. You'll really be trapped then."

"What am I going to do with you?" Kagome groaned.

"Whatever you want," he replied with a soft sigh as he finally rolled off of her, "I'm all yours."