Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Inuyasha universe or any of the popular name brand apps, products, services, etc.

Chapter 6

Inuyasha watched Kagome working in their garden as their boys chased each other around, the sounds of their laughter floating up to his ears. He stretched, a contented smile on his face as he watched his small family together. She sat back on her heels, putting her hair on top of her head. She didn't realize that it exposed her neck to him. Didn't realize how it made his blood heat with desire for her.

They had celebrated Akio's second birthday three moons ago, and he had been plagued by Kagome ever since. When they slept at night, he had to restrain himself from making a move on her. It wasn't proper, and he wasn't entirely certain that the attention would be welcome.

He wanted her, though.

It had been a slow realization - one that seemed to creep up on him until there was no more denying it, that fateful day.

He loved Kagome. Everything about her.

Her smile. Her laugh. Her stubbornness. The way she could soothe their children or make them laugh with just a word or a look.

And her beauty…

She was so beautiful, inside and out.

Sharing a bed with her was becoming difficult. Almost painful. He winced at the reminder of how he woke most mornings now. Either she didn't notice, by some miracle, or she was kind enough to not comment on his very visible discomfort. Or his frequent trips to the river. Thank god she liked fish...

He wanted to court her.

Marry her.

Have more children with her, and practice doing it.

Frequently.

Inuyasha sighed and shifted uncomfortably from his place in the tree, trying to avoid looking at her until he calmed himself.

Instead, he forced himself to ponder, not for the first time, the best way to ask Kagome for...more. He sometimes suspected that she wanted more too. He would catch her looking at him with a certain longing in her eyes as they ate dinner, or when he played with the boys. He was hopeful...but he wasn't certain, and that lack of certainty made him refrain from asking for more.

What if he ruined what they had? What if he was wrong and his feelings for her weren't returned? What if he needed to take Akio and leave?

What if she felt the same way, and they could be a family in name too? A real family, through and through, in every way?

The thought made his heartbeat harder in excitement.

Kagome sat back on her heels and wiped her brow, and he watched the folds of her yukata slightly part, revealing her sweaty skin.

He wanted to leap down from the tree, take her back into the hut, and…

He needed to leave.

Now.

"Oi!" Inuyasha called down to her, and her eyes flitted to his. "Little Onna...I'm gonna go bring more fish home for dinner."

Kagome's beautiful blue eyes widened in surprise before she shot him a warm, appreciative smile.

"Thank you, Inuyasha! That would be wonderful."

He leapt away before she could say more.

Inuyasha laid on the bank of the river, a reed fishing pole-mounted in the soft earth by his feet. It would have been faster to catch the fish by hand, and he probably would before he left, but this gave the guise of productivity as he was left alone with his thoughts again.

What he needed to do was ask Miroku what he should do. He had grown close to their neighbors over the years, often visiting each other for dinners or sharing a drink with him. Kagome and Sango washed laundry together and bathed at the springs together. He and Miroku tended land together and hunted together on occasion. If he had a best friend in this world, other than Kagome, it was Miroku...And if he had been thinking more clearly, and in less of a need to relieve his pent-up desire, he would have stopped and asked Miroku to join him as he fished.

Unfortunately, he had, and he didn't, so he was stuck alone out here pondering the same things as before.

How did you court the woman who was, essentially, the mother of your child? They acted like a married couple in every sense. He already provided for her. Protected them. Was a father to both boys.

He knew they were compatible in every way - romantic compatibility being the only unknown...so...how the hell did he change that?

Just kiss her and say "marry me"?

Kami, he wanted to kiss her…

Her lips looked so soft and delicious…

"Inuyasha!"

The hanyou bolted upright into a sitting position, turning to look at the man that had snuck upon him. He hadn't realized he had become that distracted. Then again, he had been thinking of Kagome…

"Akitoki," he greeted as the man approached him.

"Mind if I join you?"

"No...please…" Inuyasha encouraged, actually somewhat pleased that the man had arrived. Maybe he would help take his mind off of the woman waiting for him at home with his sons.

Akitoki had moved to the village a few months ago, being the youngest of his father's sons. The land he would inherit from him would be small - small enough to make him seek out the land of his own, and he had found a new home with them. Akitoki struck Inuyasha as an honest worker with a good heart and had even helped him build his hut along with Miroku.

"It's hot out today," Akitoki mused, and Inuyasha nodded, listening to the man as they made idle small talk for the next half hour until their conversation drifted into one about Akitoki's plans for himself now that he was becoming more situated.

"I actually have my eye on someone in the village," the younger brunette man confessed nervously.

"Oh?" Inuyasha pressed. "So soon? She must be quite the woman!"

"She is," Akitoki sighed, his face becoming wistful and slightly lovesick. "She's beautiful and kind and funny...She's a hard worker and...a mother…" he confessed, and Inuyasha's blood ran cold.

"A mother huh? Married?"

"Once. Widowed."

Kagome. He had to be talking about his Kagome.

Inuyasha found himself grinding his teeth together, and Akitoki was immediately able to sense his unease. They knew.

They both knew.

And it was taking everything Inuyasha had to not gut the boy and throw him into the river.

"I don't want to approach her without your blessing," Akitoki began cautiously. "I...came by the hut looking for you today, and Kagome told me you had come to the river to fish. I know you both share a special bond, and I don't want to do anything that would put her or it in jeopardy but...I'd like your blessing in courting her. There is no one else to ask for permission but you and...I know that you only live together to raise your sons. I don't want to harm that relationship either but...Inuyasha, she is quite the woman. She's smart and funny and one of the most beautiful women I've ever laid eyes on. I'd like it very much if you would grant me permission to court her."

Inuyasha could hear his blood pumping in his ears as he tried to control his urge to kill the boy. The only thing that kept him at bay was the idea that Kagome would be displeased with him.

What would she think if she knew he had murdered a child just for asking to court the same woman he was too chicken shit to pursue himself?

"It doesn't bother you that she's been married before?"

"Why should it?"

"Or that she has a child?"

"He's a sweet boy."

"I share her futon."

There. Maybe that will persuade him to leave her alone.

"...And I'm sure that it's to sleep in, and nothing more. Her hut is quite small. I'm sure you all share the same futon."

Inuyasha found himself grinding his teeth together, trying to find a way to tell Akitoki that maybe he should leave Kagome alone. Nothing was working though. He couldn't lose her. Not to this...this...human boy who had barely entered manhood.

"She's like a mother to my son, Akitoki," he finally whispered, and finally admitting that she wasn't just a woman living with him. He cared about her. Loved her.

"I wouldn't ask her to stop."

Inuyasha turned and gave him a wry smile.

"You don't know Kagome well enough if you think you could stop her. The boys...they're ours. Even if I didn't welp Kenji, he's as much mine as Akio is her's. She won't let you come between that anymore than I will," he informed the boy carefully.

Akitoki seemed to consider his words as Inuyasha's attention was pulled to his fishing rod as it bowed and danced, alerting him to his newest catch.

He rose up and quickly pulled the fish from the water. It was a nice size - enough to feed the boys while the one he had caught earlier would be more than enough for both he and Kagome. He quickly slit its belly not only to put the poor thing out of its misery, but to send Akitoki a message. He watched as the boy winced at his use of his claws, and he was quite sure that the message was received.

Inuyasha was sure he made quite the picture too, with his fingers and claws coated in blood. It wasn't an image Akitoki would forget any time soon.

"You don't need my blessing to court Kagome, Akitoki," Inuyasha coldly informed the boy. "Kagome will do what Kagome wants and if she wants to court you, she will. I can't give permission for something that isn't mine to give."

Akitoki watched Inuyasha pluck his fishing rod out of the ground before scooping down to pick up the other fish. He left Akitoki without another word, making his way back towards the village.

"Do you really think you're what's best for her? For Kenji?" Akitoki yelled after him, and Inuyasha paused, his ear flicking towards Akitoki. "The boy needs a human father."

Inuyasha paused, his heart jumping into his throat.

Is that what Kenji needed?

"The boy needs a father who will love him unconditionally, Akitoki. Species don't matter. Talk to Kagome. Only she can give you an answer."

"You've been quiet all night," Kagome gently observed, sewing a new hakama for him. Her movements were hypnotic, the way her nimble fingers carefully wove the needle in and out of the fabric.

"Have I," he mused, the soft snores of their sons filling the otherwise quiet room.

"You have - is something the matter, Inuyasha?" she pressed, her fingers stopping their work as she shot him a concerned look. "Is it the chickens? I know they don't seem to get along with the new one you just brought home, but—"

"—No! It's not the chickens," he reassured. "I…" he sighed, running his fingers through his bangs. "Akitoki found me at the river today."

She didn't seem surprised - merely concerned.

"Has he spoken to you?" he asked, his gut twisting uncomfortably.

"Only to ask me where you might be," she soothed, reaching out and taking his hand. "Inuyasha, did something happen with Akitoki?"

He didn't want to do this. He really didn't want to have this conversation with her, but it was only right. She deserved to know.

"Kagome, Akitoki approached me today to ask for permission to court you."

Her eyes widened in shock, and her hand moved away from his. She let it rest it in her lap as she bowed her head, masking her expression.

"I see - what did you tell him?"

"That I can't give him permission."

"Oh?"

Did she sound hopeful?

"Only you can decide who you can court. I have no right," he elaborated.

"Oh," she whispered, her fingers moving back to the needle.

"Oh?"

She didn't reply at first, focusing on her sewing instead.

"When he approaches me, what do you think I should say?"

He was taken aback by her question, but her fingers never stopped working on her sewing.

"I think...if you wish to be with Akitoki, then you should say yes."

"I see…" she trailed off, her scent filling with sadness, and he wondered if his words had hurt her that much?

"Kagome—"

"—What if I want someone else to ask me?" she asked boldly, looking him in the eye, and what he saw made his breath catch in his throat.

Heartbreak. Fear. Nervousness.

"You have your eye on someone?" he swallowed, and she silently nodded.

He was too late, wasn't he? He had ruined everything...All because of his damn insecurities…

"I have for a long time, but...he has never approached me. I'm not sure he wants me that way...but...I love him, Inuyasha."

She loved him.

He couldn't ask her now. It wasn't right. He didn't want to, but he had to let her go. Had to ignore the outrage his demon was screaming in his ear. He couldn't do this to her now.

"I think if you love him, then you should go to him. Kenji deserves to have a father. A real father. You'll regret not saying something. He could love you too. He would be crazy to not."

He couldn't face her now. It was too hard.

"Inuyasha," she breathed as he stood to leave.

"I'm going to go get more firewood," he replied dismissively, walking past her. He paused when he felt a tugging on his pants leg and the smell of tears filled the air.

"Kenji already has a father...and I love him," she confessed in a breathy whisper.

Her words made his heart stop.

He had heard her right, hadn't he?

"Inuyasha," she continued hastily, standing to face him. "I know I shouldn't, but I—MM!"

Inuyasha crashed his lips into hers. Everything seemed to snap into place in his mind. He was Kenji's father. She loved him...and he...he loved her. He couldn't hold back anymore. Wasn't going to risk losing her to someone else. He wanted her all for himself, and he told her that as he moved his lips against hers. She felt perfect against him. Like they belonged together.

The way her small body fit against his...it was as if she had been made for him. As if everything that had happened in their lives...all the pain and heartbreak had led them to this moment.

He tightened his hold on her as she gently returned his kiss, pulling his bottom lip between her own.

This was perfect.

This was...everything.

He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, along with hers as her hands grasped the back of his haori. She held him so tightly...like she never wanted to let go of him. It filled his heart with a joy he hadn't known in...years.

Filled him with a desire he hadn't been able to act on since his late wife was alive.

The longer they stood there, tongues and lips working together, teeth scraping against the flesh, the hotter his blood became. The stronger his need for her became.

He couldn't.

He broke away from her before he defiled her.

"Inuyasha," she breathed, her lips deliciously swollen - her eyes glossy and unfocused.

"Kagome," he breathed, pressing a tender, loving kiss to her forehead. "Court me?" he requested gently, and a joyful laugh bubbled past her lips.

"We need to?"

"Just for a week," he shrugged and she gasped.

"A week?!"

"Can't wait much longer to make you mine," he smirked, bringing her flush against his body to feel his desire for her. She gasped at the feel of him, and he leaned down to capture her lips in a chaste, loving kiss.

The way she moaned into the kiss…

He broke away from her and leaned his forehead against hers, smiling.

"One week," she breathed.

"One week," he promised.

A/N: I am the worst. Life got away from me again and I don't think I realized how much time had passed since I updated. Factor in a job hunt, then starting a new job, plus all of the Jewish Holidays and... Idk what life even is anymore, LOL! I hope this chapter was worth the wait though! UNTIL NEXT TIME!

Kisses!

-LL