Chapter Nine

She had never really had a stable cycle, what with the stress of fighting for her life every day in the past. Add in the fact that there were times food was hard to come about which pretty much shut down her bleeding for months at a time...it was safe to say her cycle came and went as it pleased and of fucking course it would choose to start now...

Her face was beet red as she sat up fully, doing her best to wave off a frantic Parker. "I'm fine, it's just my period..." The last part was a low embarrassed murmur, her gaze avoiding his. Well file this under morbidly embarrassing things to happen to you while getting aroused with the guy you liked...but wasn't sure if you like liked them enough to take things to the next step...

"What's a period, is it bad? Are you going to be okay? Do I need to get Harvey?!" Each question that tumbled from his lips held more panic and she had to hastily grab his hand to keep him from running bare ass naked to the village to drag Harvey back.

"N-no! I'll be fine! Ugh, of course, females here don't get periods... it's my cycle. I'm bleeding which means once I'm done I'll start ovulating...er go into heat so to speak. But it's not a normal heat. I'll just be fertile until my next period." Her words seemed to have calmed him down as he let his shoulders slump and sat down next to her, not at all caring that he was still naked.

"Ah, well at least it'll be over soon and you won't have to worry about it for another year." In his mind, he was already trying to plan out how to keep the males away from her. Sure he held some claim on her in the eyes of the village but she was unmarked, unmated, and going to be fertile...males would be climbing over each other to get to her to get her to choose them to father her cubs.

The thought alone made his blood boil yet he wouldn't show it.

"Um...I get a period once a month unless I'm pregnant..." Her words were mumbled yet cut through him like she had screamed them.

Once...

A...

Month...?!

Parker's mind went blank hearing this. He had never heard of such a thing. To be able to go into heat that many times...

"Um..." Kagome tried to get him out of his thoughts, but she could see he was overwhelmed, "The females here go into heat once a year?"

Parker nodded, licking his lips as his tail flicked back and forth, "Yes. Most females go into heat once a year for about five or so days once they hit sixteen."

Kagome nodded at this, "Humans get it once a month in most cases, but sometimes depending if one is stressed, have a lack of nutrients and food, one can get their period less. Humans are fertile year round, unless they are pregnant..." Kagome rattled off as she shifted, she needed to find things to stop her period. She knew some of the herbs they catheter could help with smell and cramps.

"Let's get home and you can bathe and relax. Females are supposed to relax during heat." Parker fretted, as he picked Kagome up, she gave a yelp.

"I need the herb basket." She told Parker before he could leave the clearing. She needed those to help her.

Parker paused, before using his tail to scup up the basket and into Kagome's hands. He then quickly made his way back to their house. He wanted her safe at home before someone came sniffing around. He did not want to deal with other males coming around because they smelt the sweet scent of her blood.

It didn't take long for Parker to get them back to their home, he sat Kagome down before he quickly made work to fill the large round barrel with water for her. He wanted her to relax and be comfortable. Then he could hunt. Females need meat and food to stay strong during the heat. He didn't know if it was the same for humans, but food and comfort wouldn't hurt.

"You can bathe. There is some cotton stored to the side, by the rope and extra furs, fabrics and twine. I have heard females use that for the bleeding part of the heat." Parker spoke, a small blush on his cheeks as he put the last of the water into the barrel.

"I will go hunt us more meat while you relax." Parker shifted coming closer to Kagome, rubbing his head against her legs as he gave a purr.

Kagome smiled, and gave him a pat on the head, "Thank you. Good hunting." She gave him one last pet, before moving away, letting him give her a happy look, before he slinked out of the house, leaving Kagome alone, thoughts of his nude backside flashing through her mind.

Taking a deep breath, she sat the basket with herbs down and sighed. Crying yesterday had drained a lot of her energy away. She still wanted to go back to sleep, though she now knew why she was so emotional. Her period.

Sighing she quickly went to where Parker said the cotton was and grabbed the whole bowl before bringing it over to the herbs. She would use these after a bath.

X-x-x

Kagome had bathed and got everything made for her period, and was relaxing waiting for Parker to come back. Her hands came to the necklace around her neck, subconsciously playing with the red piece of jewel.

Blue eyes glanced around the room before landing on a bowl of some of the small jewels Parker had mentioned were hers if she wanted as well as fabric to the left.

A thought went through her mind as she went and gathered the materials. He had given his necklace, she knew he wanted a courting gift from her. She would give him one, but she would make sure he knew this was going to be a slow process and she may never get to the point of being his fully...but it was a token of her going to try.

She could give him that much at least.

She took a small round jewel that had a hole in the middle, the blue was the same blue as her eyes. Kagome knew Parker would appreciate that. She grabbed some of the leather cords she had leftover for making clothes and tied it around the jewel making a simple necklace.

Kagome held it out in front of her, a frown on her lips before another idea came to her. She could make it a little more special. She cupped the jewel in her hand and concentrated a large portion of her powers into the jewel, letting it absorb it.

After a few minutes, Kagome pulled a hand back to inspect the jewel, it was the same color but had an undertone of pink around the edges. It would definitely work.

"I'm hooooome!" Parker yelled, as he came in holding a boar, a large grin on his face as he was greeted with the sight of Kagome sitting there waiting for him. His heart warmed at seeing her there, making the smile on his face grow.

"Welcome back.." Kagome hid the jewel in her hand and gave him a smile in greeting. She quickly put the rest of the supplies away so there would be room for the boar. She was both happy to see he had put on his fur skirt and saddened at the same time...his butt was cute...

"I will get the meat cooking. Did you have a preference on wood today?" Parker hummed, as he went to break down the meet with his claws. He made quick work of it, something Kagome envied. It would take forever for her to do the same thing so flawlessly.

"Applewood if there is enough of that wood." Kagome spoke, as she saw him nod and move to put a couple of new logs of wood on the fire. He then set the meat on to cook.

"Can I add a couple herbs on to help with the taste too. I know you have seen me put salt and pepper on it before..." Kagome asked, she had put other 'medical herbs' as he called them on the meat. It was plain without them, which was fine but she did like to change it up from time to time.

Parker nodded, tilting his head in curiosity as Kagome moved to one of the multiple herb baskets that now took up space in their home.

Kagome slipped the necklace away, so he wouldn't see it before moving to the herbs and grabbing a couple and taking them off the step before laying them on the meat.

"This will make it a bit more juicier and add a different taste." She told Parker as she went to sit down by Parker who gave a wide smile.

There was a couple minutes of silence before Kagome broke it, "Can you close your eyes for a second and keep them closed no matter what?" She was going to put it on him and hoped he liked it.

Parker blinked a few times, his ears twitching a few times before he gave a nod, curiosity shining in his eyes as he looked at the female before him. He closed his eyes, his ears picking up movement around him, but kept his eyes closed like Kagome asked him too.

Kagome made quick work of putting the necklace around him, before moving away from him, she was a little nervous on if he would like it. It wasn't as eye-catching as the necklace he had given her, but hoped he liked it all the same.

"Alright. There you go." Kagome told him as she was back to sitting down, her fingers fiddling with themselves as she watched him open his eyes and look at what was placed around his neck. He gently took the jewel in his claws and held it up, before his eyes shined with love as he looked at Kagome.

"I put some of my powers in the jewel. If you or someone else is hurt, break it and place it on the wound. It should heal most injuries and poisons..." Kagome blushed seeing his tail twitching behind him as he let the necklace drop from his fingers before her arms were full of a transformed Parker who was crooning and purring at her.

Kagome laughed at his happiness, as she ran her hands through the leopard's fur. She could definitely say he was happy.

"I am glad you like it." Kagome laughed, lettering her hand fall to the top of Parker's head. He gave a croon of happiness, before transforming and putting his arms around her.

"You gave me a courting gift!" Parker cried out, his body shaking as he tried to hold in his tears of happiness. He didn't think she would give him anything.

"It is...it is also a reminder I am going to try..." She paused feeling his arms tighten around her as he put his face in the crook of her neck.

"I know what you are getting at, but it still makes me happy you are going to try..." He nuzzled himself closer to her, taking in her scent as he did so. He was about to say something more but the smell of something caught his attention.

"Ah! The meat!" He quickly left Kagome's embrace rushing to the meat. Kagome laughed as she felt her heart warm. She had made the right decision.

She watched as Parker quickly turned the meat so it wouldn't burn...'I definitely did make the right choice.'