Summary: Inuyasha and Kagome need to reassure each other that they are truly alive and well. And what better way to do so than by performing a 'dance of life'?
AN: Repost from AO3
Nominated for the 2022 1st Quarterly Inuyasha Fandom Awards, run by Feudal Connection for Best NSFW Fanfiction
There is no excise for this being a written thing other than me being attacked my a plot bunny whacking me on the head with a red lantern.
Have a New Year better than this fic.

Reassurance

The scream of agony rocked the hot, humid air deep in a mountain forest. The youkai died in a flash of light from the Wind Scar, Tessaiga's youki shaking the trees around the small clearing. Under the thick canopy of gray clouds promising yet another rainfall, the bright light of the attack tearing the foul, giant oni to shreds was almost too bright. The oni's club fell to the ground in pieces.

Kagome blinked away the tears that threatened to obstruct her vision. The oni had been so scary, the fight so vicious, but they didn't have a new jewel share to add to their collection. They had fought that strong, dumb beast for so long, a couple of times getting dangerously close to being defeat, and the only reward for their labor was the sight if their fie dying, terrible fear still flowing through their veins and the knowledge that they had been almost killed themselves. With any luck, the rest of the gang, who had gone a different path around the mountain would have a shard to add to their collection. After Naraku's death it was easier to gather the shards, but it was taking forever.

"Kagome!" she turned just in time to see Inuyasha leaping at her. She dropped her bow and outstretched her arms towards her beloved. Eyes glimmering, hair flying behind him, he looked like a creature of folklore, like an unreal mirage. She wanted to touch him, to hold him, to reassure herself he was real and unharmed, that all was well. The need to make sure he was really okay, to soothe her feat by touching him, it was overwhelming. In his eyes, she saw the same need, the desire to hold her, to listen to her heartbeat, to touch her warm skin.

""Oh, Inuyasha..." she gasped when he tackled her to the ground, on a cushion of thick moss that somehow survived the battle. Tessaiga fell to the ground with a thud, already transformed back to its sleek rusty form. The miko sighed when the reassuring weight of the hanyou pressed her to the ground, his arms wrapping around her.

When his lips covered hers in a desperate kiss, she could taste the blood from his cut lip and she lapped at it, wanting to clean it, to wipe away the pain of his wounds. He growled and his own tongue joined hers, hot and gentle as it slipped inside her mouth.

"You're alive," they breathed out when they parted. Then Kagome pulled him for another kiss, one he eagerly responded to. Her mate was a hanyou of action and beside the verbal assurance he needed to touch, to experience them being alive to truly calm down - just as she needed that.

They survive yet another battle. They were alive. They were together, alive, victorious. Kagome reached and stroked the hair when he dipped his head to sniff at her neck urgently, as if to make sure she was truly alright. She tilted her head, allowing him that as she needed this as well. She needed to be close, to make sure, to feel that she was alive, that he was alive.

It wasn't the first time that she laid on the ground, hidden from the world by warm layers of Inuyasha's loose red robe and silky strands of his hair. It wasn't the first time that they, after a long fight against a strong youkai, held each other in their arms. They panted from exertion, adrenaline, fear and determination singing in their veins like wildfire in a grassy field. Nowadays they didn't argue after a battle, they had a different way to vent and unwind.

It took no time at all for his hands to start to wander over her lithe body, rubbing against her sides and arms, as if he was searching for injuries. His frantic sniffing changed to hot, sloppy kisses and long licks. One hand pressing the back of his head, urging him to continue, Kagome slipped her other hand down his back. His breath was so full of life, his body so real as it pressed against hers. She panted his name in his quivering ear, assuring him that she was alright. Still, she didn't object when his clawed hands found their way under her shirt and she felt his large, calloused hands roam over her smooth skin. It felt so good, the rough, wet tongue caressing her throat and the tips of his claws drawing patterns on her skin. Tension of fear, the high of battle, was morphing in something else in her and Kagome saw no reason to stop that.

She had to make sure he was well, too. Her hands moved without her thinking, tugging and pushing away the folds of his kimono until his robe of fire rat came hanging loose around his expose chest. He lifted his head to look down at her, letting her see him, see that there were no big injuries from battle on him this time. Her fingers instantly started to rub over every centimeter of hot skin. She delighted in the feel of his firm body, unharmed, powerful muscles flexing under her touch. She could feel his quickened heartbeat and saw that the claw marks and bruises from the battle were healing fast. His garments were bloodstained, but would clean themselves in no time.

"You're fine..." she whispered and rested her hands on his broad shoulders. He growled and reached for her again. In a blink of an eye he pulled her shirt over her head and discarded it to the side, uncaring of where it landed. A shiver ran down her spine and goosebumps covered her shoulders despite the hot day, when his blazing eyes scanned her chest.

"You're safe now," he growled and lowered his head to her throat and collarbones again, his voice thick with adrenaline and heavy with need to reassure himself they were both alive and well. A moan escaped her when she felt his hot mouth touch her skin again. She grabbed onto him, clutching at his muscular frame. She felt so alive, so good, so relieved. His tongue licked every bit of exposed skin and Kagome threw her head back, sighing at the feel of it. Suddenly, she felt her bra going lax and being pushed to the side. A wave of excitement washed over her and formed an eddy in her core, coiling tighter with every touch and sound he made. Her hands slid down to his waist, nails scratching his skin. He was real, hovering over her on his elbows and knees, flaps of his kimono covering their bodies from any prying eyes. They had risked their lives, once more fighting to protect each other. The fear for the other and the desperate need to defend each other was now fading, new needs, new urges taking hold of them. Heat rushed through her veins, searing pleasure and joy of being alive, alive with Inuyasha deep in the forest, where no one could find them, after a won battle for their lives. Her hanyou rubbed her sides, his motions showing the need burning in him, the euphoria. She gasped and sighed, her body reacting in no time at all, getting wet and shifting under him on the bed of moss, under the canopy of swaying tree limbs.

It wasn't the first time that the hanyou, his youkai blood aroused after a fight, crouched over the miko he so diligently protected to find reassurance that she was alive and well, that he had succeeded. It wasn't the first time the miko caressed the man that changed fear and despair into scaling heat.

"Ooh..." a moan, low and delighted, escaped her when he trailed kisses down her chest and his mouth suddenly latched to her nipple, caressing it and sucking it until it was hard. He hummed and let a fang grazed against the sensitive bud, eliciting a loud gasp from the girl. Her legs, seemingly without her command, drew up, cradling him between her raised knees. The fabric of his hakama was rough against the soft skin of her inner thighs. She loved the feel of this sturdy fabric, that was his garment and armor.

His hair dragged across her skin, cool and silk, when he moved his head to her other breast, circling her nipple with the tip of his tongue before he claimed it, sucking at it roughly. At the same time a large, sword-worn hand cupped the breast he had been playing with earlier, a thumb rubbing over the beaded nipple while other fingers flexed and massaged her peachy flesh.

"Ah!" Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, rolling her head from side to side, her hair splayed around her. "Ah, good!"

Her hips bucked and he grunted, jerked his lower body against hers in an equally wild the layers still separating them she could sense the hard length that her body craved. So, when he started to lick and nibbled at her breasts with more vigor, his hips grinding against hers, Kagome pulled her skirt up, bunching it around her waist. Then a deft hand tugged at the knot of his hakama. Anticipation made her heart beat fast, she needed to perform the sensual dance with her mate to feel whole and alive again, to banish the tension of fear from her heart, to reinforce her claim on this virile male who had fought to protect her.

Golden eyes blazing with lust and adrenaline looked into hers when he rose to allow her to loosen the ties of his pants and draw them down to release his cock Kagome held his gaze only for a moment before a touch drew her attention elsewhere. Her eyes slid down his chiseled chest and flat abs to where she could see his fat arousal throbbing against his abs, a bead of liquid seeping from the slit on the swollen mushroom head crowning his shaft.

"Mmm..." Kagome licked her lips, not for the first time wondering how that colossal cock fit inside her petite body. Not for the first time she was fully prepared to accommodate all of her mate's cock inside her pussy. At the mere thought of the hanyou above her stretching and filling her enthusiastically she felt a new wave of heat fluttering in her wet core and a rush of euphoria of being alive and with Inuyasha. They survived another battle and celebrated the joy of life, she felt safe and free in his embrace.

The hanyou, watching her flushed cheeks and hazy eyes, growled in pleasure. He swept his own gaze over his miko, admiring the peachy breasts with dark, hard nipples moving up and down with every breath she took, the lean limbs and flat belly. Her body was perfect, as was her fiery nature and heady scent. Her every gasp made him burn and with every touch she made him feel more alive and whole. He liked to take his time with her, but his instinctual need to claim her again stripped him of what little patience he had. That oni had challenged his right to live, his right to have a mate and now, with the fool dead, his youkai blood rushed through his veins and sang to him about finding release in the willing body of his mate.

He hummed her name and lifted his hand from where it had been resting on her hip, massaging her skin with the tips of his claws. Pressing a heated kiss to her parted mouth he deftly reached up and undid the clasps that held her panties closed over her flesh. He growled in the kiss, tugging the soaked slip of fabric out of the way. He was very glad that she'd invented this little tweak to her wardrobe. He wanted her alive, but not livid with him ruining another pair of panties. And there was no possible way he would waste more time to tug that slip of fabric off of her shapely legs. A flick of his fingers and the flap of fabric slipped away, revealing her to him. He felt dizzy when the new wave of her scent, heady and full of vigor, clouded his mind. His cock ached and it took all his self-control not to sweep down and impale her on it. She smelled like she wanted nothing less than to scream a howl of life and pleasure while he rode her hard.

She was alive and well. He was going to make her feel better than ever. He was going to wipe the odor of fear, the shadow of despair. All she was going to be able to think was how good she felt and all she was going to be able to say was going to be his name.

"Ah!" Kagome gasped when suddenly her womanhood was exposed to air that felt cool in comparison to the heat of their bodies. Then a low yowl of pleasure left her, because Inuyasha, after kissing the corner of her mouth, slipped a hand over her folds and pressed two fingers inside her passage. He didn't give her time to adjust, but started to move in and out fast, caressing her slick channel. She groaned and arch her back, her toes curling from the pleasure when he added the third finger, his thumb rubbing her clit and urging her to let go and she gave in to the pleasure that made her body bur. "Yes! Just like this!"

"You're so fine," a wet tongue swept over one of her breasts and she arched her back, offering herself to the sinful lips of the hanyou that quickly engulfed her nipple and sucked at it roughly. Kagome called out his name and held onto him with shaking hands. The only reason she didn't ride his hand was that his other hand pushed her down against the moss. The world spun and danced as the pressure in her built tighter and tighter, broken words of encouragement falling from her lips until her orgasm flooded her and coated his pumping digits.

She cried a soundless cry, an affirmation of life and pleasure, then collapsed on the moss panting and looking dazedly at Inuyasha, who moved his hand and gripped her ass cheek. Bracing himself on his other hand he gripped her securely and lifted her from the mossy bed to rub their heated sexes together. Her insides still quivered, but she knew that there was higher satisfaction. Her hanyou groaned in pleasure as he pressed them together.

"More... I need..." she tried to put her desires to words, but knew he knew hem already.. "I need..."

"Yes," he groaned as he shifted her back to the ground, his body pushing against hers instantly. His voice was husky and there was a spark in his eye that never failed to arouse her. The pressure of his body over hers, muscles flexing and warm breath that came from his parted mouth in heavy pants spoke to something primal and in her and she knew she was addicted to her hanyou. His hand moved back to hold her hip and she reached up to tangle her fingers in his windblown mane His ears twitched and a smirk flashed across his handsome face. "You'll get it all. We kept each other alive. We won this."

"Now... I want now.. Ooh..." she felt no hint of shame when she opened her legs wider for him, panting in urgent need when he pushed his swelled phallus against her sopping pussy lips. "Ah!"

"Fuck, Kagome," Inuyasha grunted and bucked int her, enjoying the noises she made as much as the divine friction that brought some relief to his aching member. It was hard to imagine that this gloriously frisky woman had been a timid girl just a few years ago. And he once more had to prove his right to be alive, to claim her. With a canine growl of dominance he rubbed himself firmly and slowly into her, lubricating his cock with her juices before he couldn't hold back his need to rut her anymore.

"Inu, oh Inu..." the miko whined wantonly at the delightful feel of the underside of his cock dragging against her sensitive flesh firmly in slow motion. Up and down, up and down it rubbed over her clit and slick folds until, as if by accident, the swollen tip slipped inside her. Inuyasha groaned, his grip on her hip almost painful as he held her from bucking up and taking more of him inside. This time he was in control and she had to follow his lead. He had won the battle and she knew that soon they were going to succumb to the primal need, celebrating their victory and survival.

"Oh, you're so fine!" Kagome gasped and pulled him closer to kiss. They had been doing this for years now. When their friends were around, they waited to reassure each other, to slip away from the presence of their comrades, but when they were alone, there was no reason to wait. They need to reassure each other that they are living together. Their bodies urged them to seek this delirious euphoria, the adrenaline in their veins calling - demanding - an union that had more of rough youkai rutting than gentle love making.

The first time that had happened, Kagome had been overwhelmed by her own relief and needs, but Inuyasha had guided her though it all, riding with her the waves of their mutual lust of young mates and joy of life. Sango had once told her that it was a quirk of mating bond with a youkai and Kagome had no reason to dispute the fact that she shared the same urge to reassure herself of her mate's well being and desperate lust after a rush of battle as Inuyasha ha.

She gripped his biceps when Inuyasha backed from her entrance. She could feel the powerful muscles flex under her touch as he shifted. That, and the spike of his youki were her only warning. His tip spread her petals and didn't stop this time, Inuyasha pressed forward with a hiss of pleasure, his ears laid back at the feeling of his mate, her channel so hot and tight, squeezing him as he sheathed himself in her. Kagome was the one who accepted him, who cared for him, who wanted his touch, who loved him, who made him feel alive and worthy. And, to his delight, after their mating he had discovered that the bashful miko was full of passion and not shy about that.

Kagome squeezed her eyes shut when his cock pushed slowly inside, stretching her full. She gripped harder at her hanyou, her walls clamping around his fat shaft. Inuyasha grunted and lowered his head, his tongue sweeping a wet, hot path from her right nipple all the way to the back of her ear. She relaxed around him and he moved forward. She dug her nails in his skin, hissing when she felt his base slide in, the hiss faded into a satisfied sigh.

"You're alive, mate," his breath fanned against her ear. "You're perfect."

"You... you're mine..." she opened her eyes and looked at him. There was more than a spark of temper love in his eyes and Kagome smiled at him. He backed out of her and pressed in slowly a few times, watching her carefully to make sure she was not in pain. Then he bent down his head to kiss her again, swallowing her moan when he picked up the pace of his thrusts. This was what he had been waiting for, the adrenaline in his youkai blood thick and ensuring that he rode his mate hard until completion. It wasn't the first time he celebrated his victory and survival by performing this primal act. Kagome's body moved in sync with his, rising to meet his thrusts, her hands caressing and groping at him, her cries growing in pitch as their sinful dance of life progressed and the world shrank to the now and then, to the breath they shared, the emotions that drove them all but mad with lust and the glorious reassurance that no matter what foe stood in their way, they would prevail

A light summer drizzle fell from the clouds covering the sky and rustles in the leaves of the forest around them, but it couldn't cover the noises that filled the tiny meadow. Muffled moans and guttural groans drifted on the air and soon were joined by a moist noise of flesh slapping flesh. Kagome cried out in time with Inuyasha's wild pounding, bucking her hips and clawing at the moss on which she laid, beads of sweat slipping across her skin. Kneeling between her legs, bowing his head to lick her bouncing breasts and side of her neck, Inuyasha was single-mindedly pounding into his mate's quivering pussy, not even noticing the rain damping his back He was a hanyou on a mission, instincts driving him to breed his young, lively mate, reassure her of his virility and power.

There was little finesse in this union, little gentleness. Both gave themselves to their urges and the need to reassure themselves that things were well. Potent youki swirled around them, scaring away any animal in the nearby woods.

At the pace they established, Kagome knew that neither of them was going to last long. Her pleasure was already so high, waves of lustful euphoria washing over her with each spasm of her core under the relentless assault of Inuyasha's member. She grabbed at him, scratched long lines down his back and moaned mindlessly. She preferred that their unions weren't preceded by a hard battle, but she couldn't deny it - whatever the circumstances - only with Inuyasha she felt truly alive and free. United by a mutual need to get close and release the tension, they kissed and touched each other, glad that this time their wild union wasn't delayed by the presence of their friends or too heavy injuries to their bodies. Since they had started their ritual Inuyasha showed more care in preparing battle strategy and no longer ran into danger with no concern over his own well-being.

His breath came out in ragged pants and Kagome needed no words to know that he was close. She whimpered and clenched around him, desperately trying to keep him inside her. Inuyasha growled and rammed inside her ferociously and Kagome was unable to keep up with him anymore. She held onto his neck, trying to warn him that she was getting close. A few minutes of that pace and she came again, galaxies exploding behind her eyes as she arched her back and her release flooded her already pretty full passage. A shrill cry left her throat.

Her mate's thrusts became erratic and harder, the fierce hanyou unable to hold back his own release when his miko milked him. He threw his head back, damp hair sticking to his face, and howled his pleasure. Kagome's high pitched gasps accompanied his final powerful thrusts. He sheathed his entire length in her channel and shot his milky seed deep within her. The base of his cock swelled, knotting his mate and causing her to cry out again, He braced himself on his elbows on both sides of her torso, eyes half lidded at the feeling of complete bliss and joy that his Kagome looked pleased with her mate.

"We're alive," he panted out and Kagome let out a satisfied sigh, a smile on her flushed face as she peered up at him with dazed eyes. She was pretty like a picture, but right now Inuyasha would swear she was the most beautiful creature in existence.

"Yes, we are," she assured him equally breathless, shutting her thighs to press against his hips and get a bit more comfortable. He groaned at that and she sensed his cock pulse deep within her, adding another load of semen and youki. A shiver ran down her spine and she hummed pleasantly.

It was going to take a few minutes until his knot deflated and he could slide out of her without causing her pain. Kagome laid her head back on the moss, basking in the afterglow of their lively dance. Her hanyou sighed and carefully rested himself on top of her, trying not to crush her under his weight. Kagome's hand moved to stroke his hair and ears gently, his breath tickling her bare torso. "It's raining," she remarked in mild surprise when she realized what the warm liquid falling from overhead was.

"Yeah... We might get stuck on the mountain for the night," he chuckled.

"We will have to find a cave. And spread the blankets," she demanded.

"Mhm... If you want, you can sleep on me, eventually," he offered, a hint of mischievous tone in his voice. Oh, she knew what he meant by that. She pinched his ear and gasped when she felt another load leaving his throbbing cock

"That sounds nice..." she sighed, closing her eyes at the blissful feeling of completion. It had been a while since they had been on the road without their friends. It would be nice to take their time getting to their meeting point - not long enough to make their friends worry, just enough to wait out the terrible rain.

"I'll look for a cave with a hot spring close and catch us a rabbit," he promised and stroked her side lazily. "We're alive and well, but we have to eat well if we plan to last a whole night... in a cave... alone..."

That remark, spoken in a voice at the same time lazy and suggestive, earned him a laugh and a tweak of his ear from his miko. They had survived another battle. They were together, a pair of young mates, happy and - for the time being - sated, enjoying the simple truth that they were alive and well.