As always,

Enjoy!

~Kyvena

18: An Endearing Past

::Flashback::

"Damn! There's just no end to them!" Kagome yelled as her blade clashed with another's. Cutting the opposing demon down while panting heavily, she then wiped a bit of sweat from her brow. They had been in battle for weeks now with no break, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel that continued to grow closer and closer with each foe taken down. Hearing their enemies finally calling frantically for a retreat, she smiled as she continued to breathe heavily over the strains of war.

With the opposing side now rushing to get away, Kagome then sheathed her sword and rolled her shoulders before stretching her arms high above her, "Man, I could sleep for a week!" Out of nowhere, the angelic lass heard InuTaisho frantically shouting in a panic, "Kagome, look out!" Snapping around, a demoness slammed her palm to the angel's face before smirking, "Now... everything that you once knew is now lost!" A blinding flash was then emitted before the demoness escaped.

Teetering back and forth now with a mind that was now growing far too hazy, she then spoke one last thing and reached out as she began to collapse to her back, "T-Tōga..." Slamming to the ground, everyone appeared absolutely mortified as the great dog demon finally reached her and lifted her into his arms, "Kagome, wake up!" When her eyes wouldn't open, he swiftly snapped around and bolted back to the castle in the west. Placing her in the infirmary, he frowned and walked out.

A week later, sky-blue orbs snapped awake, and she shot up, "Where... Where am I?" The castle doctor then walked in with a heavy heart after she had heard that line, "You're finally awake lady Kagome, I am quite sure that lord InuTaisho will be rather joyous to hear that you have finally awoken from your long slumber." The only thing she knew... was her name, so she shakily spoke, "Who... Who is that?" It was just as the doctor had feared... Kagome's memories were now all gone.

Once InuTaisho had been informed, he fell into despair. Even though he had been going to see a mortal behind her back and had even been hiding her in the castle, it still hurt. After calling upon many demon lords, they all sat in conference with the great dog demon and asked many questions, only for him to reply, "She has been asked everything... Who specific people are, where specific places were, how to use her magic, and how to wield a blade. She knows absolutely nothing now."

Shifting his head down and sighing, Tōga then spoke wearily, "Kirara, her companion, has been teaching Kagome her spells again... but it's going rather slowly. She can heal to a small degree, but that's it so far. I know if I try to teach her how to wield a blade again, I will be too soft on her. She needs a tough teacher... so... lord Haruka, can I entrust her training to you?" Haruka then gave a cold face as he folded his arms, "If I must, I shall. Do not expect for me to go easy on her though."

With everyone in agreeance that Haruka would be the best choice, the conference came to an end. Leaning against a wall, those cold and hard silver-streaked icy blue orbs then slowly opened as his long fluffy white tail swished, Haruka then scoffed, "I have one catch InuTaisho. I cannot leave my domains for one angel. If you wish for me to teach her the use of a blade again, then she will be coming back with me to the north. You shouldn't care, considering you have that mortal."

Sighing and gulping silently, Tōga then turned towards Haruka, "That's fine. I will have her things packed and her companion made aware. Though allow me to make myself absolutely clear... No matter how beautiful she is, no matter how precious she is to behave, and no matter what the circumstances are... You are not to take her to your bed at night." Scoffing, Haruka then gained a deadly gleam, "No angel filth is worth taking to my untainted bed. Now, have her ready to go soon."

Turning on his heel, Tōga then made Kirara aware of what was going to happen once all of Kagome's odd attire was packed, "Make sure you keep a close eye on her Kirara... she is so fragile as of now... and lord Haruka isn't particularly known for being kind. However, she only trusts you because of the story you told her concerning your rescue." This made the fire feline give a gentle nod of acknowledgement, "As you wish lord InuTaisho. Worry not, for I will keep her safely guarded."

Walking with Kagome as she held Kirara in her arms, InuTaisho then sighed, "Kagome, I made an agreement with another demon lord to help you train. He will be teaching you hand-to-hand combat, how to wield a blade, the use of a bow, and various other means of combat since you now hold some demon in you." Looking around curiously, she then smiled, "So another lord will be staying here?" That's when he came to a slow stop, "N-No Kagome. He only agreed if you go with him."

With widened eyes, the angelic lass's sparkling tails came to a stand-still, "Wha... What? You... You are kicking me out?" InuTaisho almost instantly snapped his head towards her panicked eyes before shaking his head, "Kagome, don't you ever tell yourself that this is not your home! This will always be your home, do you understand? He merely has his own domains to look after in the same manner that I do. Think of it as taking in some new scenery for a while before you come home."

Nodding her head, the two then walked out of the castle to see Haruka, only for her to peer curiously at him once they came to a stop. InuTaisho then smiled at her tenderly, "Kagome, this is lord Haruka, the lord of the northern snowy mountains, or you could simply say that he's the lord of the northern domains." Bowing nervously, Kagome then spoke shakily, "I-It's a pleasure to meet you l-lord Haruka, my name is Kagome." InuTaisho then sighed, "Haruka, she's already scared."

That cold and hard facade would not let up as he spoke in a tone that matched the look, "Please do enlighten me as to how is that is my problem...?" This had been said as more of a statement than an actual question, making Kagome take hold of InuTaisho's arm with a trembling hand, causing for him to stroke her hair gently, "Hey now, you are a tough lass. I have complete faith that you will do absolutely fine with lord Haruka. How about trying to have a shred of faith in yourself?"

Helping Kagome into the carriage, InuTaisho then smiled gently, "I will be sure to come and visit you as often as I can, so please take care of yourself." Smiling nervously, Kagome then nodded, "O-Okay. I will see you soon though, right?" Stroking her cheek gently InuTaisho nodded, "Of course." Haruka then released a deep sigh that showed his clear displeasure over the entire situation, "Sometime this century would be nice." Kagome then jumped and nodded, "S-Sorry lord Haruka."

Now on their way to the northern castle, Kagome nervously held Kirara while petting her with shaky hands. They had been on the road for a few days now... and Haruka hadn't spoken a single word to her this entire time. Kirara then peered at Haruka before speaking, "So, lord Haruka, I have heard that you are quite the mighty warrior. Maybe you could share some of your glorious battles with us? I am sure that you have many to tell that would be rather fascinating to listen to."

Haruka then shifted his head towards the fire feline, only to catch Kagome's gaze with a devilish gleam in his eyes that had her shooting her head down with cheeks that were stained a pretty red color as he thought just to make her even more flustered, 'Well, well... she's quite the bashful one. I do not blame her, for I am quite handsome with and even more-so without clothing on.' The thought was most definitely heard, making Kagome even more red and bashful in the process.

Holding no actual interest in this angelic lass, his deep and rich tone then rolled out like silk, "No Kirara, I am not fond of dragging old victories out into the open. Once gained, it is then logged right here," he finished by tapping a clawed finger to the side of his head. More time then passed, only for Kagome to notice Haruka had fallen asleep and had punctured his arm, only to whisper so softly that only Kirara heard, "What do I do...? He's bleeding and looks so cold." - "Do what you must."

Placing Kirara down, Kagome then moved forward and tenderly took his claw from his arm, only to begin healing him. As he slept, he groggily thought, 'It's... so warm.' Slowly cracking his eyes open, he watched without her realizing that he were even doing so as she healed him, only to close his eyes again as she finished and whispered, "There... now my wings, tails, blood, and desire won't harm him." Well, that was the most peculiar thing that he had ever heard someone admit aloud.

With the moon rising into the sky, Haruka was back asleep as Kagome bit her lip over how cold he appeared, making Kirara softly snicker, "Kagome, if you wish to keep him warm, then do so." Nodding nervously at this, Kagome slipped between his legs to not wake the devil, only for her tails to then coil around his body. Watching his body relax over the warmth her tails had to offer him made her smile softly as his hair lightly tousled within the breeze that was growing colder.

Thanks to the cold, she was able to stay awake much longer, which made Kirara worry, "Kagome, you must sleep as well. I know that you are worried about insulting him, but I will never allow him to hurt you. Besides, he swore an oath to lord InuTaisho to never bring you any intentional harm. If sparring, you are bound to gain injuries... but you need sleep." Shaking her head and patting her face lightly, her vision began to grow more and more blurry the longer she stayed awake.

She tried her damn hardest to stay awake but ended up lying against his chest without knowing what she was doing, making Kirara amused to no ends over this. The moment the angel kept laid against him, Haruka subconsciously wrapped his arms around her as his tail returned the sweet gesture to keep her warm by wrapping around her. Kirara would stay awake to inform him of what happened once awake, but she had to admit that those two were honestly pretty adorable together.

As the sun began rising to shine rays of its satanic joy right in Haruka's face, he yawned heavily as was about to have the carriage stop so that he could stretch until noticing as to how he had slept so damn well. Cracking his claws slightly angrily over her even touching him, Kirara then yawned, "Lord Haruka, Kagome noticed you had cut yourself last night and healed you. She also noticed you shivering and decided to keep you warm since you now possess some of her magic in you.'

Yawning heavily at this, he then nodded as the fire feline hopped onto the window to nip the curtains to close them. By the time Kirara hopped back down and curled up, she noticed that Haruka had actually adjusted the sleeping angel by lightly tugging her up so that her head rested against his collar, only to notice that his tail had wrapped around her as well. Tiredly blinking, all he could do was shake his head before leaning it down to rest on her head, "Damn she smells good..."

Removing his top, he then laid it over her as he scooched his body down so that his back rested against the cushioned seat, only to feel her tails squirming beneath him. Raising his hips enough for her tails to wiggle free, the two sparkling balls of fluff then adjusted to cover him comfortably. Shifting his head over, Haruka then mumbled out, "Kirara... not a word... of this to... InuTaisho." Kirara then nodded tiredly, "As you wish lord Haruka. Can I trust you to bring my mistress no harm?"

"Mhm..." was all he could manage to mumble out softly as he basically curled up with the angelic lass as if the two were life mates, making Kirara snicker internally over this little predicament that was now playing out. As her eyes drooped, she could only think highly guarded thoughts so that the sleeping angel would not hear a word and would be capable of getting the rest she desperately needed, 'Kagome is going to absolutely murder that tough guy act you have going on Haruka.'

Frantic breaths of air were now being released by the angel as her and Haruka now sparred in the dojo... if you could even call it that. By the time they had arrived at the northern palace a few months prior, that tough guy act was shoved right back out onto the frontlines, considering he now scoffed and barked out with tightly folded arms, "How many times must I tell you to stop closing your eyes when faced with danger before you understand it?! Again! Be on your guard this time!"

Heaving, Kagome then peered up with those innocent orbs that had him take an unnoticeable step back, "I.. I'm sorry lord Haruka. Please... Please just... just let me catch my breath." Taking in a few relaxing breaths so that it no longer felt as if her lungs were on fire, she then readied herself as she still panted softly, "Okay, I'll do you proud lord Haruka!" Haruka could only chuckle internally, but his face remained unchanged as his dry tone rang out, "Just call me Haruka, Kagome."

Kirara then snickered internally, 'There's the first crack Haruka.' The moment Kagome wiped her brow, she gave a bright smile, "Right! Please, continue Haruka!" He then nodded and basically vanished before appearing above Kagome, making her head shoot up before backflipping away, only for him to be in her face again, making her slam her eyes shut as he furiously slammed his fist into her gut, forgetting to hold back at that point, causing for her to fly back and slam against the wall.

Haruka's eyes then widened the moment he noticed a good amount of Kagome's sparkling white blood sliding down her face, "Shit! Kirara, block anyone from entering!" Bounding forward and taking her larger form, Kirara blocked the entrance to the dojo as demons lined up for this enticing blood. Rushing forward, Haruka then grabbed a soaked washcloth and hastily wiped the blood away before slamming his palm against her back so that she coughed harshly, "Good... you're alive."

Sweat dropping as the crowd dispersed, Kirara then huffed once she heard that half-ass attempt to pull his tough guy act up with a worried expression until he realized that it was there. Scowling as she gasped for air, Kagome felt like all of her limbs, joints, muscles, and even eyelashes were on fire at this point in time, but she refused to give up, "I-I'm not done Haruka, I... promise..." by the end of her sentence, she was falling forward, causing for him to catch her with a worried face.

The moment he caught her, Kagome's tails coiled around his core, making Kirara snicker. Haruka then gave the fire feline a dry expression, "Might I inquire as to what is so damn hilarious?" Kirara could only full-blown laugh by now as she squeaked out, "Do check your tail before you question me, Haruka." Lifting his brow, he then noticed... his tail... was protectively wrapped around the angelic lass that he had sworn to not develop any feelings for, causing for him to sigh heavily.

"Kirara... here's another secret for you to not tell InuTaisho..." he groaned as he carried the beautiful angel to the hot springs as Kirara followed in her kitten form, "But of course Haruka. I have become a master liar to InuTaisho because of you!" Blushing heavily, Haruka then undressed Kagome and himself before getting in to wash her and himself. Turning his head to the kitten, he then shooed her out, making her snicker and nod her head while teasing, "Do have fun with my mistress!"

They had been training for seven hours straight with zero breaks, so he was sure that her body had to be in immeasurable pain by now. Shaking his head while blushing furiously, he quickly washed her body before using one hand to wash his. Groggily, Kagome's eyes then opened, "Haruka...? Where are we...?" Kirara then laughed from outside of the room, "Look at both of your bodies and tell me that answer, my lady!" Shifting her eyes down, Kagome turned bright red, "Haruka!"

"You were unconscious, and I was worried about how sore your body must be! Dammit, is that so wrong?!" Haruka barked out without thinking what he had just said over. Realizing as to what he had just said, he began grumbling as he blushed deeply, "Now that I know that you are awake, you can finish bathing yourself!" - "Tell that to your tail Haruka!" Kirara teased relentlessly, making him look at his and Kagome's tails that were now intertwined with one another like doting lovers.

Setting her down and ripping his tail away, he then turned away until Kagome took his much larger clawed hand. Peering over his shoulder, she then smiled brightly as tears slid down her face, "Thank you for worrying so much about me Haruka, it means so much to me!" Gaining a gentle smile with his head still turned away from her, he then whispered, "Of course Kagome... Now, do relax your aching muscles. I have some work to get done before it's time for the evening meal."

Stepping out of the water with his loose portion of long hair covering his nude body, he toweled off and placed new clothing on, only to stop at the door, "Oh, that is right... lord InuTaisho will be here tomorrow to check on your progression. If he remembers, that is..." Kagome hadn't seen InuTaisho in four months now and still didn't remember anything about him. Each time he had planned to visit, he hadn't, so Kagome sighed softly, "I honestly don't care... I mean, I have you, don't I?"

Without her seeing, a loving smile crossed his lips over the comment before he replied, "What an absurd question to even ask me. Of course you do. I do live here, do I not?" With that, he began to walk away with that same loving smile plastered all over his lips. Kirara quickly informed Kagome that she was going to help Haruka with his work, only to jump onto his shoulder and nuzzle her face against his and paw at his earring before asking, "Haruka, you love my mistress... don't you?"

Looking down, he then chuckled as he stroked the sassy kitten's head, "Well... that, I am not too sure about. I guess it's just as Kagome put it..." This made Kirara tilt her head slightly before mewing gently, "She has you... however, you have her. I am taking that is what you are meaning to say?" Looking up, Haruka nodded before, for once, chuckling with a boyish light tint, "Indeed. I never actually thought of gaining a mate until she was always around to care, dote, and worry about me."

After bathing, Kagome placed one of her thigh high white dresses that held an attached ankle length white skirting on. Walking to the kitchen, she politely asked the maids and cooks to leave, only for them to smile and bow to her. Good lord did the castle love the angel being here. Ever since she had arrived, their leader had become so much more tolerable to be serving. His attitude was always more tender and gentler now, much thanks to the angelic lass that was always around him.

Cooking the evening meal for once to show how much she cared, it turned out fantastic and looked at the time. Informing the maids that it needed to simmer until meal time, they all nodded happily towards her before she walked out into the gardens completely barefoot, she came to a stop and laced her hands behind her back to take in a deep breath as her long hair and lace skirting fluttered in the breeze. She had never worn a dress for Haruka and hoped he liked it on her.

Haruka had just completed his work with Kirara and stood up to stretch. Walking towards the dining hall, he then entered as the maids placed the meal on the table. Chuckling, he smiled softly, "Wow, that smells amazing! You guys have outdone yourself!" The maids then giggled softly and shook their heads at him, "Lord Haruka, we didn't make this." The lead maid then smiled tenderly, "Lady Kagome made it for you." She watched as his eyes instantly softened, "I see... Where is she?"

Bowing, she then answered, "The gardens, my lord." Setting Kirara down, he then scolded her for once, "Not this time missy." Understanding, she nodded as he walked inside of the gardens, only to come to a slow stop the moment white caught his widened gaze at how she was dressed. Walking forward, he then slid his hands around her belly and smiled, "You look absolutely beautiful Kagome..." Blushing softly, she then turned around in his arms to hold him in return, "Thank you..."

InuTaisho never showed up that day, so here they were an entire year later, training. Determined to win against him and make him proud, she got into a battle ready stance as he dashed towards her, only for her to appear before him first and grab his wrist before twisting it. Twirling around him so that his arm was now behind him, she then kicked the back of his knee so that he buckled while holding a shocked expression, yet, he took it up a notch and slammed his elbow into her gut.

Coughing harshly, she then scowled with a sense of fierceness he had never witnessed from her, making him grin, "Good Kagome! Keep going!" Hearing her first compliment from this man after an entire year had her skidding to a stop for tears to slide down her face, only to rush to him and wrap her arms around him tightly. Annoyed that she didn't continue, he then hugged her before slamming his fist against her face to hurl her tiny body away, only for her to gain a pissed off face.

Appearing right in front of her, Kagome then smirked and punched him just as hard while yelling furiously, "DID YOU HAVE TO HIT ME THAT HARD HARU?!" Haruka then blinked rapidly by the time he heard the nickname and sat up with a deep blush, "Did... Did you just call me Haru?" Kagome then erected her form with a scowl as she wiped a bit of her blood from her face, "We are always together... so, of course I gave you a nickname! I have you... and you have me, remember?"

Blushing deeply, he then slowly walked towards her and placed a hand to her cheek, "I can't keep lying to myself..." With that, Haruka then leaned down and captured her lips, making her wrap her arms around his neck securely until Kirara cleared her throat, "Perhaps, Haruka..." she paused to then motion her head towards all of the maids, servants, and guards that now watched adoringly before she continued, "This would be a good time to take things behind closed doors."

Haruka then swooped Kagome up before walking to a place she had never been inside of before... his room. Placing her on his bed and locking his door, he already didn't have a top on due to training, so he approached with a dashing debonair smirk that had her heart throbbing within her ears, "Ha-Haru...?" Leaning in, he then pressed his lips tightly to her own as his hands slid up her side to ignite wildfire across her sensitive skin to the point that she gasped sharply and arched.

"Kagome... I love you..." he whispered tenderly the moment he slightly pulled away, making her eyes fill with tears, "I love you too, Haru..." Stroking those falling tears from her face, he then stared into her eyes as he spoke, "Kagome... will you do me this honor?" Nodding her head, she then whispered, "Of course..." Smirking at her, he then removed her attire before his tail rushed to wrap around her hip to hold her still as he unlaced his hakamas and stepped out with a throbbing heart.

He had never been so damn nervous to have intercourse before, so this... this is what true love felt like. Taking her hands within his, he then pressed in to feel how damn tight she was, making him suck in a sharp breath of air, "Holy hell Kagome, if you ever want pups with me, then do try to not remove my main weapon for that task!" Laughing at this dramatic display, she then took in a deep breath and relaxed before he began to push deeply within her, making her instantly cry out.

It was music to his ears. The more pleasure he gave her, the more his new song bird sang for him. Half a day later, the two dripped, and were completely drenched, with sweat as he gasped out against her chest, "You... are an angel... filled... to the brim... with hellfire." Her chest heavily rose and fell in frantic breaths as she stroked his hair to calm her body from lord knows how many times he brought her to her release, only for him to then softly question, "Will... Will you be my mate?"

Tears filled her eyes almost instantly as she nodded happily, "Yes!" However... all good things come at far too great of a price. Right as they went to mark one another, Haruka's door basically exploded for one furious InuTaisho to enter with crimson orbs, "Haruka... I warned you!" - "Fuck man, I just battled this hellfire angel for half a day. Give me a five minute reprieve," he gasped out until feeling a light tap and hearing a question that almost made him laugh, "Haru? Who's he?"

Beyond furious, InuTaisho waited as Haruka placed his pants on after dressing her, "That's InuTaisho." Tilting her head in a puzzled manner, she then gained a puzzled expression, "Have I met him?" - "Shit man, this is what you get for playing with your mortal plaything for a year straight. What in the hell did you think would happen when we trained together for seven to ten hours a day to get her back up to standards?" - "You were supposed to follow my instructions! That's what!"

Right then, InuTaisho darted forward furiously, only for Kagome to jump in front of Haruka's shaky form to have her chest pierced by those deadly claws. Coughing up an immense amount of blood, Kagome then smiled weakly at Haruka's mortified face, "Haru... don't give me such a sad face. At least... I got to... protect you... as your... mate." InuTaisho then pulled his hand from her chest and growled at her furiously, "If I'm not good enough for your love, then no one is!"

"Kirara! Come! We are leaving," the great dog demon spat out, making her quickly bound up and freeze at the sight of InuTaisho... holding... the angels heart, "My... My lady! Lord InuTaisho, what have you done?!" He spoke nothing, but he did glare at her for her to come along without a fuss. Jumping onto Kagome's belly, she witnessed Haruka's broken face that now flooded with tears, only to then hold his hand out, "No! Don't take her!" Snarling at him, they then vanished from sight.

Returning to the castle, her heart was placed back in her chest to automatically mend. It took months for her to regain consciousness... and by then, InuTaisho had informed Haruka that he was granted no permission for her "funeral". In other words, he was the reason that Haruka had initially become so broken and skittish to begin with. He never wanted to witness such a horrid sight ever again in his entire life that had its time frozen since Kagome had placed Infinity over him...

::End of Flashback::