Man, I am SOOOO evil! Muahahahaha!!! Heh.^-^ Yeah, a little citrusy, but the lemon is next chapter. Woohoo! Actually, it's more like lemonade because I'm going to sweeten it.^_~ *giggles* But yeah, sooo sorry for the long update waiting time! I was going to put this in yesterday but we were entertaining guests.~_~ You know how that goes.
KevinEC- lol Yeah, actually, she does call him Fluffy and Sesshy, but not around other people.^_~ She knows it would upset him.^_^ And Inu, yeah, old habits die hard I guess? He gets better in this chapter and then he's all mature and stuff.^_^ *giggles* yay! And yeah, sorry it took so long to get there, but hey, thanks for the kudos!^_^
angelofdiamonds – Ahh! You're right; I forgot to describe Rin!^_^; lol Thank you! Hmmm... I think I can fit that into this chapter.^_^
Zerianyu- There were a couple words left out? What do you mean? *giggles* And don't be sorry!^_^ I love comments and critiques.^_^ Oh, and the lemon, that'll be next chapter.^_~*
Ame Tenshi – Okay, where to start?^_^ lol Well, first off, I've seen official pics of a grinning Sesshoumaru, a SMILING one even. It was weird, but soooo cute!^_^ Heh, but here, I think he just got a little more... not soft so much as accepting. Note the fact that I said a little.^_~* Shippou will come in with Kirara in a few chapters, maybe three, maybe four, and about Ayame, well, I don't like her much so, like Kikyo, she isn't in this.^_^; Jaken, well, is it really possible to get rid of Jaken?^_~ lol I don't think he would've let them. Besides, what fun would he be to kill him and let him stay dead? If they killed him, they'd have to bring him back to life and keep him around so they could do it again. Heh, that'd be awesome.^_^ But yeah, I don't know what they do in their personal time, and if it has to do with a certain frog-resembling demon, I'm not sure I want to know.^_^; Kagura and Kanna won't be here either, and there is this whole "if you meet yourself the universe will collapse" theory out there so it probably wouldn't have been wise to have the older and younger Inu meet. You never know what effect that could have on the time stream. And lastly, nope, neither Kagome nor Inu Yasha will be changed by the jewel; I like them the way they are.^_^ Um... I think that's everything... right?^_^;
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol
Oh, and as always,
_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech
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Memories of the Present
Chapter 28: Be Mine
"Kagome, are you almost ready?"
"Yeah Rin, I'll be there in a minute!"
"Okay, I'll be waiting!"
Inu Yasha scurried over the tile floor, trying to escape the voices without being detected. Stupid Sesshoumaru, giving me the room next to Kagome. Well, actually, I don't mind that, but did he have to make it on *that* side of Kagome's room? He's probably had this planned all along! Either way I have to get past her room to get to mine, and it won't be easy. She's probably still mad and I really don't want to die yet. Hey, wait, she's just a... no, I'm not even thinking that; I know how bad her temper is. Maybe I'll get lucky and she'll leave; then I won't need to sneak to get past her room. Yeah, that'll work! Inu Yasha skidded to a halt right before Kagome's door, and crouched down.
And so he waited... and waited... and, ah crap, what was taking her so long? Drawing ever closer to her door, he peeked in and decided that maybe he could make a run for it. Kagome was sitting on her bed, not seeming to be paying attention to anything really, and he could easily go by unnoticed. It wouldn't be that hard. So... why wasn't he moving?
"Kagome?"
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Such beauty, if only I could've appreciated it; it's not like I had anything better to do. I sighed as I heard Rin call to me and called back. I didn't really feel much like a bath anymore, if I ever did; I just wanted to get away from the table, the questions, ... the memories.
I sat on my canopy bed and admired the handiwork. It was the kind of bed that you would imagine a princess owning in one of those Disney fairytales, well, the ones that started out as princesses at least. It was easily a king size, the cerulean sheets of the purest silk and soft to the touch. Over the bed hung a white, slightly transparent cloth that bunched at the top of the bedposts, and then hung down, the curtain blocking out any view of the real world, or any eyes from seeing into mine. The fabric was currently tied to the bedposts with another silken tie, white and warm to the eye, but cold to the touch. The bedposts themselves were masterpieces, dragons and villagers, roses and damsels, nature, all depicted on one long column at each corner post. The floor was a hard wood floor, waxed and shining with a rich complexity of grain, but it was mostly covered with a long, beautifully tailored Oriental rug of white, black, blue, and pink. On the walls hung more paintings, and there was a solid oak dresser in the far corner of the room, a mirror resting lazily upon its surface.
I can't believe I'll never see her again...
No wonder I couldn't admire it; no wonder I couldn't go enjoy a nice hot bath after so long in the Sengoku Jedai. There was no Sango. Sure there was Rin, but it wasn't the same. I could feel hot tears roll down my cheeks in silent respect for my best friend. They missed her too; they understood. The only people I had bathed with were Sango and Shippou, and, though I knew that he was alive, I still hadn't been able to see the kit, not like he would've still been so young as bathing with him would be proper anyway.
My gaze dropped to the smooth, polished floor, and I let out a weighted sigh; it was too hard, even with people around. Maybe I should've told him, but not in front of Sesshoumaru. Rin may not have heard, but the dog demon certainly would've, and still, even with him being so hospitable, I would have problems adjusting and trusting him so easily. After all we had been through, it was hard, even for me.
Shoulder slumping, I looked up, silently praying that Inu Yasha would be there; his very presence relaxed me and made me feel safe, as if I were but a child in my mother's arms. I had found that warm feeling nowhere else, and if I ever needed it, it was then. And then, he was there, in the doorway, watching me. I almost laughed; he was probably worried that I'd still be mad. If only he knew how much I wish he could come over and comfort me, but he'd probably escape while he could. Frankly, I wouldn't blame him. I wouldn't want to bring him down with me.
"Kagome?"
He sounded so concerned. Maybe I was wrong.
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It was easy to understand why my heart had stopped when I saw her, but the thing I couldn't figure out was why it wouldn't start again. It was almost as if I had a Buyo sized snake around it, constricting until I couldn't breath, but weighing it down at the same time. I felt as if my heart had dropped into my stomach and my food would be dancing if it had still been beating. Where do I come up with these things? I almost laughed, but that notion soon vanished as she looked back towards the ground. Maybe now she'd tell me what was wrong; she looked so sad, so forlorn. There had to be something I could do.
I took a step into the room, then another, stopping only a few steps later when she stopped breathing.
"I miss Sango."
Well, that was easier than I had thought it would be. Kagome started sobbing and grabbed a pillow for support as I walked over to her. Refusing to lift her face, she buried it in the pillow and turned away, only crying more forcefully when I pulled her into my arms, letting both her and the soaked pillow into my embrace.
"Kagome... don't cry. What can I do? Do you want me to tell you about Sango and Miroku?" I could feel my own eyes water at the look she gave. Kagome bit her lip softly, looking up at me, and sniffled. If it weren't so sad it'd be adorable. Hell, it WAS adorable, but it wasn't the time for such thoughts. She nodded and I cuddled her against my chest, resting my head on hers.
"You know, it's because you left that they got together."
"What do you mean?" She sniffled again, but I refused to let her look up at me, my head holding down her own. My heart was breaking with every sob, every shudder her boy produced, and I wasn't about to let her see that; she had enough on her mind as it was, and besides, my pride would rarely allow it.
"When Miroku is trying to be comforting, he's not a complete lecher." I smiled and nuzzled the top of her head a little. "They named their first born after you, you know."
She stiffened and tried to look up again, but I wouldn't let her. Instead, I shifted one arm to slip around her waist and held her close. "Their first..."
"They had three kids," I told her softly, "two boys and a girl. The girl they named after you. In a way, you *had* brought them together after all."
"And the boys?" By now she had started relaxing, slowly letting her tenseness flow from her in the way that a child would fall asleep listening to their mother's voice at bedtime. I smiled softly and continued, closing my eyes against the tears and in a short, blissful remembrance.
"They couldn't think of any names, and must have had an awfully sick sense of humor."
"How's that?" I laughed.
"Their next child was named after me and their third after Kouga."
"What?!" All right, now I couldn't help it. Kagome bolted up, smacking my jaw with the top of her skull and turned to look up at me. It was impossible not to laugh at the expression on her face! It was like I had told her that there were aliens inside her shirt, clawing to escape from her breasts!
Thankfully, she seemed to have associated the laugh that came from that with my other one, and waited, though rather impatiently, for my answer. "They figured that the first two would be a symbol for the future... I *don't* have to explain that do I?"
She pouted and glared at me; I smirked. "And the last one?"
"Well, Inu needed *someone* to fight with." Kagome laughed and shook her head softly.
"Sibling rivalry just comes naturally to you, doesn't it? What ever did happen to Kouga-kun? Is he in Tokyo too?" I bit my lip and nuzzled into her neck as deeply as I possibly could. Why did she have to ask? I had really tried to avoid this; she didn't need to know yet; she'd be heart-broken. I couldn't watch...
"Inu Yasha?" She sounded so worried.
"No Kagome... he died... fighting Naraku." She stiffened as something wet fell onto my neck. Reaching up to wipe away her tears, I realized that she was no longer crying, but then, what was that drop? "He fought bravely. I'm sorry."
"Oh..." Another liquid drop graced my skin, but this time, I knew what it was; her blood tasted so sweet. (so tempted to end it here, but I have an even MORE EVIL cliffhanger in mind. Muahahahaha!)
Trying to wipe the blood from her face only succeeded in spreading the crimson silk across her chin. When she had finally released her lip, I lapped at the blood, but had little time to do so, as soon she had thrown her arms around me, almost crushing me with her hold. Tears mingled with her bloody lip, creating a swirling mass of transparent life, exploring her body from her bottom lip downwards, and eventually coming to soak into my, already tear-stained, shirt.
No matter how many times she did this, I couldn't help but be stunned. To have her so close to me with no move on my part, to have her need me to hold her and protect her was rapture. Seeing her like that threw my insides into inner turmoil, wanting to comfort her and protect her, but also wanting to kill whatever made her feel like this in the first place. Seeing as I couldn't kill time, I closed my eyes in a weak attempt to regain my composure, and rocked her softly, whispering sweet words and swaying with the rhythm of our beating hearts, though mine beat only for her.
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A tall woman stood in the doorway. Her dark brown, almost raven hair, usually waist length, was now tied in a bun, two tiny streams of hair dangling from within either side. Her orange bathrobe clashed slightly with the room she had been watching, but they hadn't noticed her to pay it any mind. Soft, forest green oriental slippers made the only noise, not but a slight scuffle among the sobs and cries from the heart-wrenching scene. Rin stood in that doorway, watching the two fondly. She could barely remember them as they were when she was a child, especially when she grew up with Inu Yasha always around. He had almost been a second father to her; having no pups of his own, he had decided to help Sesshoumaru with his, and, for a time, that included Rin. Now he seemed more like a big brother to her, and she was always talking to him about everything. She had often asked about the girl before her, having very few memories of her, but as she watched the two embrace, she could not deny that this seemed so right, so familiar. Kagome was much more than what Inu had described. Sure, she was, and is younger than Rin thought, but she was much stronger than even he had given her credit for, and that's not something to be taken lightly. Even Sessy, stubborn as he was, had mentioned her as one of the few humans he could "stand" when talking off-handedly about something or other. But even then, watching them, though she had known this girl less than a night, she could see the pain and sorrow she had held almost completely hidden to the world, and was beyond impressed.
A warm hand on Rin's shoulder brought her out of her thoughts, as she looked up to the owner. She smiled her usual, angelic smile and watched as his eyes lit up, melting amber against her warm chocolate orbs. His face never changed, but that was to be expected when they were not alone, and right now, though hidden from the other couple, they were still not alone.
The pair watched as Kagome snuggled into the hanyou's neck, cuddling into the hair that was presently draped over his shoulder. She had stopped crying a few minutes before, and was now more uncertain of her emotions than anything. In short, she was vulnerable. As the miko drew herself closer, the demon lord was almost tempted to laugh at the sudden stiffening in his younger half-brother, almost. He had never gotten tired of watching him squirm, and having this girl around was almost as good as having a "most embarrassing moments of Inu" tape on hand. Come to think of it, that would be good for parties. Feeling Rin tug on his sleeve, Sesshoumaru watched as she led down the hall. He soon caught up and wrapped his arm around her gently, a soft smile gracing his delicate features. Rin loved to see him smile.
"She really has no idea what she's doing to him, does she?"
Sesshoumaru chuckled and replied dryly, "I'm surprised he even knows what she's doing to him."
Grinning, Rin turned and smacked him gently on the arm, before taking a soft right and entering their chamber. Upon passing the door, the great demon lord picked up his love and carried her over to the fireplace, setting her down on a soft blanket and placing himself next to her. She giggled as his fluffy tail wrapped itself around her and tugged her closer, holding her protectively and lovingly tickling her nose. Contented, Sesshoumaru gazed upon his ward, his wife, his mate, as she drifted off into a slight slumber. Only two sounds were left to hang in the air that night, one being a soft, "Thank you Fluffy", and the other being a grunt from the youkai holding her.
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A strand of ebony flicked across the hanyou's face, tickling his sensitive nose and rousing him from a light sleep. They must've both been out as she was still curled in his arms. For fear of waking her, Inu Yasha nipped at the offending hair, attempting to catch it and blow it away without waking the girl in his arms. The hair jumped left, then right, curling and plunging, bouncing around and cleverly avoiding all of the half-demon's assaults. It evaded him one last time before coming in for the kill, and landing directly beneath his nose, rustling gently with his breathing. He tried everything! He bit his lip, he wiggled his nose, he had even tried to move his head, but it was to no avail as, at long last, he let out the sneeze he had been holding in with all of his might. On the brink of awakening, Kagome curled herself further into his lap, mumbling softly into his neck in her half-dream state. Of course, it didn't help that to do so, she had to reposition her body to stretch across his, causing her hair to fall back from her neck, now extended for his viewing.
Okay, this was no problem; he'd been through worse bef... oh my god! (I can say God because it's the modern time.^_^) Where did her leg just go?! It wasn't the movement that had awoken her, nor the sneeze; it was the loud yip as her leg apparently went somewhere it shouldn't have, and she adjusted it a way that she probably shouldn't have either. How was she to know; she was asleep!
Her eyes, cloudy and unfocused, barely registered who she was with as her mind fought to remember where she was. Realizing her, ahem, position, she move the offending (or not really.^_~) leg, but that only caused something a little "worse" than she had intended. She was straddling him again, and was, at least, extremely shocked at what she found there.
Meanwhile, Inu Yasha had jumped back a bit, and though the position hadn't changed, he had fled a small distance away from the uncomfortable silence. He kept his head low, trying to avoid her eyes as she cupped his cheek, softly lifting his face to meet her own. Now face to face, his eyes were still downcast, forcing her to use other means to make him look at her.
Gingerly sneaking around, the hand which was not cupping his cheek slid up and began to rub an ear. The appendage twitched at first, shocked at the sudden touch upon its sensitive hairs, but soon began to relax as the massage continued.
Oh, he fought it, he really did. Damn this girl! How the hell did she always know?! As hard as he tried, he couldn't force down the purr that had ascended out of his throat, much less his face instinctively rubbing and pushing against the hand that was still there, her thumb caressing his cheek softly. He was too far-gone to realize what she had been doing until she switched ears and his mind cleared, though for only a second. His face was now, not only tilted upwards, but he was staring deeply into her eyes, a gaze that caused her to stop what she was doing, and unconsciously drop her hands to her sides.
Her heart beat faster as she was lost, completely and utterly helpless within the intensity of the look and the feelings within her. She thought that she would be used to this, to feeling this way, but she couldn't help the butterflies that were no longer dormant in her stomach, nor the desert that which her tongue had become. A thick air of silence filled the room, tension evident, and the longer it continued, the harder it was for either to break the gaze. Kagome subconsciously nibbled her lip, as Inu Yasha stared at it longingly, imagining the look on her face if her were to kiss her then, to run his hands through her hair, but she was vulnerable; he didn't want to take advantage of her, but what could he do?
Kagome gulped, drawn into the lust-filled amber pools. She felt as if she were drowning in them, and realized just how close they really were to each other. Were they that close a minute ago? It no longer mattered as Inu Yasha threw his arms around her, drawing her into his breast as he took a clawed finger to her chin, lifting her face to nibble on her lower lip. The feeling of her shuddering in his arms drove him on as his lips trailed down her chin, to her jaw line. He left a small trail of kisses down her neck, nipping and licking softly as he traveled lower, and eventually came to a rest nipping at the junction of her neck and shoulder. The girl moaned softly, and raised her hands from her sides, trailing them over his broad shoulders, lowering them to stroke his chest, and drawing little circles there with her index finger before licking it and running it across the expanse of his neck.
With each soft moan, sweet kisses became burning desire, stoking the fire within their bellies as they touched, running their fingers across each other. They were stroking, teasing, caressing until it became a desperate need, a drug that urged their hearts to beat faster, more wildly, and caused them to rub against each other, their moans lost within each other's flesh.
Fangs came to graze upon the sweet landscape of flesh and pulse, running across it, as an animal would hunt its prey. Wrapping her arms completely around the hanyou's head, Kagome cradled it within her grasp, as she pulled his face closer, begging him to lick her, nip at her. Her scent, now filled with lust and passion was quickly driving him mad and his mouth widened, intent on submerging her tender flesh within himself. She moaned and gripped his hair more tightly, pushing him further and further, but the hanyou only pulled away, quickly taking her into his arms before she could get the wrong idea.
Their hearts beat, pulses choking them, bodies craving one another's, but there was one last thing to be done, and it had to be now. Inu Yasha had never been more frightened in all of his life. Softly, he whispered to her, eyes closed tightly and arms crushing her against him even more with each passing word.
"Kagome I..." he shut his eyes more tightly, trying to pull strength form their embrace and the rapid beating within their chests. "I love you... Kagome. Please, listen to me. There's something I need to know. If you become my mate, if you say yes, we will be together forever. I will be yours and you will be mine; this is it. There would be no turning back. If we were to die I would find you and make you mine again, and never in your existence would you ever be without me, and I you. Kagome, I want you; I need you. I want you as my mate. Please... will you accept?"