Author's Note: Gomen, minna! I know it's been ages since I updated this story. Alas, real life intrudes all too often. The good news is that I've finished writing this story. There are three more chapters after this one. Originally I had planned to write a lemon, but it came out as more of a lime. As a result, this story's rating is going from PG-13 to R. The citrus-y part of the story is going to be its own separate chapter so you can skip it if you wish. I don't think there's anything too graphic but I wanted to make sure you could skip it. I think it's chapter 13, but I'll warn you before it goes up. As far as the posting schedule....I'm going to post a chapter every other day. They're all completed, in fact they're all uploaded already, so all I need to do is hit "post".
Disclaimer: Only Tsuki belongs to me. All other characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Kagome's Gone
by Maia Serrelinda
Chapter 11
******
After the evening meal, Inuyasha and Kagome left Tsuki in the dining room and went to the small pavilion outside. It had finally stopped raining and the night was somewhat cool but not cold. The young couple walked outside, holding hands. The sun had almost set but they had opened the screens to both of their rooms and the light from the torches lit the garden faintly. Inuyasha sat on the bench and pulled Kagome down next to him. They let the quiet and peace of the twlight settle around them.
Kagome rested her head on Inuyasha's shoulder. Glancing down at her, he raised his arm and pulled Kagome closer, so that she was nestled securely in the curve of his arm. Placing a light kiss on the top of her head, the hanyou reflected briefly on the happiness he never thought he'd find, especially not with this woman, whom he'd fallen in love with somewhere along the way.
The young miko-in-training breathed in deeply, filling her nose with the scent of him, the one she loved. She never could quite get enough of his scent. It was deeply masculine, with a tinge of forest and a hint of rain. She loved the way he smelled.
"Will we go back to Kaede-bachan's village tomorrow?" she asked.
"We should talk about that, actually," he responded, and turned slightly on the bench, releasing her. He took her hands in both of his and looked down at her. "Do you want to see where I grew up? We could spend a couple of days there before we go back."
"Is it very far?" Kagome said.
"It's only a couple of hours out of the way. I thought it might be a good idea if we, ah," he blushed and continued, "were mated before we got back to the village."
"Oh!" Kagome exclaimed. "Um, yeah, we could do that. Is there some sort of ceremony or something?"
Inuyasha blushed even more before responding. "Well, sort of. It's a ceremony but it only involves us. I, uh...I mark you, while we....yeah."
Now Kagome was blushing too. "I understand, I think. Could we have a, well, I guess it would be a reception later? When we get back to the village? I think my mom would want something too."
Hearing the word brought back the memory of what Sesshoumaru had said. "What's a reception? We're supposed to have one and my brother said he required an invitation. I know what the formal, boring reception is but it didn't sound like he meant the same thing."
She nodded. "A reception is the party that comes after the wedding - the human mating ceremony, I guess you could call it. I'm sure my mother will insist on one. Anyway, the reception isn't always held right afterwards, sometimes - when the couple elopes - that means they ran away and got married - it's held weeks or months afterwards. An informal reception at the village sounds like a good idea. Why did he say he required an invitation?"
"Well, he didn't say, but it was right after he formally accepted you into the family line."
"He what?" the miko asked.
Inuyasha took a minute to think about it before he answered. "When a youkai takes a mate, he is supposed to ask permission from the head male of the family. That would be Sesshoumaru. I asked him earlier this afternoon. He doesn't actually have to accept you into the line - at least, not like he did. He conferred on you all the rights and privileges of the line of Inutaisho."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that even if we never formally mated, because of that you would still be treated as a member of my family and you'd retain your title, too."
Kagome squeaked. "Title?"
Inuyasha made a rueful face. "Yeah, you're technically Lady Kagome now."
She took the opportunity to needle the hanyou. "You mean like the way you're Lord Inuyasha? Or maybe I should call you Inuyasha-sama?"
He grimaced before responding, "I never use my title, you know that."
They fell into a companionable silence. Inuyasha turned Kagome so that she was seated in front of him with her back to him. He pulled her closer and wrapped her arms around her tightly. Burying his head in her thick hair, he simply enjoyed being close to her.
******
The rest of the evening passed in a similar manner. The sun set completely. The promised couple talked of minor things or just sat and enjoyed being together. When it got too cold outside, they adjourned to their separate rooms.
Kagome fell asleep quickly, exhausted and exhilarated by the day's events. Inuyasha, as always, waited for the sound of his intended's deep, even breathing before allowing himself the same rest.
******
The next morning Kagome rose early and bathed. She took her time and soaked in the spring - there was no danger of Inuyasha walking in like he had before, because they had talked about it the previous night. They decided that since Inuyasha didn't need as much sleep as Kagome, he'd make sure to bathe and dress before she woke, and neither of them would run the risk of being surprised.
She left the bathing chamber to find her school uniform on her futon. It had been cleaned and the wrinkles had been steamed out of it. She dressed in her familiar clothing, sparing a wistful thought or two of the clothing she had been wearing the past few days. Maybe I'll ask Mama or Sango to help me make a yukata, she thought. Inuyasha had seemed to like the way she looked in it, and she had to admit she felt more comfortable in the traditional garments than she would have guessed.
Combing her hair out and leaving it loose, she dressed quickly and joined Inuyasha and Tsuki in the dining room.
******
Inuyasha had risen while it was still dark outside. He bathed, all the while listening for the rise and fall of Kagome's breathing. He soaked for a few minutes after washing, and left when he could tell from the sounds she made that Kagome would be waking soon. He dressed and went to the dining room.
The hanyou wasn't surprised to find that Tsuki was already up, sipping a steaming cup of tea in the dining room. She smiled at him over the rim of her cup and he filled his plate and sat across the table from her. They ate in relative silence until Kagome appeared in the doorway, dressed in her usual outfit.
"Good morning!" she chirped, smiling at the room's two occupants. Inuyasha smiled back at her as she served herself and then sat next to him.
Tsuki broke the companionable quiet. "You will be leaving this morning?"
"Yeah, we should get back," the silver-haired hanyou responded. "I'm sure our friends are wondering where we are," which wasn't necessarily true, "and we have some things to take care of before we get back," which was true and had the added effect of causing Kagome to splutter as she tried to gasp and sip her tea at the same time. She blushed and kept her gaze to the plate in front of her.
The youkai smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. Wait here, I have something for you," she said. Rising from her position at the table, she left the room and returned quickly, carrying a small bundle.
Handing it to Kagome, she said, "This is for you. I noticed that your mate wears clothing made from the fur of a fire-rat. The clothing you were wearing yesterday is also made from the fire-rat fur. My servants have cleaned it. Please, accept this as a mating gift."
Kagome smiled and hugged the youkai tightly. "We'll come back to visit you, I promise."
Tsuki grinned. "You'd better, or I won't be responsible for what happens."
The trio laughed and Inuyasha and Kagome made ready to leave. With a last farewell to Tsuki, he knelt and waited for Kagome to climb onto his back for the journey to his childhood home. As his promised mate waved goodbye to the youkai, he sped off into the forest.
******
Kagome buried her face in the soft silver hair that billowed around her as she and Inuyasha traveled along their way to Inuyasha's childhood home. She hadn't known very much about his past and was looking forward to seeing it. The young miko admitted to herself that she was extremely curious as to why he had never shared this part of himself, and then had to remind herself that he never had been exactly forthcoming about himself.
She tightened her arms around his shoulders, giving him a small squeeze. He flashed a small grin at her over his shoulder before returning his attention to the journey. Trees and meadows, even small villages flashed by at amazing speed. Kagome could swear that he was traveling faster than usual - and considering the hanyou's impressive speed to begin with, this was no small feat. It suddenly occurred to her that he might be eager - at that, she broke off her thoughts as she felt her face flush brightly. She buried her face again in his hair and instead forced herself to think about all the little details she needed to take care of if she was going to have a reception here, and she was positive her mother, or at least jii-chan, would insist that they be married in her own time as well. She groaned mentally at all the paperwork that would undoubtedly require. Not so much for herself - she was now old enough that she didn't require a parent or guardian's permission to marry, but they would have to somehow establish Inuyasha in her era so their marriage would be legal.
Inuyasha noted their surroundings were becoming more familiar, and began to slow slightly as they neared their destination. Gently squeezing Kagome's knees, he slowed further as they reached a dense forest. Kagome roused herself from the confused tangle of her thoughts and looked at their surroundings. She could see the glint of water in the middle of the forest and, as they drew nearer still, she saw that it was a small stream that flowed over a gentle rise, creating a small waterfall that ended in a clear pool. To her delight, she could faintly see steam rising from the pool. She was so distracted by the beauty of the small waterfall that she completely failed to notice the small....well, not so small, really...well, she couldn't even call it a house really, it was actually more of a....
Castle.
******
