InuYasha yawned, stretching out the best he could underneath the slumbering Kagome. Looking around, he could see it was already late in the morning. The golden sun gleamed bright in the cloudless sky, and birds sang.
'Is it just me, or is this the most beautiful day I've ever seen?' InuYasha spoke inwardly as he gazed around him. It was warm, and he was thankful they were lying in the shade. He yawned again, and Kagome began to stir. She looked up at him.
"Good morning InuYasha."
"Good mornin' Kagome."
She smiled. "Wow, it's beautiful out here this morning..."
"It is."
InuYasha hugged her and planted a kiss on her forehead. A slight breeze swished its way through the forest. He smiled and drew her close.
"About last night..." he began.
"It was great!" Kagome hugged him, yawning.
"I'm sorr – what?"
She blinked. "What would you be sorry for? It was fantastic!"
He looked at her, an extremely confused expression on his face. Did she not hurt? Regret? He felt the exact opposite, elated at their connection the night before, but he expected her to be upset.
"That I scared and hurt you..."
Kagome shook her head with a small laugh. "No, InuYasha! I was only scared because your so, big..." InuYasha twitched at this, half smiling. "And you know, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Only a bit of pain, and then it was phenomenal!"
"Really?"
"Would I lie?"
InuYasha studied her. She was just as he had often wished she were. Lying in his naked lap, nude herself under his kimono, her entire body holding that lovely golden glow that he himself had put there with the awesome lovemaking that had occurred the night before. He thought of his bare body pounding away at hers, the vivacious bounce of her full, round breasts. He felt himself beginning to stiffen and blushed.
"We need to get back to Kaede's."
He lifted her onto her feet as he stood, his manhood now completely erect.
"Damn."
"Were...you thinking about last night?" Kagome asked timidly.
"Yes..."
"About...about me?"
"...Yes!"
She smiled as she dropped his kimono off of her shoulders and kissed him, his stiff member brushing lightly against her stomach.
InuYasha kissed her back hungrily, nipping lightly at her tongue and lips. Kagome's hand quickly found him, and he shuddered under her firm grasp. He broke the kiss long enough to get a breath.
"We don't have time..." He said quickly before their lips sought each other again.
She obviously didn't care, for she didn't abandon her attentions to him.
"Sango and Miroku were searching for us last night..."
He kissed her again.
"The old woman and him are probably worried half to death..."
She stopped and gazed up at him, disappointment in her eyes.
"Oh, you don't think I'm going to be back for more from you tonight?"
Kagome grinned mischievously.
"No matter what? You promise?"
InuYasha's face held the same look.
"If we had time I'd take you again right now. But we slept too damn late...we should have done it more than once last night."
"Oh, baby it was exhausting though..."
"But was it good? You're satisfied?"
She smiled, licking her lips. "Yes, but tonight I demand a repeat performance."
He nuzzled the bend of her neck. "You'll get that and much, much more. But we need to go back like, now. Damn it... I don't want to...how about we just tell them we're alive, get something to eat and come back?"
"Let's do that..." She murmured.
"'Kay...we need to go now..."
He wrapped her in his kimono again and tied it, then stepped back to survey her.
"Damn your beautiful...Gods, seeing you in that..."
The sleeves of his kimono draped long over her arms, the top of it revealing just a bit of cleavage. He smiled, noticing the tail of the crimson fabric hanging about three-fourths down the way of her thighs. Her beautiful, slim, pale legs.
"Inu...Yasha?"
He snapped back to reality, cursing himself at the realization that he had been ogling her. He gave an embarrassed smile and turned to retrieve the bottom half of his haori. Clumsily he pulled them on and tied the bow, and put his arm around her.
"Hold on, okay?"
She felt him gather his body and prepare to jump. With a sudden start she realized they were on one of the topmost branches of the Sacred Tree, but her fears vanished at the feel of InuYasha's strong arms around her. He landed easily and smiled at her.
"Do you want to walk or ride?"
"We need to get there quickly so we can get back quickly, so," She climbed onto his bare back and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'll ride if you don't mind."
InuYasha nodded softly, taking hold of her legs. "Not at all. You good to go?"
"Yes."
He bounded off at her answer, and for the first time he blissfully leapt from tree to the earth, Kagome clinging tight to him as he swiftly navigated the path back to the cottage.
"InuYasha, can we walk from here?" Kagome spoke as InuYasha landed on the dirt road leading to Kaede's village.
"I don't want to get back that quick...because I want to spend some time with you before we have to go back to the whole air thing around Sango, Kaede and Miroku..."
"What air thing?" He let her down and they began to walk
"Arguing, stubborn, you know, the whole I'm-not-here-cause-I-want-to-be-with-you thing..."
His brows furrowed. "I don't feel like that with you...do you feel like that?"
"Well, yeah, sort of... I mean you protect me and do these little things when no one's looking...but in front of everyone you're all tough and act like you don't feel anything..."
He stared at his feet for a moment. "Well, I do...for you. No more 'airs' or whatever anymore."
Kagome smiled. "You really mean that?"
InuYasha gave a determined scowl. "Yes I mean it. Why wouldn't I? I..." His face softened, his amber eyes dancing with a trueness and gentleness that Kagome knew was completely sincere. "I love you Kagome. From now on I'm gonna show it."
She stopped in her tracks and a tear rolled down her face. The hanyou stopped and turned to her as she cried out. "I love you InuYasha!" She rushed to him and hugged him fiercely. He stifled a small chuckle, thinking to himself.
'She's so fragile...I have to protect her always...Keep her near and safe and content...'
She met his eyes, and he leaned down to kiss her. They hadn't noticed they were standing only a few feet away from Kaede's home.
Sango flung open the door just as their lips met.
"InuYasha where is your kimono? Where is Kagome!?"
She couldn't see the girl's small frame due to InuYasha's bent figure.
"We found her shirt but it was covered in blood and oh gods... tell me she is with you!"
He looked back at her and Kagome peered over his shoulder. Kagome blushed as the slayer's mouth fell open.
"Umm, hi Sango..."
Kaede stepped out behind her, and her eyebrows rose at the sight before them. The furiously blushing Kagome, and InuYasha, who nonchalantly licked his lips before yawning and scratching his head. She nodded slowly.
"I thought they might."
She turned on them a smile of approval. "I see ye have found one another. Congratulations."
Miroku stepped out, followed closely by Shippo.
"Oh my." The monk blinked.
The young kitsune just stared, obviously shocked. He hopped onto Kagome's shoulder, and sniffed her hair.
"Why is InuYasha's scent all over you?"
He suddenly scrambled forward as InuYasha landed a blow on the back of his head. He fell forward and grabbed onto the kimono on the way down.
"WAAA!" He pulled it down halfway over her breasts, and in the sunlight the bite marks were clearly visible.
"Kagome?" Sango took a step forward. She glared at InuYasha. "Are you alright?"
Kagome was speechless, and after a moment she gave a weak nod.
Miroku broke the silence. "Whose ready for some food? Kaede, would you do us the honor of a departing meal?"
The old woman nodded, concern evident on her face. Slowly, she re-entered the cottage.
The monk spoke again. "Shippo? Would you help Kaede?"
Shippo also nodded, and reluctantly walked in and shut the door behind him.
A dark cloud seemed to surround Sango. "So this is your sick fetish, right? You're too stupid to do anything else so you simply maul her..." She looked fit to kill.
Miroku put a hand on her shoulder. "Lets not jump to conclusions here. Like I said, I doubt InuYasha would feast upon Kagome."
The hanyou was obviously growing annoyed. "DO I NOT HAVE ANY SAY IN THIS!? HAVE I NO RIGHT TO – WELL YA KNOW WHAT I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN MYSELF! IT'S NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS WHAT HAPPENED!"
Miroku sighed. "Calm down, InuYasha. No one is blaming you for anything."
Sango rolled her eyes. "So we have to wait until he kills Kagome to attack him?"
A vein throbbed in InuYasha's forehead. "SHUT THE HELL UP! I WOULD NEVER, YOU HEAR ME, NEVER, HURT KAGOME!" He was shaking, and none of the gang had ever heard that much emotion in his voice. Kagome took hold of his arm and laid her head on his chest.
"Its alright, InuYasha, everything is fine..."
He held her tight to him, and met her fear-filled brown eyes. The misery Kagome found in his eyes made her want to cry.
"Why do they think I would want to hurt you?" His voice was tiny. "I love you..."
"I love you too InuYasha." She hugged him.
Miroku gave a short hum of agreement. "Well, its nice to know you two have finally decided to act on your little game. I saw all the signs, the squeezes, the glances, the way Kagome treated your wounds, and how you followed her to bathe..." He stopped short, realizing what he had just said. Sango shook her head and the bewildered couple just stared, goggle-eyed, at the monk.
"Why you..." InuYasha made to strike him, but just in time Kagome cried out.
"Sit boy!"
InuYasha yelped as he crashed to the ground.
"GO." She looked at Miroku. "I suggest you lock the door."
"Thank you, my dear, kind lady!" He nodded to her over clasped hands, and, grabbing Sango by the arm, rushed inside. They made it just before InuYasha leapt to his feet.
"Bitch! What did you do that for!?"
Kagome's bottom lip puckered out as her eyes welled up with tears.
"Aww, don't cry! I didn't mean it!! It just hurt like hell!"
She sniffled and his heart began to break.
"NO CRYING! DON'T CRY!"
His lip poked out as well.
"Kagome, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but it really – rea"
"SIT!"
Again he ate dirt and Kagome huffed.
"You really need to learn some manners, InuYasha."
I K
N & A
U G
"The stew is ready!" Shippo bounded out the open door of the cottage. He looked around at InuYasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku and smiled. "I've already tried some... its delicious!"
InuYasha rose and rushed inside. The gang heard a yelp and the dog demon walked back out, pouting and holding his hand.
"What happened?" Kagome looked after him with trepidation. But the hanyou was already busy pounding his other fist into the head of Shippo. "InuYasha stop!!" She stood and ran to try and pull him away from the whimpering kitsune.
"You didn't tell me it was hot you little..."
Kagome fell backwards, crying out.
"Kagome?"
She didn't reply.
"Kagome?"
He rose and went to her, and her clammy skin and silence prompted him to yell.
"Kaede! Kaede!"
The old woman's head poked out of the door, and her expression went grave as she charged from the doorway.
"Oh my, I hoped this wouldn't happen."
She kneeled beside the girl's limp body, and to her surprise she saw InuYasha was near tears.
"Carry her inside. She is not dead, InuYasha. Yet."
He nodded and scooped her into his arms, and carried her indoors. He laid her by the fire and fell to his knees beside her. Kaede kneeled as well.
"Is this my fault?" InuYasha whispered.
"What happened last night, InuYasha?"
"Is she going to die because of me?"
"What happened last night?" Her voice held a sense of urgency, and as he met her firm gaze he saw that it did as well.
"We made love."
Kaede tugged the kimono down from Kagome's shoulders, and closely inspected the neat punctures made by InuYasha's fangs.
"How did this happen?"
"I...I did it. I don't know what came over me."
The old priestess nodded, and began to scrub the wound.
"Tell me, did ye drink her blood?"
InuYasha fell silent, his head hung with shame.
"Tell Sango to fetch a pail of water from the village well. She knows where it is. Tell Shippo and the monk to find something worthwhile to do, and come back here, for I have a few things to inquire of ye."
The hanyou rose, and fled out the door of the cottage. After running his errand, he returned. After a few moments of silence, Kaede again spoke to him.
"Ye said that ye drank from the child? Was this before, or did it occur after the loss of her innocence?"
InuYasha blushed and stammered. "B-before..."
Kaede sighed. "She was still pure. And tell me, InuYasha, did thy own blood mix with the girls'?
He thought back over everything that had happened. Then his mind landed on the stick gouging into his shoulder, and Kagome slipping from the branch, and her wound reopening... and his blood, the blood of a demon, dripping directly into it.
"Yes."
Sango stepped in, and Kaede took the pail of water and emptied it into a pot, which she in turn sat over the fire to boil.
"Kagome could die, InuYasha." The slayer looked at him sternly.
"If I'd have known, I never would have let it happen."
She nodded. "It's going to take a lot to save her."
InuYasha gently smacked himself on the chest, and Kaede looked at him strangely.
"Are thee alright, InuYasha?"
"I'm worried about Kagome." He placed the flattened figure of a particularly irritating flea in the palm of his hand. After a moment, it regained its standing and bowed.
"Lord InuYasha."
"Myoga."
The tiny creature nodded. "Kirara has informed me that our Lady Kagome has fallen ill?"
"Yes." Kaede looked at him. "Her human blood has been tainted with the blood of the hanyou ye rest upon."
Myoga winced. "How did this come about?"
"He feasted of her..." She pointed to the holes on her breast. "And then was injured and his blood leaked into her wound."
The flea shook his head. "Well, it isn't a pleasant situation. But there is a way to rescue her from the grips of death. The beginning of a new lunar month is in four days. There is a ceremony that must be preformed, but I must find out what it is before I may tell you. Kaede, do you think she can hold on for that long?"
The old woman thought for a moment. "With a lot of care, she may have the chance of it."
Myoga was silent for a moment. "I heard there was a priestess in the village of Tonkijii who specializes in herbs to preserve life until the patient is well enough to live on their own, and then they simply disappear..."
InuYasha lifted Myoga to his eye level. "Where is it?"
"Approximately fifteen miles from here."
"What direction?"
"North West. Look for purple banners."
"Right."
InuYasha sat the flea on the wooden floor, gently laid a kiss on Kagome's unfeeling lips, and rushed from the hut.