A/N: Here is a warning, if LEMONS were allowed this chapter would have one. Since they are not, I toned it way down. There are no descriptions, but there are illusions to the fact that something lemony happened. Consider yourself warned...
He held her close as the jumped into the well and he took her straight inside, ordering her to warm herself by the fire. Sango, Miroku and Shippou were overjoyed to see her. He sat down beside her and made sure that he stayed warm.
It took a couple of days and some quiet pleading to get him to take her to see Kaede, but at last he gave in. Kaede was also happy to see her. "It is good to see ye well." Kaede told her.
"It is good to be well." Kagome laughed. Inuyasha looked at her fondly.
Kaede eyed then suspiciously. "Something is different about both of ye." she said. "Surely ye did not take her as your mate while she was ill, Inuyasha."
"What." he yelled. "Of course not you crazy old woman. Why would you even say that?"
"Forgive me Inuyasha." she said. "I know ye wouldn't take advantage of her, but something did happen, did it not?" he nodded and the both blushed.
"How are the villagers?" Kagome asked changing the subject, much to Inuyasha's relief.
"Sadly a few have died, but most have recovered. I was just on my way to attend to the few who are still ill." Kaede told her.
"I'll go with you." Kagome offered.
"The hell you will." Inuyasha said.
"Don't make me say 'it' Inuyasha." Kagome threatened.
"Kagome, Inuyasha is right. Ye have too recently been ill. I will handle it." Kaede told her.
Kagome was shocked. "I guess you're right." she admitted. "But don't get used to it InuYasha."
He didn't care. All he cared about was that Kagome wasn't going anywhere near those sick people, or out into the cold. Kaede left them alone in her hut. "Wipe that look off your face." Kagome said. "I can still say 'it'."
"You said you wouldn't do that anymore." he reminded her.
Kagome sighed in defeat. "Fine, but just for that I'm not going to rub your ears next time we're alone." she said.
"That's not fair." he replied.
She shrugged. "Let's go back since you won't let me be of any use." she told him.
When they got back she and Sango set to making lunch. Inuyasha went out to gather more wood. "I know you're there." he said without stopping his work.
Sesshomaru stepped out before him. "I came to ask you about your miko." he said.
"What about her?" Inuyasha asked.
"Have you made her you're a mate?" Sesshomaru questioned.
He shook his head. "She feel ill." Inuyasha told him.
Sesshomaru actually looked concerned. "Is she well now?"
"Yeah, she's fine now." Inuyasha replied. "But we are never alone, so I can't do anything else yet."
"You will come to my home. It is much nicer than anyplace around here." Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha looked at him, considering his offer. "I have to ask Kagome." Inuyasha said at last.
"Go then. I will wait." he replied.
Inuyasha went back to the house and set the wood down. Kagome was talking to Sango. He motioned for her to come outside. "I have to ask you something." he told her. She waited. "Will you come with me to see Sesshomaru? He wants us to come to his house."
Kagome was shocked, but she could tell that he wanted her to say yes. "All right let me tell Sango and get a few things."
Kagome came out carrying a small bag. Inuyasha took her to where he had left his brother. Ah-un was standing beside him. "Ah-un will get you there faster, so she does not have to stay out in the cold." Sesshomaru said.
Kagome had the distinct feeling that she had missed something important. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were acting almost friendly. When Inuyasha thanked his brother, she could hold her tongue no longer.
"What is going on?" she asked once they were in the air.
"I told you I went and had a talk with Sesshomaru while you were injured. We worked some things out. He knows you were sick and his house will be a lot better for you that Sango and Miroku's." Inuyasha told her
Kagome still had the feeling that he wasn't telling her something, but she decided to let it go for now. She was happy that they were getting along. As they approached Sesshomaru's house she gasped. It was more a castle than a house.
They went inside. Sesshomaru was already there. He saw Kagome's shocked expression. "A demon killed the master of this house and I killed him. Rin needed a suitable place to live. Jaken."
"Yes My lord." Jaken said coming into the room.
"Show my brother and his Miko to the unoccupied rooms." Sesshomaru said.
"Yes my lord." Jaken replied.
Once they entered one of the rooms Jaken lit a fire with his staff and left them. There was actually a bed. Kagome smiled. It had been a good idea to come.
Inuyasha saw her smile. "Are you glad we came?" he asked. She nodded. "I guess I should choose a room of my own."
She looked a little disappointed.. He had told her he loved her, but he hadn't even kissed her yet. She was dying to be close to him. "I can see that things are better between you and Sesshomaru, but I would feel safer if you stayed with me. At least for tonight."
"If that's what you want." He said trying not to let it show how happy he was that she wanted him to stay.
She moved to stand closer to the fire. Inuyasha came to stand beside her and he took her hand. A little while later Jaken came and informed them that master Sesshomaru would like them to join him for dinner. Rin was seated at the table. She smiled and waved at Kagome.
After they ate Kagome talked to Rin for a while and then they retired to their room. By now the fire had heated the room and it was warm and comfortable. Kagome climbed under the covers. It felt wonderful. Inuyasha sat on the floor at the foot of her bed.
"Baka, what are you doing?" She asked. Inuyasha looked at her. "This bed is big enough for both of us. I won't bite."
Inuyasha got up and laid beside her. "I'm only doing this to make sure you stay warm and don't go and get sick again." Inuyasha lied.
She moved close to him "Mmm," She said. "You're so warm."
He put his arms around her. She fell asleep almost immediately. It wasn't long before Inuyasha followed.
They found there wasn't much to do during the day besides going to talk to Rin and taking walks. Sesshomaru was often gone and Inuyasha wondered how the little girl got used to being alone so often. He knew that he had never gotten used to it.
The were out at sunset taking a walk. Inuyasha had forgotten to keep track of the days when Kagome was ill and as the sun disappeared he found himself suddenly cold.. It was the new moon and he was human. They hurried back inside. Inuyasha still hated for people to see his human form, so he refused to leave their room. Kagome came back with some food after eating, before going to see Rin.
"Hello." Rin said when Kagome entered her room. "I'm glad that you and Inuyasha came to stay with us. I get lonely sometimes, but I know my lord has important business."
Kagome began to wonder just how much Rin knew about what goes on here. "So Rin, do you know why we were invited here?" she asked.
"Of course. It is so my lord's brother can make you his. Lord Sesshomaru was most disappointed to learn that he hadn't done it yet. He says you are good for Inuyasha." Rin told her. "Inuyasha came here before and he and my lord had a long talk about you."
"Really. Why did we have to come here for that?" she asked.
"So you could be alone together. Lord Sesshomaru says that Inuyasha is really baka when it comes to you and that if there was even a chance that someone would hear him that he would never ask you." Rin replied. "He also said that Inuyasha loves you like their father loved his mother, enough to die for you. Lord Sesshomaru would never say it, but I know that's how he feels about me too."
Kagome marveled at the girl who was a lot more perceptive than she seemed. "Thank you Rin. I am going to see InuYasha now."
"Goodnight." the girl replied, with a giggle.
Kagome entered their room. Inuyasha was sitting on the floor in front of the fire. He looked up when she came in. "I just had an interesting talk with Rin." Kagome said. "She told me why we are here."
He stood up and walked over to her. "What did she say?" he asked.
"That we came here so you could ask me something." Kagome replied. "And that when you came here before you talked to your brother about me." Inuyasha blushed. "Are you going to ask me?"
"Not tonight." he said. He had a feeling Rin had told her a lot more than she had admitted to, but she also looked to have liked what she heard.
"Let's go to bed." Kagome said at last.
With the dawn Inuyasha returned to his hanyou form. He stirred. Kagome was rubbing his ears. He opened his eyes. She was smiling at him. He closed them again. He knew what she wanted to hear and he gave himself over to it. Soon he was issuing a low growl.
She stopped rubbing and slid on hand around him under his haori. Her soft skin sent a shiver down his spine. She rubbed his chest. He wanted to give in to it all and she was making it hard to control his instincts. He jumped out of the bed.
Kagome gave an exasperated sigh and got up. All day she tried to get close to him. She would rub his ears or move close to him. His restraint was wearing thin. The were walking outside and it started to snow. Kagome looked up at the falling flakes and then back at Inuyasha.
Her cheeks were red and she had snow flakes in her eyelashes. She looked so happy, so radiant.
She was only a foot away from him. He closed that distance and circled his arms around her. She stopped smiling and looked into his eyes. This time he let desire take him and he kissed her.
He couldn't describe what he was feeling. Her face was cold, but her lips were warm. It felt as if he was being warmed from the inside out.
Kagome hadn't actually believed that he was going to kiss her, but then he did. His kiss was warm and tender. It had a gentle quality that she hadn't expected from him. He was usually so fierce and rough. Her head was spinning. She thought she might fall if he hadn't been holding her up.
Finally he pulled away. "Kiss me again." she said breathlessly. He smiled and then he did. He picked her up and carried her back inside.
He set her on the edge of the bed. She watched him. She had never seem him look so nervous.
He looked at her. "Kagome what I am going to ask of you is very serious. If you agree it can't be undone. As long as I live there will be no one else for me."
"There never has been anyone else for me." she replied quietly.
The remark stung him a little. He knew she was referring to Kikyou. "Kagome, I want to be with you" he told her.
"I want to be with you too." she replied.
He smiled and sat beside her. He kissed her once more. "There are some things you need to know." he told her. Inuyasha explained to her everything that his brother had told him about the proper mating ritual. She paled a little at his description, but didn't change her mind. "We can wait a little while before I do it." he told her.
"Do you want to wait?" she asked, before giving him a long kiss.
"I don't know." he replied. "I don't, but maybe we should."
She nodded. "Does this mean you won't kiss me anymore?" she asked.
"Don't be such a baka." he replied. He pressed his lips to hers. He realized soon that resisting her now that he knew she wanted to be with him was going to be harder than he thought.
She slid her hand inside his clothes. He reeled with the feeling of her soft hands on his skin. Everything inside him called out to him. Take her, mark her, but he pushed the urge away. It was enough to know that she would soon be his, for now.
"K'gome." he breathed. He wasn't sure what he should do. He longed to feel her, to touch her. Tentatively he slid one hand under her shirt, stopping when he felt the fabric of her bra. She whined softly. He moved his hand further and gently cupped her breast. She pressed herself against him.
He was so warm. She could feel his heart racing in his chest. She wanted nothing more then to be in his embrace. She knew it would be easy to let him consume her, to take of her anything he desired.
Inuyasha broke their kiss and removed his hand from under her shirt. He circled it around her and held her to him. "Why did you stop?" she asked.
He couldn't tell her the truth, that he could get lost in her, losing himself completely. How terrified he was of hurting her and the feelings within him. He didn't doubt that if he lost her now, his life would become empty, beyond meaningless, but after he marked her losing her would surely kill him. The way she looked at him, with complete trust, nearly crumbled his resolve.
She looked into his eyes and found her answer. She was comforted by the hint of fear his gaze held. This was just as new to him as it was to her. She saw his desire and understood. It was too much. If they continued he wouldn't be able to stop.
She stood up taking his hand. "Walk with me?" she asked. He nodded and fell into step beside her.
The cool air washed away some of his need and for that he was grateful. He wasn't sure how long he would be able to resist her. Kagome glanced at him as they walked. He seemed to be lost in thought.
A few days passed. Kagome couldn't believe all that was happening. She wondered how long it would be before he would let himself be with her. She wished he would talk to, tell her why he was hesitant to formalize the bond they already shared, but she knew that it wasn't his way. She loved him for that as much as she loved him for all the other things that made him who he was. She knew that her acceptance was one of the reasons he had come to trust her and that it had made possible what was happening between them now. She sighed as she sat on the bed they shared, most nights.
Inuyasha heard her soft sigh from where he was standing across the room. She was troubled. He had a feeling that he was the cause. He went to sit beside her. "Is something wrong?" he asked
"I suppose not." she replied vaguely.
"Kagome, tell me." he said gently.
"I want to be with you." she replied.
"You are with me." he told her.
She shook her head. "You're here, but not really though. You're holding something back. It sometimes makes me feel like you changed your mind, but don't want to hurt me by telling me." she said. He smelled her tears. She wiped them away.
"You don't really think that do you?" he asked.
"Not really, but sometimes..." she started. She looked at him and saw the pain her remark had made in his eyes. He tried to mask it, but she knew it was there. "I love you just as you are, but sometimes I wish you could talk to me about what you are feeling."
"I try..." he started.
"It's okay." she interrupted. "I know it isn't your way. I don't want you to change. I'm just being silly. I'm sorry."
"Kagome, I'm afraid." he whispered. He was worried what this admission would cost him, but he did it for her.
She hadn't been expecting that. He was always so fearless, so brave, to the point of recklessness. "Why, why are you afraid? Are you unsure about us, about me? I want to be with you." she told him.
"I could hurt you." he said.
She took his face in her hands. "You would never hurt me.' she replied.
She took off her shirt and then pushed off his haori and undershirt. He leaned over her and kissed her. He started nuzzling her, where her shoulder met her neck. He breathed in her scent. The spot called to him.
"Kagome I..." he started.
"Do you want this?" she asked. He nodded. "Then don't talk and don't think."
"Are you sure you're ready?" he asked. She nodded.
Kagome cried out as he sank his fangs into her. He closed his eyes and steeled himself against her pain. He was relieved when she passed out. He made a small cut on his wrist with his claw and let a few drop of his blood fall between the marks his fangs had left. As her blood mixed with his own, he used his claw to gently cut the mark of his family line into her skin.
At last the worst was over. He gently licked her wound and kissed her softly to bring her awake. He eyes fluttered and then opened. "You're mine now." he said softly. "Can you do the rest?"
She nodded. He reopened the cut on his wrist. Kagome closed her eyes and tried to pretend she doing something else. She was surprised when she tasted his blood on her lips. It wasn't the metallic taste she had been expecting. It was pleasant in an odd way.
Inuyasha pulled his arm away and kissed her. She felt different somehow, energized. He finished removing their clothes and looked at her. She started to cover herself, but be grabbed her hands. "Don't." he whispered. "You're beautiful."
As he looked at her flawless pale skin in sharp contrast to the dark bedding beneath his heart raced. She was perfect and she was his. He knew he would never understand how he had gotten so lucky. All his years of loneliness were made up for in that instant. She had always been the one.
Kagome tried not to be embarrassed, but it was hard. Until today she had never even kissed a guy and now she was laying here with the man who was to be her partner for the rest of her life about to consummate their love for each other.
Time ceased to exist for them both. The only things they could see were each other, every thing else faded into the background. There was no sound other than the gentle whispers of their love. At last they finished with a long kiss as Inuyasha moved to lay beside her. He held her tightly in his arms. "Are you happy?" he asked.
"Very." she replied.
They laid together neither feeling the need to say anything else. Both wanted to reflect on what had come to pass between them.
While they had been together Inuyasha had looked into her eyes. He felt something changing inside him. There was a connection he couldn't explain forming between as they shared themselves with each other. It was if he had found part of himself that had been missing for all these years.
Kagome had looked up to stare into the depths of Inuyasha's amber eyes. What she saw made her gasp. Their auras, the violent red of his and her own golden on were merging combining into a single aura shared by two souls. They were truly becoming one in body and spirit. She wished he could see it, and had said as much, but had already known.
She realized that she could too. She finally realized the depth of what she had committed to. Inuyasha had known all along. Her heart soared at the understanding of his willingness to give of himself so completely, to her. InuYasha's voice snapped her out of her thoughts
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked.
"Now that you mention it, I'm starved." she said. On cue her stomach growled. "How long have we been in here?"
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"No." she told him.
He got out or the bed and pulled on his hakama and undershirt. He handed her his haori to wear so she wouldn't be cold walking across the room to her bag. He watched her get dressed and imagined what they could do together when they were finished eating.
They left their room and headed for the dining room. They figured that the kitchen would be nearby. The were surprised to see Sesshomaru sitting at the table waiting for them. He had Jaken bring them some food.
"So, Rin tells me that it has been three days since you left your room." Sesshomaru mentioned casually.
Kagome chocked on the food she had in her mouth. She looked at Inuyasha who had a strange sort of smile on his face. "Surely not?" she questioned.
"Did Inuyasha not tell you that, shall we say stamina, is a matter of pride among Inu Youkai? It is one of the reasons non Youkai mates never desire to leave their Inu youkai partners." Sesshomaru told her. "Could you see yourself ever being satisfied by another?"
Kagome blushed. She was more than embarrassed to be asked such a question, especially by Inuyasha's brother. "No." she said softly.
"Now there is another matter that must be attended to." Sesshomaru announced. "As head of our family I must grant my approval."
Inuyasha looked at his brother. Baka, he thought, you forgot to tell her about that part. "I forgot to tell her." he said.
"Then do so now." he replied.
Inuyasha moved close to her and took her hand. "The first night after our bonding is complete, is the only night that it may be broken. The head of the family has the right to take the new mate to his chambers and make sure she is suitable. If not, he can kill her. I'm sorry I forgot."
"You mean he can..." she couldn't finish. She started to cry. "But I don't..You're the only one I want..."
"Do you trust me?" he asked.
She nodded and dried her tears. "I trust you." she said and looked directly at Sesshomaru. "Now?" she asked.
"As the only surviving member of our clan and thus, made by my fathers blood, master, I can also grant my approval with out. Your trust has more than proven your worth." Sesshomaru told her.
"Kagome, could you leave us?" Inuyasha asked.
"I'll go see Rin." She replied. Kagome let her hand brush his shoulder as she exited the room.
"Thank you." Inuyasha said.
"Don't thank me. One day when I chose my mate, you will have to give your approval." Sesshomaru replied.
"But I wouldn't." Inuyasha started.
"I know. That is why I didn't." Sesshomaru interrupted.
"I have to ask you for something." Inuyasha said.
"What?" he asked.
"I want to know if Kagome and I can remain here until the thaw. I don't have a home for us and I can't build one until then." Inuyasha said.
"You may stay as long as you wish. Rin could use some female company. She will need someone to talk to when she reaches the age of a woman. Make sure she knows that it will be her responsibility as mate to my brother." Sesshomaru told him.
Inuyasha nodded. "Thank you." he said and left the room. He could hear Kagome and Rin talking before he reached them. He stepped inside.
A/N: Once again thanks to those who reviewed. I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I think Sesshomaru is the most out of character in my story, but if he has changed enough to be nice to InuYasha, then he is already acting different, so try to go with me on this... Like I said I try to stay as true to the characters as I can...
I'm sorry I forgot to get the names again. I think lyn - daydreamer62386 - owari (can't remember the rest, sorry)- left me new reviews though, so thanks. I will try to update everyday and if anyone is curious as of now there will be around 15 chapters, but I am adding to the story everyday, so it could very well be more, much more, depending on how far I take it...