Part Fourteen : Almost Like Happily Ever After
Kagome laughed to herself as she ran ahead of the others in her group, with Shippou clinging onto her shoulder. It had been three weeks since she and Inuyasha had confessed their love for one another, to each other. Ever since, it seemed as though Inuyasha just could not let her out of his sight, even following and watching her while she was at school. The only times he did not keep his eyes on her was when she reallyinsisted upon it. Of course, that never really was too often, and on more than one occasion he attempted a sneak-peak. That earned him the ever trustworthy "sit" command. Kagome found him to have become, since she became his mate, more aggressive towards men near her, and even towards her.
"C'mon, Inuyasha!" Kagome called back with a laugh. "Don't be so slow! I have to go to school tomorrow?"
Inuyasha grinned slyly, but kept his pace the same as Kirara's. Kagome turned back to them and wave, urging him to move faster. He took her taunting in pace, slowing down instead of speeding up to annoy her. It worked, considering that she was just trying to have some excitement before returning to her own, dull time.
Sango and Miroku were riding on the neko youkai's back, watching the two. It seemed as though, so long as Inuyasha was around, Kagome was playful as a young child, and there was always a smile upon her face.
'It's almost like happily ever after, but with all of what's going on, and the fact that now I'm his mate, until the day I die...' she thought, knowing that the smile had left her face. 'Kikyo was willing to kill me before so that she could have Inuyasha. So now, being his mate, what will she do-'
The was a gentle twang moments before a dark mist descended upon her. She could still, clearly, see the horrified expressions of her friends, and the sound of Shippou repeatedly screaming her name before everything became silent. Through her blurring vision she saw Inuyasha mouth the word "Kikyo", then, just as her hearing failed her, her strength and sight gave way.
And then, there was nothing but an eternal abyss with no escape.
Kagome awoke with a start, pulling away from the warm body that had been holding her while she slept. With wide, fearful eyes she felt about her chest, searching for the arow that had just torn through her.
"A dream, a dream..." she chanted, hugging herself as she shook.
"Kag... ome?" Inuyasha yawned.
She could feel his eyes on her back, studying her. She cursed her bed, knowing that he could feel her shaking and his super-sensitive ears could easily hear her quiet sobs.
She sniffled, "Yeah, Inuyasha?"
"What's wrong?" He reached out to touch her back and pull her right back into his arms. "School?"
She smiled, leaning back against him, thanking kami that he could be so dense. She could feel him lower his head and brush his fangs tenderly against the back of her shoulder and the nape of her neck.
Inuyasha let out a heavy breath. Kagome's scent could be so intoxicating, his instincts almost took over him sometimes. If they became mates, then it would be for the rest of her life, and he would be there with her, aging as she did. His wish would purify the jewel and he would spend the rest of his life with her here, in her own era.
As a human.
"Kagome, may I?"
There was no way that he was going to allow Kouga any chance of being with Kagome, not now. Not after they had said those words to one another. If he followed his instincts to mark Kagome his mate, then that last insecurity would be gone, and she would never have reason to doubt him. But her permission was needed; he would not do it against her will.
As if she understood what "may I" meant, she pulled her hair out of the way and tilted her head to the side, in the opposite direction he was caressing.
"Forever, Inuyasha."
"Hai, Kagome." He smiled and tenderly kissed the selected spot between her neck and shoulder. "Forever and always, I will stay by your side for an eternity."