Lemon chapter. Full version is at mediaminer under name Akihana. For those that asked, Aki is autumn, hana is flower, so autumn flower. I added the h at the end because Akihana was taken. Much love, thanks for all the wonderful reviews. My email inbox was so full! You made me feel loved.-Akihanah

Disclaimer: I wonder how much Inuyasha would sell for if he went up on eBay?

Chapter Nine

Inuyasha and Miroku quickly caught up to the girls, who were already starting dinner. They had stopped in a broad clearing, several minutes off the road, so they weren't visible to passerby.

Both guys sat down to watch Sango and Kagome work, and soon dinner was served. Afterwards, Inuyasha pulled Kagome into his lap and snuggled her. Miroku watched, openly smirking, and Sango carefully looked away, hiding her grin.

Shippo was already asleep by the time they were all done talking, and everyone else was looking distinctly tired. Sango and Miroku both retired, on opposite sides of the fire, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha as the only ones awake.

Kagome felt peaceful. She gazed into the fire, reveling in the feeling of the fire warming her flesh, as well as the press of Inuyasha's body against hers.

I haven't felt like this in a long time. I feel, happy. Really, deeply, happy.

She turned back, to gaze at Inuyasha's fire-lit face and hair. He also was gazing into space, seemingly deep in thought. She smiled.

He seems happy too. Not so hurt as when I first met him. I guess, I have healed some of his wounds. In some ways, he's helped me grow up too, helped me experience things I never would have otherwise.

She giggled, and blushed.

I'm probably going to give my virginity to him too.

Does he really want that?

He said he didn't want you to stop in the cave, then last night in the forest he was doing that, if it weren't for the youkai we probably would have done it… I think he has wanted that for a while.

He did say the mark could act as protection for a mate. I am under his protection, and my heart went to him so long ago. I love him so much, and he loves me. Then, would I become his mate if we were to get together? We said all that last night, but does that mean we'll be together forever? So many questions…

"What are you thinking?" Inuyasha's voice cut through her speculation.

She looked up at him, and smiled. "Us."

He raised an eyebrow, and responded. "What about us?"

"Well, you said that the mark was commonly for mates, right?"

Inuyasha grunted, but said nothing more.

Kagome frowned.

"Well, what are you thinking about?"

He turned to her, and gave a wide grin.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"I think it'd be better if I showed you."

"All right."

In an instant his lips were on hers, his hands tangled in her hair. He brushed his tongue against her lower lip, asking for entrance, which she gladly gave. Their tongues battled for dominance, and her hands ran up to his ears.

Inuyasha broke the kiss first, and ran a finger over the shell of her ear, grinning. She giggled, and shivered.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" he asked softly.

Kagome sensed the hidden question. "What would it mean?" she asked, mouth suddenly dry.

He frowned, and looked away. "Only what you want it to mean Kagome."

She smiled. "I think I'd like that."

He gave her a big smile, and scooped her up, before taking off through the trees. He ran for several minutes, covering more ground than she thought was possible in so short a time. They soon arrived at a small, secluded hot spring, deep in the forest. He let her down gently, before plopping on the ground himself.

She simply turned around in a circle, taking in the beauty of the place. She was awed.

This is gorgeous.

"Inuyasha, this place is so beautiful."

He looked around, similarly awed. "Yea, it's really special." His gaze returned to her, and she knew he was very close to simply jumping on her.

She grinned, and decided to tease him a little. "Inuyasha," she said sweetly, "I kinda want to take a bath."

He gave a curious look. "You took one at lunch with Sango."

She blushed, but continued despite her embarrassment. "Well, if you want to join me…"

His eyes widened, and then glazed over slightly. He slinked over to her, and took her cheek in his hand. "How about later?" He growled contentedly. She shivered in anticipation.

His lips captured hers, and she was immediately devoured by him. She felt his lips leave hers to peruse her face, her cheeks, nose, forehead. She fisted his haori, and just trembled under his touch. She eventually woke up enough to kiss him back, going down his neck, leaving nibbling kisses. He moaned, and ran arms behind her, pulling her flush against him.

Kagome slid her hands underneath his haori, and pushed both his shirts off his shoulders. He let go of her long enough to slide his shirts off, before reclaiming her back in a passionate embrace. He then separated to pull her shirt over her head, and laid her gently on the ground.

"You know, you shine in comparison to this place." Inuyasha whispered into her ear. She smiled. "I'm only rivaled by you, my Inuyasha." She whispered back.

000000000000000000000000000000000

Kagome sighed happily, and snuggled into his shoulder. "That was nice.' She mumbled into his sweaty skin.

Inuyasha grinned. "Really? There was so much I could've done. I didn't use my tongue very much, really."

Kagome moaned.

"And there's all these different positions. There's with me on your back, or you on my waist, then there's different standing positions."

Kagome groaned, and tried to roll off of him, only to find that he was still inside of her. The sudden rubbing made her gasp, and he chuckled gently.

"Want to clean up?" he asked. "You aren't hurt, are you?" Kagome met his concerned gaze, and smiled gently.

"You were wonderful, Inuyasha. I'm probably going to be sore, but that's normal. Clean would be nice though." She noted, taking in her sweaty skin.

"Well, there's a hot spring right here." Inuyasha pulled out of her, before lifting her up and bringing them both into the water. They both sighed at the contact of the hot water against sore flesh.

It wasn't the last time they made love that night. However, they soon returned, Kagome asleep in Inuyasha's arms, to the campsite.

That feels nice…Inuyasha… The tongue continued to lick her neck, scouring it with its roughness.

Hold on, Inuyasha's tongue isn't this rough.

Kagome's eyes snapped open to find herself in her bed, in her room. What?

Buyo was mewing and licking her neck. She tried to sit up, but an incredible soreness struck her body, and she collapsed back onto the bed.

She sat for several minutes just stretching underneath her covers, until she was able to get out of bed, and exchanged her pajamas for normal school clothes.

Why am I here? We were several day's travel from the well. There's no way Inuyasha got me all the way back, especially right before sunrise.

Suddenly what the youkai had told her flooded her mind.

If it was all just a dream…I'm really awake now, all of that didn't happen?

Fighting tears, Kagome pulled her collar back to examine her shoulder.

A strangled gasp escaped her lips, and she collapsed against her bed.

Nothing…there's nothing. It was all a dream. Nooo, please no.

Wait, why do you hurt then?

The mark isn't there, I remember it being there when we made love. Kami, no!

Kagome wailed, curling up on herself.

"Oi. Why're ya crying?"

Inuyasha was lounging in her window, eyeing her curiously. Kagome looked up at him, and launched at him. She didn't care that it was a dream, she had to feel him. She couldn't let the dream reality face. It had felt so real, it had been so good.

Kami, it hurts so much. It can't have been fake. It can't, it can't.

Inuyasha grabbed her shoulder before she could grab him, and he shoved her onto the bed.

"Now what're you up to, wench? I don't want to be touched, thank you very much." He snarled.

It was the last straw. Kagome lifted herself off the bed, and shoved him soundly. He obviously wasn't expecting it, as he tumbled out her window, and off the roof to collide with the ground.

"What the he-"

"OSUWARI!" she screamed. "Osuwari osuwari osuwari osuwari! Go away, Inuyasha! I don't want to see you!" She slammed her window shut, and locked it. She then pulled her chair up under her door, blocking it. With that done she couldn't hold back.

She collapsed into the fetal position, and sobbed for her broken heart and her lost love.

Terrible cliffhanger, ne? Don't worry, the next chapter is going up tomorrow.-Akihanah