Disclaimer: InuYasha and all other related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi-san. Standard disclaimer applies.

A/N: There were so many reviews for the last chapter that it would take up too much space answering them all. Sorry for the inconvenience

Translations:
Mononoke – Animal Spirit/in this case/Animal-based demon

Chapter 6: Never Insult my Kit

Modern Day

Kagome woke slowly, to the bright calls of some sort of bird, wrapped in warmth which seemed to come from behind her. Lazily, she smiled and turned, coming face to face with a sleeping InuYasha. Seizing the moment, she studied his face. She loved it when he was asleep, because his face was void of his customary scowl, and actually looked peaceful. Her gaze lowered to the polished beads around his neck. She hadn't sat him in awhile; he didn't really need the 'collar' anymore. She shifted so that her hand could brush against the wood, then down further so she could see the contrast between the onyx coloured-beads and the ivory white fangs. She really didn't want to move, but she had to.

Slipping from the sheets without rousing the hanyou, she silently padded into the bathroom, then the shower. She let the steaming water massage all the kinks out of her neck and shoulders from sleeping, and the potent aromas of her shampoo, conditioner and soap overcome her senses, causing her to sigh from the pleasure of it. She stayed in the shower for the good portion of an hour, coming out wrapped tightly in a fuzzy oversized towel. The water droplets on her skin immediately cooled, and her hair plastered to her head and shoulders. She patted down her bare skin and wrapped her hair into a turban with another towel. Once the mirror defogged, she stared at herself momentarily, hand moving to caress the slightly bruising bite mark at the base of her neck.

-------------Flashback-------------

"Kagome, to make sure that no other male demon tries to take you, I uh…" InuYasha looked down, blushing, his arms wrapped around her waist. Knowingly, Kagome tapped his shoulder, and when he looked up, she tilted her head, exposing the bare expanse of her neck, making her shirt drop slightly so that her shoulder was uncovered as well. His eyes widened at the customary action. "You know the ritual?" He sounded dazed. She tilted her opposite shoulder in an offhand gesture, grinning.

"My grandfather told me the ritual in order to 'protect me from unwanted demon advances'. I know you have to bite me between my neck and shoulder long enough for it to scar over. Go ahead, InuYasha." She gently ordered, tilting her neck more.

Still a bit surprised that she knew what he was about to do, he placed his fang tips over her soft skin, pressing the point into it slightly.

"You know this will hurt a little." He murmured. She relaxed her muscles, and he plunged his fangs into her, wincing at her sharp intake of breath and the coppery-tasting blood which seeped into his mouth. Once the mandatory amount of time was completed, he eased his fangs out of her, a thoroughly disgusted look on his face. "I never want to taste your blood again…" He murmured, after swallowing it, which was needed for the bond to be completed. He gently began licking the wound, cleaning it and exchanging his DNA in turn. Once the wound had healed over, so only two welts remained, he hugged her close. Her body was trembling, which was completely natural.

He still hated to have been the one to do it.

But now, everyone knew she was his.

-------------Present-------------

Her fingers danced over the Claim Mark, a smile quirking at her lips. She was InuYasha's. She sighed softly and went back into her room, finding her hanyou sitting up on the bed, scratching his hair and stretching. He had slept shirtless, so Kagome was given a show of his muscles tightening and rippling beneath his sun-kissed skin, then relaxing again once he was done stretching.

He turned and grinned at her and got up, his eyes roaming over her towel-clad form. Soon, he reassured himself. Soon, she would be his forever. He just hoped that she didn't mind the side effects.

Walking in, she gave him a kiss as she passed, and went to don her clothing for the day. After careful consideration, she chose an outfit comprised of a pair of tight-fitting, low riding black jeans, a red corset accented by black lace and a pair of black, fingerless gloves. She donned her make up; some eyeliner, mascara and a clear gloss, and checked herself over in the mirror. Now that school was over, she could finally wear her normal clothes again. Nodding her approval, she went downstairs for some of the breakfast she smelled.

She got the most unusual glance from her boyfriend, who was sitting at the table in his usual fire-rat, a piece of buttered toast hanging in his mouth. She then remembered that he had only seen her in either her uniform, or something of the like, never pants. Grinning, she winked at him and went over to her brother, stealing some of his breakfast.

"Kagome, give it back!" He whined, but she had already started nibbling on it.

"You ready to go back, koi?" InuYasha asked her, diverting her attention from the brooding teen. Grinning again, she nodded, swallowing her meal.

"Yeah, whenever you are. We're going on a patrol, right?" At the silver-haired youth's nod, Kagome went back upstairs to get the glowing pink orb from her desk and her new bow and quiver of arrows, and then stood hovering at the kitchen door. InuYasha arched a dark brow at her eagerness, but got up from the table and thanked Mrs. Higurashi nonetheless, walking with her out to the well house.

"What's up with you, wench; I've never seen you so active."

"Don't know, I'm just feeling really restless." She explained, hauling the door open absently. "Like I gained more energy since last night." When she saw the hanyou's grin, she returned it with a blank expression. "Side effect of the biting?"

"Yeah, because we fused genetics, you're going to gain some of my traits. I can already see flecks of gold in your eyes. It's pretty," He added, almost as an afterthought. Taking her around the waist, they jumped into the well, allowing the familiar blue light to carry them 500 years into the past

Sengoku Jidai

"KAGOME!" At the sound of her name, the raven haired teen popped her head over the lip of the well, and then vaulted over the rest of the way when Shippou barreled into clearing. He seemed afraid, which caused her to crouch and catch him, then rose, sending out pulses of miko energy in order to find the source of his fears. "What's wrong, Shippou-chan?" She asked. She then had to keep up as he went into a rapid-fire explanation of how the kitsune had been playing in the forest, and about how some rabid bear demon wanted to eat him. Just as he finished, a horrendously loud roar sounded from the forest. Instantly, InuYasha shot out of the well and into the forest, his hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt. At the edge of the forest, the monstrous, shaggy form of a bear emerged, causing Kagome to gasp and InuYasha to stop short to avoid getting trampled.

It had to be the ugliest mononoke she had ever seen. Its matted dirt-brown fur was falling out in places, its maw was covered in bleeding welts, and its claws were stained a dark red. Yellow fangs poked out over its lips, and its red eyes immediately focused on the little boy in her arms, who froze in response.

"There you are, little kitsune. What, you've run to a human for protection? How pathetic." It sneered; making its way forwards once more. A low, dangerous growl emitted somewhere next to its left paw, causing it to look down. InuYasha stood, fangs bared up at it with Tetsusaiga drawn and pointed at it. The bear laughed. "A human and a half breed as your protectors, little one? You truly are pathetic. I'll be doing you a fav--" He never got to finish his comment, for a cherry wood arrow imbedded itself between its eyes. It made a gurgling sound, swaying dangerously as thick crimson blood trickled slowly down its maw. InuYasha moved out of the way just in time before it keeled over, landing with a thunderous crash.

"Never," Kagome hissed, lowering her bow, "Insult my kit." She walked over to the corpse, flaming another arrow and then stuck it into the beast's hump, causing the purification energy to sizzle while it made the demon disintegrate. Within minutes, all that was left what a putrid scent and dust on the wind.

InuYasha and Shippou gaped at the miko. Never had she expressed such protectiveness over anyone in their pack, except for the rare occasion where InuYasha was mortally wounded and couldn't defend himself. Retrieving her arrows, Kagome examined both, and, seeing that they were free of any residue, put them back into her quiver.

Turning, she walked over to Shippou and gathered him into her arms, holding him against her chest protectively, striking the kitsune with memories of how his dam had held him. He curled up against her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you, Momma," He murmured softly, burying his face in her shoulder. Kagome smiled and petted his head, running her fingers through his top knot as she led the way back to the village.

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

Everybody go "Awe." I felt like fixing this chapter up this way, because I realized that I put the two previous chapters into one. Oh well, this adds a bit of a twist. I'll hopefully get chapter seven redone soon, my schedule is getting busier and busier.

Lots of Love,

Harusaki Taisho