Okay, you readers win. I'm continuing His Light, but only two more chapters 'cause I know that after a while the same story gets a little boring. So, two chappies, then on to the next Inu fic, oh and just a warning…there's been a storm by us, so I haven't been online, and with nothing to do…I kept writing…and writing…and writing, so this'll be a really long chappie, k? (no…seriously…it's REALLY long)
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Kagome opened one eye to see nothing but white. At first she was a little confused, but once her groggy mind cleared she remembered that she had fallen asleep right after she and Inuyasha had kissed (rather heatedly, she thought to herself). She looked up to find that Inuyasha had awoken as well, his amber eyes watching her closely.
"Kagome, it's still night, the moon hasn't even waned. Go back to sleep." He whispered, so as not to wake Kaede in the next room. Kagome nodded and fell back asleep into his chest. Inuyasha however, remained awake, resting his nose into her hair, his eyes a quarter of the way open. He ran his fingers through her ebony locks, twirling her soft hair between his fingers. He couldn't believe that in just the course of one week, the most painful and yet beautiful week in his entire life, he had gone from being Kagome's secret admirer ("secret?" who's he kidding?) to being Kagome's hanyou. He smiled at that thought. He was Kagome's and Kagome was his. No one was ever going to change that. He began to let her scent pull him back to sleep, but couldn't resist the urge to carefully lift her head and kiss her lips chastely once last time before letting her head fall back down gently into his chest. With that, the two were fast asleep in each other's arms throughout the rest of the night.
The beams of early dawn spilling into the window were what woke Kagome up so early. She squinted against the intensity, wondering how Inuyasha could sleep through this. She slid out carefully from underneath his arm and pulled the tattered cloth over the window. She made her way to her backpack, which she had left here before leaving earlier and began rummaging around for another change of clothes. Granted, she felt truly beautiful in the dress she was wearing, but she's been in more comfortable clothing. After finding a pair of light blue boot cut low-rise jeans and a tight black t-shirt with cap sleeves, she tiptoed into the corner to change, careful not to wake the sleeping hanyou. After changing and grabbing a pair of sneakers to replace her heels, she lay beside Inuyasha again, who seemed to be frowning slightly, mumbling in his sleep. She scooted closer to him, only to let out a small gasp as his arm automatically slung around her waist, pulling her closely to himself. She smiled and resisted the urge to giggle as Inuyasha's frown melted away to a look of peace and serenity.
"G'morning…wondered where you'd got to…" Inuyasha yawned as his opened one eye. Kagome pulled his haori tighter around her mostly bare arms to keep her warm, nodding as her smile warmed even more. Inuyasha definitely was NOT a morning person…especially when someone woke him from a deep sleep…sigh let the sit-a-thon begin, Kagome thought to herself. Much to her surprise, he simply grinned as his hold on her tightened.
"Did we stay like this the whole night?" She asked curiously as she handed him his haori back. He yawned again and nodded, rubbing his eye.
"Wondered when you'd ask that." He put his fire rat cloth back on, twitching his ears a few times to fully wake his senses.
"Where are the others?"
"At the village of the demon slayers…thank the gods. If they came in the middle of the night, they'd never stop laughing at us."
"True…and I could just see how badly Shippo would bug you about it, which would just end up with me saying sit…oops!" She had completely forgotten herself, which resulted in Inuyasha slamming face first into the floor. He struggled to get up, grumbling under his breath.
"Gomen, Inuyasha…I didn't mean to say sit-oh no!" Poor Inuyasha was slammed into the hard wood floor again, this time making a dent in the wood. He lifted his head as much as the spell would allow at the moment and glared at her when she tried stifling a laugh. He sat up and continued to glare at her, even through her apologies.
"Do you want some ramen, Inuyasha?" She offered in order to make up for her mistake (no matter how fregin' hilarious it was n.n). His eyes glittered brightly at the mention of his favorite food, his ears pricking up as he nodded his head eagerly. Kagome giggled, reaching up and gently rubbing one of his puppy dog ears. For a few seconds he forgot himself, letting a low growl emerge from deep inside his chest as he shut his eyes. Hearing Kagome stifle another laugh, he twitched his ear, causing her to let it go as he shook his head violently like a wet dog, his hair twisting and swishing left and right with each jerk of his head. Kagome laughed as she left to make some ramen.
Peeking out the doorway to make sure that Kagome was out of earshot, Inuyasha fumbled around in his haori, pulling out a beautiful gold ring with a heart shaped diamond on it. He had asked Totosai to weld one for Kagome a while ago, but never got up the courage to say anything. He stood and carefully paced the room, thinking on how he was going to say this right…without scaring Kagome or rushing the question.
"Oh, man…how am I gonna ask her?" He paused, shooting a worried look past the cloth serving as a door, but then seeing as how the coast was still clear, continued pacing.
"Hey, Kagome…are you interested in being my…nah, too plain. Hey Kagome…be my wife…my mate? Too straight-forward. My dearest Ka-oh come on! This is starting to sound lame even to me!" He huffed as he continued pacing.
"This is too confusing…but wait…I'm jumping ahead of myself, here. I have to- CRAP!" He tucked the ring back into his haori as he saw Kagome coming his way. He shouted "CRAP!" for two reasons- One, Kagome wasn't supposed to know about this until he asked her and two…
He couldn't even ask her until he'd gotten permission from both her mother and…he couldn't help but groan inwardly...he'd have to ask Sesshomaru.
That settled it. He was officially screwed.
You see, if Inuyasha was simply marrying Kagome, he wouldn't have to confront his half-brother at all, but on the subject of mating…it was the code of the demons that you needed the consent of at least one member of each person's closest family.
And…Sesshomaru's the only family Inuyasha's GOT.
He sighed, wondering how in the hells he was going to get past Kagome to ask her mother's permission AND ask Sesshomaru without getting into a fight to the death over it. Kagome walked in, two steaming bowls of chicken ramen (A/N: That is the stuff, yo n.n) and chopsticks in her hands. No sooner had she handed him one of the bowls and a pair of chopsticks, he began to slurp the noodles down like he wouldn't ever live to eat another bowl again. Kagome stifled a laugh as Inuyasha looked at her innocently, a huge mouthful of noodles still streaming into the bowl from his mouth, his eyes wide. She couldn't help but think of Shippo.
"Whuh's a ma'er 'gagome?" He mumbled through a mouthful of noodles. She giggled as she slurped a few noodles into her mouth and waited until she swallowed to answer.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Inu." She grinned as his ears twitched at being called "Inu" but didn't talk with his mouth full for the rest of the meal. Once he'd slurped down the broth, he wiped his mouth, standing as he head for the doorway.
"Stay here, I'll be back." She stood up, taking a step back.
"Where are you going, Inuyasha?" He grinned as he walked back over to her, placing his hand under her chin and lifting it to look into her eyes.
"I'll be back by sunset, and if I'm not, I'll make it up to you. I promise, okay?" He kissed her softly, then turned around, leaving out the doorway and breaking into a sprint. Kagome pulled the bamboo curtain aside and watched him until he was out of sight. She smiled warmly.
"He promised, so I trust him." She said went back into the hut to help Kaede with any chores that she might have.
(Inuyasha's POV)
I pushed my demonic speed to the limit as I followed Sesshomaru's scent fading off into the south. Why he was going there was beyond me, perhaps visiting our father's grave…though I don't really know if he does that sort of thing. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn, either. His scent began to grow stronger, so I somehow managed to will my legs into going faster. As unbearable as his foul scent was, I continued through the forest, pacing myself to a jog. I slow down to a walk as I hear three distinct voices in the trees just ahead of me.
"Lord Sesshomaru, why the sudden stop…is there something wrong?" I recognized that as the voice of that little girl that was always by his side, Rin. I step closer and see my half-brother in the center of a circle of trees and the girl, perched on the two headed dragon demon, along with Jaken, the tiny hunched over green demon that wields the Staff of Two Heads. Sesshomaru turned as I revealed myself behind him.
"You have some nerve to show yourself to me, brother." His cold voice made my ears hurt, one of the many reasons why I couldn't stand him. I fought down the urge to draw out Tetsusaiga and just hack him into pieces right then and there, knowing that starting a sword fight wasn't going to get me his consent…
then again…how was I going to get his consent?
"What is it that you want, Inuyasha? Have you come to fight to your death this time?"
"Don't make me laugh…how can I ask you if you're dead?" He narrowed his eyes, raising a brow in confusion.
"Ask…me…"
"You know the code of the demons just as well as I do. Do I have your consent?" Confusion melted away from his face, only to be replaced by sheer and utter disgust blazing intensely in his eyes. Jaken and Rin were now looking from Sesshomaru to me, and then back at Sesshomaru. Jaken understood what I was asking, for him being a demon and all, but it appears that my half-brother didn't inform little Rin about the demon code at all. My eyes never leave my half-brother, knowing full well that if I did it could cost me my life. As much as I despise him, there's no doubting that he's fully capable of fighting.
"No."
"WHAT!" My anger pulsed through my body, boiling my blood as my eyes flashed red with fury.
"You have diluted our father's blood enough as it is. If it were a demon I would consider-"
"LIKE YOU HAVE ANY ROOM TO TALK! MARKING THAT GIRL OVER THERE!" I pointed to Rin, who had been oddly quiet this whole time. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in shock. Even though I knew that he hadn't actually courted her because she was much too young for a human body to handle such things, I could still pick up enough of his scent to realize that she had his specific mark on her neck, though what it was for certain I don't know.
"THAT'S RIGHT, I CAN PICK UP YOUR SCENT ON HER! IF YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT 'DILUTING OUR FATHER'S BLOOD,' YOU WOULD HAVE SIMPLY MARKED A DEMON!" My eyes burn red at the very thought that he would even DARE to stand in the way of me being with my Kagome after all we'd been through, she and I. He had no right! He steps back slightly, shock written all over his face. That facial expression is one that I can never remember Sesshomaru having as long as I have known him. His face calms as he gives a "Feh," his usual demeanor returning. A small, bitter smile crosses his face, so tiny that I had to strain to see it even with my demonic eyes.
"Well said brother…well said indeed. Very well, you have my consent." He turns and begins walking away without another word, the two headed dragon carrying Rin following closely behind, Jaken bringing up the rear. I can only stare in shock at what he just said…and what I just said…I mean, sure I've insulted my brother, mocked my brother…but I had never pushed that sort of angle of insult before. I guess that anger…that raging fire that burned with every word that he'd said about diluting our father's blood just made me snap even more than I normally do. I shrug, making my way to the well.
"Only one more thing to do now…" I sigh as I break into a run.
The forest flies past me in a swirl of multiple shades of green, the very ground I was running on simply a dusty blur to me. I couldn't take the direct route through Kaede's village to the well, or else Kagome would get suspicious as to why I was leaving so soon again. I promised that I'd make it up to her if I wasn't back before sunset, didn't I? I continued instead in the same general direction of Kaede's village, but stayed in the forest thicket. But…how in the hells was I going to ask her mother? I couldn't just walk up to Kagome's mother and say "Hey, I'm madly in love with your daughter, so I'm just going to mark her as mine, okay?" and expect her to be okay with it; it just doesn't work like that! My thoughts were cut off as I burst through the clearing that led to the well. Grinning, I walked up to the well, running a hand over the lip. The memory of always dragging Kagome through it made my grin widen. I stepped on the lip of the well and jumped in, feeling that floating sensation pulse through me as I fly five hundred years into the future. I looked up to see the roof of the shrine. Jumping out and opening the doors hastily, I make my way to the Higurashi home. Just as I'm about to open the door, someone beats me to it. The next thing I know, Sota's clinging to my right leg like he'd fall to his death if he let go.
"Inuyasha, what's up?"
"The sky…and anyway, where's your mother? I need to ask her something important." Kagome's little sibling looks at me curiously, but then nods and leads me into the house.
"Ma…Inuyasha wants to ask you something!" He calls out at the top of his lungs. Gee…this kid has less modesty than me. Ms. Higurashi walks through the doorway, smiling at me with one of her cheerful greetings.
"Hello there, what is it that you wanted to ask?" She said politely. I gulp as I scratch the back of my neck. Kagome's mother notices that I'm nervous and shoos Sota to his room. She turns back to me as I take in a deep breath…well…here goes…
"Well…I've known Kagome for a while now…and…umm…I was wondering if…if I have your consent to ask her to be…to be…my wife…and my…uhh…mate…" I gulp again as I wait with baited breath for her response.
"Why do you want to marry her?" I wanted to roll my eyes and say some smart-ass comment, but I refrained myself, knowing that if I messed this up, Kagome couldn't really be my mate OR my wife.
"Because…because I love her…more than anything." Kagome's mother smiled warmly.
"I just wanted to hear you say that." But then she pauses for a moment, a look of confusion spreading across her face.
"And what exactly…is a mate?"
At that point, I wanted to laugh at her.
"Well…a mate is…well…mating is like a demonic marriage, only instead of having a wedding, as mortals do, demons simply mark the person they desire to have as a mate. But they can't permanently make the mark unless the male has both the consent from the closest family of each side, and of the female that he wishes to be his mate."
"Do you have to…to…well ah…what is this "mark" exactly?"
"A mark is different for each demon or half-demon. It's always a bite mark on the neck, but the symbol that you write in between the teeth marks is what's unique about each specific mark." She understood, smiling again and nodding slightly.
"You have my consent, as long as you take good care of my baby girl."
"Yes ma'am!" I stand a little straighter, grinning like a fool. That was it…I had consent from family of both sides, now all I had to do was ask Kagome…
Which brings us back to how in seven hells I'm gonna ask her…and I'm absolutely clueless.
Well…it's only midday, so I've got time. I'll just hang around the well and plan out how I'm going to ask her 'till I think I'm ready. But I'll have to ask her tonight; tomorrow begins mating season for demons…and while I have no intention of actually courting her during the whole week of mating season, I figure it'll help if she's my mate by then, seeing as how if she's not it'll only make it that much harder for me when my…"natural instincts" kick in…if she says yes…
It's pitch black by the time that I leap out of the well, making my way back to Kaede's. I sigh inwardly, knowing that Kagome's most likely worried sick about me…a little angry as well…okay chances are that she's more angry than worried, but I promised that I'd make it up to her!
Her scent fills my nostrils as I walk into the hut. She's there, curled under that "sleeping bag" thing, but she looks restless compared to everyone else, who must have come back while I was away. I tiptoe over to her side, knowing full well that she'll fregin' kill me when I wake her up. I lean my head down close to hers, by breath caressing her face, waving her bangs slightly. She shifts in her sleep but does not stir. I stick my tongue out part of the way and lick her cheek lightly like a pup begging for attention. She opens her eyes groggily, turning to me. Her eyes widen as she realizes that I'm there.
"Inuyasha! You're back!" She throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me tightly. I can feel the air circulation being cut off by her arms as my face beings turning pink from lack of air.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! We established that I'm back! Lemme go already! Sheesh!" I place my hands on her hips and push her slightly away. She giggles and then says.
"You said you'd be back by sunset…I was just really worried, that's all." Guilt sweeps over me as I realize just how much I really made her worry.
"I'm sorry…I was just…thinking about something. That's all." She nods and turns away, about to head back to her sleeping bag, but my hold on her hips never lessens. She turns her head back to me in confusion.
"Inu…yasha…?" She whispers. I take her in closer, pressing her back to my chest, my arms wrapping around her middle.
"You too tired for a walk? There's something that…that I want to ask you." She looks down and to the left at my elbow, but then smiles.
"Let's go, not like I'm actually going to get back to sleep so quickly, anyway." I lead her out the door and into the night, relaying what I had planned on saying over and over so I don't screw it up…
…but with my luck, I will anyway.
(Kagome's POV)
I walk beside him in the darkness, wondering what it was that he had to ask me. I suddenly feel his hand slip over mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looks at me, as if asking if it was alright that he did this. I smile as my fingers wrap around the inside of his palm. He smiles back as his fingers wrap around almost my whole hand. We both look away as we blush slightly, but my eyes return to our intertwined hands. My smile warms even more as his grip on my hand tightens. We walk through the forest path to Goshinboku in silence, enjoying the scenery and just being around each other. As the great tree comes into view, I sense Inuyasha tense up a little as he slows his pace slightly. I look up at his face, but he's staring straight ahead of him, almost as if he were completely wrapped up in his thoughts.
We come to a sudden stop right in front of the Sacred Tree as Inuyasha pulls me in front of him, taking my free hand and interlocking it with his other hand. He looks into my eyes deeply for a moment, not saying anything. I search his amber orbs, finding nothing but love and…was that…longing…?
(Inuyasha's POV)
I just let myself sink to the bottom of those beautiful hazel irises, drowning in their warmth, amazed at their shimmer in the pale moonlight. I take a deep breath, trying to gather the words that I wanted so desperately to say to this wonderful girl in front of me…but try as I might, the words simply slip through my grasp like smoke. I open my mouth, but it's like someone's stolen my voice and ran off with it. My mouth closes again as I inhale her scent, somehow finding the courage to speak through the rosy vanilla aura.
"Kagome…I…I know that we only just admitted our feelings to each other…but the truth is…I've been wanting to ask you this for the longest time…" I watch her bright, shimmering eyes widen with each word that came off of my tongue.
"You already know that I truly love you…and…try as I might…I can't find a good enough way to show you just how much I do, and the only thing that can come even remotely close is by…by asking you…" I let go of her hands as I pulled the ring out of my haori, its heart diamond glistening in the moonlight. I hear her give a small gasp as I take her left hand and slip the ring onto her index finger.
"…asking you to be my wife…my mate…will you… Kagome Higurashi?" I search her wide, tearful eyes as she does the same. Her lips curve into a warm smile as she buries her head into my chest. I can faintly hear her whisper the two words that I've longed for her to say to me…
"I do."
I tightly embrace her, letting a smile play across my face. I lean down and nuzzle her hair, exposing the back of her neck. I open my mouth and gently place my front two fangs on the skin. My fangs sink into her neck, but only enough to puncture the skin. I hear her give a tiny gasp but she doesn't object. I lick the tiny drops of blood away as I raise a single clawed finger to rest in between the fang marks. I lightly etch my name in kanji in the space between the bite marks, then prick my own finger with my claw, letting the blood seal the kanji symbol to officially make her my mate.
"I'm sorry…did I hurt you?" I feel her shake her head in my chest as I pull her closer into my arms. Now comes the hard part…
…telling her it was mating season and not making it sound perverted.
"Uhh…Kagome…about this mating thing…" She looks up into my eyes.
"What about it, Inuyasha?" I take a deep breath.
"Well…ah…ya see…mating season starts tomorrow…" Her eyes widen.
"Oh…" Her face begins to tint green, so I quickly add.
"I'm not saying we have to-! I'm just saying that I'll be…acting much more…open…about my feelings towards you, that's all." Her skin returns to its normal color as she smiles.
"Oh…okay then!"
Now the only question is…does she know exactly how open I'll be?
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Warning: get ready to laugh hysterically at the next chapter…it'll be pretty long because it'll chronicle the WHOLE WEEK of mating season! I don't really know how long it is, but I'm just guessing. Stick around!