Chapter 3: Facing Death

As the night progressed, the storm swirled around them in this house they occupied. All slept well dreaming of all the things they wanted in life. Miroku once again had his dream of a room full of lovely women all wanting him. He having his pick of them and choosing one after another to sleep with and bare his child until one was with child. His groping for a woman lead to him touching Sango's breasts. She awoke at first feeling rather pleasant as his hands roamed her body, then screamed as she opened her eyes realizing the situation. BONK BONK

"YOU PERVERT LET GO OF ME" she yelled at him. At which time he finally awoke and saw what he had done. He smiled sheepishly till trying to grope her " Well Sango can you forgive me I was dreaming, If I known I would have never." was all he got to say.

WHACK

BOOM was the last sound heard as his face hit the floor.

Inuyasha heard this as he lay there holding Kagome in his arms; he turned and kissed her head once again. Then smiled to himself about the horny priest, maybe one day Sango will give in? No if she did, she would probably be under a spell cast by Naraku, he grinned, a very strong spell indeed.

Kagome was awake also and heard the noise, trying not to laugh. She looked over at Inuyasha's smiling face with a smile of her own. She closed her eyes again and realized how entangled their bodies were; they fit so perfectly together. It was odd how she never noticed before when he held her, but then she didn't know she loved him then. She moved herself closer, making sure that she could feel every part of him. Until she felt his rapid heartbeat caused by her movements and could feel their hearts beating somewhat close in pace. He kissed her head again at that moment readjusting his arms around her. Feeling her soft mouth on his chest relaxed there as she drifted off to sleep.

Wondering if she had kissed him on his chest and snuggled more closely would he have taken her. Yes he would have taken her; he wanted to do so now, knowing she felt his body betraying him to his attraction. It was definitely time to take that walk.

The next morning Kagome awoke to the smell of the delicious soup Inuyasha made the night before. When she opened her eyes he was sitting there waiting for her, sitting still beside her. He turned his head from her gaze and said softly " I didn't want to wake you, the others have been up for some time and Kaede is doing much better but we still cannot move her." He then paused, and turned back to her a little sad and said "Kagome there is more I need to tell you…" she looked at him knowing he had bad news but what could it be…

Sure it was not Sango or Miroku or they would have heard, but she did sleep so sound she never knew he moved from under her. What did he have to say, she started to panic, oh no not Shippou please don't tell me that. Inuyasha looked and saw her fear then spoke "Kagome, Miroku and I went for a walk this morning after looking around this house last night before you awoke."

He was also thinking how he needed that walk after waking that morning feeling her mouth moving on his chest and his hand rubbing dangerously close to her breasts. But right now those thoughts needed to be put away to tell what they found. He continued looking as serious as he began.

"We found that were stuck here and we both sense this is a place of danger. It shows great beauty but hides something dark here. That's why so much is still here like the people ran away from here not caring about anything. We need to get you, Sango and Kaede away but Kaede is unable to travel and the snow is so high were blocked into this valley where this house rests." He finished hoping she understood the danger of this place.

She could not believe what he was saying, it must mean this place was haunted like the haunted homes in her time. Ghosts, apparitions and such wandering this place at night. Still she had not seen this place yet except for this room and the cooking area. She never really properly saw the great room they entered to come into the house, just passed it in her haste to reach Inuyasha the night before.

"Inuyasha have you been able to catch Shippou's scent? She asked, feeling that he left something out when he talked to her. Maybe it was Shippou, and from his reaction to the question she was sure of it. He turned away from her starting to go to the door then looked back and paused before saying "maybe you should get dressed and come with me to the others." Then he bent down to hand her the clothes he removed from her the day before.

"Inuyasha tell me now, I cant wait that long to know." She pleaded with him looking at him as if she could almost see inside him. At this he closed the door and sat down on the bedding beside her. Maybe Sango and the others were right and he have to tell her himself instead of with them, no matter how close she was to them. He pulled her close to him and looked down into her face as he saw the emotions play across it.

"Kagome, when we awoke this morning Miroku and I decided to finish walking around the house, we found more rooms than the night before and it looks as if this was once a shrine of some sort then taken over by someone of great wealth. It could have once been turned into a castle from the surroundings. It was amazing that we made it into this place with the walls around it." He paused and then started to lay back into the bedding bringing her with him. Then he continued slower this time "Once Miroku and I thought we found the end of this place we came across an area that resembled a garden once destroyed, but was a place where bodies laid burned." At that Kagome was shocked and gasped, these people must have died of one of the great diseases she read about in her history books. So they burned the bodies to stop the spread of the disease, which worked, but they thought these people were ghosts, the walking dead, zombies coming to haunt them. All because after death their bodies made one last spasm before all the organs completely gave way and failed. This had to appear as an awful site to anyone who say it and in these times people did not know all the things about death as people in her time did. She realized he was still talking to her and paid more attention he continued to say

"Kagome we found some fur and the scent of it is from Shippou but we can't be certain he's really in there… It's weak but it his scent but it also goes all around this place." He paused at her gasp then the slow tears he felt hit his hand. Looking down at her she was weeping and felt another tear hit his hand. But Kagome's face was buried into his chest so where did the tear come from. Then with his free hand he touched his own face and knew the truth.

Back in the great room the others were eating their soup, wondering how Inuyasha faired telling Kagome the news. It had been too quiet in there since they first heard her wake and he asked her to join them. Then it was quiet as Inuyasha closed the door behind him. He must have told her, and they felt bad because they all knew how Kagome felt about the kitsune. They were just unsure about Inuyasha until they saw him almost go mad when he caught the kitsune's scent in the burned pile. The kitsune had once told them when Kagome was away taking tests and Inuyasha wondered the forest sad because of this; he looked to Inuyasha and Kagome as his parents. They were to him his family since they loved him and took care of him and that Sango and Miroku were like aunt and uncle. While Kaede was the kind and wise grandmother who gave them knowledge and strength. Which at the time they all laughed but felt warm and honored at his words. Now looking back they all stopped with their meal and shed a tear or two for the poor cub; if what they found was true.

Inuyasha laid there holding Kagome trying to comfort her and stop himself from crying. Yet it was hard for him thinking of the kitsune, like son, stolen in the night by something darker than he was. When he found Kikyo he would kill her and have no regrets. She was truly not his Kikyo who passed 50 years ago; this was a demon like no other. Her heart was non-existent and for this she must die. Yet they knew it would not be easy to kill her, that was why they were looking for magic orb, that would kill her. But Kikyo might have found it already; they were so close to the jewel shards and the orb when Kagome left. Maybe the orb she needed did not kill her but gave her the strength that she used on the village.

He turned to Kagome and after calming her, told her his thoughts. Kagome was interested because if Inuyasha was right they need to know all they could before facing her. If not they might lose Shippou for good if what they found was a false trail, made to make them stop looking. Kagome hugged him for making her a little happier and giving her some hope. He returned her hug, yet he felt her naked body against him. Now with his mind somewhat free he noticed how her breasts pressed against him and her slight movements. He looked into her eyes again after releasing her some. It was there in her eyes again, she wanted him. He wanted her too, and if she moved any closer she would know also. Yet he couldn't let that happen yet, he didn't know why just felt he needed to wait with her.

"Kagome we will not give up hope, but I need to leave you while you dress." He stated and began to pull away from her. Kagome thought that was odd didn't he see how she felt. She reached for his arm and grabbed it. This made him stop his progress and look back at her.

"Inuyasha I… I…" she stopped unsure of what to do. Then she looked away from blushing and turned back and looked into his eyes. For what seemed like to Inuyasha and eternity and spoke with all that was in her heart "I Love you Inuyasha." And waited for his reply hoping he would answer.

Inuyasha had waited so long for that and smiled. For the first time he could really feel his heart know real joy beyond what he felt these last few months. She loved him and told him, he looked at her too "I love you too Kagome, I heard you at the well, but I wanted to wait until you told me and not the wind." Then pulled her to him and kissed her. First kissing her slowly moving his tongue into her mouth. Then slightly moving his tongue over her lips teasing for reentry to her month.

Then moving his lips slowly down her jaw to her throat. His hands moving over her arms and up to her shoulders as his faced arrived there also. Starting to move lower onto her body he licked her with his tongue. Kagome moaned her acceptance making him feel hotter than before. The familiar bulge increasing the further he went. She began to touch him also, moving her hands over him reaching for his ears and playing in his hair. Wanting to move her hands lower but their position only allowed him to lower himself to her womanhood. She wanted to touch him, knowing that he was hard for her. She wanted him so, and then his mouth reached her breasts. Her nipples already erect from the pleasure he was inducing; she craved his mouth on them. He teased with his tongue, her moving around her nipples passing over them like he would any moment suck on them, yet denying her that pleasure.

She could not take it any more and took her hands to his face and pulled it to hers. She kissed him this time, and started to explore him. He had on his kimono, which he was struggling to take off. She tried to help him while locked into their kiss. Finally the kimono was free and she could move lower on his chest. She stopped and looked at him more closely. Last night she hadn't noticed because of her sadness, today she wanted to see him. He was beautiful, his body looked to be sculpted out of the finest marble in the world. Still she was blushing never really seeing a man naked before her. She used her hands then to touch him and make sure that he was real. Inuyasha watched her touch him, happy that she felt comfortable to touch him and kiss him so. This was his woman; this one who was making his manhood about to explode and all they done was kiss and touch. He had to have her forever, and if she said yes she would never regret making that decision. Then she moved her hands lower and found what he tried to hide for so long. The proof of his wanting her, at first she seemed shy to touch it, then loved the way it moved when she did. Slowly she moved her hand around it and testing techniques she heard about, then she took her hand and showed her. After that she pleasured him with her hand and he used his to massage her breasts. Occasionally moving lower to use his claws on her womanhood feeling her orgasm around his claws, while he released into her hand. She reached for her pack and got a cloth and began to wipe them clean of their experience together and discarded it. He then pulled her to him resting her head on his chest and they dozed for a short time.

Kagome awoke not too long after and dressed in the robe as she had before. Entering the great room she found Miroku, Sango and Kaede sitting and talking. "Hello everyone, is there any soup left, it seems I knocked over the one Inuyasha gave me." She smiled and Miroku made a move to get up and stated " don't worry there's more I will get it, please sit." And walked out to retrieve her a bowl. Sango and Kaede looked at her strangely, looking for signs of how she felt after being told. Kagome knew this but did not answer just yet. Still thinking of what happened between her and her love and Shippou's plight. Miroku returned with the bowl and warm soup for her, she began to eat and then sat the bowl down. She looked at them all and knew they were still waiting.

"Yes Inuyasha has told me, but I do not believe that it's true. We have an idea but were not sure if it's right" she started then going further she told them of Inuyasha thoughts. They sat and talked trying to figure a plan and think of anything they might have heard besides the Shikon jewel that could increase ones powers.

At this moment Inuyasha arrived into the room and sat beside her, still yawning from his rest. He looked around the room and asked what happened while he slept. Kaede told him of the talk and then they all tried to figure a plan. Inuyasha was thinking about Kagome again and Shippou, his family needed him and he was without the power to help them. Kagome glanced at him and saw his face, instantly knowing his feeling. He saw her looking at him and got up and walked to the door that led to a minigarden. He opened it and walked out, at that the conversation ended and all eyes were on him. Kagome got up and walked to the garden and found him in a tree as usual.

"Inu what's wrong?" she asked looking into the tree. He didn't answer her so she began to climb the tree to where he was. At that time everyone came and peeked out the door. Kagome arrived beside him and snuggled close, Inuyasha put his arm around her. Everyone saw this and was shocked but said nothing; it was about time Inuyasha stopped being a jerk. Inuyasha looked at Kagome not noticing the others since her presence and she looked at him, "we'll get our baby back Inu I promise" she said, "I promise to Kagome, we will bring our baby home," he said and they kissed. Everyone began to cry and was happy that they finally got together.

Meanwhile on the other side of the house and another set of trees, a presence was there watching and learning. They had to have weakness, it thought, just what could it be. Then it saw the tenderness displayed by the two, something it was never told in the report it received. So finally the half-youkai could be manipulated. Soon they would succeed and the new miko and the kitsune would be the bait to spring the trap and set their plans in motion.