Chapter Three

Her bra and panties had dried days ago but for some reason, when she put them back on, they felt odd. Probably from washing them without soap.

Inuyasha hadn't said anything more about his dreams but he did stick closer to her, going so far as to either sit next to her while he kept watch or sleep near her. It would be cute if she wasn't worried about having another sex dream with him so close. As luck would have it, she hadn't had one since the night Inuyasha admitted to spooning her after his bad nightmare. It had to be her subconscious protecting her. She might have fooled Inuyasha the first time but there was no way to know for sure if she could again.

And Miroku and Sango weren't fooled either. The backhanded shots her way were getting old for sure.

"Kagome, if your back isn't still sore, perhaps you could carry this pack for a while?" Sango said with a snicker.

Holding out the bag, Sango was about to lose it, laughing so hard inside her chest and belly. When Kagome reached out to take it, a frown on her face, Inuyasha snatched it away before she could. "Why don't you get your damn husband to carry it, if you're so over burdened?!"

He meant well but Inuyasha was really only making things worse as the couple both burst out laughing. They were acting like High Schoolers with an inside joke. And Shippo as well as Inuyasha didn't get it, thank god.

The young demon jumped on her shoulder and held on, whispering in her ear. "Is there something wrong with the two of them?"

"Yes." She answered blandly.

"It's probably just that their marriage is getting stale," Inuyasha added, coming to her other side to whisper a little louder than Shippo had.

"You think so?" The young boy asked in earnest, not understanding enough to get the insult that was made.

So she smacked him, hitting the shoulder closest to her. "Inuyasha, you're giving Shippo the wrong idea!"

"What?!" Inuyasha actually looked offended. "I'm being serious! All the two of them do is run around killing demons. They don't have any time to themselves. I'm not sure they're really married."

"You were at their wedding, same as us!" Kagome added.

"I know that but… I mean what happens after a marriage? You know? Consummation?"

Quickly, she slapped her hands over Shippo's ears and glared at the Hanyou. "That is none of our business and OF COURSE they have!"

"You're right," Inuyasha huffed, "after all, we're talking about Miroku here."

She struggled to hold in her chuckle, choking a little as she spoke. "Yeah… no way he… waited…"

"Pretty sure… he only married her… so he could stick it in…."

They were both laughing at that point, Shippo pulling free from her hold to walk between the two couples. Both were laughing about things he just didn't understand.

Things were peaceful and nice. So, of course, something had to come along and wreck it. She gasped softly as it hit her. "I sense a jewel shard. And it's getting closer fast."

Inuyasha growled while Miroku groaned. "Keh, I wonder who it could possibly be?"

His tone was strange, like he was annoyed. Before Kagome could question Miroku, a tornado of dust and dirt appeared on the horizon, answering all her questions. "Oh look! It's Koga!"

The groans told her, she was the only one excited to see the wolf demon.

"We should just ignore him and keep walking." Inuyasha suggested, standing a little closer to Kagome.

She shoved him back and he looked at her with pure bewilderment on his face. "He might have info on Naraku! You know? The guy we're supposed to end this summer and move on with our lives?"

Kagome turned away just after watching Inuyasha's face and ears drop. He knew she was right; that's why he was pouting right now. Moving to the head of the group, she felt Inuyasha follow her. He might be pissed at her and pouting for her decisions but he still didn't let her face Koga on her own. At least she had the others in case Koga got handsy but when did that ever stop him in the past?

True to form, the first thing Koga did was grab Kagome's hand and kiss the back of it. "Kagome so glad to see you. You're looking lovely today as ever."

She tugged her hand free awkwardly and smiled. "Thank you, Koga."

"Look, Darling, we really need to talk," he said taking a step closer, only to be pushed back again by Inuyasha.

"You can say it just fine from there." Inuyasha warned.

Koga grinned broadly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh there you are, Mutt. Didn't see you."

"Like I'd leave Kagome to fend for herself against an idiot like you."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Koga said with a shrug.

The reminder of one of the many times Inuyasha left her behind for Kikyo only made Kagome bristle. "What is it you need to say, Koga?"

She was gritting her teeth but she took a couple of deep breaths and calmed down, moving on as she always did and focusing on what really mattered. The bravado Koga had disappeared and yet he still took a step closer to her again. "I think this conversation would be best had alone?"

"Yeah, not gonna happen buddy." Miroku called.

They had set up a temporary camp of sorts, sitting down and relaxing while Inuyasha stood close to Kagome's side.

Koga focused on her and her alone. "Then just a small distance away? Please, Kagome?"

There was sincerity in his voice that she couldn't deny. Even if all he said was the same old thing, she would hear him out. He might be a cad but he was still her friend. And an ally.

"Okay."

"OKAY?!" Inuyasha was purple again, only this time it was his anger and not demon blood. "This guy is a molester and you're going to leave with him?"

"Calm down I'm not going far. Just… give us some space would ya?"

Pouty Hanyou, party of one?! He went and sat with the others but did so with as much noise and frustration as physically possible. Koga started to lead her away and she stopped him when they were a few feet. She wasn't really sure what the point was, Inuyasha and Shippo would be able to hear everything he said.

"Kagome… there are rumors going around about a dark priestess hitting up villages and turning them to dust."

"What? How is that possible? Priestesses are supposed to help not hurt!"

He shook his head at her, "A woman scorned is what they say. Which is why I came to check on you."

"Me?"

"With stories of a broken hearted Priestess going around… I wanted to make sure you were okay…"

A heavy sigh left her. But Koga had a good point. "Don't worry, Koga. I'm stronger than I look."

"Yeah, I know," he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, "I really like that about you." The distance between them was gone in a second, Koga taking advantage of his speed and getting dangerously close to her. "Come on, Kagome. When are you going to come to your senses?"

She tried to step back but he grabbed her forearm in a gentle but unyielding hold. "What are you talking about?"

"You need to leave that Mutt and join me. You'll be treated so well; you'll never think of that asshole again. I promi…"

He stopped suddenly and leaned in even closer, sniffing her hair and neck. "Koga that's really too close…"

"What have you done?"

Koga pulled back and had an angry look on his face that she didn't understand. The hold on her arm tightened too and started to hurt. "Koga… that hurts…"

"What has that mangy Mutt done to you?!"

Suddenly, both her arms were in Koga's hold as he pulled her up and off the ground. Inches from his face, he glared at her hard. But then softened, his eyes dancing to her mouth.

He was going to kiss her.

Before she could decide how she felt about it, she was ripped from his hold. It was a flash of red and white; never had she seen Inuyasha move that fast! The shock wore off and she realized Inuyasha was trying to tear Koga apart. It was already to the point of blood.

The two of them were rolling on the ground, snarling like the animals they belonged to. She chased after them, helplessly calling at them to stop. When they finally did, Inuyasha was on top, his fist connecting with Koga's face over and over again. It was the most sickening sound she'd ever heard and she'd heard bodies exploding.

"Inuyasha STOP! You're KILLING HIM!"

It was as if her voice froze him, his arm hung in the air above Koga's jaw. The wolf demon had the strength to push Inuyasha off and get to his feet but that was all. Kagome ran to his side to help him and ignored the growl that came from Inuyasha as she passed. "Koga?"

"KOGA!"

Two straggling wolf demons ran up to take her place and take Koga. They looked as confused as she felt, her heart still racing with the blood and snarls. Sure, Inuyasha hated Koga but it had NEVER come to blows like that before. Some part of her had always thought the two could be friends one day. Maybe after she returned to her time and there was no reason for them to fight anymore?

But now? She wasn't even sure Koga would help them against Naraku anymore.

"Koga, are you okay?! I'm so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into him…"

"It's my own fault. I should'a known better. Good luck with him, Kagome."

Even bruised and battered, Koga still looked so sad before he shook off his men and flew on his fast feet.

"See ya, Kagome!" Ginta called out.

Hakkaku just pressed a sad smile to his face and the two left after their leader. Leaving her to deal with her confused rage at the Hanyou. But all that, her anger, flew out the window when she was forcefully spun around to meet blood red eyes.

"Kagome! Get away from him!"

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were already surrounding the raging demon but as he stared down at her, she carefully lifted a hand to tell them to 'stand down'. Weapons were lowered but not dropped while Inuyasha's seething breath huffed over her chin and neck.

"Inuyasha?"

He said nothing, grabbing her hard only to pull her into his arms. Thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, she watched her friends shrink in the distance even as they gave chase. They could never hope to keep up with Inuyasha, not in this state.

They were silent and she didn't fight him, letting him take her off to the unknown. He didn't stop until he had both of them high above the forest floor on a thick branch. Putting her down, she leaned heavily against the trunk. She was shaking and only half of that was due to the precarious position in which she now coward.

The demon in her dreams, she never feared. He would never hurt her. But the real demon, the one pacing on the branch before her, was another story. He wasn't rational and he didn't know her name or who she was. He had no feelings for her. Dream demon was just a crazy fantasy; this was real and she was in deep shit right now.

"Inuyasha… why are we up so high?"

"So you can't 'sit' me." He growled.

What the hell? Demon Inuyasha wasn't supposed to be that clever! "Why are you...here?"

He stopped and so did her heart, rounding in on her and placing long thick claws into the bark right next to her head. She didn't blink, his face inches from hers, and red consumed her. "Because Koga was touching you!"

"He..he touches me all the time! Never bothered you before!"

"It always fucking bothered me!"

"Not Inuyasha! Not the Hanyou!"

The tree cracked loudly behind her but she didn't dare look, keeping her eyes forward on him. "It. Always. Bothered. Me."

She released the breath she'd been holding, a whimper coming from her as a result. "Why did you take me? What do you want with me?"

His brows furrowed in confusion but then he was laughing. Kagome would have found comfort in it if it wasn't so empty. "You still think it was a dream, don't you?"

The fear that raced up her spine had nothing to do with her possible bloody death. "What?..."

She sounded so breathy and weak. A perfect representation of how she felt at the moment. It was only made worse when Inuyasha grabbed her and spun her around. She barely got her hands out in time to keep her from face planting into the bark and that was before Inuyasha flung her hair out of his way, gripped her collar hard, and tugged it down.

"What are you…" She stopped when his tongue was at the base of her spine and licking upwards. Just like in her dreams, a rush of bliss went up and down her body. It was like flipping a switch inside her, her body ready and willing to jump on the demon behind her and ride him.

But he let her go and she slowly turned to face him. When their eyes met, she grabbed him instead; pulling him into her and kissing him hard. In the past (when he went full demon) she'd kissed him and it calmed him down. And those times she'd kissed him with far less passion as she dug her hands deep into his locks and rolled her tongue across his lips. This time wasn't just for him; it was for the heat in between her thighs and she blamed him for it completely.

Kagome was sure she'd have a lot of explaining to do when she released him. Or rather when they released each other; his hands grabbed her backside hard to lift her up. What would the Hanyou say when he found her wrapped around him and him around her?

Pulling on his hair she broke free of his mouth, but he just continued down her skin. "Inuyasha, wake up."

"I'm wide awake and so are you."

He was using his nose and lips to open up her top, lifting her with his hands to get lower and lower. "Inuyasha, stop. You don't know what you're doing."

His ragged and hot breath was fogging up her breasts, hovering over the crevice of them. "Don't I?"

Fast movements and he had her left breast in his hand, grabbing and pulling it to the side through her robes. "Inuya…"

He licked her again, this time in the inside of her breast and it caused her to cry out. The amount of pleasure rolling through her made her lose control for a moment, grinding up and down on him before she calmed again. And when she calmed, Kagome only freaked out more.

"It wasn't a dream…."

"I told you…"

"You and I…"

He pressed her hard against the trunk and her wide eyes took in his still red orbs and grinning face. "I told you it wasn't a dream. And to not forget; I'm your first, your only, and your Mate."

It was real. It was true. She had slept with Inuyasha. Repeatedly. She had given him her virginity and hadn't even thought twice about it when she did. He had mated them together all while she thought it was a dream. Correction, Inuyasha's demon half had mated them, while the Hanyou was completely unaware.

"Oh god, Inuyasha what have you done?"

He frowned and lifted her. Her belly flew into her throat when he dropped from the high tree branch back to the ground. Miroku and Sango's voices were just meeting her ears but they were still so far away. She was completely at his mercy.

"Where are you taking me?"

In his arms, he smirked down at her before swinging her over his shoulder and onto his back. "Somewhere where they can't hear you scream."