Disclaimer: Still waiting….
A/N: -ducks blunt flying objects all around- Hey! Come on now! I didn't leave you hanging that long! -shoves chapter at mad rampaging crowd- Here! Read it! -runs away quickly-
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Chapter 20- A Cry in the Night
Kitto caught up to Inu Yasha as he tried to serge through the crowd with the little girl still hugged to his chest. "Inu Yasha, do you think it was a good idea to leave Kagome alone like that?" Shippo shot the man a worried look.
The hanyou nearly missed a step. "If she stays with the others, she'll be fine." Even as he spoke, he knew that was unlikely. 'Please, Kagome, do what I say for once. Stay safe till I can get back to you.'
"Over there! They took him that way!" Kahou pointed to a portable building with an alleyway between two real buildings behind it. Inu Yasha turned his attention back to the crisis at hand, though his heart remained with the miko he desperately wanted to return to.
The three men skittered to a stop at the entrance to the alley. Chi was leaning against the wall, while Gyou tried to lift Sota off the ground by his hair alone. Sota squirmed, trying desperately to escape the older boys grip. Gyou laughed at his pathetic attempt.
"Let him go!" Inu Yasha set Kahou on her feet and ushered her out of sight.
Sota's eyes lit up. "Inu Yasha!" He glared up at Gyou. "You're going to get it now! Inu Yasha will pound you to a pulp!"
"Damn straight, I will." Inu Yasha cracked his knuckles and prowled forward.
"Let the boy go, now!" Kitto threatened as he stepped forward as well.
Shippo yawned. "Oh, come on. You two don't stand a chance. You might as well give it up now. Inu Yasha won't even break a sweat beating the two of you." He shot them a bored expression, before idly glancing at his nails.
"Feh." Inu Yasha continued his slow approach. "Didn't you two learn your lesson last time?"
Gyou wrapped his hand around Sota's neck. "You should be more worried about that little slut. She's probably eating cement right about now."
Inu Yasha growled viciously. 'Damn it! This was a distraction to draw me away from Kagome.' "You bastards!"
This seemed to finally draw Shippo's attention. "Inu Yasha, go to Kagome. I'll handle these two." He stepped up beside Inu Yasha with a new level of determination in his gaze.
Inu Yasha spared Sota another quick glance, before nodding his agreement. "If anything has happened to her, I'm coming back to kill the two of you!" He snarled before dashing back out into the crowd.
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Kagome was pulled away from the lights of the street into the dark alleyway. She staggered as she was slammed against a brick wall. Her eyes widened as the dim figure before her came into view. 'Taro! Oh, no! Inu Yasha! Inu Yasha, help!'
Taro's foul breath brushed over her cheek as he leaned in close. "Well, well, lookkie what we have here. What's the matter princess? Why are you all alone?" He wrapped a large hand around her throat, but removed the one from her mouth so she could speak.
Kagome gasped. "W-what do you want, Taro? My brother is-"
"Your brother is just another piece of trash like you. I'm here to remind you of your place in this family. You'll give Shina her little play thing and then you'll run along home. Get it?"
Kagome trembled in anger despite the impending danger before her. "Play thing! Inu Yasha is no one's 'play thing'! She'll never get her hands on him!"
The resounding contact of flesh on flesh echoed in the dingy alley. Kagome slumped against the wall, a hand pressed to her injured cheek. Taro glared down at her. "I'd suggest you cooperate. Otherwise…" He cracked his knuckles. "When you wake up tomorrow, that is if you wake up, you're going to be in a world of pain."
"Never!" Kagome spit defiantly in his face.
Taro's anger swelled red in his features. "Little bitch!" When he struck her this time, she stumbled away from him with the force of it deeper into the alley.
The sting of tears behind her eyes threatened to escape. 'No, I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.' There was no escape. Taro blocked the only exit to the alleyway.
"What's the matter? Is the little tramp going to cry?"
Kagome frowned and she did the only thing she knew to do. "Inu Yasha!" The cry was cut short by another blow to her cheek that sent her careening backwards falling to her hands and knees. The impact of the blow split her lip, causing a trickle of blood to curl down her chin.
Taro laughed. "Your boyfriend won't be coming this time. And even if he does I'll pound him into the ground, whether Shina likes it or not."
Kagome's eyes narrowed even as a tear slipped from one. Her miko aura crackled around her, trying to protect her. But the power was of no use on humans. "Why?" She choked, still trying to get to her feet. Taro was faster. He kicked her hard in the stomach and she finally collapsed to the dingy alley floor.
Taro laughed once more. "Now, you understand. You're place is at the feet of your betters."
Kagome's eyes widened as he approached her again. She wasn't certain what happened as the world swayed and she felt her head connect with the cold cement. 'Inu Yasha, where are you?' Then the all consuming blackness fell over her.
"Kagome!"
Taro had no chance to react as the streak of silver and red slammed into him with the force of a volcano. He staggered back clutching his jaw. Inu Yasha crouched beside his miko and brushed her raven locks from her face, while keeping a weary eye on the man before him. The scent of Kagome's blood was driving his instincts wild. 'Mate…hurt…help mate…' His instincts cried. He touched the droplet of blood on her chin and licked it from his fingertip before standing.
Taro watched the young man's rigid movements as he placed himself between him and the injured girl. A terrible growl rose to echo off the walls as he lifted his eyes to bore holes into him. Taro gasped as the young man's eyes flashed from gold to red to gold. "What the hell are you?"
"I'm the man that's going to kill you, for daring to lay a hand on Kagome." Inu Yasha's voice trembled with his effort to contain his demon half. Tetsusaiga also trembled at his side trying to keep the demon in check. He gripped in so tightly that his knuckles turned white. If it hadn't been for the sword, the human before him would be dead already.
Taro nearly took a step back at the vehemence and conviction behind the words. "You can't….You can't kill me. I'm family after all." A small smirk appeared on his lips at his tiny victory. When Inu Yasha suddenly bared his fangs in full view, Taro finally took that step in retreat.
"Family! Is that what you call yourself? Feh! I'd say you're no worse than a common thug! Besides…" Inu Yasha shot forward in a blur of red and pinned Taro to the wall by his throat. "I've tried to kill my own brother a hundred times. What makes you think I won't kill you?"
Taro narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze to Kagome, who still lay motionless on the ground. Inu Yasha's warning growl brought his gaze back to the irate hanyou. "What about your little slut? Do you think she'd appreciate you killing a family member?"
Inu Yasha's grip tightened on the man's throat. "Fine, I won't kill you, but by the time I'm done with you, you're going to wish I had." His eyes flashed red once more as he lifted Taro off his feet and sent him sailing through the air to crash into the far wall.
Taro struggled to his feet as the hanyou stalked towards him with every intention of breaking everyone of the man's bones. Taro shook his head to dispel the haze. "You're not even human. You're some kind of freak!" When Inu Yasha was close enough Taro made a swing for him. He never had a chance compared to the battle worn hanyou.
Inu Yasha dodged the blow easily and fired off a round of punches to his head, speaking with each blow. "You'll never lay another hand on her ever again!" The final blow struck in the chest and the crunch of bones breaking was music to Inu Yasha's hidden ears. Taro made another swing at him. This time Inu Yasha caught his arm and with a strangled cry from his foe, he snapped the arm in two at the elbow.
Taro staggered away from him with as much strength as he could manage, all the while clutching his injured arm. "Damn it! What are you!" Inu Yasha growled as he snatched away his bandana revealing his frustrated dog ears. Taro gasped and took another step away. "You're a youkai!"
Inu Yasha continued to growl as he prowled closer. "Inuhanyou to be precise. And I'm going to teach you to stay away from my mate!" He shot forward again slamming him into the wall so hard that it shook. When Inu Yasha finally pulled away, Taro slumped to the ground, both knees shattered. Inu Yasha snorted as he nudged the man with his foot. "Damn, that was hardly even a fight." Taro didn't move. Inu Yasha glowered. "You're one lucky bastard. I'm letting you live because of her, not because you deserve it."
Inu Yasha turned his gaze to Kagome's still form. He ran to her side, forgetting Taro all together. Kneeling beside her, he lifted her gently into his arms. "Kagome?" He ran a claw lightly along the swelling flesh of her battered cheek. "Come on, Kagome, open your eyes." Her steady heart beat and breathing was small consolation to her silence. He shook her gently. "Please, Kagome, talk to me." A soft groan escaped her, but she didn't open her eyes.
The scent of her blood was once again making his instincts go wild. 'Mine,' they whispered. Without any real thought he dipped his head and began to lick at the wound to her lip. He cleaned away the dried blood on her chin and worked away the crusting blood on her lip. He had to clean her, every part of him screamed to clean her, to ensure she was healed, to ensure she was safe.
Kagome moaned softly and cracked her eyes to look up at him. "Inu…Yasha…"
He rose up a little to gaze at her, his amber eyes mixed with concern and relief. "Kagome?"
She tried to smile, but grimaced as her cheek ached and her lip slit a little more. In the back of her mind, she registered the tingling sensation on her lip that came with Inu Yasha's healing powers.
"I'm sorry." When she blinked at him blankly, he frowned. "I should've known it was a distraction."
Her eyes widened. "Sota?"
"He's fine. Shippo has him." He brushed her hair from her brow and placed a kiss there. "Sleep, koi. I'm here now. You're safe."
As if his quiet demand was enough, she closed her eyes and snuggled into his chest. He sighed as he rose with her held tightly to him. 'No man will ever lay their hands on you again. You're mine.' With that firmly in his mind, he started toward the alley entrance. He paused to snarl at the motionless body of Taro and give him one last kick for good measure before leaving.
The street was still crowded with people, none of whom had seemed to notice the ruckus. A few strangers stopped to stare at the couple. Inu Yasha suddenly flattened his ears so they were hid behind his ruffled hair. 'I forgot the bandana!' Luckily the people seemed more interested in the injured miko than him. Keeping his ears as flat as possible, he moved through the crowd to the table where the others had stayed beside the cotton-candy stand.
The others rose as he approached with Kagome pressed tightly against his chest. Shippo had been true to his word. He'd brought both Sota and Kahou back safely to the group. The women gasped and tried to rush to Kagome. Inu Yasha growled fiercely and stepped back. The women stopped short and gasped. Sota approached Inu Yasha warily.
"Inu Yasha, is Kagome all right?"
The hanyou seemed to relax a little as he looked down into the boy's worried chocolate eyes, that so resembled his sister's. "Yeah, kid, she'll be fine. She needs rest. I'm taking her back to the hotel."
Sota frowned and nodded. "Okay, but do you think I could stay for a while? Kahou and I didn't even get to try any of the games or rides."
Inu Yasha frowned as he glanced at Kagome. She'd be angry if he just left the boy and little girl here. But then again she wouldn't want to ruin his fun, after all it was still rather early. His frown deepened as his dilemma grew.
"I'll keep an eye on the squirts." Shippo volunteered.
Inu Yasha blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
"I said I'll watch them. Ayume will help, won't you?" Shippo flashed her a charming smile.
"Yes, we'll help!" The three classmates chimed as one. Shippo chuckled nervously.
Inu Yasha looked worriedly at Sota. "That okay with you, kid?"
Sota nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that'll be great! Inu Yasha, you should have seen Shippo! He was like bang, zap, powl! It was so cool!"
"Yeah, he didn't even leave me anything." Kitto whined.
Yuki elbowed him. "You don't even need to be fighting in the first place!" Kitto pouted but remained quiet.
Shippo blushed lightly. "Um, well, I had a really good teacher." He cast Inu Yasha a quick glance that the hanyou didn't catch.
Inu Yasha finally nodded his approval to the new plan. "All right, I'm leaving them with you, Shippo. If anything happens to them, you'll have to deal with Kagome."
Shippo frowned, understanding the true seriousness of the statement. Kagome's wrath was one he never wanted to be on the receiving end of. "I'll make sure nothing happens to them."
"Good. See you later." Without further conversation, Inu Yasha rushed off with Kagome back into the crowd, a mix of silver and raven hair floating behind them.
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In the outskirts of Tokyo, buried in the heart of a forest, a pair of golden eyes searched out a pair of chocolate orbs that had captured him for half a millennium. "Tonight."
Her response sent a familiar shiver down his spine. "Forever."
"You'll be able to see them soon."
"Yes, only a few more months. I've waited so long."
"Yes, you have. You deserve to see them."
"We both do."
His golden gaze lit with a familiar flame. "I love you."
"I love you too, my koishii." The same flame danced behind her eyes as well.
(A/N: That was supposed to be confusing, because it's a hint. If you can't figure it out, you'll just have to wait.)
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Inu Yasha nudged open the sliding glass door with his foot, which was a little difficult. But he was unwilling to release Kagome for even a second. He needed to be sure she was safe first. Slowly he moved from the balcony into the bedroom, his relaxed appendages twitching like radars for any sounds within. He frowned as he moved toward the bed. It was quiet- too quiet. He couldn't hear anyone in the suite at all.
Laying Kagome gently on the bed, he brushed her hair from her face. She opened her eyes, which seemed far more alert than they had earlier, and licked her lips. "Water."
He nodded and went into the kitchen to fetch a glass. He paused beside the table, where he found a note.
"Kagome, Gramps talked me into going to play cards with him and your uncles. I have a feeling this is going to be a disaster, but I thought I'd give it a try. I'll be back pretty late, but I know you'll be okay, especially because Inu Yasha is there. There're some sandwiches in the fridge for Sota, some oden for you, and I left out some ramen for Inu Yasha. Don't let the dear eat all of it, okay? Love you much, Mom."
Inu Yasha sighed as he dropped the note back onto the table. Well, at least she wasn't here to see Kagome in the state that she was. He rummaged for the glass, for once ignoring the instant ramen that sat on the counter ready for consumption. After filling the glass with cool water, he headed back to the bedroom. He helped Kagome sit up and he sat behind her for support. She sipped the water a few times, before she allowed him to take it from her.
He drug a claw tenderly over her swollen cheek once again. "Does it hurt?" She glanced at him and then immediately looked away. "Don't lie to me, Kagome. You know I can tell."
"A little." She answered in a small voice. He growled and cursed softly, but stopped when she spoke again. "I'm sorry."
"Huh? Why are you sorry? That bastard-!"
"I should have listened to you and stayed with the others. I'm sorry." She dropped her chin shamefully.
He tilted her face back to his. "Yes, you should have listened, but you never do. I should have known that. I shouldn't have allowed them to trick me. If I'd been any later…"
"Bur if I hadn't wandered off…I'm sorry, I was just so worried about you and-"
"No, damn it! It was all that bastard Taro's and that bitch Shina's doing! Don't you dare blame yourself!" He pulled her deeper into his chest and clenched his eyes shut. "No man should ever lay their hands on you! Never again! Your mine!"
"Inu Yasha?"
He gasped softly when he felt her small hand on his cheek. When he opened his eyes, he found her staring up at him with such love and adoration, tenderness and understanding, hope and wonder, truth and promises that he was undone. There was nothing left of him, no barriers, no traumatic childhood, no pain, no fear, nothing. Her love engulfed him, made him surrender to her, laid him bare before her. "Kagome, will you be my mate? Will you be with me forever?"
When she opened her mouth to speak, he put a finger gently against her lips to silence her. "You have to understand. For me it can only be you, forever. We will live together, we will age together, we will die together. Do you understand? You will out live all those you love- your mother, your grandfather, Sota, Sango, Miroku- all of them, if you choose to be with me."
She gently took his hand from her lips and held it. "But not you." He blinked at her. "I won't out live you." She smiled. "That is more than I could ever hope for. I wouldn't want to live without you. As long as I have you, I can survive anything. I'll be your mate Inu Yasha, as long as you'll be mine."
His golden eyes sparkled with amazement and wonder at her response, before they shifted into a deep amber hue filled with hunger tempered by love. "Always, Kagome." She lifted herself up and pressed her lips gently to his. The gentleness and warmth of the kiss made his eyes sting with unshed tears. 'Mine.' He shifted their positions, without breaking the sweet kiss, to lay Kagome against the pillows.
He drew back to gaze down at her with tenderness as he touched her injured lip. "Kagome, we could do this later when your better."
She shook her head. "I've waited long enough already. So, have you." She gave the closed bedroom door a nervous glance.
Inu Yasha's voice was like silk as he ran his claws through her hair. "Don't worry. No ones here. Sota is with Shippo, and your mother and grandfather are gone for the evening." He continued to stroke her hair, never rushing her, never pushing her.
Kagome smiled up at him, before pulling him down into a deeper-more hungry- kiss. Inu Yasha allowed her to set the pace of the kiss as he lavishly licked the split in her lower lip. The wound was already healing at a far faster rate, because of his healing powers.
Kagome felt the familiar tingle of Inu Yasha's healing powers seep into her skin, numbing it. She pressed harder against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. She shivered as he ran his claws along her sides. He broke the kiss to press butterfly kisses against her swollen cheek and along her neck. He gently tugged open her kimono, exposing her to him. She arched into his touch as his cool hands connected with her warm soft skin. When he discovered the bruised flesh of her stomach, he growled as he traced it with a claw.
He lifted his golden eyes to hers and she nearly gasped at the pain and guilt contained within him. She rose up slightly to push his haori and undershirt from his shoulders. He closed his eyes, reveling in her touch as she ran her fingers down his bare chest. A soft rumble grew deep inside him and seemed to resonate through Kagome's body. She drew him back down to her and rested his head on her breasts where she rubbed his ears with gentle strokes. His rumble increased and he turned his nose to bury it between her breasts. A quick snip with his fangs on the tiny band that held the bra together, made it fall away.
Kagome gasped as his mouth found the warm mound of her breast. She arched into him when he nibbled at her hardened nipple. His lips trailed up to suck softly at the throbbing vein in her neck. He lifted her with one arm and pushed away the remainder of her kimono with his free hand. Again he laid her against the pillows before beginning a thorough exploration of her body.
Kagome found herself in a haze of sensation as his lips and tongue found places she could never have imagine would send her mind spinning out of control and her body reacting of its own accord….
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Kagome collapsed against the pillows as he began to lick lovingly at the tiny wound. By morning it would be his mark, a half moon crossed by a single jagged violet bolt. Kagome sighed as he rose up to nuzzle against her neck. He slowly withdrew from her to lie beside his new mate. He drew her into his chest, kissing her forehead with tenderness and reveling in their mixed scents that permeated the room. "Sleep, my Kagome."
She placed a soft kiss under his chin. "Goodnight, my mate."
A smile played on his lips as he pulled the covers over them. 'My mate…mine…forever…' He closed his eyes as Kagome's scent filled his mind and he drifted off into blissful dreams.
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Iki pushed the door open to the suite and strolled in with Gramps in tow. It was past midnight. She hadn't planned to stay out that late, but Gramps had insisted they play one more hand of cards. She frowned at the thought of loosing that last hand of cards as she moved toward her bedroom. The frown faded at the sight that met her. Sota was sprawled across his side of the bed and Kahou was curled up on hers. Iki smiled and decided to leave them where they were.
She changed quietly in the bathroom before stepping back into the living room. Gramps had already pulled out the sofa-bed and was settling in. "I'm sleeping in here tonight. The kids have taken over the bed." Gramps grunted but made sure she had room.
Iki moved into the kitchen and stopped when she spotted the still uneaten Ramen on the counter. She glanced at the note which had been read apparently because it was unfolded and askew from the place she left it. She glanced at Kagome's bedroom door and considered asking her if there was anything wrong. She shook her head at the idea. It was too late for that. She'd find out in the morning. Yawning, she flipped off the lights and climbed into bed with Gramps.
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The sound of a phone ringing beside her head woke her. Iki opened her eyes and was disoriented for a moment. After gathering her bearings, she glanced at the clock and reached for the phone. "Hello?"
"Oh, Iki, dear, I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, no, Grandmother Higurashi. Don't worry. It was time for me to get up and fix the children something to eat anyway." Iki stood and put her robe on before heading into the kitchen to set a pot of tea.
The older woman on the other end of the line seemed to smile. "Oh, that's right. Sora said they all went out to the festival last night."
"Yes, they must have had one very fun and eventful night because they were all passed out by the time I got home last night."
Grandmother chuckled. "I heard there was quite a fiasco at the poker match last night."
Iki blinked and blushed though she knew the woman couldn't see her. "Um, so you know about that, huh?"
The woman's chuckle increased. "There is little that goes on in this family that I know nothing about."
Iki poured herself a cup of steaming tea. She smiled. "I guess not."
The elderly woman took a deep breath. "Iki, is my granddaughter awake yet?"
"Not yet or at least I don't think so. I haven't checked on her yet this morning. Did you need to talk with her? I can wake her."
"No, no, it's fine. Why don't you send her to my room, when she wakes? I'd like to talk to her, but it seems we always get interrupted. She can bring along that friend of hers if she'd like."
"Inu Yasha?" Iki chuckled lightly. "I doubt he'd let her go without him."
You could almost hear the woman's smile in her voice. "Yes, I'd say you were right about that. He seems very protective of her."
Iki sipped her tea. "I'll send them right over."
"Thank you, dear, goodbye."
"Goodbye, Grandmother." Iki replaced the receiver and stepped to the patio door to smile out at the already risen sun. It was already late morning. 'Inu Yasha and Kagome are usually up with the sun. I'm surprised neither of them has come to rummage for breakfast yet.' She sighed. 'I might as well wake them so they can get dressed while I make them something to eat before they go to see Grandmother Higurashi.'
She strolled across the room and pushed open the door to their bedroom without knocking. The scene that met her was –to say the least- alarming. Kagome was buried deep in Inu Yasha's bare chest. One of her bare shoulders peeked out from beneath the sheets. Iki could see some sort of symbol there, but couldn't quite tell what it was. She stood as if made of petrified wood, her jaw hanging open and her hands trembling.
Inu Yasha's ears twitched as the sudden awareness of another presence in the room caught him. He growled, drawing his mate deeper into him. The sharp gasp and sound of a mug shattering, mixed with the familiar scent was enough to make his eyes shoot open. He slowly turned his head to look at Kagome's mother. A sudden wave of possessiveness made him growl again and pull the covers up to hide Kagome's shoulder.
Iki opened and closed her mouth several times, but no sound came out of it. This drew another growl out of the hanyou directed at the gawking woman. Kagome stirred in his arms. She groaned softly as she opened her sleepy eyes to stare at her mate. "Inu…Inu Yasha, what is it?" She blinked a couple of times before following his gaze. She gasped and tried to bury herself further into his chest. Her scent spiking with anxiety, nearly threw him over the edge.
"Get out." He growled in as controlled of a tone as he could manage.
Iki, however had seemed to gather some of her senses. She stood her ground. "You two get dressed. We'll discuss this then. Kagome, you're grandmother wants to see, so hurry up." She knelt quickly and gathered the shattered mug before stepping out of the room and closing the door.
Kagome groaned. "That was not good."
Inu Yasha frowned. "Are you ashamed of me?"
Kagome's eyes shot wide and she cupped his cheeks in her hands. "No! Never! I'd never be ashamed of you." She sighed. "I just didn't want to tell her like that."
Inu Yasha snorted. "She'd have found out sooner or later, might as well let her know the truth now." He lifted her chin with a single clawed finger. "You're my mate after all. And no ones going to take you from me, not even her." A small smile crossed her lips, before he brushed his over them. "Mine."
"Yours."
A/N: There you go...don't eat me, okay? -pouts- Love you guys! Bye the way I love your funny reviews! They really help with terribly stressful past couple of weeks I've had. Much thanks! TTFN
