A/N: I have to apologize for the manga spoilers in the last chapter. You see, when I uploaded, the alerts weren't working, and (for me, that is) the chapter didn't show up. So, I assumed it was all right to do that, since by the time people would see my thoughts on it, they would have already read the chapter. Clearly, I was mistaken. I guess I should wait until Thursday to talk about the chapters from now on, sincemost "OMGMUSTSEECHAPTERNOW!" people would have already found it somewhere.

But considering that there is no chapterfor next week...I will feel quite depressed on having nothing to look forward to onWednesday.

So, there was another terror plot, huh? You know, this is one ofthe reasons I don't like living in America--everyone wants to blow us up. Maybe I'll move to Canada...you don't see mass terrorist plots against Canada, do you? (Well, I haven't heard of any...)

(To answer someone's question, that cutoff is the closest I will get to a lemon. I don't particularly like lemons myself, feeling that it ruins a good story when a fade into black will do. And this story is rated T and going to stay that way.)


Chapter 27: Marked as Yours

The lecherous monk was barely able to contain his glee. "So, tell me again, Kagome-sama, what exactly went on between the Hanyou and the Miko in the cave?"

Sango looked like she would have slapped him if she wasn't worried about disturbing the sleeping baby in her arms.

Kagome, who's face was completely red from embarrassment, muttered, "They became mates."

Chuckling to himself, Miroku commented, "I knew it was a long time before we found out, but I never thought it had been that early…"

"Miroku!" the exterminator yelled, smacking her husband upside the head despite Sakura cradled in her other arm. "There are children here!"

That ended their fight, as Miroku knew he couldn't argue with that. Inuko glanced at the adults wondering what they were talking about that they seemed so angry about.

"Continue with the story, Kagome-chan." Sango told her, casting a warning glance Miroku's way, promising pain if he made one lecherous comment.

Still blushing at having to tell them about the more intimate moments of her and Inuyasha's past, she decided to definitely leave out the rest from her tale. "After…that night…the Hanyou and Miko met up with their companions, determined not to mention what had happened the night before in front of them…"


Birds chirped in the light of new morning as sunlight reached Kagome's face, causing her to stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, to be met with the interior of the cave once more. When she regained her senses, the first things she noticed was she was lying on the pile of hay in the back of the cave, covered, somewhat, by a red haori, a strong arm was around her nude form, pulling her against another, while she felt hot breath on the back of her neck.

Slowly her expression softened as she felt that arm pulled her waist tigher against him, not wanting to let go even in slumber. Inuyasha…

Her muscles protested as she turned to roll over, and another thing she noticed was the soreness in the lower half of her body. Blushing slightly as that thought caused other more intimate ones to appear in her mind, she succeeded in rolling over, to look upon, in her opinion, the most beautiful man on earth.

Inuyasha's looked so serene in sleep, all worries gone at the moment. It brought a smile to Kagome's face seeing him so peaceful like this. He looked just like he had the day she first met him…calmly sleeping, yet looking beautiful as the sunlight glistened on his silver hair. A few pieces of hay were stuck in his hair, but as Kagome ran a hand through her own tussled tresses, she felt many morecaught in her own. She couldn't help but smirk slightly, So a roll in the hay, huh? How befitting…

Turning her attention back to the man beside her, she noticed (earning herself another blush), that the haori was barely covering up the important areas, as most of it seemed to be on her. Then again, considering that the cave was already stuffy from…er, previous activities…and the odd heat they had been having lately, he was probably comfier that way.

Closing her eyes once more, Kagome tried to will her embarrassment away, but with no such luck. Soon Inuyasha would awake, and no doubt want to talk about what had happened the night before, and she didn't want to appear ashamed of what they had done, as she knew it would hurt him. But she couldn't help but feel that way. She was horribly inexperienced in this particular area (and as she had discovered the night before, but had already suspected) so was Inuyasha.

Kagome opened her eyes and looked back at him. She had been nervous about what happened the night before, afraid of so many things, but they had all seemed silly now that she thought about. Inuyasha told her over and over she was beautiful, despite how many times she felt herself turn bright red and wish there was something to hide under, and since he had never done this before either, it wasn't like he could judge on if she had done her part right or not.

And, to her surprise, after it, she didn't feel dirty or ruined at all. Well, she felt different, sort of like one feels on their birthday—passing from one experience in life to the next—, but never like she had committed a vile sin, as she had expected. Nothing she did with Inuyasha could be considered that, not when what had happened had been a beautiful act of complete trust and love.

Kagome gently traced Inuyasha's face with her hand. Inuyasha…the man she loved…her lover…her mate…Forever.

The hanyou sucked in a breath as his amber eyes slowly opened, to view his mate smiling at him softly. "Kagome…" he murmured, blinking slightly as his eyes adjusted to the light.

"Inuyasha…" she replied, as his own palm came to rest on her cheek.

His arm sliding back to her waist to pull her towards him, he asked, "How do you feel?" remembering she had felt discomfort during the night.

Her smile brightened. "Wonderful."

"Good." Inuyasha slowly closed the gap between them by pressing his lips to hers, savoring this feeling of waking up next to his mate for the first time. The first out of many times, he hoped.

When he pulled away, he held Kagome against his chest, cradling her body to his. Their combined scents floated around the stuffy air of the cave, but the hanyou didn't care very much. In Kagome's beautiful scent would always rest a permanent, albeit small, layer of his own, marking her as his. His mate.

Mate…He would never get tired of thinking that…But there was only one thing that remained now…

"Kagome," he said, looking down at her in his arms.

"Yes?" she asked, snuggling herself deeper into his chest, loving the feeling of being in his arms.

A tiny blush lit his cheeks. Despite what had happened the night before, he didn't think he would ever be comfortable talking about these things. "Kagome…what we did last night…it's not exactly complete…"

Pulling away slightly to look back into his eyes, Kagome asked, "What do you mean?"

Sighing slightly, Inuyasha sat up, the change in position making it so only the sleeve of his haori was covering his…unmentionables. She sat up as well, but held the haori to her chest, still feeling nervous about being completely exposed in his presence. "Kagome…when a youkai takes a mate, there are two things he has to do before it is official," Inuyasha explained. "He has to mark her and mate her before it is considered complete."

Well, they had already mated, so… Kagome's hand rose up to the oval shaped bruise on her neck. "I thought you already marked me," she grinned, teasing.

"It's not like that," he muttered, blushing once more.

Lowering her hand, her smirk dropping, she asked, "Well, what is it, then?"

With a sigh, Inuyasha scooted closer to her, brushing her raven black hair off her shoulder. "You see, when a youkai marks a mate…he marks her, right here," he said, his thumb running over the pulse point at the base of her neck."

Kagome shuddered, remembering all the times he had kissed her right there…she knewhow sensitive that place was. "H-how does he do it?"

"He has to bite her there, and then bite the inside of his lip, allowing their blood to combine, and creating a bond between souls."

She pulled slightly away, running her hand over the point where she felt her pulse. His words created images of vampires she had seen on TV to pop up in her mind. "Does…does it hurt?"

Noticing his mate's worry, he told her, "I'm not going to mark you there, Kagome. Youkai could handle it, but humans…if I hit the wrong spot, you could bleed to death."

She cringed. That didn't sound like a very fun prospect. "Well, where are you going to mark me, then?"

"Give me your hand." Kagome slowly extended her arm, Inuyasha catching her palm, and gently running hisfingers across it. "There are other ways to bond blood…Sorry about this, Kagome, but it might hurt a second…"

Kagome sucked in a breath as he swiftly cut a small, thin gash across her left palm with his sharp fingernail. A second later he had done it on his own hand as well, but on his right. His amber eyes glanced up into hers. "I'm not really sure what's going to happen…are you ready?"

Smiling slightly, she nodded. "I'm ready."

With that, he entwined their hands, pressing the cut in their palms together. The instant the blood mixed, Kagome felt a strange power from within her. It was as if an invisible wind had whipped up around them, and before their very eyes, their auras appeared, hers the bright pink of a miko, Inuyasha's a dark red.

Kagome gasped, watching the two auras intermingle and overlap, before suddenly combining in a brilliant, golden light. As it washed over the two, suddenly, Kagome was very aware of Inuyasha…and everything about him. She could hear his steady heart beat in her mind and every breath he took. Soon, it seemed, his consciousness lay bare to her, and in one second, she knew everything about him.

She could feel the slight happiness in his heart of when he remembered the kindness his mother had given him, against the pain that he had grown up with at an early age. Kagome knew the despair as his mother died, that terrible, unknowing feeling. The coldness that had grown in his heart as he had been left alone…She knew of all the terrible words Sesshoumaru had said to him the first time they had met, and the words that he heard everywhere he went, from either youkai or human.

Even though it gave her slight discomfort, she knew that when he first found Kikyou, someone who had accepted him, he felt relieved, and for the first time, got a glimpse of love. But this feeling was darkened with the torment of betrayal, and the hurt he felt when she had pinned him to the tree…they way he felt this was what he deserved because of what he was…

For a second Kagome wondered if it was over, for she felt nothing, but she was startled once again as she could see the confused feelings he held when he first met her, wondering why a girl who was Kikyou's reincarnation would be so kind to him. After the dark years of his life, light was beginning to grow. He began to learn what it was like to be happy and to have a purpose—someone to protect. The only light against the shadow and hatred of Naraku.

But those feelings for herself collided with the sense of obligation and loss whenever Kikyou came in. It was like a nagging feeling, something that he knew was there, but sometimes caused more problems then it was worth. Kagome could see the sadness he felt whenever she felt bad when he went to Kikyou, knowing it was his fault. Steadily, those warm feelings for her grew, until at last, he admitted it was love…a love darkened by the fact that he thought he would never be accepted.

Unfathomable joy lay in Inuyasha's heart when he learned Kagome loved him as well…a woman who at every turn, made him more and more in love with him. And now they were mates, something even now he couldn't believe. She was so beautiful, so pure…truly his angel beyond compare. She was his life, and he needed her now, because without her, he would have nothing…Nothing but memories of a small happiness against a life of loneliness.

As the golden light began to disperse, Kagome gasped and felt a tear roll down her cheek as she pulled her hand away. Where the cut had been, now lay a slightly pink scar, one she knew would never heal. Inuyasha…

Knowing his feelings was almost too much, she felt another tear sprout in her eye. She had never known he needed her so much, and how he felt like life wasn't worth living without her. She knew he had a sad past, but had never really felt all those feelings at once.

Inuyasha noticed her sudden sadness. "Hey, what are you crying for?" As she sniffed for a second and wiped her eye on his haori, it dawned on him. "Kagome…did you see…"

She nodded, burying her face in his haori, trying to stop the tears. "How did you do it?"

He raised his eyebrows. "What?"

Glancing up at him with tear filled brown eyes, she asked, "How did you go on like that…when you had so much pain..."

Wrapping an arm around her, he told her softly, "Because I always hoped that life would get better, and it has…" His lips brushed her forehead. "Life brought me you."

While she continued to wipe her eyes, it was impossible for her not to smile at that. "I'm glad it did," she murmured, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

No words were spoken so they could enjoy this wonderful moment, but Inuyasha soon spoke up, "Kagome?"

"Hm?" she asked, not moving or opening her eyes. She liked being in his arms.

"You know that weird thing that happened a minute ago?"

She guessed he was referring to the part where she was able to see all his feelings. "Yes?"

"Well…" he glanced away for a moment, only to look back at her with a puzzled expression. "What does 'sexy' mean?"

Blushing red, Kagome backed away a bit, so she could speak to him. I guess he saw my feelings too… "Um…well…It means someone is…good looking…Extremely good looking…"

"How good looking?" he grinned. It seemed he was trying to milk this for all it was worth.

There was no point in being embarressed now. She smirked, "I guess you could say so good looking that you have to restrain yourself from jumping them."

Inuyasha's grin grew wider, and her heart thumped in her chest, wondering what he was planning. "Then I guess I could call you 'sexy' too, woman. Though, I doubt I'll be restraining myself for much longer."

"Inuyash—!" Kaogme was cut off as her hanyou suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into a fierce, passionate embrace. This was the Inuyasha she loved. No matter what pain they both held, they were able to snap back into smiles soon afterward. He had come a long way since she had met him, and though she knew he would never be able to completely get rid of the old barbs on his heart, she was glad that around her, his old pain was forgotten.

An instant later, Kagome found herself in the same position she was the night before, back down on the hay with an overeager hanyou hovering above her. Not that she minded… Her arms wrapped around his back and pulled him closer, willing to share in their love once more, to enjoy it all while it lasted—

Which was only a few seconds. "Kagome-chan! Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha was so stunned at the impending arrival of his friends, that his arms suddenly gave out and he collapsed on top of her, both wearing horrified faces. Of all things to happen, they did not want their friends discovering this right now.

After a second of staring at each other, both hanyou and miko made a mad dash for their clothes, their hurry and fear causing Kagome to put on her shirt backwards twice before getting it right. She barely had anytime to pull her shoes on by the time she saw Miroku, Sango, and Shippou flying towards them on Kirara.

Glancing once more at one another, carrying blushes on their faces, Inuyasha bent down so Kagome could climb on his back. They jumped out of the cave, acting like nothing unusual had happened. When she slid off his back so they could join their friends, she knew without being told that this was something their friends weren't to know of, at least, not right away.

"Kagome-chan!" Sango ran up to her after jumping off Kirara. "We were worried about you."

Putting on a fake smile,Kagome told her, "I'm fine. Inuyasha came and rescued me." Among other things…she couldn't help but think, hoping her blush wasn't showing on her face.

The hanyou glanced towards the village in the distance, hoping that conversation would keep their friends from questioning. "So the fire went out?"

"Yes, it eventually burned itself out, but it didn't move towards the village, thank goodness," Miroku answered.

"So what happened after you were kidnapped?" Shippou asked, jumping on Sango's shoulder.

"They took me to the leader of the youkai," Kagome explained. "He was after the shikon shards. Apparently, Naraku was with them, and hired them to kill us. Inuyasha came and saved me, but we didn't find out anything else from them."

Never missing a chance to add in a lecherous comment, the monk asked, "So, you two 'spent the night' in the cave, huh?"

"Shut it, monk!" Inuyasha roared, smacking the monk upside the head. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice the guilty looks Inuyasha and Kagome exchanged after his words.

Still thoroughly blushing, the hanyou tried to change the subject, "Anyway, we should probably head back to the village. That's where we were going anyway, right?"

"Yeah," Kagome nodded, picking up on his intentional distractions. "And I wanted to go back to my time for my birthday." At the mention of her birthday, Inuyasha glanced at her, and she returned the gaze. That brought back memories of a year ago...of when he had first given her the necklace that remained around her neck…and how their relationship had steadily grown since then…

But then one of the images from the night before came into Kagome's mind…of Inuyasha holding her in his arms…waking up beside him, as she wished to wake up each day of her life…Now that they were mates, things were going to get harder. How would they tell their friends? How would they keep it from them if Inuyasha wasn't ready to tell them yet? What would they do if Naraku found out?

Maybe it was a mistake, but looking on that night, that wonderful night, Kagome didn't care. She was bound to Inuyasha forever, and that was something she wouldn't change for the world.

As they continued on their journey, the morning mostly forgotten, Shippou jumped on Kagome's shoulder. Kagome smiled at him, before being lost in her happy thoughts that had still not ceased from the morning in her mind. She didn't notice that the kitsune found something strange about her scent…she smelled like Inuyasha all over.

Shippou rolled his eyes. Inuyasha was probably kissing her or holding her all night or something. But something else struck him as odd. "Hey, Kagome?"

"Yes, Shippou-chan?" she asked, turning to him.

"What's that on your neck?" he pointed to the bruise that she remembered teasing Inuyasha about hours earlier. All eyes looked towards her as she turned bright red, much like a hanyou who was happy no one glanced in his direction.

Quickly covering it with her left hand, the hand that had a scar the kitsune hadn't remembered seeing before, she muttered, "Mosquito bite."

The humans shrugged and accepted it, going back to what they were thinking before, but Shippou wasn't so sure. Kagome was hiding something, and he was willing to be it had to do with Inuyasha.

I will find out what's going on! he vowed. I will!