Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its original characters.

A/N: Warning for smuttiness at the end of this chapter, the tamer version is here while the original one is posted on AO3, same story's title and username.

Chapter Sixteen: Anger

As soon as Sesshomaru left their house, Inuyasha took Kagome in his arms and started cradling her to soothe both their fears. He didn't want to admit it, but Sesshomaru's words hurt and what was worst was that he didn't even think about it once since he had mated Kagome. He had bonded with her, not even thinking about the life he was condemning her. They were happy now, but in ten or twenty years, they would start to realize the difference between every other villager and them. While Miroku and Sango would age like any other human, Kagome will remain the same. He didn't even want to think about what would happen when they would eventually die. He had condemned her to a life full of death: even if they got to live for 500 years, she would probably see her mother and brother die too.

His Kagome was going to break.

"Who does he think he is?" Inuyasha spat out. He tightened his grip on Kagome and left light kisses on her forehead. "I don't want to even think about that fucker anymore. He comes seeking my help and then tries to anger me on purpose. Does he think I didn't understand his game? One would think he would try to be nice for once if he's trying to get something from me. But then, I forget that he usually demand things, and people bend to his will. Pathetic! 'The council is demanding me to provide an heir' blah blah blah. Poor Sesshomaru, he can't have a son if he does like to have a stick up his ass." He snorted, "He thinks he can make me indulge every whim of his, not a chance! He wanted to kill me all my life just because my father loved my mother and not his, heck! He even tried to kill you countless times just because we were fucking travelling together because you were human. He's just a spoiled child. Why would I want to be his heir or leave among people that hate our living guts just because of our blood? And I should bring my son there? So that he could experience what kind of life a mixed breed can lead among them too? So that he can experience all the hatred and the disgust they reserve us just because we're considered inferior? Dream on, Sesshomaru!"

Kagome let him ramble on until she deemed it safe to stop him. She also realized that the way he was holding her was due to his own fears. Inuyasha was seeking comfort from his tight embrace as much as he was trying to give it to her.

"Inuyasha, it's ok, we don't have to go anywhere, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We will face every problem that will arise with time and adjust our life consequently. But please, stop, you'll wake up Muteki, and we don't need him to scream too," she reasoned, locking her eyes with his to show her undying love and support.

"I know, I'm sorry. Fuck, I just... I just need to blow off some steam, time to think about what the fuck has just happened," he said while getting up and starting pacing back and forth, "I could use some brainless demon right now. Or maybe some tougher one, I could use a good fight."

"Maybe you could let off some steam in another way," she said while coming closer to him and trying to kiss him.

He held up his hands and stopped her, "I don't think I could do it right now, koi. I could hurt you and not even realized it," he explained, grimacing. He wasn't taking any chance. The rage was too much right now to think about that.

"You would never hurt me, Inuyasha," Kagome argued back. She tried to kiss again or hug him, but he kept her at arm's length.

"Fuck Kagome! I'm not even in my damn right mind. I want... I want, fuck, I want to kill fucking Sesshomaru!" he came closer nonetheless, cupped her cheeks and then kissed her roughly. "I'm picking Rin up and telling her to stay here for the night. I'm gonna go on a patrol, but I don't want you to be alone here. I'd probably meet Shippo there too. The runt is too afraid of screaming pup, and he's staying a lot at Kaede's lately, too much."

With that, he was gone, and Kagome sighed, shook her head and then went to their room to pick Muteki up, who had already woken up because of his father shouting.

"Shh, don't cry... Everything is good," she soothed him. "Papa is just a little angry because uncle Sesshomaru is a... ugh... every word I'm thinking of is too rude for a little and cute baby like you." She kissed him and then promised, "We will make sure you will never have to face the same trials your father had to deal with."

Inuyasha had come back, brought Rin and Shippo and then left again. He hadn't even acknowledged his son, but maybe it was for the best because Muteki would have likely sensed his distress and acted consequently. She didn't need both of them screaming and shouting.

"Kagome? What's the matter with Inuyasha?" the fox demon asked. "I didn't see him like this in years. The last time I saw him acting like that was when Koga was still trying to pursue you," he shook his head and then suddenly paled. "Koga didn't do that again, right? I mean, last time we saw him, he came here to see Muteki when he was born. He couldn't be so stupid. Wait, is Koga we're talking about, maybe he is."

"No, Shippo. Koga didn't come here, and besides, he stopped pursuing me before Naraku's death, remember? It's something completely different," she stated while bouncing her son. "Do you want to eat? I'm gonna cook some ramen because it's late to do something more complicated. I'm sorry." She gave Muteki to Rin and started preparing the water without waiting for a response.

"Then it is something that has to do with Sesshomaru. He is the only one able to anger him like that besides Koga," Shippo said, nodding sagely. "Didn't he come here in the village today, Rin-chan?" the kit inquired.

Rin nodded, "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama brought me another kimono today and said I was doing good with my studies. He even brought me an abacus."

"What did that dog do, Kagome?" Shippo asked again, jumping on her shoulder.

"Shippo! That's not nice to say. Sesshomaru-sama has nothing to do with Inuyasha-sama's anger," Rin explained nicely.

"Rin, your Sesshomaru always treat Inuyasha like shit," he harrumphed. "I don't see why it should be different now. He hates half-demons and humans, and now he could have also said something bad about Muteki. He didn't do that, right, Kagome?" he bounced on his spot on her shoulder and leaned over, trying to peer at her closely.

"Sesshomaru-sama doesn't hate humans and half-demons. Sesshomaru-sama loves me!" Rin shouted, standing up.

"Yes, he does! You're the only one he tolerates. He even kicks Jacken on every occasion, and he is like his best friend," Shippo replied, jumping off and reaching Rin again. The two started looking at each other fiercely in a battle of gazes.

"Oh, Gods! Now what? Do I also have to separate bickering kids? Did Inuyasha have to bring them both here?" she rolled her eyes and took a big gulp of air before pulling her newly found mom act.

"Enough! I don't need you two to fight too. What happens between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru is not your problem. Now eat your ramen, and if you're both good, I'll let you help me with Muteki," she stated with a menacing glare. "And Shippo, I don't care how much time you spend with Inuyasha, I don't want to hear such words coming out of your mouth ever again!"

Shippo gulped at her glare, recognizing it as the one she had every time she was about to sit Inuyasha. He didn't like it when it was directed at him.

"But Sesshomaru-sama didn't make Inuyasha-sama angry, did he? Inuyasha-sama is a good person; it doesn't matter if he is half-demon. Why should it matter?" Rin sniffed and raised her pleading eyes to Kagome.

"Oh, Rin, don't worry. Between brothers is normal to have some arguments. I still have them with my little brother," she explained, hugging her. Shippo snorted, Kagome gave him the hairy eyeball, and he hastily came back to eat his cup of ramen without a word, afraid of the consequences. Since she had Muteki, she had become quite good with those death glares; now, she could send them to anyone's way, not only Inuyasha's.

They were in for a long night.

Inuyasha didn't have much luck either, no demons to fight tonight. He was hiding between the branches of the Goshinboku when he heard the jingles of Miroku's shakujo coming towards him.

Miroku arrived in the clearing and stopped under the God three, looking up even if he couldn't exactly see where his half-demon friend was. "I felt your aura raising at the same time Sesshomaru's left, circa. I supposed you could use some help, even if it's just to blow some steam off," he explained his presence there, "Didn't you find demons on your patrol?"

"Keh. Not much luck, monk," he scoffed, "What are you doing here at night? Why are you not with Sango and the twins? How is your arm?"

Miroku shrugged and said, "Kohaku was already there when I came back this afternoon. He's staying with them while I try to console my dear friend. My arm is good, Inuyasha, but my neck is going to ache soon if you don't come down. It's not comfortable to speak to you like this."

"Keh. No one is forcing you," Inuyasha shot back but then came down anyway. He sat crossing both arms and legs, Tessaiga leaning back on his shoulder and his usual scowl in place.

"So... What happened to force you away from your beautiful wife and screaming pup?" Miroku pried.

"Sesshomaru is the usual prick. He came seeking an agreement and then started instigating me," he chuckled, but his tone held no trace of real amusement. "He called that an agreement, but then he just wanted me to bend to his will, and he told me about it like he was doing me a favour. What a pompous ass does things like that? My bastard of a half-brother, that's who!"

"Sesshomaru wanted something from you? What could you have? I thought he gave up on the Tessaiga long ago. Besides, it's not the type to ask something; he usually kills and takes," Miroku pondered quite surprised. Every time they had sensed him coming to the village in those last months, the dog-demon had always avoided contact, especially with Inuyasha. But now, not only had he sought his brother on purpose, but he had also made some kind of offer.

"Well, it's not like he could kill me this time; he needs me alive," Inuyasha scoffed.

"And what would this thing be?" the monk inquired, now more than curious.

"He wants me to be his heir so the other pompous bastards can get off his back. Apparently, they are pressing him to take a mate and enter a political match much as my father did with his mother centuries ago," he spat out. "I suppose we would have to go living there among a bunch of other pricks like him too. When it became clear I wouldn't give in, he started spouting bullshit like he was doing me a favour because, even if we're happy in the village now, we won't be forever," he concluded and then avoided Miroku's gaze.

Miroku studied him for some minutes and then finally spoke, "I see, he tried to gain leverage through yours or Kagome's feelings. Didn't he?"

Not that it was the first time that, internally, each of them realized their time together would not be infinite. Inuyasha was a half-demon and, as such, would live much longer than a mere human. Kagome, as his mate, had acquired his expanded lifespan. Sesshomaru had proved to be cunning once again.

Inuyasha nodded, still not turning to him. Miroku noticed his clenched fists and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't let him get to you, Inuyasha. He used to do things like this always. He doesn't want to show anyone his real feelings, and that means he won't show you he needs your help too. It's just like you said; he exposed his request as if he was offering you something and not vice versa. He has probably never needed to ask someone's help because he is too used to getting everything without complaints. But then, how much pride he had to swallow to come and seek you? We're talking about the same brother who, until last year, was always trying to kill you."

"Yeah, it must have been really difficult," Inuyasha chuckled, "He probably had to remove the icicle from his ass before coming here."

Miroku nodded, "That could be the case, my friend, that could be the case. But my point is, don't shut the door before he even finishes formulating his request. Maybe he has something interesting to say." He held up his hands before Inuyasha could interrupt him. "I'm not saying you should agree to, just to listen to him before unsheathing that big sword of yours. Maybe next time, he'll try to be more reasonable, even if it is difficult to imagine. And if he doesn't come back, then, his loss."

"Yeah, bet the fucker expects me to seek him instead. Fat chance!" Inuyasha replied, suddenly remembering something. "Fuck! He wants Kagome to go look for him; before I kicked him out of our house, he kept looking at her in a very suggestive way. The fuck she's going to!" he shouted, angry again, "The fuck he's gonna use my mate for his own gain!"

"Ah, yes, he wants to use Kagome's good heart," Miroku said, stroking his chin. "After all, Kagome is the type of woman who wouldn't want two brothers to dislike each other like you two."

"Yes, she is," he agreed, "Especially considering the relationship she has with her kid brother, but, damn, she knows too well to fall in his trap. You didn't see her the first time we met Sesshomaru together, how angry she was with him. She wouldn't do it!"

"Yes, I didn't see that, but I saw the other times, and I also saw when she realized Sesshomaru wasn't trying to kill you anymore. She doesn't hate him now, and she could do anything for you, even speak with your half-brother alone."

"No, she won't, I won't let her!" Inuyasha bellowed, suddenly standing up, heading towards his home.

"Inuyasha, don't be too harsh! Use your head, or you could find yourself eating dirt more than once tonight," Miroku warned while the half-demon was flying away.

Shippo and Rin were already sleeping, and Muteki was cradled in her arms when Inuyasha suddenly returned, looking worse than before, if that was an option. What could have happened?

"You are not doing it!" he ordered, his tone authoritative and harsh.

"Doing what, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, befuddled.

"You're not going to Sesshomaru, is that clear?" he demanded, his voice rising.

"Inuyasha!" she hissed, her anger rising too at this display. "Don't raise your voice. Do you want to wake Muteki up again?" she asked rhetorically as she made her way to their bedroom to put her son in the crib, Inuyasha trailing after her.

He grabbed her arm as soon as she had put Muteki down. "I'm serious, wench. You can't do it," he repeated.

She brought a hand to her temple. "Inuyasha, you're not making sense. All I'm hearing is "you can't do this" and "you can't do that". Care to explain to me what exactly I'm not allowed to do?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes. They were back in the main room now because Kagome had figured there were fewer chances to wake their son there, even if Inuyasha raised his voice.

"Sesshomaru wants you to go and seek him now that he came here. He wants you to convince me to give in. He is trying to use you against me because he knows that you would do anything if it comes to me, but you cannot do it, wench, he'll -" his rumbling was interrupted by Kagome lips on his.

"Hey," she said, "there's no way I'm going to go look for him, Koibito. Why would I want to? He needs to start asking for help nicely. If he needs you, then he'll have to come back and explain himself better. Why did you think I would do something like that?"

"Well, because you used to do something like this, foolish things you thought would help others, and then you have a good heart, and Sesshomaru knows it, and he was looking at you insistently, and well..." he rambled on again.

"I admit it, I was a little naive when our journey began back then. But I changed, and I know now that Sesshomaru needs to suck it up and stop demanding things like it was the normality. If he thinks he'll get something from me, then he has chosen the wrong person. He'll come back again, you see, when he realizes his little games do not affect me."

Inuyasha hugged her, pride welling up in his chest. He was the damn luckiest guy in the world.

His anger was suddenly gone, and he leaned down to whisper huskily in her ear, "Maybe I should take on that offer of yours now. You know, I still have some anger to blow off, after all." He nipped at her lobe to make his point.

She giggled, "Really? And what was this offer?"

"Maybe I should show you. So next time, you won't forget it," he answered, kissing her again, pouring more passion and desire into it.

Inuyasha brought her into the second bedroom since the first one was occupied by Rin and Shippo, and Muteki was sleeping in theirs. He laid her gently on the futon and started bathing her with kisses, following a path that would have led him towards her collarbone. Kagome gripped his shoulders to support herself while he slowly opened her under-kosode and caressed her breasts tenderly. He lifted himself a little and helped her free herself of her clothes; he stood there, his eyes wandering through her whole body.

The way he kept looking at her, the awe reflecting in his eyes as if it was always the first time, made her blush and almost cry.

Her body had changed after their son's birth, her hips were wider, and even though she had managed to regain her fit form, her belly was still a little bit fuller than before. She had been embarrassed at the beginning when she had looked at herself in the mirror the first time after giving birth. However, Inuyasha had immediately erased certain thoughts from her mind; he had shown her he loved her body as much as before, even more. He had told her that the various signs that showed she was a mother excited him a lot and made her more beautiful in his eyes. He had then shown her how much he loved her, and every time they made love again, he didn't forget to comment on how beautiful she was, kissing the signs she now bore.

His eyes held hers, gold met brown, and the intensity with which he was looking at her made Kagome tremble with desire and her nipples harden. Inuyasha slowly undressed, and then, kneeling next to her, he trailed his claws through the length of her body, starting from her throat and reaching her calves. When he stopped at them, he lifted one leg and brought it to his lips, kissing it up to her thigh, stopping just before her core and then doing the same with the other. The action left a slight tingle on her skin and made her even more impatient; he chuckled, detecting it. Gazing up at her, he whispered sultry, "Impatient, are we, koi?"

[...]

It took them some minutes to regain their breaths and some composure. Still joined, Inuyasha fell on his back, bringing her with him, pressing her body against him. When he opened his eyes, he noticed for the first time the bite and claws marks. "Fuck!" he swore lightly, guilty filling him, "Kagome... I'm sorry. I knew it! Fuck! I told you I'd hurt you..." he put his hands in his hair, pulling hard at some locks. Kagome followed his gaze and looked at said marks, not feeling pain other than a slight prickle. She cupped his cheeks and made him look straight at her, "Hey, it's nothing, Koibito. It was so good that the whole village would have heard me scream if I hadn't been forced to restrain myself. You don't have to be sorry, I love your fangs and claws on me, and I don't care if sometimes you leave me some marks. It only makes everything more real for me. I love everything about you. When will you understand?" She kissed him, her tongue probing at his fangs, to make her point clear.

"You really are a goddess, koishii," Inuyasha murmured against her lips, tightening his grip on her; his cock, still sheathed inside her, pulsed already half-hard again.

Kagome chuckled and teased him pushing her hips, "Didn't you think it was enough for tonight? You made sure I won't forget next time," she winked.

"Maybe I just want to make my point very clear," he shot back, claiming her lips again and grinding his hips too, just before he brought her on her back and started to make love again, this time tenderly and slowly.

A/N: More anger directed towards Sesshomaru, I promise that will finally start seeing him much more than before, he is one of the main characters of this fiction, after all!