A/N I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters. If I did, I still think I would enjoy reading all the awesome stories everyone makes with them though. It's such a testament to how loved these characters are. I would definitely be honored. But I don't own them, so oh well.

Chapter 12

He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the blue eyes of her disguise, and he wondered what color her eyes were before she blinded herself. He knew it didn't matter. She was perfect, exactly as she was.

Inuyasha couldn't stand the idea of her leaving. He had to find some way for her to see that it wasn't just a fleeting thought. She needed to understand that his entire being needed her. If she left, he thought he might as well just stop living. He needed her in his life. She seemed so unsure of everything. He had to help her to see what she was meant to be. He gently picked her chin up, pulling her to face him. A soft, chaste kiss, just gently pressing his lips against hers. His demon was howling for more, but she needed him to take things slower. He had to do right by his mate. She needed convincing. He could court her. He could do whatever she needed him to do. So long as she never mentioned leaving him again.

Her lips were so soft against his. So pliant to his desires. He wanted to melt into her, but he knew he had to be gentle and slow. She had been through a lot in the last few days alone. He didn't want to overwhelm her. Then her tongue, so warm, was against his lips as if begging entrance. How could he deny her anything she wanted? He opened up, and he felt her gently run her tongue along his. Her taste was divine. She was more perfect than anything he could have imagined.

His demon tried so hard to take over. To vie for dominance. He felt a slight growl bubble in his throat and her scent changed to a deep musky aroma. Holy shit! She was getting aroused by his growling. Where had this amazing creature been his entire life? He pulled her roughly against him and his tongue plunged into her mouth. Seeking everything she was willing to give. And give she did. She gave as good as he did, and they had to break apart for breath after a minute. She laid her forehead against his and panted slightly. Her lips were a darker pink from the pressure of kissing, and her cheeks were flushed beautifully. He had never seen a more beautiful sight.

She gently wrapped her hands up around his upper arms, squeezing gently. He pulled her in close and let out a soft sigh. His mate. He had found his mate. Life would never be the same again. And he couldn't be happier.

"I know there's a lot we need to figure out, but I don't think I can let you go. I understand that this has gone a lot faster than you would've liked, and I will do my best to go slow. But I can't lose you. Please. Let me come with you. I don't care where the fuck you go, I will go with you. You wanna move back to Greece? Fucking fine. I don't even care if you wanna live in a fucking cave. I just don't want my life to not have you in it."

She began giggling, and he felt himself grow nervous.

"Well, I did grow up in a cave for the first several centuries. I was kinda thinking that's where I would go. But perhaps there's somewhere else I can hide? Somewhere a little closer?"

He gripped her tighter against him, "I will make sure whoever that fucker is, he doesn't fucking touch you! You will be safe until the day I die."

He felt her sigh against his chest, and he knew he was in heaven. She was going to stay with him. He would do whatever he had to do to protect her.

Kagome could feel a soft rumble in his chest and she felt like she was melting into this man. He didn't care that she was a monster. For the first time in her life, she felt like she had a chance to belong. It had never been an option before. It was something always denied to her. She knew she was considered an abomination. She knew if the world found her they would find some way to kill her, even if she had never harmed another soul in her 2000 years. But she couldn't be herself out there. Right here, right now, she could trust this man, this half demon. He was sweet, caring, and he accepted her for some stupid reason.

She hadn't known this feeling could exist for her. She'd never felt this calm and happy before. She didn't know why he would be so kind to her, or what it was that made him care, but she was so grateful to him for giving her a chance at happiness. A part of her was terrified that it would be ripped away, but she was trying so hard to keep that part locked away. She didn't want to think about that right now. She just wanted this small opportunity to feel loved. It had been something she'd read about for centuries, and she never thought it would be something she could have. She always thought this kind of happy ending would be out of her reach. But right here, right now, it seemed like a very real possibility.

Inuyasha could smell her emotions cycling through her scent, but the scent of calm was the main one he could detect. He just enjoyed standing there holding her. This was something he never dreamed of. He was a hanyou, someone who wasn't meant to survive. A creature that was usually killed at birth. But his parents had wanted him. At least that was something he had to fall back on. His mother had loved and adored him until her death, he had been told stories of his father, and he never thought for a second the man hadn't cared about him. It was hard to say loved when he couldn't remember him, but he cared.

He was shocked out of his own head when he felt a slight dampness on his shirt. The scent of tears hit him and his brain panicked.

"Kagome, are you okay? What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

His questions were coming out rapid fire, but he couldn't stop himself. He needed to protect his mate. Against everything and anything. Even if she didn't know what that meant or how important her well being was. He needed to know she was okay, and a small watery laugh was his first response.

"I'm sorry. I'm fine, just kind of overwhelmed by everything. But it's a good overwhelmed. Mostly. I just can't get out of my own head. Can we go sit? I just want to sit for a while."

He scooped her up and strode over to the couch and placed her on his lap.

"We can do anything you want or need. I promise."

She giggled a little at that, "Do you want or need anything?"

He just pulled her close to him and whispered into her hair, "Only you."

She must've fallen asleep against him. When she woke up, she was laying with her head on his chest, and his arms wrapped around her. She had been exhausted. She needed a break. A real break. But this had been the best nap she could remember. Most times even when she slept she tried to stay slightly alert for danger. But with him there, she had relaxed completely. It was an amazing feeling. She knew in his arms she was safe. He would never let anything hurt her.

Once she started stirring, he rubbed his hand along her back and scooped her back up.

"You must've been tired. We were only sitting here for a few minutes before I felt you doze off. I can only imagine how much energy you used last night, though. So if you need to sleep some more, there's a guest room we can use. I'll keep you safe until you wake up."

Her smile was dazzling, like he had just offered her the world. He scooped her up and carried her to the guest room down the hall. Laying her down and snuggling close to her. He didn't want to be anywhere she wasn't. Forever. He knew his instincts were driving him, and it was something she wouldn't be accustomed to, so he had to try not to overwhelm her with everything. For right now, he would just hold her. Keep her company and keep her safe. She fell asleep in minutes in his arms. His heart felt so full he thought it might burst. Hanyou never found their mates. It didn't exist for them. But here she was. This perfect creature. She was curled up under his arm with her head on his chest, and he wanted to make her happy. It was the driving force with everything he had to do.

She slept soundly, and he never budged. He kept an ear out for anything coming, but his focus was on her. He dozed off a bit here and there, but he remained on alert to keep her safe. Someone was after her, after all, and he wouldn't let them get to her.

Naraku was furious! Kanna was supposed to be showing him Medusa, but her mirror was being thwarted. She couldn't find her. It was as if the bitch had vanished. Taking the jewel with her! He finally yelled for his other slave, and a beautiful woman in a flowery kimono walked in. Her black hair was in a lovely updo with a comb on the one side with jade pearls dangling from it. She had a fan in her obi and her deep red lips were in a smile.

"Kagura. I want you to find her. Remain undetected, but fucking find her! NOW! If you fail me, you will regret it. Do you understand me?"

She merely nodded once and turned to leave. She strode out of their building in the downtown area and she stuck out like a sore thumb. She took a brief moment to feel the wind against her skin before she began walking towards her apartment. They all knew where the monster lived. They had done their homework. She looked human to anyone else, but to those who had seen her true form, she was hideous. She had to hide to live in polite society.

She had been forced to watch when they first found her to make sure it was truly her. Then one night as she was gazing through her window she saw her come from the bathroom. All the lights were off except one small light over the stove in her kitchen. Her head was covered in these slithering snakes and it made her skin crawl. She could barely hide the shudder that rented through her body. Her face was scarred and disfigured, and the snakes were wrapping around her face. How could she stand the feeling of those cold scales against her flesh? It was disturbing, to say the least.

She watched the girl pour water into a glass and take a long drink before leaving the kitchen and going into the bedroom. There weren't as many windows in the bedroom so it was harder to see, but she could still see her. She snuggled into plush blankets and fell asleep peacefully. Kagura had been so angry. How could this monster look so at peace, when she was a slave to that horrid creature who held her heart? How did she deserve all this luxury?

Today Kagura was walking in the sunlight and enjoying the heat on her face. She knew it was the small freedom she was going to get. She walked to the monster's apartment and spoke to the doorman.

"Hey there, I am Kagome Higurashi's sister. I just got into town and I was hoping to surprise her. Is she home, do you know?"

The doorman stared at her in shock. He didn't believe her. "I'm not permitted to give that information out. But I can call her and let her know that you are here."

Kagura smiled, trying to seem polite and demure. "Thank you, but no. I would rather surprise her. Is there anything else we can do?"

"Miss, unfortunately, the only option I have is to contact her, and I have to document that you were here. What is your name please, Miss?"

She faltered for only a second, then smiled sweetly. "I'm so sorry, I thought I had introduced myself. I am Higurashi Aneko."

He smiled and wrote down the name on his sheet and she floated out before he had looked up. She would need to figure out where the monstrosity had vanished. Perhaps she could return after night fell and sneak in through the balcony. She disappeared in an alleyway and thought hard. She couldn't go back empty-handed. Naraku would have her head on a platter.

She ducked into a corner and stayed quietly hidden, letting time and the people around her pass her by. She waited patiently, and she knew Naraku was watching her. She could feel when Kanna's mirror landed on her. She had learned to hide the grimace that it brought to her face. She remained stoically calm and stared at the sky as the light blue gradually darkened. As a few stars finally popped up, she stood back to her full height and stretched her long willowy limbs. She grabbed onto the fire escape and climbed up to the roof of the building next door. It was only two stories or so. Then she pulled the feather from her hair and she soared silently to the balcony she knew led to the monstrosity's apartment.

As she entered silently, her eyes searched the place for any sign of where she went. After spotting nothing at a cursory glance, she began searching in earnest. Still keeping her every move as silent as the dead. She found nothing. It seemed it didn't matter what she did, she was going to be punished. There was no trail to follow. There was no lead. The monster had vanished and hidden herself in a place they couldn't see. Then it dawned on her. That was her key. She left through the balcony and flew home, enjoying the wind on her face. She now had a way to save her own life for a while longer.