It was reaching midday when Inuyasha and Kagome's guests were getting ready to head back to their homes. Kagome thanked them for coming to see her and promised to greet everyone in the village after she had settled. Kaede also wanted to discuss the possibility of continuing her Miko training when she was feeling up to it. Kagome agreed to think about the idea and would come to see her in a day or two to talk more about it. Sango hugged her soul sister as she was leaving, saying she would return tomorrow around the same time. Kagome agreed with the idea, and everyone parted ways. Shippo had woken up and went to play with some of the village kids for a while, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome alone to have some time together. Inuyasha had caught them a few fish for lunch while he was on his run around the village. He had skewered them and leaned them near the fire to cook before taking a seat beside Kagome. She leaned on his shoulder, taking a calming breath while doing so. Inuyasha grabbed her hand closest to him and held it for a few minutes.
"Everything ok Kagome? You seem quiet since you got back".
Kagome looked down at her feet for a moment before looking back up to Inuyasha's beautiful amber eyes, "Yes I'm ok I'm just... I don't know. Don't get me wrong I am beyond happy to be here with you right now; I didn't sleep well last night. I kept thinking it was all another dream, that in the end I would wake up and you would be gone again. I felt so lonely Inuyasha, yes, I had Mamma, Grampa, and Souta but... I just felt empty, like a hollow shell. I had to force a smile everywhere I went. Nobody understood how I was feeling, and all my friends tried to force me to move on. I felt like I didn't belong there anymore, I couldn't fit in, and honestly, I didn't want to, It was no longer my home, only my birthplace. All I wanted was to get back here and be by your side. When I lost you, I felt like I lost most of myself too. And now that I'm finally here I'm scared it's all going to get ripped away from me again". She rested her forehead on Inuyasha's shoulder and started softly crying.
Inuyasha looked down at Kagome, watching her tremble with fear and sorrow while trying to smother her tears into his hakama quietly. His heart broke for her. He knew what she was feeling, what she had felt. It was something he knew all too well, but in the three years, they had been separated he had their friends and even the villagers who were more the accepting of him now. But while his support system was growing, she had lost hers, going through the years almost alone. He wrapped his arms around her still shaking frame and hugged her tight.
"Kagome.." he said sorrow and guilt clearly in his tone. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, I wish I could have been there for you. But I'm here for you now and like I said, I will never let you go again. I promise to stay by your side for the rest of my life, to protect your life with mine. I'll do my best to make you happy. You're not alone anymore and you never will be, not if there is anything I can do about it".
Inuyasha lightly grabbed Kagome's chin and pulled her face up towards his to look her in the eyes, "I love you Kagome, I love you so fucking much it hurts. So please stop crying, your tears are breaking my heart" he said before leaning down to fill the small gap and softly capture her lips with his, lifting his other hand up to wipe the tears that continued to escape from her beautiful brown eyes that looked like they held all the worlds secrets.
Inuyasha broke away the kiss to look in her eyes again; he used both hands to silently wipe the remaining tears away as she started to steady her breath,
"Inuyasha, when did you get so sweet?" she said as she finished drying her eyes on her sleeve. Inuyasha shrugged before replying, "Keh, only for you wench" Kagome couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips, "It's been a long time since I've been called that!" Inuyasha lightly laughed before handing her the now cold fish that was their lunch.
After eating in comfortable silence, Inuyasha looked at Kagome and asked, "You feeling a little better now?" She nodded her head while finishing off the last bite of her food. "Good, 'cause we gotta have another serious talk, and I need your full attention ok?"
Curious and slightly worried, Kagome again nodding her head and shifting to face him to give him her full attention. Inuyasha fidgeted with his hands in his lap before continuing, "It's about our mating, I know you already agreed to but... I have to tell you everything that's involved in the process and the... Risks involved before making your final decision, so I need you to hear me out fully without interruptions, I'll do my best to answer any questions you have afterward ok?"
Kagome put on a cute 'trying to be serious' face, "Mmm" she agreed. Inuyasha took a couple of deep breaths before continuing,
Like I told you before, mating is like the demon version of getting married, but when I.. claim you as my mate I will have to bite you right here", he reached out and circled his thumb over her pulse point in the junction of her neck right above her shoulder. "When that happens we will be bound together forever, demons mate for life. When the bond is created, we will share thoughts, memories, powers and... Lifespan… You would not age like a normal human anymore; you won't be fully human anymore, closer to a half breed like me… Myoga told me once that humans who accept the mating mark from an Inu demon will have their physical appearance change to adapt to their mate. Basically, Kagome, to give you the mark, would turn you into a half demon like me. I'm not going to lie; I have no idea what will happen when your rekki is mixed up in the mess, our auras, power, and soul pretty much blend, forever being one. If for some reason I were to die before a pup is whelped then you would also die the moment my heart stopped and the other way around… Then there is the transformation itself, if the bond is not strong enough then the human would die during the transformation… Kagome I feel... extremely selfish asking you to be my mate and have you change into something like me... Giving up half of your humanity, you already gave up everything you had in your time to be here, and now here I am, being selfish… Kami I am such a baka!" Inuyasha dragged his hand down his face roughly before looking into Kagome's eyes wondering what she thought of all this.
"Are you done now?" Kagome asked after a minute of silence.
"Oh, y-yeah, look Kagome... I understand if you don't want to go through wi-"
Inuyasha's eyes widened as the rest of his words had been swallowed by Kagome's desperate mouth that was now seeking permission into Inuyasha's. He happily allowed her the entry she aimed for. The kiss was full of passion and... Love? Yes, love, she had loved him so much, he could tell her that she would turn into an ugly hairy green monster and Kagome would still love him, she would do anything to be by his side forever. Even if that meant turning into a half demon as well. Kagome pulled away to look Inuyasha in the eyes before replying,
"Inuyasha I love you so much, I would do anything to be with you for the rest of my life. Even if there are risks involved, I know we will overcome anything together like we always have. I can't live without you ever again. It wasn't even living. I was just... Existing... With no real purpose. Without you... I wouldn't be whole anymore."
Inuyasha couldn't even stop the few tears from escaping his eyes if he wanted to. This women, this amazing, beautiful, kind-hearted women stole his breath every time he opened his mouth to breathe. How did he ever get so lucky, so Kami dammed blessed to receive such a gift from the Kami themselves and would be sure to thank every single one of them, after all, this was said and done. Inuyasha leaned down and kissed her with everything he had, hoping to show her how much he loved her as well. He released her lips and held her in a tight embrace as he lovingly whispered in her ear,
"Thank you for coming back to me, I love you and missed you so fucking much Kagome."
"I fucking love and missed you too Inuyasha" Inuyasha could help but chuckle at Kagome's newfound potty mouth... Yes, something about hearing his innocent little Miko use such dirty words... It gave him an unexpected reaction, 'I'm going to have to remember that for a later time' he thought. Right now he needed to start getting a few things together before he could claim her as his mate.