Picking her up, bridal style, InuYasha walked them out of the room and into the miasma filled hall.
"Cover your nose and close your eyes, Kagome. I can stay in this for a short time, but this stuff is lethal to humans."
Doing like he said, Kagome covered her nose and buried her face in his chest, squeezing her eyes shut. Not wanting to take long, InuYasha leaped from the staircase and landed on the bottom floor, sprinting to the front door, making sure Kagome couldn't see all the dead bodies around them. She may had been dating a half-demon, but she didn't need to see the way demons settled things.
Once they were outside, InuYasha set her down and wrapped his jacket around her, not wanting anyone to see too much of his woman.
"Kagome!"
Bankotsu ran up and scooped her into his arms, holding her tight and glaring at the hanyou. It was nice that he cared, but Kagome wanted to be in InuYasha's arms, not his.
"Bankotsu, when did you show up?"
Pulling her away, he cupped her face, shocking her with the forwardness of his actions.
"I was part of the rescue team for you."
Smiling, she pulled his hands from her face and held them, "thank you for helping, Ban."
"I'd do anything for you, Kagome."
To say that InuYasha had enough was an understatement, but he told Bankotsu that it would be Kagome's choice on who she wanted to be with, once this was all over.
Bankotsu lifted his head to stare down InuYasha, "she shouldn't be with you."
"And why's that?"
"Because all of this is your fault! This is your past coming to bite you in the ass, but instead of damage to you, it was Kagome! She shouldn't have to put up with this!"
Looking from Ban to Inu, she furrowed her brows and jerked herself out of his hold, moving to stand next to InuYasha, holding his hand.
"I don't blame him! Everyone has a past, and it comes up to bite all of us, eventually. How ridiculous would it be to stay away from the man I love, or leave him, because of what might happen? Besides, this is a freak thing that doesn't happen every day."
Looking down at their joined hands, Bankotsu felt his heart break, not just for the 'never-gonna-happen' relationship, but for the pain and turmoil she was willing to go through to be with the hanyou. Closing his eyes, he walked away and prayed that he would move on from loving her and actually find happiness.
Glancing down at her beautiful face, InuYasha sighed, "he's right, you know. Something like this could happen again…are you sure you want to be with me?"
Smiling softly, Kagome wrapped her arms around his, "I'm willing to go through hell if it means I'm with you. I'm not going to leave, because I could never forgive myself if something happened to you. That's what it means to love someone; putting them before yourself, and besides that, what good influence would you have if I was gone?"
"None, even I know that."
"Exactly."
Chuckling, he walked them to the car, but wasted no time in sliding his hand to her pert round bottom. She slapped it away, "what's wrong with you? We were having a sweet moment there!"
He gave her that incredibly sexy smirk and looked her up and down, "what did I tell you our first day together? You are red kryptonite, so stop thinking you got effects like the green one."
She could not contain herself as she giggled, "you are such a geek!"
"Takes one to know one, sweetheart."
She tried her best to think of a retort to that, but as he got in the driver's seat, all she did was stick her tongue out at him.
"Real mature, Kagome."
"I felt like being immature, so what?"
"Nothing, it's just really cute."
Pouting, she stared out the window as they drove off, "cute is the last thing a girl wants to be to her boyfriend."
"That's too bad, because you're always cute which makes you extremely sexy to me."
Turning to him, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his, "I like that."
They were silent for a little while, but InuYasha wanted her to know and it seemed like a good time before the array of people started clamoring around her.
"I meant what I said."
"Hmm?"
"About loving you."
"I know, your demon told me."
What? Screeching to a halt, he pulled over.
"My what told you?"
"You're demon. InuYasha, why have we stopped?"
Staring at her, he tried to make sense of everything, "Kagome what happened? All I remember doing was dropping the sword and then nothing until I was standing in the hall with Naraku's bloody corpse."
"I don't know anything either, but when I came to, you were licking my back."
"What?! Why was I doing that?"
Blushing, she bit her bottom lip, "you were healing my wounds, and if you hadn't then I would be in serious pain right now."
"That's a power, only full demons have…"
Thinking hard, he remembered the voice in his head, "it must have been him."
"What must have, Inu?"
"The voice in my head that was telling me to drop the sword. It said, I had no chance of winning if I didn't drop it, and my only thought was to protect you and kill Naraku."
"So, your demon came out and ended the fight."
"It had to have been him, and he was licking your back because you had so many wounds."
"Naraku got carried away when he realized how turned on he was getting from my screams."
Clinching his fists, InuYasha glared at nothing, "I wish I had been the one to do him in. I wanted the satisfaction of knowing I destroyed him, and the demon took that from me, and made me believe that I couldn't win."
Without thinking, he punched the steering wheel and bent the metal into a fist imprint.
"InuYasha! Who cares if it was you or your demon?! The point is that sick son-of-a-bitch is dead, and can't hurt anyone else!"
She was right, but something was still bugging him, "I don't get how he became so powerful in the first place. He was just a weak human male that shouldn't have been capable of creating miasma or moving as quickly as he did."
"That's because he made a pact with demons to make him a half-demon so Kikyo would want him again. He didn't know about the unfortunate side-effect of demons only wanting to cause pain and anguish. He divorced her before he could do something bad to her, because his human side still loved her."
"Nothing stopped him from wanting to hurt you though."
That's when he noticed something, "Kagome, what's that around your neck?"
She had completely forgotten about the stupid collar!
"An electric collar he used to make me do what he wanted. InuYasha (she started to tear up), he made me do things that make me sick to think about."
The hanyou easily sliced through the collar and held it in his hands.
"Tell me."
"Please, I don't want you to think any less of me."
Jaw dropping, he stared in shock before crashing his lips onto hers, conveying to her how silly that thought was. Could you be addicted to the touch and taste of someone, because InuYasha felt like he was satiating a craving deep in his soul as he took her mouth with heated veracity.
Kagome moaned as she lifted his shirt to feel his abs flexing under her fingers. She reveled in his hands moving from her breasts to her butt, squeezing as he trailed his lips to her neck, and that's when he smelled that bastard on her!
Pulling away like he'd been electrocuted, he calmed himself, "tell me what he made you do, what he did, because I can smell him on your skin, and my imagination is coming up with crazy things right now."
Feeling hurt, Kagome wrapped her arms around herself and told him everything, the stripping, dancing, the strange bondage contraption, she left nothing out.
"I'm ashamed of what I've done out of fear of being shocked again. How could I be so weak?!"
She cried into her hands and InuYasha had a hard time knowing that sick a**hole had a taste of his sweet Kagome and purposely humiliated her. So, that was what he meant by 'breaking' her.
"You weren't weak; you did what you had to so you could survive. I know how hard it was for you to tell me, and I want you to promise me something."
She glanced up with her tear-stained eyes, "what?"
Giving her a strained smiled, he wiped her tears away and kissed her cheeks, "promise me that after tonight, you won't talk about it anymore. Promise me that we can leave this experience in the past and move on with our lives."
He didn't look at her any differently, the love for her still shown brightly in his eyes and Kagome smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'd love nothing more than to do just that."
They got back on the road, with Kagome cradling his arm in hers, and finally having a rest free from fear and stress. As InuYasha was driving, he could hear moans and whimpers coming from her and hated himself again. He had no doubt that she was dreaming of being tortured again.
Seeing the mansion, InuYasha shook her awake and she jumped up with a start.
"We're here Kagome. Your parents and brother are inside."
Lifting her knees up, she buried her face in them, "how can I face them, knowing what I did and what happened to me?"
"Because you're the strongest human I know, but your strength is within, and you can face those inner demons because you've got me to tear them apart."
His logic was nonsense, but Kagome felt better as he used his boisterous voice to 'scare off' those inner demons. Getting out, InuYasha walked to the other side and helped her out.
"You ready?"
"Is there such a thing as being ready in this situation?"
Thinking for a second, he smirked, "good point. So, let's face the music together."
He reached for her hand and she gladly took it, somehow feeling stronger and more courageous with him near.
(9 months later)
Humming to herself, Kagome fixed her hair and decided to put half up and leave the rest down, curling it into big waves. Sango giggled as she did her own hair.
"These guys really know how to celebrate huh? I mean, we humans just to a couples' thing for our anniversaries, but the Takahashis make it into a big party."
"I know! It's so strange, but his family has become my family. I love them all, so celebrity our One Year Anniversary with them feels…fitting."
"So, is this what you're wearing?"
Turning around, Kagome blushed as she gazed at the white sequined tubed dress.
"I told Mom it looked too much like we're doing a 'frozen' thing, but she said it was beautiful on me."
"Okay, well put it on and let's see."
Going into the closet, Kagome put the dress on and smiled as it formed to her curves, the heart-shaped bodice leaving her a little exposed, but still modest. Walking out, she waited for Sango to say something, but all the girl could do was stare as her mouth dropped.
"Well?"
"He's gonna want to marry you tonight."
"Sango! Don't joke like that! You'll get my hopes up."
She giggled at the girl, but they were interrupted as her phone rang. Walking over, Kagome answered without thinking and was blasted with profanities and threats before hanging it up.
"Don't tell me."
Kagome nodded her head and set the phone back down, "I don't expect it to stop anytime soon. His philandering is legendary, and that won't be the last time I get threatened and yelled at for taking the playboy off the market."
She watched her friend continue getting dressed with a smile on her face, "Kagome, don't you think it's going to get old someday? Will you be able to handle it?"
"I'll do what it takes to be with the man I love, and anyway, I don't want to talk about this stuff on such a great day. Now, let's see what you're going to wear?"
Digging in her closet, Kagome found a cute spaghetti strap red dress and handed it to her, "I think this should be to Miroku's liking."
"Please, I could wear a burlap sack and he would still want me."
They laughed and continued playing dress up when there was a knock at the door. Sango seemed confused, "I thought the boys were staying at InuYasha's and waiting for us?"
"They are. Let's say I invited someone for a certain dog demon."
InuYasha helped his mom set the table and smirked, "I can't believe it's already been a whole year since Kagome and I started dating."
Izayoi sighed, "that girl has done things for you that I thought no woman would be able to do. You have really grown up since being with her, and I'm so proud of you."
"What can I say, she's so damned good that it rubbed off on me."
Hearing the doorbell, InuYasha straightened his red tie, "how do I look?"
Smiling, she adjusted his black suit jacket, "like a true gentleman."
Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the door and opened it, unprepared for the sight before him. Kagome looked every bit her cute and innocent self, but the white sequined mermaid dress hugged her in all the right places, even showing off a bit of her cleavage. He envisioned being in a cartoon and turning into a horny wolf, howling at the hot chick on stage.
"You…you look…delicious."
"Um, thanks?"
"Wait, no! I mean, ravishing, you look ravishing."
Smiling shyly, she bit her lip as she entered, "I think they mean the same thing."
"Well, how do I say, you look so good I want to take you upstairs and taste every inch of your creamy skin, without sounding pervy?"
Okay, she felt her knees go weak as he gazed with a heated desire for her. Sango cleared her throat and brought them back to reality.
"Right, InuYasha, this is my cousin Rin, and Sesshomaru's date for the evening."
"Does he know you got him a date?"
"Well, no…"
"I can't wait to see how this turns out."
Slapping him on the arm, Kagome walked her cousin in and InuYasha admitted that she was pretty, and she had that same innocence Kagome did. Maybe his brother would surprise them all and actually like her.
They made their way in and Kagome hugged Izayoi and InuTaisho, "it's so good to see you."
Both smiled as they regarded her, Izayoi took her hands and held out her arms, "my dear, you are radiant! What a lovely dress."
"Thank you."
InuTaisho grinned, "you are practically glowing, child. My son better be a gentleman tonight."
"Don't worry, sir. I'll make sure he is."
Sesshomaru entered the room and gave Kagome a rare smile, "Beautiful as always."
"Sesshomaru, you flatter me. Oh! By the way, I brought someone for you since you didn't have a date."
"I don't wish to be hindered by such trivial…"
"Here she is! Her name is Rin and she's my cousin, so be nice."
"matters..."
Walking up to her, he dipped low in a bow and gracefully took her hand, gently kissing it.
"How do you do? I am Sesshomaru."
Blushing, Rin curtsied in response, "I'm Rin. It's nice to meet you."
For the first time in the hundreds of years he'd lived, this was the first time he actually felt alive as his heart beat rapidly in her presence.
"Would you mind terribly sitting next to me at the table?"
Smiling wide, Rin nodded vigorously and took the arm he offered her, thankful to her cousin for lending her the little black dress.
Watching them, Kagome could feel the warmth swelling in her chest. Finally, Sessh would get to experience life, just like she did. To think they were much alike before she met InuYasha; nothing mattered but school then, and she didn't think she needed anything else either. It took being bribed by her father, so at least her methods of matchmaking were a bit more admirable than that.
"You ready?"
InuYasha came up beside her and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
"Yeah, but don't you dare slide that hand down any further. I'm trying to be a lady tonight, and ladies don't hit."
Chuckling, he walked them into the dining room and heard Kagome gasp.
"InuYasha, this is so amazing!"
"My mom and I decorated it, but don't tell anyone I was involved…it's not exactly manly."
Turning around, Kagome trailed her hands up his chest and curved her fingers around his neck, "that's too bad, because I find it to be very, very sexy."
The look she was giving him, made him gulp as he squelched the urge to take her right then and there.
"Kagome, you said ladies don't hit, but you are tempting me to do unspeakable things that would definitely get me a few good whacks."
Giggling softly, she stopped her tease and walked over to their place setting.
Dinner was filled with laughter, jokes, and memorable times with the couple. Even Miroku had some good stories of double dates with them and Sango. Some information he needed to leave in the dark as Sango turned a deep shade of red and hit him upside the head. This only started roaring laughter from everyone else. InuTaisho stood up and clinked a spoon against his glass.
"Alright, alright, let's settle down. Now we all know why we're here. We are here to celebrate the anniversary of Kagome and InuYasha. This couple didn't have a smooth relationship, but their love was strong enough to overcome all of it, and will for years to come."
He addressed Kagome, "my dear girl, I never had a daughter, but if I had, I would have wanted her to be just like you. I can't describe the joy you have brought to this house and to my son."
Now it was InuYasha's turn, "InuYasha, though your union started with a deal, it has blossomed into more than I could have ever imagined possible. The way you two look at each other is much the way Izayoi and I do, and it warms my heart that you have such a fine woman by your side."
Smirking, InuYasha pulled Kagome closer and listened.
"Since it is the anniversary, I thought this would be a fitting gift for you."
He walked over and gave InuYasha an envelope, opening it, he eyes went wide.
"Dad! Are you serious?"
"Of course! Think of the thirty million as a gift on your anniversary and not for making good on our deal, okay?"
Staring at the check, InuYasha allowed a small tear to fall, "this means a lot, because now I can build a life for us while I get a job."
Kagome nudged his shoulder, "Inu, you don't have to work, not with this much money."
"I know, but to be a good boyfriend, I've got to stand on my own feet. So, I'm gonna start a business and make enough for us to live comfortably on."
InuTaisho didn't think he could be any prouder of his son at that moment as he gazed lovingly into Kagome's eyes, but the moment was cut short as her phone went off. Looking at the number, she ignored it, but InuYasha was curious.
"Who is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Let me hold the phone…please."
Giving it to him, he answered it and heard the hateful things they were saying, profane and disturbing. Hanging it up, he looked at her.
"How many times have they called?"
"Four times today, but it's nothing serious, just idle threats they won't make good on."
Standing up, he took Kagome's hand, "everyone, thank you for the meal, but Kagome and I need to be alone. Please continue celebrating."
He walked them upstairs and into his room, a place Kagome hadn't seen in nearly eight months. Striding in, she was surprised to see all the scantly clad women on posters, gone from his wall. Instead, were pictures of them being goofy, Sango and Miroku being their usual selves, and the whole gang of them having a blast.
Smiling, she made her way to his bed and picked up the framed picture, it was of them but it was a terrible picture to her.
"Of all the pictures you could have chosen, why this one to frame?"
Sitting next to her, he wrapped his arm around her and spoke in her ear as he laid his head on her shoulder.
"Because that was the day you got so mad at me for not being myself around your friends. It was the day I realized you wanted me just the way I am, and accepted me as the horny possessive hanyou that I am."
"I dare say you are a hopeless romantic. I mean, to find beauty in this? I look so pouty with my arms crossed, and there you are, looking at the camera with the biggest cheesy grin on your face."
"Yeah, well I was happy and wanted to remember that moment."
Rubbing her thumb over his grinning face, Kagome smiled softly.
"We've been through so much together, but none of it can wipe away the wonderful memories we share and will continue to make."
The smirk slid from his face as he put the picture back on his night stand, "you shouldn't have to pay for my past mistakes."
Sighing in exasperation, Kagome turned to him.
"We've been over this. I'm willing to deal with it as long as I can be with you."
Cupping her face, he looked intensely into her bright blue eyes, "that's just it, you are too good to have to deal with any of it. You shouldn't be with me, because my past is a giant mess that keeps coming back to bite me in the ass, just like Bankotsu said. Only, they don't go after me, they go after you. Tell me the truth, how many threats from jealous ex-booty calls do you get a week?"
"Um, about four a day, so twenty or so."
"And how many vulgar messages from jilted lovers and husbands of those women?"
"Maybe ten a week, but it doesn't matter!"
"It does. If I wasn't in your life, then you could live freely and safely without worrying if one of them would make good on their threats."
"Without you, I would have no real joy in my life. It would feel empty and hollow, is that the life you want for me?"
"Of course, not."
"Then there you have it, I'm willing to take the bad with the good. Look I knew what I was getting into when I decided to stay after the Naraku thing, so let's drop it…okay?"
Gazing into her eyes he held her hand and grazed his knuckles softly down her cheek, "okay, no more talking about it. So, will you sleep with me?"
"InuYasha!"
She whacked him good for that one, which only caused the hanyou to chuckle as she giggled.
Getting up, she walked into his closet and came back out with one of his graphic tees on, Superman to be exact.
"You think you're funny, don't you?"
"What? Oh, you mean this shirt (she spun around), I just thought it was fitting since you are always calling me kryptonite."
Sitting back on the bed, she pulled the shirt down over her knees.
"Don't try anything. (she faced him) No sex until I get a ring on the finger, you horny hanyou."
Rolling his eyes, he scooped her up and pulled the covers over them, snuggling into her chest.
"InuYasha, don't make me hit you again!"
Chuckling, he calmed down and just held her, enjoying the rhythmic beating of her heart.
"I do call you that, but the red one, not green. You make me the boner-fied hanyou I am."
His new word made her crack up, "just sleep, like you said we were going to do."
A few minutes later, InuYasha looked up to see she was already fast asleep.
"Kagome, you may not understand this, but I'm doing it for you."
The next morning, Kagome stretched and reached for her boyfriend, only to feel an envelope instead. Rubbing the sleepy out of her eyes, she sat up and called out to InuYasha, but he was no where in sight. Opening the envelope, a piece of paper that was wrapped up in the letter fell out. When she picked it up, she gasped, staring at the check made out to her for thirty million.
There was a sinking feeling in her gut, but she had to read the letter.
'Dear Kagome,
You know I'm not good at this sort of thing, so bear with me.
As you should have guess by now, you are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I never thought I would find someone so loving and kind, that also gets my twisted sense of humor.
Before you, my life was a series of club night and women whose names I didn't care to remember. It was short-lived moments of being wanted and I was left needing more, feeling empty inside as the pleasure faded.
You changed all that, and I know you didn't expect to the 'the one' for me, but that's what happened. Your goodness attracted my naughtiness. So, for us, I'm leaving.
You are too good to deal with my jealous ex-booty calls and angered husbands and boyfriends. I don't know how long I'll be gone for, but I'm leaving you the money my Dad gave me, so you can go do whatever your heart desires.
Know that I love you more than anything in this stupid world.
Love,
InuYasha.'
Droplets fell on the pages as Kagome wept, "you, stupid idiot! My heart's desire is to be with you!"
Life would never be the same for her as she crumbled into a hysterical mess on the sheets that smelled of him.