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Several hours later, Sesshoumaru woke up when he felt the late morning rays of the sun, warming his face. He opened his eyes and looked up at the morning sky before he wiped the sleep from his eyes. Sesshoumaru then felt a weight against his right shoulder. He turned his head to the right and noticed a peacefully sleeping Kagura, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh, mother is not going to like this." He said as he wrapped his right arm around her.
Kagura stirred when she all of a sudden felt warmer. She opened her eyes and saw her mate's face looking down at her. She lifted her head from his strong shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Morning Sesshoumaru, I trust you slept well, I know I did," Kagura said as she rested her head on his shoulder again.
Sesshoumaru kissed her back before he said, "I did as well Kagura. Sleeping with you feels so natural that I don't want to sleep without you next to me anymore."
She lifted her head from his shoulder and peered into his golden eyes. "What about your mother?" She asked. "I told Lady Izayoi I would not sleep with you again until there is a ring on my finger."
"A mere technicality Kagura, we can rectify that situation this afternoon," Sesshoumaru said.
Kagura separated herself from him and paced around in front of him. This was not something she expected at all. For almost the past two centuries, she was alone and free to do whatever she wanted, when she wanted and now, just a few days after meeting the first son of the Alpha Inu-Youkai of the West, she not only accepted to be his mate but he was propositioning marriage. She stopped pacing directly in front of him and said, "Wait a minute, my dear. We have only met a few days ago and you think I am ready to settle down and play house wife to you?" Kagura spat. "I'm a Wind-Youkai, I let the currents take me whereever it wants. I like my freedom and the perks that come with it and you want me to give all of that up to be like your mother?"
"Not at all Kagura," Sesshoumaru answered as he stood up and went over to her. He looked down at her, threw caution to the wind, and embraced her. As he stroked her hair, he answered, "I never want you to feel like that Kagura. One of the things that attracted me to you was your carefree attitude. You are a Wind-Youkai and if you haven't noticed, the currents are quite strong this morning. So, being who you are, why are you still here?"
Kagura couldn't find a plausible answer for him. She did feel the wind against her cheek, but it wasn't telling her to flee. Instead, it was telling her to stay. She closed her eyes, leaned forward and placed her left cheek against his shoulder and said, "The currents are telling me to stay here, with you." She wrapped her arms around his mid-back, then asked, "Do you really want me to be your mate Sesshoumaru?"
"Kagura, ever since I saw you with Ryoko, I knew there was something about you I needed to know better. Now that I have, I can't imagine what my life would be like without you in it," Sesshoumaru said. He ran his clawed fingers through her hair as he said, "To answer your question. Yes, I want you to be my mate."
Kagura lifted both of her hands to his cheeks, brought him down to her, then said, "I that case, kiss your mate Sesshoumaru."
"Gladly," he replied before he closed the mere inches between them and kissed her.
Izayoi came into her kitchen and noticed her first son and Kagura on the back porch, kissing each other. She walked out of the kitchen and onto the porch before she asked, "Why are you two out here at this time of the morning?"
They separated, turned their heads towards Izayoi, then Sesshoumaru answered, "Mother, we have some news for you that I'm sure you are going to love."
Izayoi crossed her arms under her chest, then asked, "What is it, my son?"
"Sesshoumaru asked me to be his mate," Kagura answered before she looked into her mate's eyes, then said, "And I accepted."
Izayoi ran over to them and hugged them both. "I get another daughter! I'm so happy for both of you!" Izayoi said. She kissed Sesshoumaru's right cheek, then Kagura's left cheek, before she asked, "Kagura, you told me that you were not ready to settle down in one place yet, what changed?"
"Sesshoumaru changed me," Kagura said. "After waking in his arms this morning and listening to the winds telling me to stay, instead of fleeing. I made the decision to stay here, that is if you and your husband will allow a Wind-Youkai who can be quite fickle at times to grace this shrine?"
"Of course you are welcome here Kagura. I could use another female's touch around here and as much as I love all of my dogs, four big strong men versus one little me is a bit much. With you staying here now, we have a fighting chance against all of the testosterone around here," Izayoi said.
Kagura separated herself from Sesshoumaru and slipped her left arm through Izayoi's before she led her into the kitchen as she said, "Yes we do, and if the boys don't like the changes we make, tough! We girls are taking over!"
Sesshoumaru watched as his mate and his adoptive mother went into the kitchen. He smiled at them and said, "Kagura is going to fit in here, very well." He also noticed how quiet the residence was and asked, "I wonder where my brother and Miroku are?"
Miroku woke up entangled in Sango's arms. As he tried to disentangle himself from her, Sango's eyes opened and she asked, "And just where do you think you are going?"
"I was merely heading to the rest room," Miroku answered with a lie.
Sango sensed that he was getting ready to leave her. She sat up in her bed, then said, "No one ever sleeps with me and just gets up and leaves. So Miroku, if you want us to have a future, get your ass back in this bed and cuddle with your girlfriend!"
Miroku settled back down into her bed and slid his left arm under her neck.
Sango snuggled into him, closed her eyes, and said, "That's better."
Miroku couldn't deny that Sango felt real good in his arms. He pulled her tighter into him and stroked her long black hair. "Sango, as much as I like having you in my arms, I really need to go back to the shrine. Lady Izayoi is going to kill me when she finds out that I stayed the night with you."
"Why would she want to kill you Miroku?" Sango asked as she rolled over on top of him.
"Lady Izayoi is very old fashioned and does not believe in co-habitation before marriage. I have to agree with her Sango, I'm not ready to be sleeping with you on a normal basis," Miroku said.
"So, where does that leave us?" Sango asked.
"That leaves us in a relationship built on mutual attraction of the mind and soul," Miroku answered. As he ran his left hand's fingers through Sango's hair, he said, "I do admit my dear Sango, waking up with you next to me is very appealing and felt right. But as good as it felt, waking up in your bed, this is the last time I will be in your bed, without rings on our fingers. That is if we last."
"In that case, I will have to move into the shrine to sleep with you there," Sango said as she lowered her head and started nibbling on his neck.
Miroku fought back a groan before he pushed her off of him. He looked into her confused eyes and said, "That is not what I meant Sango."
Sango laughed for a second then said, "I know what you meant Miroku. I was only playing with you." She lowered her head to his shoulder, placed her left hand on his chest, then said, "I liked waking up next to you too. It's going to be real difficult for me not to want to tie you to the bed so I can keep you for myself. But, I do understand; and if I have to become, slightly less aggressive in order to keep you, then that is what I will do."
"I appreciate that Sango." Miroku said as he wrapped his arm around her neck. "You know, just because we aren't going to be sleeping with each other, doesn't mean that we can't kiss."
"I think I can deal with that," Sango said as she rolled over and kissed him.
Kagome woke up in her bed and felt another warm body lying next to her. She almost jumped out of bed in fright since she didn't remember bringing someone home the night before. Kagome slowly turned to her bedmate and noticed a head of silver hair and a pair of cute ears sitting on top of said head. She reached over and lightly touched his right ear and when her fingers brushed against the silky appendage, it flicked away from her touch. "My my, sensitive aren't you." Kagome reached out to touch his ear again, and this time she managed to get his ear between her thumb and index finger.
As Kagome caressed the ear in her fingers, she heard a low growl emanate from Inuyasha. But being as bold as she was, she leaned forward and took the ear into her mouth.
Inuyasha moaned when Kagome caressed his ear with her tongue. It was like his dream was becoming a reality. He rolled over, slipping his ear from her warm mouth, and looked into her eyes. Inuyasha reached out with his left hand and asked, "What is it about you Kagome that makes me want to hold you close and never let you go?"
Kagome snuggled in close to him and kissed his lips. She then laid her head back down on the pillow and answered, "I don't know. I'm just a normal everyday woman who happened to fall into strong like for a hanyou."
Inuyasha wrapped his left arm around her and said, "In that case, I'm a hanyou that happened to fall into a deep like with a wild girl."
They spent a few minutes like that, then Kagome asked, "Why did you come here last night?"
Inuyasha stared at the ceiling as he contemplated why he really was there. "I needed to talk to you Kagome."
She lifted her head and rolled over on top of him so she could face him. Kagome looked into the golden pools if his eyes and asked, "Why did you need to talk to me, especially at three in the morning?"
"Will you promise not to be embarrassed by what I say?" He asked.
"There is not much you can say that can embarrass me. Now, tell me what is going on and don't sugar coat it," Kagome replied.
Inuyasha ran his fingers through her hair as he said, "I had a very pleasant dream about us."
"That doesn't sound so bad, what was it about?"
"You and I were dancing in an elegant ballroom. We were both dressed appropriately for where we were but your gown made you look even more gorgeous that you normally are," he said.
"You think I'm gorgeous?" She asked.
"Let me finish, we were dancing real close during a slow song and after the song ended, we left and went to a five star hotel. We started kissing as our clothes disappeared from our bodies. Eventually, I carried you to the bed where I made love to you for the first time," he said.
Kagome rested her head on his chest again, then said, "I'm not embarrassed at all, I'm actually flattered that you dreamed about me."
"You are?" He asked.
"Yes Inuyasha. I'm flattered that you had such a wonderful dream, especially with me. Most of the men I have dated only dreamt about me doing certain things to them. There never was any romance or emotions behind their dreams, just acts. Yours tells of a romantic story of a hanyou and a girl, who happens to be deeply in love with each other. As far as the making love goes, it only strengthens the love and devotion they have for each other," Kagome said.
"You think so?" He asked.
"Definitely," she responded and then very nervously asked, "Inuyasha, do you want to make love to me?"
Inuyasha was startled at her boldness and could not deny he wanted to make love to her, like in his dream. However, he also knew its was not proper to have sex with her, without being at least engaged to her. "Kagome, I would love to make love to you."
She lowered herself to him and started nibbling on his neck while her hands ran across his chest and abs.
He grasped her hands in his, stopping her movements, then said, "However, I will not make love to you, at least for now."
Kagome looked down at him then said, "You know how to get a girl going then slam on the brakes."
"Sorry if I gave you the impression I was ready to take that step," he said and kissed her left hand.
Kagome lowered her head to his chest again and splayed her left hand flat against his right pectoral. She then said, "Its alright. But I was sort of hoping that we would get a little closer this morning."
"What do you mean Kagome?" He asked.
"You and I had very similar dreams Inuyasha with the exception of we were in a club and ended up at a seedy motel instead of a ballroom and a five star hotel," she replied.
"I would never take you to some crappy motel Kagome, you mean to much to me to do that," Inuyasha said.
"I mean that much to you?" Kagome asked as she lifted her head from her chest. Her face was now contorted in anger and confusion as she asked, "What am I to you and I want a straight answer?"
"I didn't mean to make you angry Kagome, I never want you to be angry or upset with me," he responded. Inuyasha took a few breaths as he figured out how to tell Kagome exactly how he felt about her, without scaring her off. He answered her by asking, "How much do you know about Youkai Mating rituals?"
"Kagura told me and Sango a little about them, what of it?" Kagome asked.
"To Youkai, especially Inu-Youkai, mating is very instinctual and once you find your mate, they become very possessive and start to shower their intended with love and devotion," Inuyasha answered.
"That doesn't sound so bad," Kagome said.
"That's only the half of it. Desire to mate with our intended increases to the point of either insanity or extreme violence. In other words, if you are my true mate, my desire to mate with you will make me act like a very jealous boyfriend and will challenge every other man that is near you. Not only that, I will be willing to fight anyone including my own family to keep you safe and if I pupped you, I will give my life to keep you and the un-born pup safe," Inuyasha said.
"That is a little more information than I was expecting Inuyasha," Kagome said. She lowered her head to his chest again and listened to his heart beating in his chest then asked, "Am I your mate?"
"I'm not sure Kagome. I do care about you and I feel good when I'm with you. But are you my mate, I really don't know," he answered.
"Is there a way to find out for sure? She asked.
"Well, there is one way to know for sure, but its quite risky," he answered.
"Inuyasha, I feel the same way towards you. You make me want to give up my lifestyle in order to be with you. I'm willing to give up all of the drinking, clubbing, and hooking up with random guys in order to be with you. So tell me, what I have to do," Kagome said.
Inuyasha lifted her head from his chest, looked into her eyes, then said, "Kiss me Kagome. Kiss me like I'm the man of your dreams coming to take you away."
"I think I can do that," Kagome said as she lowered her face to his and kissed him.
Inuyasha returned her kiss, wrapped his arms around her upper back. And held her tight against him. Instinctively he opened his mouth and tapped her lips with his tongue, asking to entrance to deepen the kiss.
Kagome complied and opened her mouth to allow him entrance.
Their tongues brushed against the others, basking in the sweet taste of the other.
Kagome lowered her hands to the waistband of his briefs and let her fingers skirt along the elastic as her nails grazed the skin just above.
Inuyasha groaned into the kiss and was rapidly losing control. Between the scent of her arousal wafting up from between her legs and his own erection, his desire to mate with her increased dramatically. "Kagome," he said before he groaned then said, "We need to stop before I can't." His lips crashed against hers again.
"What if I don't want to stop?" She said as her right hand slipped under the elastic of his briefs.
Inuyasha felt her hand brush against his erection and his eyes shot open. He grabbed her hand and pulled it from his pants, then said, "We can't do this."
Kagome looked into his eyes and with pleading eyes, she asked, "Why? You have me so aroused and ready to let you fuck me for the rest of the morning, even without protection."
"Kagome, I love you too much to do that," Inuyasha said before he turned his head away from her and cursed for telling her the truth only his heart knew.
Kagome started trembling as she got nervous. This was the first time a man actually told her he was in love with her and actually meant it. "You are in love with me?"
Inuyasha turned his head to face her again and as he looked into her nervous face. He cupped her face in his hands then answered, "Yes Kagome, I'm in love with you, my mate."
A tear flowed from her right eye. She wiped it away with her hand and it was replaced with another one.
"Kagome, are you alright," he asked as the thought she was going to reject him.
"Inuyasha, as long as you accept me for who I am," Kagome answered. She gulped then continued, "Then I will be happy to be your mate."
Inuyasha was completely overjoyed with her answer. He kissed her then said, "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Now, how are we going to tell my mother?"
"If I'm right, Lady Izayoi is going to have her hands full with Sesshoumaru and Kagura. Sango and I have already packed up her belongings for their final move to the shrine. They are perfect for each other," Kagome said.
"Just like us," Inuyasha said as he pulled her down to him.
"Just like us, my ever loving puppy," Kagome said.
After a few minutes, he let go of her and said, "I really should head home. My mother and father is probably wondering where I am." He slid out of the bed and as he dressed, he asked, "Care to come by the shrine later so we can tell my parents the news together?"
Kagome pulled the covers up to her neck and then replied, "Yes, I'll even bring us a boxed lunch so we can eat together."
He finished pulling his shirt on his body, went back to the bed, kissed her one last time, and started to leave. Inuyasha stopped at the door and said before he left, "I'll be counting the minutes until I see you again, my mate."
Kagome snuggled up into the blankets tighter and inhaled his scent from the sheets. She closed her eyes and smiled before she said, "So will I my puppy, so will I." She then drifted back to sleep.
End of Chapter