Chapter 1

50 years later…

"Oh Inuyasha, stop it! Please behave hehehe," Kagome said jokingly as Inuyasha splashed more water onto her. They were enjoying a relaxing swim in the river near one of the villages they stopped by. Sango and Miroku watched the play fight from ashore, whilst engaging in some foreplay of their own. Shippo just slept in the fluff of Kirara's tail whilst the cat herself grew weary and rested. After traveling for so long, everyone needed a well deserved break.

"You just want me to stop so you could fire back; not a chance," Inuyasha replied and began splashing more fiercely than before, clouding Kagome's vision.

"Wait, stop for a second, I can't see," she pleaded as she wiped away the water drowning her face. When the splashing ceased, the hanyou was nowhere to be seen.

"Inuyasha? C'mon this isn't funny, where are you?" she called out curiously, but as no answer came she grew worried.

"Inuyasha?" she cried out terribly frightened now that something had happened to him. Before she could dive to see if he had drowned, something briefly grabbed her foot and she screeched out, breaking the shore-side lovers from their passionate kiss.

"Kagome, are you okay?" cried out a concerned yet agitated Sango. She didn't appreciate being interrupted like that, unless the person had a valid reason of course.

"Something grabbed my foot and…" She searched frantically to see what it was, but saw nothing but rocks and a few fish. "Must have been a fish or—" she began, when she felt something tickling her inner thigh. Then, an out-of-breath hanyou emerged from the water in an uproar of laughter upon seeing Kagome practically fly out of the water when he tickled her.

"Ha ha ha ha! You girls are so silly when you're scared, right Miroku?" Inuyasha bellowed to his good friend, but the monk knew better and chose to take a vow of silence for that question. A now fuming Kagome did the one thing she knew best at that point.

"INUYASHA!" she grumbled grinding her teeth with each pronounced syllable.

"Uh oh," he muttered to himself, knowing very well what was coming next.

"OSUWARI!!!" she yelled, her face red as a tomato. Unknown to her though, Inuyasha was standing on a rock when she yelled out the command and thus he had hit his head hard and was now unconsciously floating upriver. Realizing what she had done, she awoke Kirara and rode on her back to collect the hanyou who was quite a distance away. When they rejoined the others, Kagome then tended to him.

"Gomen-nasai my love, I didn't mean for you to drown. Please wake up," she spoke to him as she began pumping water from his lungs. A couple of seconds later he began coughing and spitting out most of the water.

"Kill me next time won't ya?" he joked with a serious face on. Kagome was so relieved that he was okay she didn't bother with his sarcastic remark and just hugged him for dear life. Of course, her love was returned, and soon a kiss replaced the hug. The others decided it best to give them some alone time whilst they began gathering firewood and setting up camp for the night. After all, it was sundown. Time truly flies when you're having fun with the one you love.

Nightfall came swiftly, and so everyone retreated to their tents for the day; everyone except Inuyasha.

"Where are you going?" asked a dreary Kagome when she felt him move completely from his sleeping bag, which was next to hers.

"Just out for a walk. It's a beautiful night; go back to sleep, I'll be back soon," he replied and gave her a brief yet assuring kiss of his return. Satisfied that she'd returned to her slumber, he set off again. As he perused the forest he indulged himself in his thoughts, idly pondering the day's activities.

Wow, I can't believe how Kagome and I have really grown into each other. We've come so far…and I thought I'd never be able to love again.

He continued his reminiscence until he uncovered a hot spring not too distant from where he was standing.

Heh, a midnight dip never hurt anyone.

As he walked towards the moonlit oasis, his nose caught hold of something; the faint scent of water lilies…and old death.

Sniff Sniff

"What's this presence being carried by this scent? It's not demonic, but…"

He decided to investigate thoroughly and as such, approached the spring. It was near a mountain and had a waterfall pouring its life into the pools below. Amongst the rising steam he saw a figure showering beneath the falls, but he couldn't quite make out what is was, be it demon or human. One thing he knew for sure, it was female.

He watched mesmerized as the droplets of water flowed from her head to the crests of her bosom, and then race down the length of her body. The scent of the lotus grew stronger the closer he came to the spring, so he knew it had to have come from her. And this presence she carried…it was entrancing, almost celestial. Taking a few steps closer towards the spring, he was now in full view of the woman, and saw that she had long dark hair which teased the crevice of her behind, and her skin under the light of the moon was a rich, creamy white. She was undoubtedly a delectable piece of art, causing blood to rush to his loins the more he breathed in the sight of her goddess-like body being bathed in the warm waters of the falls. Sensing someone was near, much closer than before I should say, the lady turned around prepared to teach her peeping-tom a lesson on invasion of privacy.

She gasped as she saw Inuyasha, and he thought he was either going mad or the mist from the spring waters was clearly playing tricks on his eyes. Yet she looked exactly like her, unquestionably. But was it still possible? After all, Naraku had killed her even after she was resurrected. There was one way to find out.

"Kikyo?" he whispered out to her.

She just stood there looking more angelic than ever, especially in her state of stupor. She hadn't expected to see him so soon, but at least she saw him. They had much to catch up on…much that needed to be discussed.

"Inuyasha…" she said as she glided through the water to greet him on dry land in all her naked glory. Not that this was new to him, but it had been a long while since he last saw Kikyo naked, and he couldn't help but blush a bit as he got a full frontal view. But the way she moved, so graceful; it was so captivating Inuyasha ended up meeting her half-way as he stooped at the waters rocky edge waiting on her arrival. As he helped her out the spring he was shocked to find her gently stripping him of his robe.

"Come on, the water's nice," she said reassuringly as she saw his perplexed expression. Tentative at first, he eventually relented and aided her in his disrobing. She guided him in like an infant being introduced to the water for the first time, and even when he was fully in she never let go of his hands. She had lost so much time with him, so many memories that could've been made, all stolen because of that cursed Shikon no Tama. Recalling the moments they shared like this, with the two of them free to be as intimate as they wanted, she had to bite down on her lip to stop herself from crying. But he saw how her eyes were glistening, and he couldn't help but feel her sorrow. He was so very much attached to her, in more ways than one.

"Kikyo," he said as he held her to him, and she just poured her heart and soul in tears in his arms. She always felt safe in his embrace, so calm and soothing.

"Why did this have to happen to us? Why were we the chosen couple destined to be destroyed by the precious Jewel? We had so much going for us Inuyasha…all torn apart before very our eyes…" She stopped for a moment as her tears began to choke her. "I love you Inuyasha; I've never loved anyone like you, and I'll never stop loving you."

"I know Kikyo, and I feel the same way about you," he said solemnly. They just gazed into each other's eyes as if searching the other's heart for the answers to all their questions. Then, as though reading each other's minds, they swooped down for a deep, passionate kiss long awaited by the estranged lovers. They groped and fondle each other, running their hands through each other's hair. Oh what Kikyo wouldn't give to make this moment last forever. She then clasped her legs around him as he waded them to the rocky shore. He braced her up to sit on the ledge as he parted her legs in search of her jewel. He felt her heat, smelt it too, and he was more than willing to relieve her of her sexual tension. He wanted to feel her with his hands first, but he stopped in fear that his talons may do more damage than pleasure, so he took her in his mouth and suckled on her soft flesh whilst she arched her back unable to contain the sudden surge of pleasure racing through her veins and cried out his name.

"Oh…Inuyasha! INUYASHA!" Kikyo screamed out as she tangled his hair in her hands. The strength of her pull told him she was ready, as well as the sweetness of her skin, but he wasn't just yet. He placed her more on the ground as he came ashore and lay atop of her. When their mouths met again the kiss was so deep and intense, the heat emitted was supernova! Yet he still was not ready. He saw her mountainous peaks hardened, so he claimed one with his tongue whilst toying with the other with his fingertips. Her breaths came in much shorter, and heavier this time, and when she clasped herself around his waist he felt how more dampened she had become.

"Take me now Inuyasha," she husked out, barely able to form the words as ecstasy consumed her body. As he positioned himself for admission, he heard a faint cry coming from yonder. It sounded like someone was calling out something…his name. Kikyo felt his hesitation, and when she tried to ask him what was the matter he silenced her with his index finger whilst keenly listening again to the voice. She saw his intense face, and soon did the same as he.

"Inuyasha, where are you?" cried out a barely audible voice. When it came a bit closer, Inuyasha recognized it immediately.

Kagome.

Kikyo took another close listen and didn't have to take a second guess at who was calling her lover. Her heart grieved knowing that no matter how strong their love was, he still had feelings for her, ones he couldn't and didn't have the heart to abandon. He could've slept with her then and there, but at the end of the day it would remain Kagome's bed he would return to.

"Go to her, she's calling you," she said softly. He looked down at her mystified as to why she would run him, but she nodded her approval of his departure and he proceeded to leave, but not without a short but deep goodnight kiss. He scrambled together his ensemble and now fully clothed he ventured off in the forest to find the other woman who loved him. Kikyo got off the ground and returned to the spring to wash off some of the blades of grass and dirt that now covered her back. As she stood beneath the falls, she allowed herself to wallow in her misery.

She has him on a leash, and he can't do a thing about it…he's too soft for his own good. But I shall not burden myself with such thoughts, for when the truth is revealed, when my newfound purpose fulfilled, he will be mine and only mine again; just you wait and see Kagome.

"So, where'd you been and why are you all wet?" Kagome asked as she saw his damp clothes and dripping wet hair. Like the true dog he is, he went down on all fours and shook off the water, intentionally splashing some on Kagome in the process.

"Inuyasha!" she cried out in between her laughs as she took cover. Hearing his name being called out reminded him instantly of when Kikyo cried out his name in rapture mere minutes ago.

"Something the matter?" asked the naïve ningen when she saw her hanyou space out.

"No, I'm fine thanks."

"Okay, but you still didn't answer my question; where were you just now?"

"I found a…a spring further up and I took a lil swim—"

"Well why don't we go take a quick one ourselves together?" Kagome interrupted seductively as she tugged on his collar and slithered her arms around his neck.

"It's infested with baboons now…big, long, hairy, beautiful--I mean UGLY baboons. Maybe another time," he said as he snaked his way out of her grip. Seeing her glum face, he then cuddled her in his arms against the chilly night air as they walked back to their camp. He then gave her a kiss on her forehead, though it was out of guilt. He couldn't help but think about the lady in the water…his lady in the spring. What had happened between them?

Disclaimer: If I could, I would, but I can't and I haven't yet, so there…I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters :P

Author's note: Well, that's the chp 4 u there. Kinda short compared to what I'm accustomed writing, but then again I did start off a bit slow in my TMM fic until it built up, so don't worry dear readers I promise it will get more interesting…definitely come chp 2 when some startling secrets are revealed. So plz R&R this 1 first b4 I end up postin crap lol k. Arigato and tanx 4 ur support.