I still do not own Inuyasha or the other characters. But I do enjoy writing about them.

Birth Rite ch 7

Beautiful

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Kagome sat lost, her gaze centered on the heaviness of the rain as it pelted the once smooth surface of the lake behind her home.

Miroku had come and gone, dropping her off only to leave moments later to retrieve her motorcycle from the side of the road.

What would it be like to have someone as devoted to her as Miroku was to Sango- willing to shout his undying love to anyone within hearing distance? While she was most certainly happy for the couple, she also wondered if she'd ever find someone so devoted to her.

Her hair lay plastered against her head, the rain dripping steadily from the ringlets that framed her small shoulders. She'd showered already, her make-up having long since been removed. Now she sat in the rain- alone.

Her clothes lay atop her bed yet she had no desire to dress. Still wrapped in her bathrobe ,she'd gone out to gaze over the lake; the weather mimicking her mood.

Twenty-one, and still alone. There hadn't been one soul out there that had stirred her heart; not one kiss that had sent her over the edge of sanity, and not one being who could ever accept her as the person she was- beneath the make-up.

She wasn't ugly- no. Truth be told once the make-up was applied she was quite pretty- or so she'd always been told. With it she blended in, looked just like any other woman did. She was confident, comfortable...accepted. But without it she was completely different; shy and withdrawn. She knew what lay beneath the layers of foundation that hid her mark- and the real her, and she was fully aware that no man in his right mind would want a woman marked as she was.

Unbidden, her right hand lifted, her fingers gliding softly over her wet skin to follow her birthmark's outline perfectly.

No amount of concealer could hide from her the imperfection that marred her skin. It would always be there when the make-up came off to remind her just what made her so different.

No, no man would want her- an imperfect soul among so many other naturally beautiful women to choose from. Perhaps she was better off staying single. She couldn't bear the thought of what her mate might say once he saw her birthmark. So many words played through her mind until one made it clearly past her ears bringing her attention away from her thoughts and the mark that still lay beneath her fingertips.

" Beautiful."

Said so simply, so honestly; she could only sit silent until her eyes finally focused past the rain to the being standing before her.

Inuyasha stepped forward before kneeling in front of her, his hand raised so that his fingertips could slide across the pink splash of skin she kept hidden from the world.

" Beautiful." he breathed. " I love it when you don't have to hide yourself. You are beautiful Kagome."

He wasn't sure what prompted him to say the words, but deep inside he could tell that she needed to hear them. To him she was perfection, the one woman in the world who was more beautiful because of her differences. She was so much like him in the sense that they both had to hide their true selves from those around them. It was the severe lack of understanding in the world that forced them to hide, but alone they could be themselves. With each other they could be the souls they were meant to be; they didn't have to hide from each other.

Opening her eyes she was caught in the unnatural, yet glorious golden tone of his gaze. His silver hair lay wet against his face, twin ears flicking every so often to rid themselves of the water that tried so diligently to hold on.

" I'm sorry Inuyasha, I'm so sorry." she whispered, her eyes falling from his.

"Me too." he murmured, his fingertips falling from her cheek to curl beneath her chin, lifting it so that he could again see the glistening dark depths of her eyes.
They sparkled beneath the moonlight, wet with unshed tears. She shivered slightly and he found himself bending to pick her up. Carrying her into her home, he sat himself on her bed, his back propped against the wall and pulled her onto his lap. Reaching to the nightstand, he picked up the remote for the fireplace clicking it on, its flames dancing seductively around the dimly lit room.

They sat quiet until the rain stopped and the moon climbed higher into the sky before his words pulled her attention from the warmth of his body beneath hers.

"I didn't want you to ride because I didn't want you to get hurt; not because you 're a girl. " he murmured, his words warming the shell of her ear.
" But you're good, really good..and you're right. If you had asked me I probably would have made you quit. I'm supposed to protect you, Kagome. How am I supposed to do that if you're riding a motorcycle at more than a hundred mile per hour?"

She smiled softly, her forehead touching his.

" Just be there when I need you- when I get off the motorcycle and before I get on. I just need you to be with me Inuyasha. I need you to chase the dreams aways when I sleep at night, and when I wake in the morning so I know that I'm safe; that a new day has started and you're still by my side. You don't know how hard it was without you all these years, how many times I wanted to quit just so that I could come home to you; how many times I reached for the phone just so that I could hear your voice. I need you Inuyasha, but you can't protect me from everything in life. "

" I can sure as hell try." he growled, his head dropping to rest on her collar bone.

Turning so that she was facing him, she lifted his head.

" I will always need you, Inuyasha, and I WANT you to protect me, but I want to LIVE life as well. I want the thrill of a good race; the wind in my hair. I want to experience the rush of a great jump, and the adrenalin that pulses through my veins as I lean into a tight turn. I want so many other things in life too, Inuyasha- you being happy one of them. If you are more comfortable with my not riding, then I'll quit. "

" What else do you want, Kagome?"

Sitting silently she raised her hand to her face, her fingertips sliding across the pink hue of her cheek.

" In some ways, I want this gone. " she murmured, her eyes focused intently upon his own. " I want to be normal- and beautiful. But most of all I want someone who'll accept this as a part of me, and love me the same as they might have if it wasn't there. I don't want to have to hide myself all the time."

" You already have all these things, Kagome. When we look at you, we don't see this." he said, his hand reaching to cover hers. " With or without the make-up, Kagome, you are still you; fiery tempered, stubborn; and beautiful. "

She smiled. "What do you think it means, Inuyasha?"

" I don't know, Kagome. But it brought you to me, and I can think of a million good reasons to keep you- one of them being that I need a great riding partner, and it would seem that I have found one- if you still want me."

" Of course I still want you, Inuyasha- I'll always want you." she giggled before leaning into his embrace.

"Do you mean it?" she whispered a moment later.

" Mean what, Kagome?"

" That you think I'm beautiful, even with this." she murmured, her hand motioning toward her face.

"You're more beautiful with it, Kagome, than without it. I meant every word. " He leaned forward then, his lips moving softly upon her mark.

Warmth spread through her at his touch; dizzying sensations of pleasure racing along her nerve endings bringing her body to life within his tender embrace.

Her head fell back, his lips following the motion until they grazed her jaw line.

The front door opening brought them back to ground level. She smiled again as she moved from his lap wincing slightly at the loss of his warmth.

" I'll be ready in ten minutes, okay Inu?"

He growled lightly, his thoughts wrapped around the wondrous length of her legs as she walked away, her bathrobe clinging to the curve of her waist before falling to hug the glorious perfection of her backside.

" You, ah, wanna ride with me, or Mushin?" he asked once he'd regained full control of his tongue.

" What are you driving?" she replied over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.

" Cycle."

" With you then." Her voice was muffled, but he heard her perfectly. There was no hesitance in her reply.

" Dress warm then, at least for the ride. " he answered, a small smile upon his face. Perhaps having her as his partner wouldn't be so bad after all; someone to ride with when Miroku was to busy wooing Sango.

" I will. I'll come over as soon as I'm ready, okay. "

" Yeah. "

Turning, he made his way through her doorway. Sango stood in the hallway, a knowing smile dancing upon her face.

" Did you two kiss and make up?"

" None of your damn business, woman. Now move along. I'll bring Kagome to the club which leaves you and perve the limo. Just don't do anything disgusting in it. If it rains again, we'll need a ride home." he growled.

He watched the soft blush stain Sango's face and he smiled. These women, both of them, had managed to brighten their lives; each in their own way. He watched as she walked away, her soft "Be careful" echoing behind her.

Ten minutes later found Kagome making her way into Inuyasha's room. Her eyes danced across the red walls and she nearly laughed at the guitars he had lining them. He had long ago picked up a taste for music, and she had on many occasions listened to him strum one while singing lyrics to one of his many favorite songs. When she'd been younger she could always be found sitting outside his room listening to his muffled voice as he sang with his guitar. He'd been quite good back then. He was sure to be great at it by now.

Inuyasha stood silent, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Her back was to him, but the black leather pants she wore held his full focus. She wore her hair loose, and its dark length was made even darker by the shimmering silver corset she wore. She was gorgeous.

Turning she found him staring at her. She was at a loss though as to what had put such a silly look upon his face.

" You okay?"

"Yeah..lets go."

" K. " Grabbing her leather jacket she pulled it on and followed behind him, her eyes somehow falling to the way he walked. Not to mention the way those black pants clung to the curves of his body. Oh, he was a beautiful man, though she was sure that he'd never want to hear those thoughts. But he was. There was no denying it.

" Close your eyes." It was more a demand than a request, but she found herself doing as she was asked.

She smiled when she felt his hand close gently around her arm as he pulled her to stand in front of him, his voice whispering past her ear.

" Open your eyes, Kagome."

She did, and what met her vision had her nearly stumbling forward. There before her, parked in the driveway, sat an emerald green motorcycle. Its chrome piping lined the outer edges of the engine bringing the paint to a shimmer. It was stunning.

" Happy Birthday, Kagome. "

She turned to face him then. " It's mine?"

"It's yours ." he answered, surprised when she launched herself into his unsuspecting embrace,her lips warm upon the corner of his own.

" My pleasure. Now get on, you're driving." he grinned.

Never in his life had he been so happy to have her hair dancing across his face, her laughter echoing in his ears. Perhaps loving this woman wouldn't be so bad. Maybe- just maybe it was time to listen to the beast within him.

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I am sorry if I missed anyone in replying to reviews. ( I KNOW I HAVE!!! ) THANKS TO YOU ALL! I AM SO HONORED THAT YOU ALL ARE STICKING WITH ME!!

Things got hectic this last few weeks. We have an offer on our home and I have been completely buried in paperwork for the mortgage company on the purchase of my new home twenty miles West, not to mention Christmas shopping. As much as I love the holidays, I'll be great-full to have life return to normal so that I can return my focus to writing chapters for you all. I do love hearing from each of you! It makes my days brighter knowing that you are all out there and that you all enjoy reading what I sit down to write. You have no idea how very much I enjoy doing this, but as I said before...it's just not the same if you haven't got anyone to read it.

Thanks again all. I couldn't and most likely wouldn't do this without you...

Next we shall have the clubbing...and the ideas in my head for the next chapter are oh so ...well, I can't give it away now can I...but please...DO let me know what you think. I am sorry to drag this on, but these are things that I want in the story, and as it took me four hours to get this into the computer with all the interruptions- I can only hope it was worth it for you all to read...let me know? Pretty please?

I also want to thank my wonderful friend and editor for getting this finished so quickly. I sent it to her last night and it was waiting for me this morning when I got up...She does a great job for me. She also writes stories for this site that are very well written that I have enjoyed myself, so if you're looking for something to read, check her stories out...okay. Her penname is Almandine-Azaleea .

Happy Holidays ALL...Please be Safe!

Thanks again...Until next time...Neisha