I don 't own Inuyasha or its characters. The song used in this chapter is Devils and Angels by Royal Bliss; a wonderful song. I recommend it.
Birth Rite ch 14...The Devil In My Head
Her vision faded, her body shutting down beneath the soothing rumble coming from behind her. Sleep. That's all she needed. When she woke she'd find this all to be some terrible dream- like so many others that had preceded it.
Her muscles relaxed, her breathing steadied. One last flutter of lashes left her with an image she swore she wouldn't soon forget: Inuyasha making his way toward her, his body transforming with every step he took. He was the image of a Greek God, his body shielded by what remained of his tattered clothing. She felt Sesshomaru pull away from her his teeth sliding from her flesh, the sting waking her enough to feel Inuyasha pick her up.
She jumped at the warning growl rumbling from his chest.
"MY MATE!.."
She would've smiled at his declaration had she not been so tired.
"Yes, yours." Sesshomaru responded. It was a simple answer, one that came in the form of a sharp bark instead of the usual human vocabulary they normally practiced.
She cuddled into Inuyasha's chest, his heartbeat soothing her more than Sesshomaru had. Here was where she belonged; she could feel it deep inside. She smiled one last time at the content rumble that echoed from her mate's chest and allowed sleep to claim her.
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" You must bind her blood, Inuyasha. " Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha pulled his gaze from the landscape to turn toward his brother. They'd traveled through the night to get to this place- a rock cavern hidden in the cliff side. They hadn't been here for centuries.
Mushin buzzed in and out of the room, Jakken not far behind as they hurriedly made the place more homey. So many different rooms littered these catacombs. Sessomaru had found this place nearly four hundred years before. He'd had small pieces of old furniture left here, logic telling him that one day they might need it. He'd thought his brother had lost his mind when he'd claimed this territory. Now it seemed that it was going to be of good use after-all.
" Don't ignore me, Inuyasha."
" I'm not ignorin' you damn it." Inuyasha growled. " It isn't exactly somethin' you just do Sesshomaru. "
" You've already marked her as your intended. It's only a matter of time before your demon takes over and marks her as its mate. You do realize that it will not sit back and wait while you make up your mind. Eventually it will make her yours- with or without your consent. "
" And what of the separation issue. You know as well as I do that once I mark her we can't be separated. My demon has to be near its mate or..."
" You will lose control of the demon within you and go insane. Yes, Inuyasha I know what happens." Sesshomaru replied. " You will guard your mate as you should. Naraku will NOT get to her. "
" I'd burn the world down before that bastard put one hand on Kagome. That's not what worries me. " Inuyasha growled.
Sesshomaru sat down. Something in his Brother's voice told him that it was more than basic instinct he worried about.
" What is the problem Inuyasha?"
" I nearly tore your head off when I saw you touching her Sesshomaru. And when I saw your fangs buried in her neck..." Inuyasha snarled, his hands closing into fists at the memory. Sharpened claws dug into the tender flesh of his palm at the rage burning inside him. He took a steadying breath, his eyes closing, his feet carrying him further from his Brother.
" If I feel like that before I mark her as mine, how will I be after?"
" She will sooth your beast Inuyasha. It takes your mate to keep your beast in line. That is why we stay near our chosen female. " Sesshomaru replied.
" He's right you know." Miroku murmured stepping into the room. " I worried about the same problem when I decided to make Sango my mate. I wanted to tear you apart a time or two just for brushing against her in the hallway. But her presence keeps me comfortable- that and you are pack. It's nature Inuyasha. You'll be fine. It'll work out the way it's supposed to. You need to have faith in that."
" What do you know letch? You're not even man enough to mark your mate yet." Inuyasha growled turning to glare at him his eyes widening at the mark clearly visible on Miroku's neck.
" You were saying?" Miroku snickered. " Why do you think I wasn't dressed when I went after Naraku?"
" How did she mark you so soon? I thought it took a few days for a humans blood to shift." Inuyasha stammered.
" Not always. It depends on the human, and since the two have been intimate for awhile now, it most likely happened gradually. A nip here, a love bite there. It seems Miroku and Sango have been frisky for a bit longer than we thought. " Shippo answered as he too made his way into the room.
" You again? Don't you have something to do? And when did this become a public conversation anyway?" Inuyasha growled his ear twitching when Kagome's soft sigh echoed through the cavern.
" Ah, it seems Kagome is waking up. Perhaps I should check on her?" Miroku teased.
" I'll go." Shippo volunteered.
" YOU will stay AWAY from MY mate. " Inuyasha hissed, his body tensing, his eyes flashing red. " YOU are NOT pack, and I WILL KILL you."
" Well..." Miroku stumbled backward when Inuyasha's glare landed on him and he wondered at Shippo's sanity in that moment. The demon hadn't shrunk back beneath that glare. Perhaps he was stupid?
" You were saying." Inuyasha snarled.
" Yeah, um...well you see, Kagome kinda adopted him in." Miroku breathed, his body inching toward safety.
" When? And how can she do that? Only the Alpha..." Inuyasha stopped. " Let me guess." his gaze returning to his older Brother. " She asked you, and you allowed it. "
" She did, and I did. Shippo has no family, and Kagome wanted to give him a pack to call home. He stayed with her at school, but now that Kagome has finished her studies he has permission to join our pack, and has decided to do so. It's his birthday gift to Kagome. "
Sesshomaru replied, his gaze steady beneath Inuyasha's.
Turning on his heel Inuyasha marched toward Shippo his hand raising to grasp the younger demon by his throat.
" Kagome has a big heart, and if she wants you to be part of this pack then so be it, but she is my female, and you would do well to remember that. I won't hesitate to rip your throat out- just give me one good reason. "
Shippo growled in response, his hand raising to clutch Inuyasha's throat. " And if you hurt her in any way I'll rip out yours." Shippo snarled. Inuyasha may be centuries older than himself, but Kagome held a special place in his heart.
" It seems we have come to an understanding." Sesshomaru said as he made his way from the room. " Be sure to take the bloodshed outside. I won't have bloodstains on the rug. "
And with that he was gone.
" Inuyasha?"
Her voice was merely a whisper, but with a twitch of his ear and dismissing shove in Shippo's direction, Inuyasha turned on his heal and made his way toward Kagome's room.
" Well, that wasn't intelligent." Miroku grinned.
" Yeah, well... I just want what is best for Kagome. " Shippo replied, his hand raising to rub his abused neck.
" We want what's best for her too. Inuyasha has loved her from the day he brought her home. He will do right by her. "Miroku said. " Should we go find some food?"
" Don't you have a mate to get back to?" Shippo grinned.
" She's a bit...worn out." Miroku said, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively. " But I'll be sure to check in on her after we find the food storage. Perhaps I'll bring her dinner."
" And dessert no doubt. "
" Ah, yes...there's that too." Miroku laughed glancing over to the redhead walking beside him. " Welcome home Shippo. Just try not to piss Inuyasha off to much. He does have a violent temper. "
" I hadn't noticed."
Again Miroku laughed. " Yeah. I think you'll fit right in."
And with that they began their journey to locate the nearest steak.
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Inuyasha made his way through the catacombs, his mind sorting through his need to claim Kagome as his. Fear told him to leave her in Sesshomaru's care. She shouldn't have to witness his inner demon's possessiveness. He loved her- he knew that, but could he protect her? Could he get past the jealousies that would no doubt come into play when it came to guarding his mate, and was she strong enough to handle the demon he struggled with every day and night of his life? Would it be better to allow her a human mate, and could he stand by and do nothing as she continued her life with another male?
No. It was as simple as that. She was his: his partner, his life mate- his heart and soul. He wouldn't leave her behind- couldn't even if the devil in his head screamed that they were better-off apart.
Pushing the curtain that shielded her room from prying eyes, he met with an empty room, and an empty bed. Her scent had faded. Where would she have gone? Did she have another nightmare?
Whipping around he nearly tore the material from its place at the door and moved further into the catacombs. They'd put her in a room close to the entrance so they could hear when she woke. Could she find her way to his room? Had she learned to follow scent trails already? She must have, it was the only explanation to why her scent traveled down the hidden corridor that led to his room.
His was the only cave down this particular passageway. Sesshomaru's was to the right further down the rock hall, and Miroku's more toward the front of the cave. It was the only privacy offered in this place.
Pushing through the fur rug guarding his room's entrance he stopped suddenly her scent invading his senses. She'd curled up in a blanket atop his bed, her raven hair fanning around her, eyes closed. The inner voice that had been plaguing him all through the night returned ringing through his head as his eyes took in the angel curled contently on his bed.
There's a Devil in my head
and an Angel in my bed that's getting colder
I'm trying to warm it up with the only way I know
There's something hid inside
I think that I should tell her
Cause it' s about that time I let her know
Should he though? Should he tell her his doubts-his fears. Should he tell her just how much he loved her and beg her to stay at his side? Was this right to do? The voice in his head continued its rant. It told him to turn away- to leave her so he could remain as he had been for centuries...alone.
And he says come with me I'll show you my way
Into a place where all the Devils go
Days and days go by that I tell myself the lie I'm getting older
I need to slow it down but the way I don't know
And the Devil inside is telling me an order
To ever feel alive I've got to let her go
And he says come with me I'll show you my way
Into a place where all the Devils go
No more pain, no more lies, and no more worries
It's a place where all the Devils go
And I feel cold and so alone
Cause I don't know which way to turn
And I feel like I'm getting weaker
Cause I can't ever take control
Oh no...can never take control
ooooooh
She turned toward him then her eyes shining in the darkness. Her hand extended out toward him in a silent invitation to join her.
A Devil in my head, an angel in my bed that's getting colder
I can not- I will not let her go
No- he wouldn't leave her. He loved her too damn much to ever trust her in anyone's care but his own. He would ask her again- make sure that she knew what being his mate meant- make sure that she wanted to be with him forever.
She says come with me I'll show you my way
Into a place where all the Angels go
No more pain, no more lies, and no more worries
It's a place where all true lovers go
Making his way to the bed, he sat on its edge. He didn't need to say anything- she knew what troubled him. She'd always been the only one who could accurately gage his emotions.
She says come with me I'll show you my way
Into a place where all the Angels go...
She moved to sit on her knees, her hands raising to cup his face. " If you don't want to mate me, it's all right. I understand." she murmured. " I just want you near me. "
Nope- she wasn't always accurate.
" Do you realize what being my mate would be like? " He whispered. " We couldn't separate for more than a day or so. And I would become more..."
" Possessive? " She giggled raising his face when he dropped his gaze from hers. " Do you know what I remember most about last night?" she whispered.
Not giving him the time to answer she continued. " I remember you picking me up. I remember how right it felt wrapped in your arms, and how it was your heartbeat that told me it was safe enough to sleep. But mostly I remember you telling Sesshomaru that I was yours, and how wonderful and right that one statement felt. "
She moved forward, her lips touching his before she pulled away slightly. " Do you love me Inuyasha? Do you want me half as bad as I want you? Do you want to be my mate?
Groaning in response he crushed his mouth against hers, his body pushing hers backward, and only then did he pull away- but only barely.
" More than should be possible." He reached to take her hand positioning it over his arousal. " What do you think? And are you asking me to marry you?" Inuyasha murmured answering each question in sequence with their asking.
He watched her eyes darken, and delighted in the way her fangs lengthened. Her arousal was suddenly something real, and so enticing.
" No." she whispered smiling at the sudden confusion registering on his face. " I am asking you to be my mate. Two different subjects..."
His answering growl rumbled through her chest, his lips claiming hers once again. Its meaning was clear. " I am your mate..."
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Hey all...I am terribly sorry for the wait on this. Things are incredibly hectic around here, and to top all that off I am scheduled to return to work on Tuesday.
But it seems I had more time- I call it sheer boredom..lol- to write when I was working. Hopefully the return to normalcy will help provide me some much needed time and inspiration.
I want to thank those of you who reviewed both ch 13 of 'Birth Rite', and the new story 'I Remember'. I can't seem to find the time to answer reviews, and I feel terrible about it. I read every review that is left for me, and I am incredibly thankful that you all have waited for me to get back to writing. I can not tell you how much that alone means to me. Thanks for all the well wishes, and to those who simply PM'd me just to say Hi. You guys have no idea the smiles your kindness has brought to my face.
I do have one lingering question though. Are you guys getting bored with this story? Should I end it and move on to another? As I said before I am deeply great-full for the reviews that you all have sent, and the inspiration and smiles they bring, but I just want to make sure I haven't lost anyone due to boredom with this storyline. I have noticed a bit of a drop in the number of hits and reviews in the last few chapters, but it could be that when they were posted ff net wasn't working right. At least I hope so anyway. I rely on you all to let me know, so please do. Okay? Please?
I hope the editing of this chapter is all right. My wonderful editor has been swamped as well, so I went through this as best as I could, but it is difficult to edit ones own work. I do hope I didn't ruin it...
Anywho-
I miss writing for you all, and miss hearing from you all even more. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Let me know what you think?
Until next time.
Neisha