Kagome skipped happily beside Rogue, watching the other people of the city celebrating the end of the Games. Looking at all of them, she noticed a pattern. Glancing down, she flexed her fingers and then looked at her friend.

"Can I hold your hand?" she asked.

Rogue arched a brow at that. "Why?"

Deflating, she shrugged and fell silent. Rogue felt a bit guilty at her disappointment, even though he'd merely wondered what had brought that request on. Following the direction of her gaze, he understood. Everyone was laughing and holding hands or a drink while they celebrated. Reaching down, Rogue slid his hand into hers and threaded their fingers. He tried to bat down the heat he could feel in his cheeks when she jerked her attention to him.

Eyes bright, Kagome leaned into him, content to walk in silence back to the hotel.

"Hey! It's the Shadow Dragon Slayer!" a yell went up.

Rogue frowned, but was shocked when cheers followed the announcement.

"Took four of them to bring you down, man! You're so cool!" another voice rang out.

A young boy scampered over and held up a pen and paper. "C-can I have your autograph?"

Bewildered, Rogue managed a small smile and released Kagome to sign the boy's paper. "There."

The boy's face practically glowed as he carefully took the autograph back. "Thank you! When I get stronger, I'm going to join Sabertooth, too! Just like you!"

Rogue shifted and reclaimed Kagome's hand. "Join if the guild suits you, not because it suits me. Good luck."

Sweeping away, he hurried to the hotel before anything else bizarre could stop them. Kagome waited until they were well away before giggling.

"You're so that boy's idol," she teased. "And you've got yourself quite a few fans."

"Rogue!"

Looking over, they found several women waving at him and beckoning for him to come with them. Rogue blinked and promptly dragged Kagome into the hotel, completely ignoring the females' cries of disappointment.

He practically burst through the room door and then slammed it behind him. "Those…females were following us."

Kagome laughed, dropping her head to his chest in her amusement. "At least they weren't groping you to let you know they'd like to copulate."

"Could you stop saying that?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

Raising her gaze, she grinned and brushed his hair away from his face. "You always smell so yummy when I do, though."

"Yummy?" he asked in confusion, letting her tuck his hair back so that she could see both of his eyes.

"Mhm," she agreed. "Makes me want to lick you. And, since I'm not a cat any more, it wouldn't even chafe!"

"Lick me?!" he yelped as she sniffed and nodded. When the penny dropped, he felt decidedly embarrassed. She could smell his arousal.

Before he could stammer anything else, Kagome stretched up and licked his neck. Rogue swallowed at the sensation, his dragon stirring. Gently catching her hips, he pushed her away and met her impish eyes.

"Satisfied?" he managed.

"Not the word I'd use," she said, her brows together as if she was trying to puzzle something out.

Rogue opened his mouth to say something when a most fantastic scent hit him. Snapping his jaws closed, he took in another breath, feeling his mouth water and his fangs ache at the deliciousness of it. Narrowing his eyes, he crossed his arms and pinned Kagome with his stare. She blushed and shifted in embarrassment, but her ears stayed turned toward him, not flat to her head.

"Kagome, are you doing that deliberately?" he asked lowly.

Wide eyed, she shook her head. "No! I can't help it! Ever since I took this form, it sort of just…happens sometimes with-with you. Usually I can purify my scent before you notice," she mumbled the last part, finally looking away.

Stalking forward, Rogue cupped her shoulders and ran his nose lightly down her temple. He could hear her breathing deepen and her heartbeat pick up as he did, that delicious scent filling his senses. Nox took that moment to make himself scarce.

"Why do you purify it?"

Now her ears did fold back. "I have a human form, but I'm not human, Rogue," she whispered. "And you're my best friend."

Smiling, he touched his nose to hers. "Silly cat," he teased, "I'm not completely human, either, remember? Has my dragon ever claimed anything else?"

"No?" she asked, confused.

"No," he confirmed. "Just you."

Licking her lips, Kagome brought her hands up to fiddle with the tie of his cloak. She understood what he was saying. His dragon wouldn't let him use her and hurt her that way. Taking a breath, she smiled at him and watched as his red eyes softened.

"I don't think I'll lose this form," she admitted. "Everything feels so in harmony, I don't know why I would."

"Is that your way of saying you want to copulate with me?" he teased.

Sputtering a laugh, Kagome brought her hands up to touch his entirely too-attractive face. Her power flowed out and through him, bringing with it all that she'd hoarded in her heart. It touched Rogue's dragon and echoed back to her, making her want to be as close to him physically as she was emotionally.

Rogue must have felt the same, because he leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. Shuddering, Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed closer as he slowly taught her how to kiss. When his tongue twined with hers, a pleased purr started in her chest. She loved Rogue desperately and had only realized that those feelings were much deeper than friendship when she'd been in a form to act on them. Now, with his shadows wrapping enticingly around her and that sweet smell of his filling her nose, Kagome felt happier than she ever had.

Breaking the kiss, Rogue rested his forehead on hers and tried to leash his dragon. It wanted Kagome with a strength and need that nearly alarmed him. Having tasted her, Rogue wasn't sure he'd be able to resist his instincts very long.

"You should back away," he told her tightly, his eyes dark with hunger.

Kagome shook her head. "I don't want to. I'm not scared of your dragon, Rogue," she whispered, her eyes serious and understanding.

Growling, Rogue cupped her face and took them both into the shadows. Trembling at the intense sensation of being caressed everywhere at once, Kagome panted and held onto Rogue's wrists. His eyes glowed in this world, but when he kissed her, his taste was the same. Moaning, Kagome opened herself fully, unsurprised to find them back in the real world a moment later.

Rogue pressed her into the bed, their skin sliding together sensually as he'd left their clothes behind with his move. Kagome arched up as he dragged a hand down her side, setting off tiny sparks of power as he did.

"My dragon claimed you the first day we met," he told her huskily, nipping at her neck. "I am about to claim you in every other way."

That sounded like a fantastic idea to her. When she told him so, Rogue gave her a fanged grin and proceeded to make her lose her mind.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Rogue closed his eyes and enjoyed the heated water as Kagome pulled his hair up into a top knot.

"There, now I can see your face," she chirped, dropping her arms and leaning against his toned chest.

Chuckling, Rogue rolled his head to the side to look at her. Her face was flushed from the bath, and her breasts were sensually cresting the very top of the water. Bending his neck, he gently scraped his fangs over her pulse.

"Again?" Kagome asked incredulously as she felt him stirring against her bottom. "I can barely walk, Rogue!"

That was, unfortunately, true. Finishing the bath, Rogue had his shadows dry them as he scooped Kagome into his arms. She sighed happily, cuddling into him as he carried her back to the bed. Scenting her, Rogue rumbled his approval at finding his scent still so firmly twined with hers. Kagome giggled when he nuzzled her stomach and then gasped as he continued lower.

His shadows were remarkably handy sometimes, she deliriously thought when he began using them and his wonderful mouth to make her scream again.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

One more chapter to go! Hope this met your expectations! Hugs.