Chapter 5

Settling in for the long haul

Kagome sorted through the clothes that Jaenelle and the rest of the coven had leant to her and put them into the closet, sighing heavily as she watched the sun start to set on the horizon through her window. The trip from the Keep to SaDiablo Hall in Dhemlan hadn't taken very long and Jaenelle had made sure that they were comfortable.

She's so nice to us yet she hardly knows us...we owe her so much... Kagome raked a hand through her hair and sighed heavily. After the clothes were put away she made for the doorway that lead out into the garden where she knew Inuyasha had gone. She approached him as quietly as she could, smiling as she saw that he was deep in a conversation with Ladvarian, the Sceltie wolf who had greeted her with a wet nose and happily wagging tail when she'd first ventured into the family room of Tersa's cottage.

She smiled as both pairs of dog ears twitched and she was met with four pairs of eyes, both, strangely, with a loving look sparkling in them. Ladvarian gave her the look out of sheer pleasure in being able to talk to her and to know her, Inuyasha simply because he had both of those things and he loved her.

"Hey," Inuyasha looked to Ladvarian and motioned for the sceltie to leave. Ladvarian left happily, eager to go bother Sesshoumaru and Lady Rin for a little while.

"Enjoying the garden, Inuyasha?" Kagome sat down next to him, her arms folded over her chest. "It's beautiful here,"

"Yes it is," Inuyasha admitted. "I have to admit it's nice to be somewhere where we don't have to constantly fight any demons over the jewel shards,"

Kagome nodded, though she did wonder about how things would play out back in the feudal era with some of the jewel shards still there somewhere. There were plenty of demons back home that would gladly take them for themselves. Kagome shook her head, she didn't want to think about that. She shivered as a breeze swept through the garden and she hugged herself.

"The seasons must be the same here as it is back home. It gets cold at night,"

"It's almost winter," Inuyasha said dryly.

"Almost Christmas..." Kagome sighed, forcing the lump in her throat back. "I miss them, Inuyasha..."

He lifted his arm and smiled as Kagome settled against him, turning on the bench to prop her legs up and lean against his side. Inuyasha lowered his arm until it rested at her hip, his fire rat robes draped over her to warm her. "Shippo would have loved it here. He would have had so many friends to play with."

"Kagome..." Inuyasha murmured, tightening his arm to comfort her.

"Miroku and Sango would have liked it here, too. Kilala would probably be best friends with Kaelas,"

"Stop, Kagome,"

"I can't, Inuyasha," She whispered, staring up at the starry night sky. "I can't help but think about them. I love them, Inuyasha, and I can't stand the thought that they might be dead because of me..."

"Kagome, you didn't do any of this. So you used the Shikon Jewel to protect me, that is what brought us here, it isn't what destroyed the well and it certainly didn't kill our friends,"

"I just can't help it, Inuyasha, all of this is so confusing,"

"I know,"

"Can you do me a favor, Inuyasha?"

"Hm?"

Kagome snuggled against him, breathing his scent in deeply. "Hold me for a while...? At least...until I fall asleep?"

"Mm," He wrapped his other arm around her as she snuggled further into his warmth and nuzzled her hair with his nose. "I'll hold you all night, Kagome."

"Thank you..." She whispered, comforted in his arms. The breeze swept over them again but Kagome didn't shiver, warmed by Inuyasha's body and his robes. He made himself comfortable, cradling Kagome in his arms as she slowly slipped into the world of dreams where he hoped she would find some level of peace.

Sesshoumaru rose from the bed when he knew Rin was finally asleep and moved towards the door that lead to his adjoining suite. He turned to look at her sleeping form and admired her for a long moment. She was beautiful and looked more peaceful than she ever had before. He sighed in contentment and slipped into his own room for the night. The room was simple and connected to a sitting room where he was certain Rin would be curling up on future days to read. Sesshoumaru knew that he would be staying in this world for a very long time, and only hoped that his lands remained in good care and shape, no matter who ruled in his absence.

After walking around the room for a while, Sesshoumaru shed his robes and admired himself for a moment. For no reason at all, Jaenelle had offered her help, coupled with his own power, and had regrown his left arm. It felt strange to have both again. It would take a little while, but he would soon get used to being able to use both arms as he once had. He just hoped Inuyasha could contain himself and not cut it off again.

After flexing the arm and finding it in perfect health, Sesshoumaru slipped into bed and got comfortable in the fluffy mattress, feeling sleep starting to take hold of him. Even a demon needed sleep sometimes and this, he found, was the perfect time to catch up on a few winks.

Ladvarian, Sesshoumaru later discovered, had come into the room and had hopped onto the bed, studying the Lord intently. Sesshoumaru studied the wolf in turn and then offered Ladvarian the end of the bed. Happy to oblige, Ladvarian curled himself up and settled in for the night with his new friend.

He was gentle and as cautious as he could be as he placed Kagome in the bed, pulling the blankets up to cover her to keep her from getting too cold. Kagome roused as he moved towards the adjoining door and grabbed his hand, pulling him to stop. Inuyasha paused, looking over his shoulder at her as Kagome sat up, staring at him.

"Don't go, Inuyasha," He turned to face her, finding her reaching for his other hand. "Stay here with me," She was level with him now, her eyes sparkling in the dimly lit room. "Please..."

Inuyasha breathed her scent in deeply, closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. "I'll stay..."

Kagome smiled, her hands sliding up from his arms to his shoulders. The movement wasn't as hesitant as it was nervous, but Inuyasha smiled faintly in response. He reacted slowly in case she changed her mind, finding his hands at her hips, his finger tips biting at her flesh as her shirt rose with the movement of her own hands. They kissed then, tenderly, softly.

Kagome shivered as his tongue stroked her lips, her eyes closing. "It's cold..." She murmured quietly.

"Not for long," Inuyasha growled, kissing her again, his lips making their way down to her neck. "I'll keep you warm Kagome," He moved forward, pushing her back on the bed, crawling over her. She watched him with ever glazing eyes as he let the Tetsuseiga fall from his waist to the floor, followed by the obi and the fire rat robes. Inuyasha dipped his head down, licking the flesh at her neck, savoring the taste of it. She moaned, wrapping her arms around him.

He would keep her warm, that much she knew for sure.

Surreal grumbled angrily as she closed her door, glaring at the darkness of her home. "Stupid males. They always assume something's wrong when I show up late."

How was it? Surreal glared in the direction of Graysfang, shaking her head.

"Go to bed, mutt, I don't feel like talking right now,"

Graysfang whimpered but curled back up on the couch, settling in for a long night of rest as Surreal made her way down the hall to her room. If she was lucky, the man she'd taken in would be sleeping and she could slip into her pajamas before turning in for the night. Maybe I should have put him in the guest room? But if Jaenelle and Sadi stopped by Daemon might go nuts about that...Nope, my room's fine.

"You don't listen very well, do you?" Surreal found herself snarling as she flipped on the light switch and spotted him on the balcony.

"Never really followed orders once in my life," Naraku said blandly, staring out at something in the forest. Something big was moving in the brush. He couldn't see it, but he could see the bushes rustling the tiniest bit.

"I can see that," Surreal stepped out onto the balcony and the rustling stopped suddenly. It disturbed him momentarily, but he ignored it, turning towards Surreal.

"The wolf said you wouldn't be back tonight,"

"Yeah, well, I got around my relatives."

"How?"

"I stepped on their toes until they let me go," Surreal muttered, moving back inside. "You know, you never did tell me your name," Surreal moved to her closet, fishing out a pair of pajamas. When Naraku didn't respond the continued on. "The visit was just routine, I'll go back to the Hall tomorrow and spend the day sparring with Lucivar until I finally knock his ass in the dirt. Of course, he'll probably want to tangle with the new guys first."

"New guys?"

Surreal paused, looking towards Naraku. "Yeah, demons."

"Really?"

Surreal's eyes narrowed at him. "As a matter of fact, they said to keep an eye out for another one of them," She walked towards him, her right hand falling lazily to her side, her fingers flexing slightly. "A male demon by the name of Naraku,"

"Did they now?"

"You have no jewel, but you're no normal human," Surreal said, tossing her pajamas onto the bed, continuing to walk towards him. Moon time or not, she didn't need craft to butcher a man. "From the vague details, I'd say you fit the description. You're Naraku, aren't you?"

"What makes you think that?"

Surreal smiled. "Sugar, I'm not stupid,"

"I see,"

"Nor am I blind," She growled. "Tell me your name,"

"You know my name," He said just as blandly as before. "The question is whether or not you believe what those strangers have said about me."

"Daemon believes it, and sugar, that's all I need,"

"How naive," Naraku said, his smile fading.

"Is it?" Surreal's fingers curled around the hilt of her stiletto blade as the sight shield fell from it. In less than a second it was against his throat. "Don't even think about moving,"

"You want to slit my throat, Surreal?"

"There's more than one way to kill a man," Surreal smiled sweetly, pressing the tip of the blade to his throat. She paused, perplexed, and Naraku just smiled.

"Your little tricks won't work on me, Surreal. A demons inner barriers are untouchable by anyone other than a demon. Whatever spell you wish to wrap around my heart, assuming I had one, won't work."

She glared at him, unmoving, trying yet again to slip into his inner barriers. How easy it will be to gain control over you, Surreal. And that sneaky cat in the brush...I will control both of you...

Naraku's hand rose to the back of her neck and he smiled. Surreal gasped, feeling a strange stinging sensation there moments before her eyes went totally blank. He felt Kaelas coming long before the cat reached him. Seconds before the cat's claws would have sank into his flesh, Naraku's right arm shot up and pressed against the cat's face, stopping him instantly. Kaelas felt that same stinging sensation at the back of his neck and fell to the ground with a hard thud.

"Now," Naraku said pleasantly as he dropped his hand from Surreal's neck. "Where were we?"

"What...?" Her eyes cleared and she stared at him. "Did you say something, Naraku?"

"Nothing at all, darling," He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her. Pulling back, the smile broadened. "Nothing at all..."

Inuyasha stroked Kagome's damp hair, smiling down at her sleeping form curled against him. The union was beautiful, and now they were officially mates. Not only would his scent be all over her, now it was inside of her as well. Just let someone try and get too close, we'll see what my claws can really do to flesh...

The thought made him smile. Kagome murmured something in her sleep, snuggling against his warmth, silent once again. Stay away, Naraku, or I'll kill you with my bare hands...

End chapter! Finally, Inuyasha and Kagome are officially mates! And the plot thickens!