I'm writing and dealing these chapters out faster than I thought. With WDBF close to being published, I am catching up and getting these chapters out as fast as I'm able! Also, I have a new one-shot out called "Don't Let Your Suns Fade". It's one of the three most voted popular in my previous polls. Check it out if you want!

NOTE: My poll on my profile page is still open until this coming Friday. Don't forget to vote!

Here's to Chapter 11's reviewers:

buttercup - Don't worry, I'm pretty sure all will be well (... hint hint)LOL!

DiscipleOfAnime - I know Yoshiro will get his eventually but for now let our couple have their time together!

starredvans - She won't give up that easily! Let's see what happens here...Enjoy!

manga-animelove - Ain't that the truth! LOL! I'm pretty sure you'll like this chapter! Read on!

InuEared Miko of Darkness - Thanks! Well I'm hoping you like reading this one... Plenty of tears and sweetness!

SweetHunniiBunnii - Don't worry I'm sure they'll straighten things out... Just read on and see!

alba angelo - LOL! Right. I hope you won't be disappointed with this update!

WARNING: Citrus content!

Disclaimer: InuYasha isn't mine. He and co. solely belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And I'm pretty sure you all know by now what I own.

Chapter 12

He cradled her to his chest as they entered the house. His lips kissed the cool flesh of her cheek, making his way to the living room to set her on the couch and draped a quilt over her. After tucking her in, he rushed to get his fireplace going. Never mind his tolerance for cold, his girlfriend was human and was more susceptible to illness.

Grabbing some wood from the holder, he threw the logs in and grabbed the matches he kept on the stone mantle, struck one and tossed it in. Moving the metal guard in place, the hanyou breathed in the smell of burning wood, trying to figure out how he was going to question the woman on the couch who he knew was currently watching him.

He wanted to be mad at her. But right now he had to get her out of those soaking wet clothes and into something dry. After getting her up and telling her he'd be making her something to eat, since her stomach was more than likely empty and directed her to his bedroom, the hanyou rubbed his face in exhaustion.

'What is she doing here?' After hearing the water running in his bathroom, he closed the bedroom door and left her in peace. He walked downstairs to his kitchen, trying to distract himself while many questions and thoughts plagued him.

Not that he wasn't happy to see her. Seeing her in the rain in the dead of night coming to him was a shocker. But he left for a reason. The problems between her and her family were escalating. Almost every night she'd call because she wanted him to hold her. And while he never refused her, the hanyou knew that it couldn't go on like this. He hurt when she did. His heart clenched when her tears reached him. Her tears flooded his soul, his being with the horror that he was responsible.

But the night before seemed to be the last straw. Her step-father was adamant in accepting him. Her mother seemed to be trying. Just because he was older and not all human all this had to happen. He couldn't help who he loved. He was in love with Kagome. And that meant he had to try and think about what was best for her. She often said she wanted him with her, that her spats with her mother and step-father mean nothing. She loved him and wanted to remain with him.

And now here she was some twenty-four hours later. She rode through the rain just to his place just to prove where she wanted to be and that nothing could change it.

While he admired her strive and courage, InuYasha knew her perseverance would get her into trouble. After learning how set on her decisions she could be, it was sometimes too much of a good thing. Kagome would not stop until she got what she wanted.

The nineteen year old suspected that she was going to do the same thing here tonight.

He kept her soup hot on the burner until he heard his bedroom door open and her bare footsteps heading down stairs. They were meek, soft and tender like she was. Her lavender shampoo was strong as she reached the landing and came face to face with him.

She was again wrapped in the same quilt and he could see that she had on one of his T-shirts and nothing else. Her hair was dry and fluffed out, her cheeks were rosy again and her eyes were were no longer red and pained.

InuYasha came forward and embraced her with all he had. Despite his lingering anger and disbelief that she didn't listen, his heart still beat with love for her. His soul was alive once again.

He pulled away after pecking her nose and with the steaming bowl he guided her back to the couch and made sure she was tucked in before handing her the bowl of miso.

The continuing crackle of the fire filled the room as the couple sat in silence. Kagome would take tiny sips and would turn to occasionally glance at her hanyou. He too would look at her then turn away and be deep in thought. She didn't know what exactly he was feeling but she did know he was upset with her and her sudden appearance. And she couldn't really blame him.

Gazing into the fireplace, she took a deep breath, inhaled the familiar scent of his house, then set her half finshed bowl down on the table. She knew they had to talk about this. And it wasn't going to be easy.

"InuYasha…"

Hearing his name, the hanyou glanced at her. Anything that he wanted to say vanished when he saw the vulnerability and the strength in her eyes, and the power in her voice.

"I know…that what you thought you did was best for everyone. That by leaving you were making everything better." She fisted her hands, never once looking away from the blazing fire. "I was asking myself why? Why you decided to do what you did." For a brief second she closed her eyes, to gather her next words and turned her body to fully face him. "And I understand. You tell me that you will always look out for me, that you want to protect me, even if it's what you think is the right thing."

Sensing that he was going to argue she shushed him. "Please let me finsh. Then you can yell at me all you want." After he nodded, she took his hand and kissed his knuckles. "You are so selfless. More selfless than anyone I know. You try and think about others before yourself. And I love that about you. But sometimes it's okay to be selfish."

"Not when it comes to you." The hanyou was moved by her words. She could always say something to lift himself up. "I hate hurting you, you know that. I can't stand sitting there, hearing you cry."

"But you always make it better!" She promised she wans't going to cry anymore but obviously it wasn't going to work. "When you hold me, when you kiss me it all goes away. So what if I have arguments with my family? SO WHAT?"

"I am not going to risk you or your health anymore, Kagome!" The man stood up, which also made her stand up. "You're too important to me! I did what I had to do!"

"I am happier with you than anyone else, anywhere else in the world! Okay, so I do get angry with them. They talk about you, accuse you of stuff that are wrong! I defend you because I care about you! When will you listen to me? When will you listen that no matter what goes on or what they do to me mentally and emotionally, I'm still going to come back to you! Because I love you! Because no one deserves being alone! Ever! And for once, can you think about yourself and what you want?"

"I know what I want. And that's you. But seeing you doing this day after day, I had to make a decision!" Her tears were driving him crazy and so he was lashing out. "You need to stop being so stubborn and think about what is really best for you! Stop being so stupid for once and actually think about what needs to be!"

"What I need for you is to stop being such a bastard and realize what you have in front of you! That people love and care about you! Including me! And right now you're hurting! How do you think that makes me feel? When you say that you care about my happiness, well don't forget that works the other way too." The teen stopped to breathe and whispered so softly that he barely heard her over the fire. "Don't forget, when you hurt I do too. And my happiness comes from you."

With sparkling tears pouring from her eyes, she bowed her head and ran upstairs leaving a contemplating hanyou behind.

Clenching his fist, he could see that she was right. She alway saw through him. He tried making her life better by leaving but when he went he also left a huge chunk of him with her. He hated that. Apparently his choice in leaving was not helping her, but in the long run it was eventually going to hurt her more.

Standing in the midst of his living room with a warming fire, InuYasha felt colder than ever. Her words hit him like a truck. She was always saying that. Her happiness and her sorrow was his. And his was hers. How can he run away thinking it was the best thing for her? He couldn't break off their bond; couldn't break this cycle of emotional turmoil.

The girl who was passionate for art painted a huge picture for him. A picture that made him see what he was doing. To her. And to himself. One one side, there was love. Red, yellow-many vibrant colors coming to together when they did. They shined when in each other's presence. And on the other, was a colorless future. Somber grays and depressing blacks and hopeless whites, all meshing together to create a somber atmosphere. Two hearts, two souls separated because of a decision that was causing more harm than good.

"What have I done? What have I fucking done?" He whispered vehemently.

His life was bleak when his parents died. It was something his thirteen year old self was unfortunately confronted with. Without the support and voices of his mother and father to guide him, InuYasha had to paint his own picture. He had to create something new to live with and be comfortable with. The only positive color in his portait was he wanted adventure, he wanted to capture more, be more than he already was. Pictures with vivid and brilliant colors and magnificence in their stories. His soul cried every time he picked up his camera to snap a shot. He rejoiced in permanently capturing a memory, a moment in time, something he can reflect back on.

And when his eyes looked up to the ceiling where he could hear his beloved's soft teary voice, he realized that she didn't just paint the truth but she also made him create more colors and images because she was in it. She was his anchor, his insipration. Her radiance, her brilliance, her outstanding nature brought him into a better and brighter world. She brought him out of his dark and gloom and into a more colorful future. With her in the picture, he didn't have to worry about ending up alone.

And now he risked erasing that future.

He knew what he wanted. He knew what his mistakes were. He didn't want that. His intentions were good but they brought nothing more than heartache.

Before he knew it, he traced her scent to her bedroom. It was clear that she sought peace in her own sanctuary the way she clutched her pillow, littered with tear spots. Her hair surrounded her face so he couldn't see her expression. Closing his eyes and once again cursing himself under his breath, he nearly shut her noiseless door and quietly moved to sit next to her.

She couldn't hear him but she felt the bed shift. She didn't mean to raise her voice but she had to get her point across. She wasn't going anywhere. Not without him.

InuYasha might be selfless but sometimes he could be so dense and so blind she wanted to hit him upside his head.

But what shook her out of her thoughts was the tender touch of his hand on hers, unclenching her fingers on the pillow and slowly but firmly entwining their fingers. Her eyes moved to see him watching her, and what she thought she saw in his eyes: remorse, guilt, basically an apology.

Kagome read his face, his expression. His eyes told her without him needing to speak it. But he surprised her by doing just that.

"I'm such a baka. I want to be with you more than anything but…I thought… I just thought it was…" His inu ears drooped. "I'm… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Kagome."

Now he rarely apologized vocally. It was only when he royally screwed up. But he felt so horrible about it and she deserved to hear it from his lips.

"I know. I know…" She let her head fall to his shoulder. "I don't want you feeling that you have to be alone again. And don't force yourself to do what you think is best for me." She stretched her neck up to kiss his neck. '"Because I know that you are what's best for me. And that isn't ever going to change."

The hanyou gazed down, to see her features. From her thin eyebrows to her cute nose to those cheeks that he's sprinkled so many kisses on, her chin he loved to cup so he could kiss her. And when he lifted that delicate chin up just by his finger so he could look into her eyes, InuYasha could see that painting again. It was like seeing his future. She was it. And he was a fool to have thought otherwise.

Those dark chocolate eyes were shimmering with un-fallen tears. He knew only one way to make them vanish.

They met in a sorrowful yet passionate lip-lock. The half demon could smell her excitement more than ever. And while he wanted to wait for her until she reached a certain age, he couldn't deny her. This was going to be her night, all about her and what he put her through. No longer would he say no to both their urges. And if he wanted to bed a single woman, it would only be this unbelievable, artistic, and vivacious woman whom he cherished.

Lemon begins here:

The couple didn't know how they ended up in InuYasha's bedroom, stark naked and trembling with the intensity of on-going passion. Kagome loved it when he would stroke her skin with his tongue, nick her with his fangs, kiss her everywhere on her body. His claws just finished pumping her to completion. His voice was so feral, so rough and predatory. It only served to make her more eager.

His eyes were glazed over, showing her nothing but raw passion. The way his tongue licked his lips after her orgasm, how his face gave away his desires to please her. His body that that sported such a powerful chest, an eight pack she let her fingers run over, his firm and muscular legs that left nothing to the imagination, and now the weapon that was between those legs…

Right then she knew... she knew she wanted him to make her his, make love to her this night. Gripping his forelocks, she pulled him back up so she could kiss him. Her lips and her tongue were hot and delicious against his, talented. Against him she rocked her hips, coming into brief contact with his cock just as her tongue licked across his fangs.

The hanyou growled into her mouth. "Kagome..." His erection was dangerously close to her heated center and it was getting more difficult to not take the plunge. Letting his woman breathe while he pecked her neck and let his claws played with her perky breasts, InuYasha swallowed. "I dont... I don't know-"

"Well, I do." Nuzzling his cheek, she let her foot graze his leg. "I want you to."

He lifted his head to gaze at her, all sweaty and flushed, but still beautiful. "Are you sure? Because I know you're still young and I don't want..." His speech was faltering due to not only her foot deliciously rubbing his calf but of his ten inch erection barely brushing her sheath. "...I just...I just want you..." After attacking her lips again, the hanyou was barely restraining himself. "...To not ever... regret this...Kagome."

Giggling at his expression but taking his words seriously, she whispered back. "I could never, ever regret this. Or you." Her finger delicately brushed his cheek. "I want you." Her heart thundered as his sword was brushing her core. He was visibly trembling, she even saw a bead of sweat trail down his forehead. "I want you to make love to me, InuYasha."

His heart beat harder at her words. Her eyes were never this serious before. While they pleaded for him not to refuse her they also said she would understand if he chose not to do this. While he wanted to wait until she was of proper age since she wasn't sixteen yet, Inuyasha knew he couldn't deny her this. She'd been hurt one too many times. InuYasha and Kagome both agreed that their age difference didn't bother them, didn't keep them from dating or messing around. And as he looked down at her, willing and waiting for his decision, his answer was simple and without further doubt.

He smoothed some hair away from her face before he kissed her breathless.

After he found the condom in his bedside dresser drawer, soon after the room was filled with echoes and whispers of each other's names as they finally joined. Mewls and groans, grunts and hissing, moans and growls were soon heard throughout the house. After starting out steady and slow, InuYasha heard his partner urge him to thrust faster. While he wanted to go all animal on her-she seemed to love it when he did, this was their first time. There would be plenty of sleepless nights ahead for them.

Her release came after a couple of powerful thrusts with a scream that made him pin his ears down. He followed soon after with a growl nearly matching her scream. After getting up and disposing of the condom, her rejoined her. She had him lay on her chest while she massaged his ear in apology. The hanyou nuzzled her breasts in appreciation.

"I love you." InuYasha whispered, being lulled to sleep by the rain outside and her softening heartbeat.

"Love you more." Kagome answered. After intertwining her hand with his beside them, she sighed happily before joining her lover in deep slumber.

"Love is just not caring deeply, it's, above all, understanding." - Francoise Sagan

How was it? I didn't want it to be too long, raunchy or graphic. Next chapter should be up soon!

Until next chapter...

Sayonara!