Forever Yours

Chapter Eight: Be On Your Guard

There was not a moment in InuYasha's life where he ever felt so at peace with the world—and at peace with himself. It was like all that weight he had carried upon his shoulders for so many years had all disappeared into nothingness—as if it had never existed in the first place.

InuYasha never knew such a feeling could be had, and now that he experienced it, he never wanted it to go away. All his life he had had to live on the edge, to always be on his guard for anything and everything. Now it was like that world was no longer real—that it had never been real in the first place.

But here he was, feeling free as a bird, as if he had almost no worries to speak of. The hanyou felt weightless, like he was floating on cloud nine.

Slowly his senses started to sharpen, as he started to awaken more fully. He became highly aware of the female tucked tightly against his body, her head resting on his bare chest.

The hanyou couldn't be happier. He buried his nose into her hair, growling in contentment, and finding comfort and arrogant pride in the way his own scent intermingled with hers.

A life that once seemed so dismal and empty now seemed so fruitful and pure. He wouldn't have believed it were the proof not right before him, sound asleep and curled against his body.

The hanyou sighed deeply, wrapping his arms around his new mate tightly and yet carefully. Instinctually, she shifted her body to be even closer to him, coming to finally rest so that her head was tucked perfectly under his chin.

Kagome was his—and no one else's. And if InuYasha had a say in the matter she would never be anyone else's.

Who would have thought a hanyou such as him would be so lucky? Certainly not InuYasha. But he wouldn't waste this gift he had been given. He would make sure she had everything she deserved and prove to her their union was not a mistake—that he truly did care for her deeply.

He knew beyond a shadow of any doubt now that she felt the same—their bond was proof of that. Even now, as she slept he could feel her happiness and growing affection for him rolling off her in waves. It was comforting and brought forth a deep sense of satisfaction from within him that someone would care for him so greatly.

Though something still troubled InuYasha. He knew this feeling of peace couldn't last—wouldn't last. There was still Kouga to attend to, the wolf demon certainly wouldn't be happy to learn the turn of events. But that part didn't bother InuYasha too much. If Kouga gave him too much trouble the hanyou knew he'd be more than willing to end his life. Especially if he even thought to take Kagome away from him. The wolf demon better think twice about coming even a hundred yards of Kagome.

InuYasha growled at the thought, forgetting about the sleeping body nestled against him. Kagome began to stir and whimpered, as if sensing his displeasure, but InuYasha quickly changed that growl to a deep soothing rumble, calming his mate back into a more peaceful sleep.

She snuffled against his skin, and settled once again.

Assured Kagome wouldn't be waking for a bit longer, the hanyou's thoughts turned back to the item that really troubled him.

It was a conversation they had had the day before, when Kagome had mentioned that she would have to face the home she ran from and stop abandoning her problems.

InuYasha awoke to delicate fingers glossing over the edges of his ears.

He growled in pleasure as he wrapped his arms tighter around the naked female tucked against him. Immediately his nose found the juncture of her neck and he inhaled. The hanyou found he loved the way she smelled, especially now that her scent was mingled with his.

"I'm sorry." Kagome whispered as she trailed her nose under his chin. She inhaled his woodsy scent—why did he have to smell so good? It was so distracting. "I wish things had happened differently between us. But I do care about you."

"S'okay, Wench." The hanyou responded gruffly. Inside he was elated. The notion that a female would ever willingly mate with him was a foreign concept up until now.

A few moments elapsed as the two laid together in silence, content to just enjoy one another's presence. Kagome's hand ran up and down InuYasha's bare chest, occasionally lightly allowing her claws to brush against his flesh. The action sent pleasurable shivers across the half-demon's body.

It was Kagome who finally broke the contented silence. She wanted things from hence forward to be honest between them and the best way to do that would be to tell InuYasha everything, so he heard it from her and no one else.

She told him once again of the forced betrothal he father placed upon her and how he had chosen Kouga to strengthen the bond between their family and the wolf clan. Her father had thought the match would be a good one, given that they grew up together and knew one another so well. What he didn't realize was that Kagome knew she would never see Kouga as more than a friend and that the match would have never worked.

Kagome knew she would never be able to sway her father from this idea, so she had run.

"Mangy wolf. What sane demon would want to mate with him, anyway?" InuYasha had said before placing a chaste kiss upon her lips. "I'd say you made the right decision in choosing me."

"Did I ever have any other choice?" She asked, playfully rolling her eyes. "Koga's a nice guy. He's just not my type."

"He didn't seem so 'nice' to me." InuYasha muttered, miffed that Kagome would even stick up for the wolf demon, after what had transpired between them.

Sensing the inner turmoil swirling around her mate, Kagome brought her hand up to cup his face, and kiss him deeply. What she had intended to be a short, yet breathtaking kiss, quickly morphed into something more as the hanyou took control of the situation and flipped them so that she was now positioned beneath him.

One of his hands found it's way to her hip, and began tracing circles against the tender flesh. InuYasha didn't think he'd ever get tired of moments like this.

Kagome sighed contentedly against his lips, when he finally-yet slowly pulled away from her.

"That's why I chose you, and not him." She whispered, looking deeply into his golden eyes.

InuYasha's heart fluttered under her intense gaze, but he refused to look away.

The half-demon knew the moment her mood shifted, as he caught the unhappy flash of her eyes. An unknown feeling crept up from the pit of his stomach, and he suddenly feared what she would say next.

"What, Woman?" InuYasha demanded, unable to take the change in her gaze any longer. It rubbed him the wrong way. "What's wrong now?" He was trying to hide the way it affected him through his gruffness.

"I think..." Kagome began, unsure of how to approach the subject in a way that wouldn't give her lover the wrong impression. "I think I should return home soon. I know my family won't stop looking for me and I don't want them to worry any longer than they have to. I also think it would look better if I went to them, instead of have them come to me."

InuYasha started. His ears drooped as his insecurities bubbled to the surface. "You want to leave?" InuYasha wasn't ready for these moments they shared to end. They had just gotten back on the right foot.

Kagome felt, more than sensed, where his thoughts had gone and sought to sooth his worries. "You're my mate now. I don't want to go anywhere without you. I just think it's time for me to grow up now, and stop running from my troubles. It's time I faced them, instead of acting like a spoiled coward."

InuYasha nodded, inwardly both pleased and appeased with her response but said nothing more.

"I'm scared though," Kagome added. "My father is most likely furious with me and I don't know how he will react."

"We'll figure that part out when the time comes." InuYasha said, comfortingly. "And I'll be there with you every step of the way."

Kagome seemed comforted by his words, and that satisfied the half-demon. "We'll head out in a couple of days." He had said. "I'm not ready to share my wench with anyone else just yet!"

Kagome had laughed at that, her previous somberness all but forgotten.

Would her parents accept the man that had now become her mate? InuYasha couldn't help but wonder. Other than that conversation, Kagome had not spoken much about her family. He was secure in knowing where her feelings lay, but her family was a whole new world for him. And he didn't want to lose her.

Would they be judgmental towards his heritage? Towards the way he lived? He didn't have a castle or great home for them to live in, but InuYasha was certain that he could provide for Kagome more than adequately.

Realizing that it was quickly approaching mid-morning, InuYasha decided to set his worries aside for the time being. Kagome would be awakening soon, and he should probably get them something to eat this morning, as well as do some scouting. Not only that, but he had ruined her kimono in his roughness and she had been forced to wear his robe on the occasions that she had had to go outside. He felt guilty, and decided he would get her a replacement before she awoke that morning.

With great difficulty he disentangled himself from her, (but not without many whines and grumbles from a slumbering Kagome). InuYasha was very careful not to wake her and then left.

Knowing she would probably awaken before he returned, he again left his robe for her to wear if she needed it.

Kouga didn't know much about the half-demon called InuYasha. But he didn't have to know hardly anything at all about him to know he didn't like the half inu youkai at all.

Most of his hatred stemmed from the fact that a half-demon had the gall to think he could get away with stealing his woman from him. Little did InuYasha know this 'victory' of his would be short-lived. Kouga would make sure of it.

Though InuYasha was only a lowly half-youkai, he had some-what a name for himself. It wasn't exactly because of anything InuYasha had done himself, and was more because of who his father was that anyone even knew his name. InuYasha was a half-demon after all.

It was well known that he was the second son to the late Inu no Taishou, and younger brother to Sesshoumaru. His father's choice to mate a weak human woman had caused a huge scandal when it had taken place several hundred years ago. Everyone knew about it, and believed it was this weakness that lead to the great dog demon's eventual death.

Beyond that, no one cared to learn anything else about the half-demon called InuYasha. His human mother soiled his blood, and demons didn't take kindly to the being who's very existence was nothing more than an infection to their species.

Kouga had never met InuYasha before their first and only encounter over Kagome, and he hoped their next—the one where he intended to rescue Kagome from the dog demon forever—would be their last. Whether that meant with the hanyou's death, or with him barely alive was still to be determined.

And if Lord Higurashi thought Kouga was just going to sit around and wait for those… slayers to bring Kagome back, he had another thing coming.

Kouga wasn't one to sit and wait, he was one who prided himself on taking action. Still, he had to be careful about the whole situation. He didn't want to upset his future father-in-law if he could avoid it.

So, he had decided, he would wait a few hours, and then follow after the demon exterminators, and bide his time. His demonic speed would easily allow him to catch up, and they'd be none the wiser of his presence.

Kagome awoke slowly, and quickly realized she was alone. The place beside her was still warm, alerting her to the fact that InuYasha had not left her long ago. Sighing, she burrowed deeper under the blankets, deciding there was no reason for her to even leave the warmth of the bed until he returned.

Instead, she dozed, keeping alert enough to hear the sounds of the birds and other critters as they crept about outside, listening for any sign that would signal InuYasha's arrival.

Cocooned in the safety of the cozy bed, Kagome soon found herself in a deep sleep yet again.

When Kagome awoke next it was to shivers running up and down her spine as her mate placed butterfly kisses upon her back. She rumbled pleasurably, shuddering as he continued to trail lower and lower.

"Mate," she rumbled, "it's not nice to tease."

InuYasha chuckled affectionately. "I can't help it. You just looked so good sleeping there, I couldn't keep to myself."

Kagome rolled over to look at him, unable to hide her smile. "Where did you go?" She asked.

His eyes lit up with an emotion Kagome had never seen in him before. Without saying a single word Kagome watched as he reached for something he had hidden behind his back.

InuYasha then placed it in her lap and waited for her reaction.

Kagome gasped in awe. "InuYasha, it's beautiful." She said, running her fingers along the fine silk that belonged to one of the most gorgeous kimonos she had ever seen. "Where did you get this?"

InuYasha was pleased and filled with male pride at the fact that she loved his gift. It meant more to him than she would probably ever know.

"It was my mother's, one of the few things I have of hers. She would have wanted you to have it." InuYasha answered, trying to hide the way his voice wavered.

He was certain his mother would have approved of Kagome, where she still alive. His hand traced over the blue and pink patterns of the flowers, to then run carefully across the edges of the kimono that were lined with a shining gold. InuYasha remembered seeing his mother wear this kimono several times when he was a child. It was one of her favorites.

"Oh, InuYasha…." Kagome's heart melted at that moment. She reached for the half-demon, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him forward so that he fell on top of her.

Kagome kissed him, deeply, heatedly. "Thank you," She whispered, breathlessly against his lips. "I love it."

InuYasha growled lowly, sending tremors through Kagome's body. "Show me how much you love it."

For the trio of travelers, their first day was about to come to a close. Much to the chagrin of Sango, they had made less progress towards their task than she would have liked.

This Kagome was proving to be quite more elusive than Sango had thought, whether the inu youkai knew it or not. The slayer knew the location was quite a day or more in travel away but she was anxious to have this assignment over with. It wasn't often, if ever, that slayers worked FOR youkai. It was more likely they were the ones hired to SLAY youkai, not bring them home alive. Nor was it something she wanted to make a habit of.

Sango could only imagine the embarrassment this would cause if word of this go out to the neighboring youkai slaying clans.

She sighed heavily as she finished setting up camp, hoping tomorrow would be a lot better. All she wanted was this debt to be taken care of and then to be able to go home and put this all behind her.

Miroku had just finished getting the fire started at the same time that Kohaku had readied the food they would eat for the night.

Deciding not to waste a moment, Sango took this opportunity to go over their course of action for the next few days.

"I think we should talk about what our plans are for the next few days. It is better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. That is how mistakes are made." She began, breaking the silence that had reigned over the group.

"You are right, My Dear Sango." Miroku returned smoothly, putting on his ever-present charm. Unfortunately for him, Sango had long since built up an immunity to this 'charm' of his.

Sango rolled her eyes and ignored the man, instead focusing on her brother. The youngest of the group shifted under her gaze, unable to disguise his nerves.

"Based on what we know about inu demons," Sango continued, her voice authoritative and assertive, "they have great senses of smell, and are highly difficult to sneak up on. We'll have to approach them from downwind. I also think it would be best of we tried to either capture Kagome when she is alone, or try and draw the male away. Based on the information we were provided, she might be staying with a male inu hanyou. While not much is known about hanyous, we do know that inu males are highly territorial, and highly protective of their females. Because it is undetermined whether they are mated—though probable that they are, I think we should approach this situation with the utmost care."

"So wise, my Dear Sango." Miroku praised. "I agree completely!"

The female slayer sent him a glare before continuing, "As I was saying. I think we should avoid a confrontation with the male at all costs. If we can't do this, we are either going to have to take the male down, or find a way to separate them—though this is a last resort. I'd prefer we find Lord Higurashi's daughter alone, to avoid any unnecessary confrontations."

Normally, Sango would not worry about such things, but this was one of her brother's first missions. He was a new slayer, and didn't have the experience she had and until he did it was best to play it safe. Her father had thought this would be good practice for the young slayer, but Sango wasn't so sure. Maybe it was her being over-protective over her sibling, but she didn't want him to get hurt.

Kohaku watched his sister pensively, taking everything she had just said, in.

"You'll be okay, Kohaku." His elder sister soothed, giving him a soft smile. "You've been trained for things like this all your life."

Kohaku fiddled with his weapon anxiously, lost in thought, and wondering what the next few days would bring. Kirara, sensing the boys nerves, came and plopped herself into his lap and began purring and bumping her head against his hand. The feline's distraction seemed to work for several seconds until Sango spoke again, bringing forth the young boys worries all over again.

"We want to control as much of the situation as possible to avoid mistakes, understood? Be on your guard at all times."

Boy did this chapter NOT want to be written! I changed it around so many times, trying to find the right way to portray it! Sometimes even scrapping several pages and rewriting them! -facepalm- It was brutal. I'm not even sure now if I even like the way it turned out. Just wanted to post it so I could move onto the next.

So yeah… I don't like taking so long to update, but at this point it can't be helped. So busy lately. But I hope you like it! Normally when I write a story, I know when it's going to end—meaning I usually have some understanding of about how many chapters in length it will be. This one I don't. Originally I had planned it to be a short piece but it morphed into something else… At the moment, I have a love-hate relationship with it! We'll see where this goes!

I also realize this chapter was mostly filler, and not much was going on. Because of that I'll do my best to get the next chapter out sooner than I have been lately! Fingers crossed!