A song that inspired the theme of this chapter: "No Air" By Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. And I am terribly sorry that I took so long in reposting! I usually am better about that; I have just been busy with classes and such things. I would like to thank mraestalyn for her help in this chapter1 Thank you to all that are supportive and helpful! Anyway, I'll try not to be so delayed next time. Enjoy!
Chapter 25- Testing Boundaries
Violet eyes danced with laughter as they currently watched two sleeping figures. Inuyasha was sprawled out on the futon, Kagome's head planted securely on his chest. Silver and black hairs were tangled in a tousled wave. Two sets of legs intertwined one another in such a way that it was difficult to tell whose leg was whose.
Inuyasha had his arm around Kagome as he held her close, even in sleep. The blanket had been drawn up just enough so that it covered Kagome's breasts, preserving her modesty.
Miroku smirked, trying to suppress his amusement at the site of the half demon and his mate in such a torrid position. The monk raised a hand to his mouth to try and stifle his laughter. An amused snort flew from his lips. Unfortunately this was all it took for Inuyasha to awaken. Two amber eyes opened, welcoming the day. Personally Inuyasha enjoyed the night. It gave him ample opportunity to make full use of his benefits with a certain black haired miko.
Inuyasha turned his head slowly, taking in his surroundings. Then he caught sight of Miroku who still possessed an amused smirk upon finding his friend so deeply embedded in such an enticing predicament with his woman.
"Not a word." He growled to Miroku.
The indigo wearing monk took a good long look at his half demon friend. Inuyasha's hair was ruffled from the nights events, his neck sported a few red marks, Miroku could only guess what from. His kimono was very wrinkled as if it had been grasped securely or been laid upon.
Miroku smirked, eyeing his friend gleefully. "Of course, my dear friend." He agreed, his eyes laughing mercilessly at Inuyasha's blushing cheeks and furious scowl.
It was at that exact moment that Kagome chose to arise. Her coal rimmed orbs fluttered open. She sat up slowly. After catching site of Miroku's gleeful face she instantly blushed as red as Inuyasha's kimono. Kagome was so entranced with Miroku that she did not notice the blanket that was conspicuously wrapped around her bosoms start to slip… That is until she felt a large hand grasp the blanket securely to her chest.
She turned to see Inuyasha's hand holding the blanket to her breasts. There was a faint pink to his cheeks, but he still glared daggers at Miroku.
Kagome placed a hand on top of Inuyasha's, and squeezed it gently. The hanyou took this as a signal from her that she was all right, and he gently let go of the blanket.
She gracefully arose from the futon, covering her half naked body with the blanket and proceeded to grab a kimono that had been laid out for her by Kaede and disappeared into the other room to change. Inuyasha's eyes followed her every movement until she left his sight.
Once she was gone his eyes snapped back to Miroku who was smiling coyly.
"Don't even think about it monk!" He said severely, his face livid.
Miroku just chuckled. "I wouldn't even dream about it Inuyasha. Besides I have my own woman to think about."
Inuyasha seemed to take this as a reassurance that he would not try to peak at his mate and he nodded stiffly.
Miroku changed the subject, not wanting to further irritate his half demon friend.
It was then that Shippo entered the room, his young face bright and refreshed looking. He had obviously gotten some much needed rest.
The kit trotted over to his outou and Miroku. He planted his rump close to Inuyasha and turned to his adopted father.
"So we have to find the lost tetsaiga huh papa?" He asked Inuyasha, his brilliant, sparkling eyes blinking up into his outou's golden ones. The kid never was one to beat around the bush.
Inuyasha blinked rapidly at his pup's questioning tone. I guess word had traveled fast to the young kit. He reached down and placed a hand softly on Shippo's head.
" My tetsaiga is not lost Shippo." He said with a smirk. "I sold it to purchase Kagome's wedding ring." He told the kit, deciding to tell him the truth, not wanting to place tension on his new found relationship with his son.
Shippo's face crinkled up as he brooded over Inuyasha's answer. After a few moments of thoughtful silence, the fox's brilliant eyes lit up in an illuminating look. He leaned gently against Inuyasha, resting his head on the half demon's shoulder.
"I think that's really nice outou." He praised his papa as he hugged him affectionately, a happy smile on his face.
Inuyasha was surprised to say the least at Shippo's abrupt and loving actions, but was pleased none the less. These feelings coming from Shippo were still new to him, so Inuyasha just went with his instinct.
Shippo's was startled out of his warm gesture as he felt the gentle prick of claws gently rake his back in a soothing manner. Inuyasha ran his claws across the young kits back in a wordless gesture of love.
Shippo closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of his papa's claws on his back. The motion seemed to portray the feelings that Inuyasha felt for him. After a few moments of content silence, Shippo's eyes flickered open, almost as if awakening from a deep sleep. He sat up slowly, Inuyasha's hand still supporting his back.
He turned to look at his outou, a childish grin on his face. "Can I go outside?"
Inuyasha thought about it momentarily, before nodding silently. The fox's eyes shined brightly at his outou's approval. Inuyasha's claws left Shippo's small back, releasing him from the protective embrace. Shippo eased himself up, before trotting across the hut and out the door.
"Just be back before breakfast is served!" He yelled at the kit, who was already long gone from the hut. Inuyasha did not need a repeat of what happened the last time Shippo failed to obey. He shuddered inwardly, trying to rid his mind of the atrocious memory.
"Hasty pup." Inuyasha muttered fondly to himself. He looked up, catching site of Miroku's smiling eyes, and upturned lips.
"What?" He questioned the monk with apparent indifference.
Miroku's violet orbs only shined further, their dark pools expressing his amusement at the hanyou's fatherly actions. The monk knew his friend was trying to put up an act, although it was useless to try and hide it.
"I have watched you mature, my friend. It was not too long ago that you would have acted differently towards Shippo. Now you have claimed him as your own. I must say, I am proud of the man you have become Inuyasha." Miroku praised.
The monk watched his dog eared friend flush from the comment. Miroku smirked. Inuyasha certainly had matured in the monk's eyes. He no longer was the angry, self hating, violent person that Miroku had encountered all those years ago.
The hanyou blushed at Miroku's comment, before shoving his hands into his sleeves, trying to avert his eyes to anywhere but the monk's smug face and twinkling eyes.
Inuyasha's ears perked up at the sound of someone moving cumbersomely in the next room. The rustle of parchment could be heard, and a few moments later Kagome appeared with an armload of fine cream colored paper. She stumbled across the room before finally collapsing next to her mate, the paper falling to a crinkling heap in her lap.
"What is all that for?" Inquired Inuyasha. He arched a dark brow while eyeing the mass of paper that was spilling from Kagome's lap and onto the floor.
"Have you got it all then Kagome?" Sango's voice penetrated the room as she walked in, an assortment of various size brushes and ink bottles loaded in her arms. She proceeded to dump them on the floor next to the parchment.
Inuyasha and Miroku's head swiveled to and fro as they watched the two women.
"Yes I found them Sango." Kagome answered her friend. "And I see you have found the brushes and ink, excellent! Now we can get started."
Sango smiled softly as she began to unscrew the bottles of ink, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Kagome placed her palms across the aging parchment, trying to flatten the stubborn paper that refused to lay flat and kept rolling up.
Inuyasha and Miroku just stared blankly as the two women began to busy themselves with their tasks.
"Excuse me, but what are you two doing?" Miroku asked them, his hand sweeping across the array of parchment and ink.
"We are making the invitations for the wedding." Sango replied before going back to her ink.
Miroku and Inuyasha looked at each other; each man had the same look in their eyes. Oh this should be good.
"And just when where you planning on telling us about it? Hmm?" Inuyasha quipped, his face inches from Kagome's, his golden eyes fixed in a demanding gaze as he stared her down.
The miko continued to intentionally ignore him as she concentrated on the parchment. She dipped a brush into one of the many ink bottles and began to write on the yellowing page. This only further irked the half demon and he gave a low growl to his mate, expressing his displeasure. He hated being ignored.
Finally Kagome sighed before turning her head to stare exasperatedly at him. She knew he was annoyed by her deliberate indifference towards him but that did not excuse the fact that he was acting like an immature jerk with no sense of patience what so ever. He possessed barley a thread of patience at the moment, and insisted on picking a fight with her!
The words slipped from Kagome's lips before she could stop them. "Inuyasha, keep your pants on."
The crinkling of parchment stopped. The swish of brushes in ink bottles ceased. No one dared to breathe. The hut was completely silent.
Kagome knew that he was pissed by the way she heard him draw a short breath. His body went rigid, and she saw his claws grip the floor, scraping away the feeble wood that lay there. She stared into his black pupils, surrounded by that brilliant band of gold. It was there that she saw it, his emotions bubbling at the surface, yearning to break free from their confinement. And the gates where crumbling quickly.
It took all of Inuyasha's control not to explode right there. How could she just… and right out loud too! Does the woman have no sense!! I mean the audacity of it all! She just blurts out a comment like that without even thinking!! With every ounce of patience in him he spoke to his mate through clenched teeth.
"Kagome, could I see you outside?"
The black haired priestess sighed, before rising and following the stiff half demon out the door.
As soon as the two left the room it was if a massive breath that had been held was finally released. Both Miroku and Sango visibly slumped.
"They have got to learn to stop baiting each other like that!" Sango exclaimed out loud.
Miroku nodded before turning to his fiancée. "So what do you think they are really doing?" He questioned her, a perverted grin on his face.
Sango scowled at her man before shaking her head and continuing her work.
Miroku continued to smile. "Oh come on Sango, you can't say you weren't thinking about it as well!"
The demon slayer chose to stay silent.
Once outside, and far enough away from the hut, Inuyasha's simmering anger finally exploded.
"What is your problem?!" He yelled at her, seething.
Kagome turned to him, her tawny eyes flaring up at his outburst.
"Me?! I'm perfectly fine, just trying to start the announcements for our wedding!" She quipped back at him.
Inuyasha bristled at her tone. "What?! You think I don't care about the ceremony, because if that's what you think then you have…. He strayed off in a simmering rage.
"No!! I just am tired of you trying to pick fights with me at every turn! I was trying to get some work done, and you insisted on interrupting me and acting like a juvenile because I wouldn't come to your attention right that second!!" She had drawn herself up to nearly his height, her eyes blazing into his. They were practically nose to nose, although Kagome had to stand on her tip toes in order to make her tirade fully effective. Her nostrils where flaring uncontrollably as she panted slightly after her little outbreak.
Inuyasha was slightly shocked at his mates' interpretation of him. A shadow passed over his face as he glared her down.
"Y, you have no idea what you're talking about!! He screeched at her, his voice rough. He clenched his fists in anger. His eyebrows where furrowed as his face portrayed his obvious irritation.
Kagome backed up, a hand on her hip. "What? Is it because of that comment I made?! Oh come on Inuyasha, I was teasing you!" Kagome shot back at him.
The hanyou's expression did not change, and Kagome sighed mentally, pushing back the migraine that was threatening to form in her temples.
"It's not just that!!" He spat at her.
Kagome's glare looked cynical. "Well then what else was it?" She asked, slightly more calmly.
"It's just the fact that you pointedly ignored me! And then you got in my face, basically telling me to shut up…..
"I did not tell you to shut up!!" Kagome hissed.
"You did!! And all because I was just curious about why I was not told about the announcements."
"It was the way you went about it though! You got all worked up over something that really is not even that big of a deal!"
Kagome was tired of his irrational conclusions and his constant ability to go completely overboard with the tiniest things. He could take a miniscule situation and blow it way out of proportion!
She was on a roll now! It was his entire fault for getting her fired up in the first place! "Really Inuyasha… sometimes you can act so immature. If you had just taken the time to calm down and collect your thoughts none of this would have happened….
But by now the hanyou had heard enough, and now only wished for her to end her bothersome yammering. Her constant chattering was beginning to put him on edge.
"Kagome…. He tried, but she was still going, as if she had not heard him at all.
It was then that said girl was cut short of her tirade by a pair of hot, forceful lips colliding with her own. Inuyasha had grabbed her around the waist and pinned her to a tree, his lips continuing their rampage of her supple skin.
"When are you going to learn to shut up woman?" He mumbled against her ruby mouth.
His sudden and unexpected action had caught her completely off guard, and she found herself at his mercy as he dominated her mouth.
Inuyasha found his way to the crease in her lips, and as the passage parted slightly, he was greeted to the delectable taste of the inside of her mouth. Their tongues battled one another, each one teasing… testing the boundaries.
Kagome felt him withdraw gently and graze his fangs gently along her lips. He bit down gently on her bottom lip, nibbling while simultaneously licking. His hands reached around to scratch her back, his claws creating a nice, even rhythm along her spine.
"Inu…..Yasha…" Breathed Kagome into his collarbone. She bit down gently on his neck, tasting his hot skin. The half demon growled lowly, his inner beast expressing the pleasure that she gave him.
"Does this mean that you have finally came to your senses and calmed down?" Kagome whispered against him.
His only response was to pull her closer. His tongue slithered out, licking her mark tenderly. This time she did not stiffen, and Inuyasha guessed that it had fully healed and no longer caused her any pain. After several long moments spent holding her against his chest he finally broke the silence.
"I'm sorry that I let my temper get the best of me." He whispered. He was still very angry, only this time his fury was directed towards himself for lashing out at the one he loved. Kagome…. I love you so much, and I only want you to have the best…. But if I'm the one that is keeping you from what you rightly deserve…
"You deserve so much more then what I can provide for you." He told her, his golden eyes staring not at her, but rather beyond at some unseen object. "I just…. want you to be happy… and if I can't give you even that…. He trailed off leaving the sentence open ended.
Kagome could not believe what she was hearing! She quickly withdrew herself from his warm chest. "Don't you even dare think that!" She scolded him severely, staring him straight in the eyes. He shifted his eyes uncomfortably from her searing gaze.
Kagome was determined to have his complete attention, so she grabbed onto his two fore locks and tugged hard. This certainly surprised Inuyasha, who wasn't expecting it and was immediately pulled forward to stare into her unwavering eyes.
"I chose you and only you! I could have chosen to stay in my time, but I chose to be here, with you. I have fought by your side through the years, and never once have I regretted a moment of it. We have gone through good and bad times and so we will in the future. I am your mate, lover, and future wife! And if you even think for a moment that I would consider even the possibility of abandoning you then"…. She trailed off with a heavy sigh.
"All I want is for you to have all the happiness that you deserve." He croaked, his eyes burning into hers. She stared back into those pools of amber, they seemed to never end, stretching on for what seemed an eternity. So that's it…. He thinks that he is not worthy of me.
Kagome's eyes softened, the burning gaze reducing to a low simmer. "I'm marrying you, and that makes me the happiest woman on this earth. To spend the rest of my life with you…. That is my only wish. And for the longest time, I hoped and prayed that you would love as much as I love you. You're like my air. I can't live without you." She whispered to him.
She wrapped her arms around his muscular form, hugging him tightly. He returned her loving embrace, burying his nose into her hair, inhaling her wonderful scent. His hand reached up slowly to stroke her black tresses.
"So no more beating yourself up ok?" She asked him.
He didn't say anything, but she knew and took this as his way of saying he would try to keep his self loathing issue under control.
Kagome rested her head against his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. She sighed in contentment, feeling safe and secure within his grasp. Kagome felt his body move slightly, and was startled when a clawed hand came to grip her chin.
She found herself once again staring into those eyes. She didn't know how, but whenever she looked into those golden orbs, she found herself pouring her soul out. It was as if she could hide nothing from him… One glance and she found herself unable to lie.
Inuyasha sensed her restlessness. "What is it my love?" He whispered, his warm breath tickling her face. She squirmed in his grasp, trying to shift her gaze elsewhere. But he wouldn't have it.
"Kagome…. His voice beckoned her…. Calling her…. His gaze trapped her eyes, making her unable to look elsewhere.
Inuyasha looked into her beautiful brown eyes, so full of fire and passion. He questioned her once more. "Kagome. What's wrong?"
Kagome let out an inward breath. Licking her lips in preparation she forced herself to say what she had been holding in.
"I just want you to be able to live a normal, happy life. Without having to experience all that hatred and misery that you had in your childhood. I don't want you to have to go through that alone."
Inuyasha's amber eyes widened in shock. He took her hands in his.
"Kagome, I won't have to go through that alone again. Because, I'll have you. With you by my side, I'll never feel lonely. You saved me Kagome, and I'll be eternally grateful."
The miko's eyes where sparkling with tears. "Oh Inuyasha." She whispered hoarsely. She rested her head on his shoulder and relished the comfort of his strong arms around her. All was quiet for a moment as the couple held one another, each acting as the silent guardian for the other.
A sudden snap of a twig and rustle of the bushes caused the two lovers to break apart and stare over at the source of the noise.
"Who's there?! Come out!" Inuyasha commanded in a rough voice, his golden eyes flashing.
The leafy green bush rustled once more before being parted slowly. Shippo emerged from the undergrowth, a slight coloring in his cheeks, and his eyes downcast.
"Shippo!" Kagome called out, addressing the young fox.
He didn't answer her, and keeping his eyes low he mumbled incoherently. But Inuyasha's sensitive ears picked it up.
"I'm interrupting something, so I'll just go and leave you two it." He muttered his lips barley moving. He began to back up, intent on leaving them alone, but Inuyasha's voice stopped him.
"Wait just a minute pup."
Shippo froze, his brilliant green eyes finally leaving the ground to stare into Inuyasha's. The hanyou looked into those eyes, so full of hope. A small smile tugged at his lips as he observed Shippo.
Leaving Kagome's side, he padded over to his ward. Bending down a bit, he got eye level with the kit.
"You weren't interrupting anything Shippo. And don't be afraid to come closer to us. We are your family." Inuyasha placed a hand on Shippo's shoulder gently. The fox child blushed further before burying his face into Inuyasha's red clad form.
"Sorry." He said into the soft red fabric. Shippo felt Inuyasha bring him out of his warm, red haven. Sharp golden eyes bore into him.
"You listen here! Don't you ever be sorry for something like that. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for! All right?" He stared his child down.
"Ok" Came the soft reply. Shippo looked up again, to see Inuyasha smiling. A small smile formed on his own lips.
Inuyasha ruffled his hair affectionately.
Shippo chose this time to speak up. "So what are we going to do now outou?" He asked. The kit was bored. He had explored all there was to see in his allotted boundaries and now he sought something new to do.
Inuyasha smirked slightly. Grasping his pup's hand, he lead him over to Kagome. The black haired beauty hugged her adopted son before taking his other hand.
"Shippo? How would you feel about helping write a few wedding announcements?" He asked.
Shippo perked up, glad to help with something as important as his outou's big day. He nodded vigorously.
Inuyasha smiled and returned with his own nod. Wrapping his other arm around Kagome, the three made their way between the trees, leaving a serene countryside in their wake.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please tell me if you have any. Once again, terribly sorry for the long wait. I hope it was worth it for you readers