A/N: And here's chapter eight! WOOT! PRAISE...umm...INSPIRATIONAL ROCK MUSIC!! THANKS KINKATIA! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!! :-D

ENJOY THE CHAPPIE!!! And I own Kurayami's Blade! As well as Meimori, Kizurei, and their father! Oh, and the Blood Daggers! And Imei Academy...and...um...damn that's pretty much it.


Oh My Gods! 8


"Father, we have returned."

His icy silver eyes seemed to smile in the cloak of darkness surrounding him, the darkness induced by the black velvet drapes shielding the floor-to-ceiling windows in his throne room. He looked towards where the deep voice had come from in front of him and stared down at his eldest son, the only one of his heirs who had inherited his rare eye color. Then he held a gaze with his youngest twin son, all the while not showing any traces of emotion whatsoever.

The twins were on their knees in respect to their master, and for a moment, he felt great pride well up in his chest. Perhaps it was for himself; after all, he did control numerous tracts of land and was a renowned demon ruler throughout the immortal realm. Or maybe it was because he sired such obedient--and strong--sons who would be great rulers in the near future.

And better yet, they had not failed their mission.

The dog demon prince then shifted his cold eyes to analyze the four ruby daggers laid out horizontally before his gilded throne. He could smell the unpleasant odor of coppery blood among the blades, but the four familiar yet distinct scents that surrounded the daggers curved his lips upward in smile of victory. Yes, his sons truly had accomplished their mission.

"Were the demon puppets effective?" His voice seemed like a soft, deep rumble--it definitely was not loud because he hardly had to raise his voice from a mere whisper. It was nice to have that kind of control when he spoke to others.

"Yes, master. The four of them distracted the princes while we went after the princesses." He curiously watched his eldest son as his youngest spoke, wondering why the pup had a rather smug smirk on his face. He knew that the whelp had a strange sort of rivalry with his slightly younger cousin...it was no doubt that he had finally bested his deceased brother's first born in something or the other.

Hopefully it was far from what he was thinking...

"I see." His clawed hand moved to rest on his cheek, right above the Prussian blue jagged stripe that ran across it. Long silver tresses of his silken hair leaned onto the right side of the silver and gold throne while his eyes never left his two sons. The smile in his cold eyes had yet to die down, as well. "Then they're all residing in the mortal realm, correct?"

His eldest son, Meimori, nodded. "We sent the demon puppets to do a little spying in our place. The information they related is the same as in the late Lady of the Western Land's journal."

"Both Prince Sesshoumaru and Prince Inuyasha have met with their future princesses. However, it seems that Princess Kagome has a special connection with my little hanyou cousin." The lavender-eyed dog demon had not been fooled at all--yes, he was less skilled than his older brother, but unlike him, he observed things carefully. How had the miko known of their attack? She had been sleeping only moments before they arrived, and suddenly she bolted up and rushed to tell her friend of the 'news'. Such a thing was impossible...unless...

His father's eyes narrowed into slits. "Are you trying to say that it is true, then? What my brother's late mate had said about her visions--you say that the 'time' has come?" A connection, hm? A bond of sorts. It is as expected; the hanyou and miko were actually very close, surprisingly. He received his answer when Kizurei inclined his head.

"But there is a problem, father," Meimori began, "Prince Sesshoumaru and Princess Rin do not have that connection, and in order for the time Lady Izayoi foresaw to truly come, they must have that special bond. I believe my cousin is...holding back as usual, and my fair lady only keeps getting hurt by his apathy." The accent on 'my fair lady' did not go unnoticed by the others--neither did the small smile that reached his lips as a tag note to his statement.

Of course, there is always something to disrupt my plans. And if I'm not careful, Meimori will as well. The long silver-haired master sighed. He learned of the whelp's...mishaps during his mission and hoped that his nephew would learn some mercy while he was amongst mortals. "It's the same as when romantic feelings between them first arose, I suppose. This does pose a problem, and as with all problems, we must turn them in our favor."

"And we can't use the blood we've collected until they all reestablish their bond of mates," Kizurei stated while briefly glancing at the daggers. We did all of that work for nothing...? Gods, why can't Sesshoumaru be more like his brother? At least the hanyou is already close to his miko without even realizing it.

Meimori agreed with his brother and commented, "True. So we have to come up with a plan."

Silence ensued as the three dog demons contemplated a course of action that would rectify their recent dilemma. The twin brothers were no longer on their knees bowing in respect; instead, they stood and sat on one of the black marble steps of their master's dais. At last, an idea brightened a certain dark-haired demon's expression, and he turned slightly to glance at his father as a delighted--though somehow appearing evil--grin gradually formed on his handsome face.

"I know what will finally have that damn Sesshoumaru on his heels, as well as wanting to drag me into a killing field..." The fact that he dropped the honorific title to his cousin's name spoke volumes--every one was supposed to address royalty appropriately, especially if he or she was in a lower rank, no matter the circumstances.

"What do you have in mind, brother?" Kizurei was almost afraid to ask about his conniving sibling's plan. He recalled a past experience involving the well-known hatred and rivalry between the dark-haired demon and the future ruler of the Western-Eastern Empire...and the memory was all but pretty.

The evil grin was still firmly in place on Meimori's face as his father quietly observed him, all the while resisting the urge to smack some sense into his pup. Yes, my sons may be skilled warriors and obedient heirs...but this one lacks a mind. Hm, perhaps I shouldn't have made him face his fears at such an early age...now he's too bold for his own good.

"Sesshoumaru is being a stubborn, spoiled brat--am I not correct?" Meimori brushed back his charcoal black locks of hair as the other two demons nodded. "And he can never see what he has in front of him until it's taken away. So...I will do just that."

"You plan on seducing Princess Rin, don't you? Have you gone insane, Mei?! Not only would Prince Sesshoumaru kill you--maybe even Prince Inuyasha and his future mate will decide to depending on the severity--but you will ruin everything we're working for! The time will never come if you of all people interfere!" Kizurei was dumbfounded by his older brother's stupidity! Gods, he passed to the rank of a demon god with next to no effort, but when it came to issues needing mental assistance...well, to put it simply, there was none.

"He's right, though."

"WHAT?!" The lavender-eyed demon ignored the smug look his brother shot him and stared at his father and master, remorselessly thinking that the 'wise' older demon had finally lost his sense of good judgment. "Master, he will destroy our only hope of--"

"Son, Meimori's plan makes perfect sense and I trust that it will work." He still received a disbelieving stare. And the smile, as evil as his son's grin, returned into his eyes. "My brother's pup will commit the same mistake twice--we can't let that happen, now can we?"

"But--"

"Hush, Rei. I won't go too far--I promise. I'll interfere enough so that Sesshoumaru can realize just what he is missing. The connection between him and my fair lady will strengthen once he stops being a stubborn mule instead of a bold dog, and then it will be time to fulfill the prophecy..." Meimori had no doubt in his mind that his plan would work; however, the only dog demon with some kind of common sense in the throne room was about to suffer fits of spasms on the ground. Everything he was hearing was absurd!

We're all going to die because of you, brother! Do you think I don't know you well enough to realize that your true intentions stray far from father's? Kizurei shook his head and ceased his losing argument, nonetheless. Unlike some people, apparently, I clearly remember what happened in the past involving Princess Rin and her mate...

He nearly shuddered as he added, And a certain someone else whose name will not be even thought of...

"Now that the problem is temporarily settled, we need to focus on the hanyou and his miko. Are there any problems with them?" The demon prince was glad that he had changed the topic--the tension between his sons was starting to become stifling.

Kizurei refrained from rolling his eyes. "They act the same as always, father, and Prince Inuyasha is very protective--or should I say possessive--of his lady. The only thing Mei and I fear is that certain human friend of Princess Kagome."

"Yes, that human bitch is quite annoying, and not even I speak so foully of my 'dear' cousins. She has not changed at all since the last time we met." Meimori did what his brother didn't and rolled his eyes. Twice. His father found it distasteful, but decided to let it pass just this once.

"Does she seem to...remember?"

"No, yet her emotions are fueled from experiences she cannot recall. I am concerned as to whether or not Prince Inuyasha will accept the challenge she issued him--he is quite sensitive when it comes to things regarding his mate." Kizurei was positive that the human bitch--was her name Yumi...Yura...Yuka?--did not remember anything; she couldn't remember anything. If she did, which was impossible anyway, it would mean the downfall of the immortal realm.

And if you did accept her challenge, little cousin, it will be your downfall that comes first. All of our progress will be for naught.

"When I was looking through the eyes of the demon puppets, I found that they had witnessed an argument that bitch started with Princess Kagome about her fiancé. If she planted doubts into my princess's head, or even into my cousin's, then I shall kill her myself." I may dislike my cousins, but no one in this inuyoukai family is a lowlife. Human bitch, you will not get away with insulting my family. The silver-eyed prince smirked.

His father pondered it for a moment before speaking again, "She is a troublesome nuisance--she will be dealt with promptly. Now, I have come to learn that the Prince of the Northern Lands also resides in the mortal realm. Have you seen him?"

Kizurei shook his head. "I have not, master, though it is only a matter of time before he meets his 'long lost love'. I did sense his aura in the academy Prince Inuyasha is in. Their meeting will not be a pretty one..."

"So not only will I have to hunt down a pesky human bitch, but a cocky wolf as well?" Meimori haggardly sighed. "Hopefully the wolf learns his lesson quicker than last time..."

"Yes, hopefully." The dog demon prince sitting on the throne briefly shut his eyes. "Continuing, then. Since the connection between the hanyou and miko is strong, I believe that they are ready for the next step." The ruler of the Western Lands in the absence of the future king smirked, thinking about what the next step would be. So far, everything involving the half-breed his brother sired was going accordingly--for once.

"What is the next step, master?" His silver-eyed son nonchalantly asked as though he had never proposed an utterly foolish idea moments before. His twin brother fleetingly bristled at the demon's negligence.

His silver eyes matching the color of his luxurious hair glistened in the darkness. "What else will it be? A hanyou and miko will be tested. If their bond is as strong as you say, then they--or I should say Inuyasha--will overcome the trials easily. If not..." He abruptly trailed off, leaving his sons to figure out the rest of his sentence.

"If not...what?" Kizurei blinked repeatedly, feeling a little perplexed in response to his father's sudden grin that was a facsimile of the one Meimori had worn earlier--however, unlike the younger demon's, it was completely filled with malice.

"It should be...obvious."

Both brothers shared a confused glance.

Neither of them comprehended the underlying answer...

...but they would find out soon enough.


...Dream state...

An eight-year old hanyou repeatedly twitched his furry silver puppy dog ears, musing if he tried hard enough, he might be able to hear his father's heart beat, even with the long distance currently between them. He narrowed his golden amber eyes in concentration, and his small yet sharp fang poked over his bottom lip. His ears kept twitching incessantly, filtering through the sounds of pounding waves coming from the grand royal blue ocean to his right and happy birds chirping in the bright morning sky above him...and finally...

...baddump...baddump...baddump...

Yes! He did it! He heard his father's heart beat from over fifty yards away! The young hanyou grinned broadly, and puffed out his chest in pride. If he kept trying, he would one day become a great demon, just like his daddy, and then people wouldn't think of him as a mere half-breed. Heck, some day, even his older brother Sesshoumaru would be so proud of him that he'll finally get that little bit of praise he'd been vying for ever since he started walking!

Soon enough, however, his excitement deflated. He curiously stared at his father's immobile form yards in front of him, and he cocked his head in confusion. Why am I here? Why did Dad wake me up so early only to come near the sea and stand around like seagulls? He glared at a certain seagull standing beside him, the stupid bird that had dared to peck at his puppy ears.

Multiple times.

"Inuyasha, come closer." Even though his father didn't look back at him, or move for the matter, he grinned once more and obliged.

"Yes, Dad!" Finally! I wonder what we're gonna do now? Are we gonna train some more? Is he going to...-gasp-...going to give me Tetsusaiga?! The silver-haired little boy nearly ran towards his father in anticipation. The look of complete admiration and happiness that crossed his cherubic face was...adorable to his father.

"We've come here today because I would like to speak to you--" The older demon was interrupted by his youngest son's bubbling delight.

"--about Tetsusaiga, right?" Innocence glistened in his big, round golden eyes the color of the morning sun slowly reaching to hang high in the sky.

His father blinked, but then let out a hearty chuckle. "As a matter of fact, yes, we are. But not because I will give it to you now, son. I said you will have it when you at least turn fifteen in human years."

Inuyasha pouted. "But I'm ready now! See, I'm strong!" He abruptly turned around and faced the 'certain' seagull, which had followed him to his father's side. "Iron reaver soul stealer!"

The seagull had time to sidestep the attack.

Both father and son sweat-dropped. "Ok...maybe not. You never saw that, Dad." InuTaishou shook his head and hid an amused smile from his disgruntled pup.

"Listen carefully, pup. This is very important information that you will need to know for your future...if you want to stay alive to see it." The hanyou perked his ears at the endnote of his father's sentence; of course, anything that alluded to death caught his attention. "I already had this conversation with Sesshoumaru yesterday regarding the Tenseiga."

"He hates that sword; he said that he don't want you to give it to him."

"Now he doesn't hate it, or it will cost him his life."

Inuyasha's eyes widened in awe, seeing his brother's sword--the poor thing had been called useless many times by the elder demon--in a new light. The King of Makai merely continued. "Before I say anything more, what are Tetsusaiga's forms?"

"Oooh, I know! The ratty piece of junk that can't cut paper and the other is the humungous fang looking one that can do Wind Scar! Grr, Wind Scar! Swoosh!" His father fleetingly mused if his son could be anymore enthusiastic as the boy pranced around performing an invisible attack on the confused giant white seagulls.

"Um...very good, son. But you missed a form." The hanyou stopped in mid attack and stood ramrod still, staring expectantly at his father without even blinking. Now that was devotion. "The last form Tetsusaiga can take is called the Yami no Tetsusaiga, or better known as Kurayami's Blade."

"Ahhh...Kurayami's Blade..." Inuyasha was so amazed by the cool name that his father had to bite down his laughter. Izayoi was right--his son was too cute! Ahem, sometimes.

"It looks like a scythe. You do know what that is right?" The little boy nodded, and his father cut in before he got another explanation along with a 'demonstration'. "Good, then! Now, imagine a regular farmer's scythe. In your mind, make the blade much longer, thicker and jagged like the stripes on my cheeks. Increase the height to stand taller than me, and curve the handle so that there is a groove where the grip is."

"What color is the handle? Is it still black? Are there any designs on it? Does it say 'Kurayami's Blade' anywhere?" Inuyasha tilted his head to one side curiously.

"Ah...don't worry so much about details, son. Anyway, that is how the last form of Tetsusaiga looks like...and it is a dangerous form."

"Is that why I've never seen it before?"

InuTaishou nodded. "Inuyasha, what I want you to understand is that one day you have to use that form of Tetsusaiga, and you need to be prepared."

The little hanyou grinned. "Prepared to fight demons, right? Go Tetsusaiga! GOOO!"

"There, there, pup--calm down." His son instantly deflated and devoted himself once more. The tired father sighed, raking a hand through his silvery white hair. "And the only demon I'm worried about you fighting is your inner one."

"My...inner one?" The boy was baffled. Sure, he was a hanyou, but what inner demon did he have? Why would his father be so worried about that? The look on the king's face was deadpan--he was actually being serious. He watched as his father sighed again and kneeled before him, placing a large clawed hand on his small shoulder.

"Every demon has an inner youkai, but you as a hanyou will only experience such a thing when you reach adolescence. Your inner youkai, in respect, will help you with...decisions, especially when it involves your mate." Inuyasha blinked, yet nodded.

His father continued. "Your inner youkai will be with you for the rest of your life-- helping you, guiding you, providing the instinct you need as a dog demon. However...some things don't go well with it...and you, my son, will have to face the consequences."

"Like what? What don't go well with it? What consequences?" Inuyasha was getting a little frightened now. "Will my inner youkai...kill me?" The lack of response increased his terror. "Dad! It's gonna kill me?!"

"-sigh- Not the way you think it will. Listen, certain youki feed other youki. Kurayami's Blade has a distinct youki to Tetsusaiga's normal one. In simple terms--it is evil. Right now, you're balanced--demon, human, and immortal wise--which means that your youki is also balanced. The kind of youki the blade produces will have a bad effect on your own youki, and that will increase your demonic power--"

"Isn't that a good thing?" Obviously, Inuyasha was trying to find the pros of acquiring such a dangerous sword. "I'll become a full youkai, right? I'll be like Daddy and Sesshou! Rawr! Big Dog Demon Form! Taste my poison, you worthless demon!" The last line was an actual quote from his big brother...

His father briefly shut his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. The young boy was too excited ranting about nonsense to notice that the older demon was becoming annoyed. "Inuyasha..."

"Ha! You're no match for me, lowlife! Just look at my prettier fur cape!"

"Son..." His golden eyes were covered by his silver bangs--that wasn't a good sign.

"You think you can outrun my super--"

"Inuyasha...can you please be QUIET and LISTEN?!"

The hanyou eeped and faced his father with wide eyes filled with fright. Usually he wasn't yelled at for his...babbling...why was his Dad so angry? Am I gonna get punished now? He felt like crying just thinking about it. Mommy's gonna be disappointed in me again.

His ears drooped as he suppressed a whine. "Sorry, Daddy..."

InuTaishou's face appeared to be made of stone at the moment, so he wasn't going to fall for his son's puppy expression. Now his pup knew where Sesshoumaru inherited his intimidating stares..."I know you are young, son, but this is important! No, you will not become a full demon--and stop wishing for it. Your balance will be tipped in the favor of your demonic power, and that will increase the demands of your inner youkai."

"...huh?" What was his father talking about?

The dog demon king foresaw such a response. "Your own inner youkai will drive you to insanity so long as the Yami no Tetsusaiga is feeding foul demonic energy into your youki. It'll be so bad to the point that not only will you be driven to hurt other people, you will become so insane that your own youkai will drive you to commit suicide."

Inuyasha blinked. "Dad...what's sooside?"

"I'll tell you when you're older, pup." He knew he wouldn't get it. Everything he just said probably went in one ear and out the other. "Now, pay close attention. There is a way to prevent any of that from happening, and that is by having a bond of mates."

"What's that?"

"It's when you and another person, a female hopefully, have a connection so strong that she will be able to sense when you are in danger--either physically, or mentally. Only your mate can give you the strength you need to overcome your inner youkai and in the end control Kurayami's Blade in order to use its ultimate power." InuTaishou finally allowed himself to smile at his son's pensive expression. Really, Sesshoumaru was much easier to talk seriously with. Although...he believed his eleven-year old pup hardly cared in the first place...

"You mean like Kagome! You know, the other day when she went to go talk to Mommy in the palace, I was still in the forest and I fell off a cliff and she knew it happened without being there and she came running and she brought Sesshou and he saved me and then Rin came and she laughed at me and--"

"Son, what did I tell you about rambling?" Inuyasha sighed once he caught himself and apologized again. "It's alright. Hmm...that does sound like the bond of mates, but she is too young to be your mate. Perhaps she is destined to be your future mate...Wait--do you even know what mates are?" The hanyou shook his head. "I should've known...Either way, the only reason why I can stand the Yami no Tetsusaiga is because of my own mate."

"Who's your mate, Dad?"

The pup honestly didn't know? "You'll...find out when you're older." The hanyou only nodded in satisfaction with the answer. He couldn't wait to be older!

"Why did Totousai make an evil sword for you in the first place?" Now that was a question that had been bugging the little boy for a while now.

The king smiled...somewhat ruefully, though his son failed in noting that. "He didn't, pup. The Tetsusaiga has a tendency of sometimes absorbing youkai powers. Kurayami...I fought him a long time ago and won." Regret shown in his eyes, but again, his son didn't know that.

"Oooh, ok! So, anyway, as long as I got Kagome with me, my inner youkai won't kill me, right? And Kurayami's Blade will make me the strongest hanyou in the entire immortal realm! Keh! I'll never die! No one can defeat me!"

InuTaishou thought long and hard about it while Inuyasha observed him intently. He cocked his head when he caught a strange glint in his father's golden amber eyes, a glint that made the exotic color of his irises shine brighter than even possible. It reminded him of that time his Mommy cried when his Dad got hurt...nah, that wasn't it. It couldn't be...

...no way! Impossible!

At last, the king responded, "Yes, pup, it won't kill you. And you'll be so strong that you'll defeat the evil that will come for you in the future..." Inuyasha furrowed his eye brows at that statement, but alas shrugged when he couldn't decipher the meaning. With another beaming grin on his face, the hanyou bounded off to imitate his father, only that now he pretended to already have the Yami no Tetsusaiga, while InuTaishou achingly watched him.

"Take this, you ugly bird! Yami no Tetsusaiga!"

The glint in his eyes shone brighter and brighter with each passing second...

"You call that fighting, seagull?! Bah, coward! Come and face Kurayami's Blade!"

...until he rubbed the glint away with the back of his hands.

"I can't believe...that I just lied to my own son...to both of my sons..."

...Out of Dream state...

"Inuyasha! Wake up!"

"W-Wha...?"

He groaned and rubbed his head while letting out a tongue curling yawn. After blinking a couple of times, he groggily stared Kagome, whose hand was still positioned on his shoulders from when she was rattling him. When he looked at her, he remembered the dream he had been having--no, it was a memory. A memory...he never knew he had.

Kagome...I was talking about Kagome...and our bond. Even then, when we were eight, we had that kind of bond? Inuyasha was utterly confused. It wasn't by any means possible! And I mentioned Rin, too...I actually knew her as a kid? Where did that memory come from? He was sure such a conversation between himself and his deceased father never happened.

Perhaps.

It perplexed him, as he thought about the actual discussion. All the information his father didn't want him to forget--was it true? His inner demon, which was a nuisance at times, was going to cause his death if he wasn't careful? Kurayami's Blade...I've never seen that kind of form of Tetsusaiga. Maybe only half of his dream was a memory. Yeah.Heh, heh. He wasn't going to die! No, that wasn't happening any time soon! And Kagome was just the wench he was forced to marry--she wasn't his mate or anything like that. Ha, his imagination had a way with tormenting him...right? It was his imagination surfacing as he dreamed...it had to be! Why did he relive that sudden memory, in the first place? It could've been the time his father was training him and he nearly drowned in the sea, or when his stupid older brother bit his ear because he wouldn't stop pulling on his hair...but no. It was that one. Why that one?

Was his future...really damned? Had his father insinuated that he was...going to die no matter how hard he tried to survive?

And towards the end of it, before he was shaken awake...his younger self hadn't caught it, but his father had said...had whispered...had admitted that he lied. The honorable and all too powerful demon lord revered by almost everyone in the immortal realm, even after his death, had lied to his two sons. However, it was what his father had lied about that bothered the hanyou. Keh, he said he lied--what the hell does that mean? And...and was Dad...crying? No...he's never cried. Never.

Still...

Thinking about his own inner youkai causing his death...

If I handled 'Kurayami's Blade' or whatever the shit it is, would I really go insane? If all that foul youki increases my demonic power...would I really hurt my loved ones? Would I really...kill myself?

...it was unsettling, to say the least.

"Inuyasha...are you ok?" It took the hanyou another few long seconds to remember that he was blankly staring at his raven haired fiancée like a zombie. He blinked and slowly nodded his head. I'm alright...that dream means nothing. He had a feeling, however, that there was one other important detail that he was forgetting...a detail hidden in a memory locked away in the depths of his mind. But what was it?

Kagome moved her right hand to cup Inuyasha's cheek, tilting his head back so that his golden eyes stared into hers. She knew, though, that they passed right through her. It would be a complete lie if she said concern wasn't worming into her heart. "Hey, you..."

Blank stare.

"If something's wrong, Inuyasha, you know you can tell me, right? I'll listen...heck, maybe I can even help you!" She smiled brightly while still cupping the hanyou's cheek, rubbing her thumb over his soft flesh reassuringly. The fact that the easily embarrassed and shy half-immortal had yet to react to her soothing touch intensified her worry.

Did he have a bad dream or something? He was alright yesterday--a little overwhelmed, but alright. Kagome recalled the hours she and Rin, who had been confined to bed by her fiancé--hey, he actually did get back by morning--had spent teaching Inuyasha material that he would need for his classes. His schedule had been sent as well, and as it turned out, due to her meddling mother, the miko was sharing all of her classes with the hanyou. Well, at least I can keep an eye on him...

But there had been nothing unusual about him yesterday...nothing at all.

"Kagome..." The teen blinked at the whisper her fiancé started in, and she was surprised at how...lost he sounded, as though he was a confused child and desperately needed guidance. She didn't know what to do--what had changed in Inuyasha? What had caused him to wake up in a daze? And why did she feel her heart agonizing with his?

She smiled warmly, now taking both her hands to cup the hanyou's cheeks. She brought her face closer to his, leaning forward until both of their foreheads touched. "Whatever it is, Inuyasha, it'll be alright. You know why? Because you have people here for you. Whom you may ask?" She paused when she caught him closing his eyes, reveling in her sweet, caring touch. "Well, there's my mother, I think Souta's probably obsessed with you right about now...Gramps wont try to purify you again, not like he can anyway--oooh, and Rin definitely cares! I don't know about Sesshoumaru; he's an odd one..."

Kagome trailed off as Inuyasha wove his arms around her waist, drawing her onto his lap as he sat up on their bed. It momentarily bewildered her just how natural holding him like this felt...almost as if they had been closer than this at some point...had they? A blush rose on her cheeks, her heart race increased, but other than that...she was calm. She felt safe. And better yet, the miko glanced down at the hanyou gradually coming out of his stupor with every word she spoke, I feel...I feel...

She couldn't even express it because the sentiment was so great.

"And Inuyasha," Kagome pulled away in order to gaze into his vibrant eyes, now staring at her instead of through her, "I'm here for you. I'll...I'll always be here for you. No matter what."

'I'm here for you...' The sentence echoed through his mind, imbedding itself into his memory for...eternity, at most. 'I'll always be here for you....' He found himself smiling along with his fiancé. 'No matter what.'

Now he knew what his father meant, what his father had been trying to tell him when he had been too young to truly understand. A bond of mates. A woman who would be his source of strength and power. His mate. Inuyasha placed his hand on the back of Kagome's head and fleetingly lost himself in her transfixing gaze. The glittering swirls of chocolate that melded to form the irises of her eyes drew him in--why? Because he found his strength in them. Her concern for him. Her worry for him. They knew each other for a short amount of time...but it felt like a lifetime.

My mate. He understood his father and what his strange dream denoted. Perhaps not completely, but one aspect of that talk was clear to him. Kagome...is my intended mate. And that contented the hanyou; this time, he didn't fervently deny it--why was put aside for the moment. The smile on his lips was profound, and for once, it actually held true meaning. His mate. Gods, she was his mate.

Remnants of his dream disappeared with that fact. Their bond was already working to give him strength. He won't die. Not as long as he had Kagome. Even if his father had lied to him when he was eight, even if his role model had believed that he would not live through his obstacles, Inuyasha didn't mind. Why did he need to? So long as his mate had faith in his success, he paid no heed to anyone else. His golden eyes softened into a darker and sweeter amber with his thoughts.

"Inu..." Kagome wasn't even surprised when he inclined towards her, and using the hand that was on the back of her head, brought her body closer to him, enough so that...

...she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck...

...his grip on her waist tightened...

...and she then felt what had to be the best sensation in the world...

...his lips on hers.

Their kiss was chaste, as was their relationship. It was a mere brush of lips; a brush until she pressed him closer to her, wanting to feel the peculiar yet welcomed sense of contentment and serenity that she only felt with him by her side. Although they did nothing more than feel the other's silken lips, the pleasure that they felt was beyond that of even coupling--it was a passion solely received through the mutual connection neither of them could understand or deny.

Why? Because their tender kiss held more meaning than words could ever strive to describe. There was no lust between them--none of that wretched carnal hunger that would desperately claw at their hearts until they committed a deed they'd most likely regret. No. Lust was an evil that couldn't pass through the barrier of purity at the moment.

And that was true affection.

What they felt for each other...was true affection.

However...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T GO TO CLASS?!"

...the moment was alas ruined.


A/N: PART TWO NEXT CHAPPIE!