Tokyo Angel

Chapter Twelve- Welcome Home

"Some days I see the end at the beginning."

-S.S. Jax

Inuyasha was staring. He knew he was staring, and his mom had pounded it into his head that it was rude from the time he was three, but he couldn't stop himself. He stared at the sleeping woman, who was using his lap as her pillow, and couldn't help the soft sigh that escaped him though he quickly turned it into a yawn. She had grown tired of the seat belt holding her upright and her neck had become knotted from laying her head on his shoulder. So, still half asleep and therefore uninhibited to a degree, she had pulled the seat belt off her chest to rest against the seat, and had promptly laid down, using his lap as a pillow and fallen back to a deep sleep.

He had felt the blush that crept over his cheeks at the blatant stares of everyone in the car, but he had simply curled his arm around Kagome and glared at them until they looked away, with half smiles on their faces. Damn nosey bastards, all of them.

That had been a little over two hours ago. The sun had just decided to peek over the horizon, but it was still dark where they were driving. The height of the trees, that surrounded them from every directed except on the road they were traveling, would block out the sun for at least another hour. They were a long way away from the lights of Tokyo, and hopefully away from who was wanting to do them harm. They were high up in the mountains, and only going higher.

Everyone in the car was asleep, except for Inutashio, who had bought four coffees at the last stop to keep him awake and was currently twitching and bugged eye, and of course Inuyasha. But Inutashio was being invisible at the moment to give his son the sense of privacy.

Inuyasha breathed deeply lovely the smell of Kagome, of orange blossoms and jasmine and the overwhelming smell of vanilla and a hint of musk and. . . And everything good.But mixed in with that wonderful smell was a hint of steel, of that metallic scent of fear. Kagome moaned softly in her sleep, and her brow furrowed. Inuyasha tensed when he felt her fear hit him, almost knocking him over with its intensity and quickly he tried to calm her by running his hands through her hair and softly rumbling comfort to her. But it didn't seem to do any good, as she tensed and whimpered, cringing at something that Inuyasha couldn't fight for her.

"I hate you…" Though Kagome's voice was a whisper it had so much heat and anger that it startled Inuyasha. "…Monster…thief…"

"Kagome, Kagome. It's time to wake up." It unnerved him to hear those words come out her mouth and at him; well not at him, it was directed at her dream, but it still felt to real. He shook her gently, then with more force as her moans and whimpers turned to soft screams and pleading. It was even worse because he could feel her fear, his throat closing and his stomach cramping with the power of it. "Kagome! Come on, Wake up!" He didn't know he was shouting, of that he had woken up the others. All that he knew was that Kagome had to wake up, because this terrifying feeling would go away, the smell of that metallic fear would go away from her scent.

"Stop! Please, God!. . . Not, Souta, No! Stop!" She wrenched away from Inuyasha and started to fight an entity that was only present in her mind. She grunted and screamed as she fought with her tormentor. "Please, . . .God!" Inuyasha grabbed her and held her in his arms, making sure that she didn't hurt herself.

Distantly he noticed that his father had pulled off the road, and that everyone was moving. But what they were doing he couldn't say. "Come on, 'Gome, we can fight this. I'm right here." His words felt hallow and empty, and he felt useless. He couldn't stop what was happening to her, anymore than he could wake her up. He couldn't even bring her comfort, damn it.

He noticed that her face was drenched in sweat at the same moment he felt sweat trickle down his back causing a chill to race up his spine. Kagome was still writhing in his arms when her door was pulled open, and Inuyasha looked into the eyes of his brother. He couldn't help the high pitched whine that he let out; he didn't give a fuck what he sounded like or that he just asked his brother 3for help. He would kiss his brother on his too pretty feminine lips if only he could help Kagome.

"Not that. . . Please, not that! I won't. . . I won't. . . stop, please just stop!" She went into a large spasm then, and after it passed she started to fight and kick and hit even more furiously. Her legs kicked out and got Sessomaru across the jaw, and another in the stomach before he could grab her shoe clad feet.

"Be careful with her. She's human." Inuyasha reminded his brother, and he released his tight hold on her to a more gentle one. Together they held her down, dodging blows and nails, and for once Inuyasha was thankful for his ears, as he folded them down to dim the screams that Kagome would release.

Sessomaru grunted as he got another to the face, and his eyes were clouded with worry as the young woman arched her back and let loose a terrifying scream that echoed through out the surrounding forest, amplifying it before it was pulled into the mists of the trees and faded away. Headlights flashed briefly across Sessomaru's eyes, temporarily blinding him. A car had pulled in behind them, a richly extravagant car that looked like it shouldn't of been anywhere near the mountain, and looking over his shoulder Sessomaru saw a couple get out of their car and walk toward them. They were human and seemed to be in their late thirties, the woman a squat toad looking thing that was leading a rather tall, thin man. They stopped suddenly when Kagome screamed, though not as loudly this time. He smelt their fear, and their suspicion and thought, 'Well, just fucking great.' Then Kagome's foot slipped from his hold again and, with a surprising amount of power for one so small, kicked him in his genitals. He let her other foot drop as he grabbed for his crotch, letting out a small mewling sound that he would later deny ever making, and he cradled his bruised appendages in his protective hands. But releasing her other foot only made it so she could kick him with two feet. His eyes bled red, and he couldn't stop the soft growl from passing his lips.

Inuyasha's head jerked up at the sound of his brother's angry growl, and before he could even comprehend what he was doing, he tightened his hold on his mate, his eyes bleeding a soft pink, and he growled low and dangerous, a growl of warning that no human would be able to hear and if they did it would be too late to do anything about a pissed off hanyou. Sessomaru glared at Inuyasha's warning and grabbed Kagome's feet again though he held them with more force this time. The two brothers stared at each other over the fighting woman, and after seeing that Sessomaru intended no harm turned his attention back to his mate. Kagome's screams were high pitch and long; they deadened the ears of the two demons and tortured them with the pleading desperation behind it. Every few minutes they would make out a word, for all her screams were words of some kind, her fear and terror simply distorted most of them beyond recognition.

Slowly Kagome began to relent in her struggles, and her screams became whimpers and finally she was left gulping air into her lungs, her chest heaving. She was limp in their hold and her face was covered in sweat. Eventually she became silent and then she lay on the seat with out moving except for her slowly rising chest. Over the sudden silence the brothers were finally able to hear the raised voices of strangers, of yelling that was going on outside of the car

"You devils! You let that girl go right now! Or I'll call the police!" Her voice was high pitched and wheezed slightly as she spoke, and it seemed to fit her perfectly. She had the essence of a frumpy woman, though she was wearing high priced designer clothing, and had perfectly matched her shirt to her pants, her pants to her bag, her bag to her glasses, and her glasses to her shoes. Her hair was perfectly bobbed around her pudgy head and Inuyasha couldn't help but think that she could of picked a more flattering hair cut for her fat face. The woman was already getting out her cell phone, and her husband stood in front of her protectively, guarding her from the towering build of Inutashio, who was standing in front of his family, protecting them.

"Eveen, perhaps we should just leave." He was a small man, thin, and didn't look like he could take a hit. He also had small beady eyes, and Inuyasha couldn't help but remember that you couldn't trust someone with beady eyes.

"But Howard! Look at them! They're demons! They probably kidnapped that poor girl and are going to turn her into their sex slave! I saw a special on the news last night about this! They take girls and brainwash them to their ways. And you have no idea wh… oh, my God, I saw that one over there touch himself!" She pointed a shaking finger toward Sessomaru, who growled at her and winced as he adjusted himself, trying to find a more comfortable position after Kagome's gift. "See! Howard! He's touching himself again! My god, what if they want to take me?! Howard!" She shrilly shouted and put a hand to her ample breasts as she backed away. "All of this is on the news, Howard, they tell you what to look out for." She whispered but everyone could hear her in the stillness of the air. "Demons are going around killing and kidnapping women to become their play things." And then louder, and right beside old Howard's ear, "Devils! I'm calling the police right NOW!" And she flipped open her phone, her eyes bulging from their sockets as she watched them and dialed.

Rin stepped forward and put on her 'Now let's be reasonable' look, the one she put on every time she was talking to someone she deemed particularly dense or stubborn (which usually meant Sessomaru). "That really isn't necessary. You see our friend over there-"

"Howard, she's talking to me." Eveen sneered, her eyes glacier cold as they scraped over Rin. "Are you going to let a demon's mistress talk to me? Do you know how big an insult that is?! How low she is implying I am by merely glancing at me? I do not talk to things that are under me." She quickly and harshly informed Rin.

Before Sessomaru could squeeze her thick neck and have the pleasure of hearing it snap, Rin's eyes turned sharp and piercing, and she shook her head slightly at him. She had experience with these type of people, who were too arrogant and ignorant to look past their noses and the strong dislike that she had been trying to hide surfaced and she let it show on her face. "Well, if everyone followed that rule than I wouldn't be able to tell you what is happening and how your backward, simple mind distorted it." Then she smiled a cold smile that Sessomaru was very proud of.

Eveen spluttered but Rin guessed she was more distressed by who was telling her this than by the words themselves. "No, I wouldn't think that you, a woman who threw her honor away so easily would understand why I would like to preserve mine. And hers!" Her hand shook as she pointed it at the car. "Couldn't you hear her screams! She doesn't want to be whores like you! Poor fallen women, no one will ever look at them the same. All they'll be able to picture is demons crawling over them." She quickly said to Howard, as if making sure he was on her side or more likely, that he wasn't picturing any hanky panky with the beautiful women in front of him. "I bet they didn't even fight like that one over there!" She again pointed her pudgy finger toward the car, where she could see Inuyasha holding a shivering Kagome to his chest.

Deciding enough was enough, Inutashio, Sessomaru and Miroku, took a step forward before she was even done talking. Even in this day and age there was only so far you could push it before even the courts would agree with justifiable homicide. "I suggest you take your horrible mate and leave." Inutashio growled lowly, his fist clenching under the soft hand of his mates.

And Howard, poor little man though he was, seemed to know that his wife had pushed it too far. "We're leaving. Now. I'm sure they're very nice people." And Eveen, perhaps surprised at her husbands first show of backbone in their nine years of marriage, let him drag her back to the car with her mouth hanging open. No one was sad to see them go.

Everyone looked at each other, and they filed this episode away with the others like it; simple minded fools. Inutashio hugged Izayoi to him, and after nuzzling her neck, he walked over to make sure that Kagome was alright. He stood in front of Kagome's door, and looked down at the woman who looked like she was resting peacefully against his son, though shivering a little. "She wake up?"

Inuyasha shook his head, his chin running across the top of Kagome's hair. "Not even after the nightmare ended." Inutashio nodded his head, his eyes still hot with anger, but cooling as worry entered his mind. Without a word everyone climbed back into the car and started back on the road. It was an unvoiced agreement that they should drive straight there with no breaks.

Less than three minutes later a soft whisper broke the tense silence. "I think she has night terrors. I had them after my mom died." Sango whispered softly, not wanting to wake up the girl who was sleeping so peacefully now. "That would explain why she didn't wake up. You can't wake up until the dream is over; at least that was how it was with me."

Everyone in the car took that in. Inutashio was thinking that some counseling wouldn't be out of line for Kagome. Sango, not noticing what she was doing, leaned her head against Miroku, and had her arm wrapped around his, pulling it close to her. She was terrified to know what caused those screams from Kagome; she was a good judge of character and had pinned Kagome as being strong. She couldn't help but wonder what she had been through.

Everyone in the car was resting against someone, touching that one person who brought them comfort, but it couldn't completely dispel the heavy atmosphere in the car. And for Inuyasha, though he was holding Kagome close to his chest, couldn't seem to become calm. His heart was still beating as it had been when she was screaming in that ugly voice, the one filled with terror, and defeat, and hate, that voice that was high pitched and husky all at once, that seemed to spill from the most tortured part of her soul. But strangely, even though that voice was ugly, it had a haunting beauty to it. The pitch, or something, made it the most beautiful scream you ever heard.

Not liking where his thoughts were journeying to, Inuyasha ducked his head into Kagome's hair and breathed deeply, loving that there was no smell of that sweaty metallic that had been so thick in the air but a few moments ago. Slowly the tenseness of the moment began to drift away, but unfortunately that simply meant that Inuyasha could think more. And right now that meant to think about the woman in his arms and nothing good could come out of that.

"You know, I never thought I would make it to my senior year." It was like a ghost of a sound that played in his head. Her words that had so disturbed him repeating in his head. What had she meant by that? What? He wasn't a very optimistic person, in fact some might say that he was a pessimistic bastard, but those words couldn't bring any picture of a happy time to mind. It didn't conjure happy and warm fuzzy feelings, damn it.

There were several ways that you could take her statement, he supposed, besides his dark thoughts. She could of meant that she didn't think that she was smart enough to graduate but that was just dumb. Kagome was the smartest person he had ever known. Another thought was that she meant that she was going to run away to the sea and become an old hag who lived among the crab and dolphins, basking in the sun during the day and seducing the moon to appear at night. She had said that in fifth grade, when Kouga for some reason wouldn't leave her alone, following her every where and pulling her hair; her solution had been to runaway to the sea. The other thoughts he came up with to explain her words were too dark to think about. He refused to think about it. She will have to tell him what she meant by it, that was all there was to it!

The sky turned from the dark of early morning to the light pink of the promise of a bright day. The road became more bumpy as Inutashio turned off the main road, and everyone who had been lightly dozing were now awake. Everyone except Kagome. Inuyasha softly ran his hand down her hair, and lightly running his claws against her scalp. He remembered that she used to love that.

There was something very pleasant happening to her head. A tingling that spread down her body from her head. It felt very… nice. Yes, very nice. Her mom used to do that when she had a bad day; let her talk it out as she ran her fingers through her hair. She would fall quiet and everything seemed alright with the world in those moments of peace. Everything was alright.

Inuyasha heard Kagome's humming sound. He stopped petting her hair and a small frown formed in between her brows. Smiling though not knowing it, he continued what he had been doing, dragging his claws through her hair and the soft sensual humming emitted from her yet again. Inuyasha could remember a hundred moments like this one; filled with peace, and a warm sensation in his chest that he associated with being loved. He and Kagome had been so young when they first met but they were older than their years. They had bonded and formed a relationship that couldn't be broken- at least, they had thought so at the time. These peaceful moments were daily occurrences, they seemed to spring up whenever they were around each other. He never noticed how they stopped when they were no longer friends. Sure, he can remember the sound of laughter, and the feel of women who had suddenly pushed themselves on him. He remembered, too, the feeling of being wanted. Desired. But now that he looked back on it all, it seemed rather forced. Shallow compared to this calm, deep running emotion that Kagome evoked by simply being in his presence. He cursed himself for the 4,241,124th time for leaving Kagome behind.

Sango spied on her friend with the stealth of a killer that was as much a part of her as her skin on her bones. Inuyasha had not been her ideal friend- he was a demon, she was from a proud line of demon hunters. The instincts of her ancestors had been passed down to her, and even though she had never killed a demon she knew she could with all the heartlessness of a snake. It had been hard for her father to accept Inuyasha and his parents as friends, as it had been for her. The art of demon hunting had been turned into a sport, played with stuffed objects that resembled demons or humans depending on your pre-disposition. It was a sport played by both humans and demons, and had grown into world renowned popularity.

But the old families, the ones who hundreds of years ago actually hunted and killed demons took their skills very seriously, and no matter how much they tried they couldn't rid themselves of their suspicion when meeting a demon. It was simply a part of who they were and Sango had accepted that a long time ago. Her father had explained it to her when she was a child- in a zoo a lioness has nothing to fear. She does not need to worry about the alligators that terrorized prides, or hippos that defended the water with all the ferocity of a whole pride. Yet if she were to be presented with either one of them she would distrust them immediately. She would growl and bare her fangs and present hostility to these animals. It is not because these animals had done anything wrong; it was simply because her antecessors had fought and feared them for so long that that had worked into their brains. And demon hunters had stopped being merely human for centuries now. They had sharpened all their senses into finely honed tools; some demons were even known to be jealous of some hunters' senses. They had relied so heavily on their instincts that some say that they had become part demon. Ironic, Sango had always thought.

"What are you thinking about, My Flower Blossom?" Miroku whispered in her ear, his finger trailing down in between her brows. His eyes were dark, so dark with horrors and mysteries that he had never told her.

"What? I'm not thinking about anything." Sango lifted her self off of him, embarrassed to find that she had clung to him in her thoughts.

"Of course you were. You had that crease between your eyes, and you were sucking on your bottom lip." Miroku smiled at Sango's blank stare, his eyes tracing her face. "You only do that when you are thinking heavy thoughts." He explained.

Sango was surprised that he knew that; she didn't even know that. It was slightly scary to find someone who knows things about you that you weren't even aware of. "Your wrong." And she turned to the window to watch the trees heavy with snow flash by. She refused to look at Miroku, and instead thought of other things that he might know about her that she didn't.

A few seconds later a screech was heard, and then a loud smack as Sango screamed, "Pervert!" Everyone simply sighed and didn't even look back. Rin wondered if Sango even knew that she alone provoked every fondling escapade by Miroku. She doubted it, and knew she would deny it if informed about it.

The next two hours passed with out event, and when they pulled into the drive of a two story cabin like house, every one was eager to get out of the cramped car. Everyone that is, except Kagome who was still sleeping peacefully on Inuyasha. Carefully and gently, Inuyasha carried Kagome into the house.

"Put her to sleep, Inu. Just pick a room for her." Inutashio whispered to his son. Inuyasha nodded and headed for the stairs, and then to the last room to the right. He opened the door and laid her on the plush red comforter, pealing it back for her and curling her into the bed. His father hadn't said that it couldn't be his room. He just said a room.

As he stood and made to leave Kagome let out a small whimper, as if something had frightened her. Inuyasha was immediately by her side, curling his body around hers, whispering low growls and soft barks to her and running his fingers through her hair. She stopped and turned to him, snuggling into his chest and falling back into a deep sleep. Inuyasha said he was just going to be there until he was sure she was alright, but when he closed his eyes, he fell into dreams of where a whispered voice seduced him and arms welcomed him and steel grey eyes smiled at him.

About the time that Inuyasha fell asleep with his arms wrapped around Kagome, Izayoi knocked softly on the door and walked into the room. "Inuyasha, make sure tha-" She stopped in her tracks when she saw the two teenagers curled together on the bed. She didn't like that they were so intimate so soon after meeting each other again but she knew that it was a part of Inuyasha; he would act this way because he couldn't stop himself. His instincts hardwired him to be that way to his mate. She eyed them nervously and then retreated, softly closing the door. Her and Inutashio had talked about how Inuyasha would act when he was born. She shouldn't expect him to act like a human up to a point; it would be impossible. This was one of those times. She had messed up with Sessomaru and Rin; her refusal to let them sleep together in the same room until after they were married. She had hurt Inutashio's feelings that day and worst than it all was that she hadn't noticed it right away. Mating was higher, more holy than anything in the world. It melded two souls together, and bonded those two people together forever. Marriage was something that could be undone, thrown away, and forgotten. She had known that but the turbulence of the world today concerning inter-species couples and hanyou, it had just been better to cover all bases. Some hospitals wouldn't let mates in to see their mates when they were admitted; most humans didn't even view mating as a valid relationship commitment.

"What are you thinking of?" Strong, muscular arms slid around her waist and pulled her against a warm chest. She smiled and turned her head to smile at her mate.

"Who said I was thinking of anything?" She teased and lightly kissed him on his firm mouth.

"I felt you ticking around in my mind. It didn't feel like happy ticking either." He frowned down at her and gave her his most ferocious look but it was all ruined when he used her word 'ticking' to describe the feeling of feeling the emotions and thoughts of your mate in the back of your mind.

"Inuyasha and Kagome are asleep upstairs. I was just… thinking about how I acted with Sessomaru and Rin." And how I hurt you. He knew what she was thinking of without her having to say it.

Inutashio sighed and pulled Izayoi into a tighter hug. "Do you remember what I told you to expect when Inuyasha was born? How on some things he would act on his instincts because he's part demon?" She nodded her head against him. "Your human. You've learned and figured out most of our ways and have adopted them as your own. But your still human. Just like Inuyasha not being able to control how he acts because of his heritage, the same is for you." He kissed her temple and after giving her an extra squeeze tugged her down the stairs. "Come on, Love. Let's make dinner. And after that I have to call Child Services about Kagome. I don't like how their not answering my questions."

Izayoi grabbed a hold of his hand and instead of leading him to the stairs, she pulled him toward the room toward the opposite side of the house. "Before you go off and become big bad business man, and give those poor people your I-could-ruin-you-and-tear-you-done threats, come with me and take a nap." Inutashio didn't resist her but when she said 'nap' his face scrunched up and she laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that men didn't take naps. How about we just sleep, then. None of us have gotten any rest, and it's not like our ride here was exactly relaxing." She smiled at her mate and he saw that her usually faint crows feet were deep and she suddenly looked much older. He let her pull him into their room with out a word of complaint.

Downstairs Sango was smiling at the pictures that adorned the walls. She had seen them several times over the years but she still loved looking at them. A little Sessomaru showing his rare smile as he and his brother climbed a tree in their festival clothes; another picture showing a tired and sweaty Izayoi holding a small bundle of blankets in her arms with two snow white ears peeking over and Sessomaru was staring at it suspiciously, sniffing the bundle. The pictures lined the long hallway and turned around the corner into the living room. Sango noticed her first visit there that the pictures went in chronological order, showing the happy family as their sons grew; but Sango had never known who the little girl was who suddenly showed up in almost all the pictures when Inuyasha had entered Kindergarten. In fact she first appeared in the background of the picture that pronounced 'Inu's First Day of Kindergarten!' smiling at the sullen, angry looking hanyou. Then from there on out she was glued to Inuyasha's side, even a memorable picture where her and Inuyasha were riding on the back of a slightly disgruntled Sessomaru. Sango now looked at these pictures more closely and she could barely believe the young woman this girl would grow up to be.

There was a picture of Kagome, who looked about seven, hanging onto both of the brothers, prodding them to pose and smile for the camera. Another of the whole family with Kagome looking slightly shy under the towering figures of Inutashio and Izayoi. Sango watched as the picture Kagome grew from frame to frame, seven-eight-ten-until she looked around twelve or thirteen years old… then she just disappeared. The last picture she was in her bright, happy smile was some what dim, and she stood off to the side away from Inuyasha and Sessomaru who were displaying their swords their father had made them. She seemed displaced and Sango felt suddenly sad for this little girl who she knew was one day going to grow and become abused and eventually that happy bright smile would be lost.

"Can you see any resemblances?" A sensual voice whispered by her ear, causing her flesh to shiver which she quickly hid. She glanced over her shoulder into his dark eyes and she forgot what he had asked her. "In the pictures I mean. Of Kagome. I assume that's who your looking at." He frowned at her and Sango looked away, shaking her head a little.

"No. Not really. I know who it is, and if I look long enough I think I can see something around the eyes but… it goes away and all I see is a little girl."

"Yes, I noticed that. There is not much left of the little girl in the young woman. But your right, my dear Sango, there is something around the eyes that have stayed with our new friend." Miroku eyed the last picture of Kagome, measuring her to the older one he knew. "I think it is called…hope. That something in the eyes that sparkle, though there is not much sparkle left in them. But I think once Kagome has become a little more…healthy shall we say, that she will resemble her pictures here a little more." Miroku smiled at the small girl then looked at Sango, noting how her neck was smooth and milky white.

His eyes were hot on her skin, as if his fingers were slowly trailing along her neck and down her back. She wondered if he knew what he did to her with just the look of his eyes, and thought briefly of reaching out to him. "Where are Sessomaru and Rin?"

"Hmm?" Sango looked behind her and saw that Miroku's eyes were hot, molten, and something wild was in his eyes and he suddenly looked nothing like the gentle, kind, slightly perverse man she knew but a stranger, almost wild. Involuntarily she took a step away from him, her instinct to protect herself kicking in, making her blood rush through her ears. Miroku looked up sharply when she stepped away and the wild glint and all that heat in his eyes was gone. Instead an almost shameful look was in his eyes and he looked sad. She almost wanted the heat to return. "Uh, I believe they went to eat. In the kitchen." He stepped back from her and looked away as the awkward silence filled the air.

Sango looked at him and suddenly felt ashamed herself. She has known Miroku for more than six years now and her moment of doubt made her feel dirty. Softly and knowing it was completely out of character for her to be touching him, she laid her hand on his bicep and felt the jerk of his surprise under her hand. "What's wrong Miroku? Lately you've been acting…different."

Miroku stared at her hand, and after much thought lifted off and held it in his. He refused to look at Sango but instead stared at the wall. "I have been feeling different. Inutashio tells me it is because the demon bonding from my adoption ceremony is taking it's final effects. I am inheriting some of their…instincts. Some of their traits. Much like their mates do. I may even be able to lengthen the life of my and my mates life by a few years." Miroku looked quickly at Sango and quickly away. "It is disconcerting to suddenly have so many feeling that are so new to me. Sometimes I …don't know how to act…when confronted with them." Absently he rubbed his thumb across the smooth skin of her hand, relishing in the simple contact of skin and skin.

"What kind of …feelings?"

Miroku mentally flinched but kept staring at the family pictures. "Well, possessive is a big one. But considering my adoptive family that is hardly surprising." Sango laughed a little and Miroku relaxed a little more. "I feel like I have to protect everyone I care about…even if they don't want me to. But usually that wouldn't matter to me, the not wanting help, but lately…it's a punch to my male pride. Makes me feel as if the person doesn't think I can protect them and…God, I now know why Inuyasha has such a hard time communicating his feelings! Everything is so screwed up and going in a hundred different directions that you never know what to say!" He let go of Sango's hand and ran it through his hair, making it stand up on end.

Sango gasped at the sudden loss of contact and had to stop herself from reaching out and grabbing his hand. "Why don't you just start from the beginning. That's usually a good place to start." She smiled at him and when he simply stared at her she grabbed his hand and waited.

Miroku looked down at there interlocked hands and didn't do anything except flex his hand in hers. Then he sighed and looking at Sango he smiled a little. "I knew what I was getting myself into when I accepted the adoption by Inutashio. But…I don't think that I quite…understood how hard it was going to be watching as the person I knew turn into someone who is more…earthy. More Instinctive." Gaining courage from the brown eyes that stared at him so boldly, he kept going, letting ideas and thoughts that he had barely acknowledge slip from his tongue. "I don't like being out of control, Sango. I like the person I am and don't know anything about the one I am to become. I can't ask anyone what the hell is going on because the last human to be accepted and adopted into a Inu demon pack died two hundred and four years ago at the ripe age of two hundred and eighty-nine. And only then because his mate had died. But there have been so few adoptions and the ones that did happen have all been different, that no one knows what could happen to me. I suppose that I am afraid…yes, it is possible that I am." He seemed surprised that he had admitted that and looked down at their hands again.

Sango's heart clenched for Miroku. She had lost her mom but she always had her dad. She didn't know what she would do without him. And Miroku had lost his mom so young and then his father just after. He only had himself to depend on for so long and suddenly the person he knew the longest was changing. "I don't know what your going through Miroku, or what is to come, but I have no worries about the man you are going to become." Miroku looked sharply at her and all his attention was focused on her, his eyes blazing. "You are very kind, considerate, always looking out for others first and never yourself. You are a good person, Miroku, and nothing can change that. You're getting characteristic similar to that of the Takahashi men but they're all good men, and besides that won't change who you are. You'll always be you. And your perfect, so I don't think you have anything to worry about." She said this matter-of-factly, as if what she was saying was public knowledge which just embarrassed Miroku even more.

Miroku said nothing, and eventually Sango grew uncomfortable with his stare and the silence. She looked back to the pictures to escape his look and almost sighed with relief as he cleared his throat and pointed to the picture. "Do you think that Inuyasha will be able to convince Kagome to stay as his mate?"

"Rin told me that the female has no more choice than the male. She had a constant need to be close to Sessomaru and she said that she knew that they were meant to be together the first time they met, and that it didn't really matter that he kept pushing her away, that the feelings refused to go away."

"Really?" Miroku tapped the smiling Inuyasha in the picture and smiled himself. "Well then maybe our friend has a chance."

Kagome woke to the smell of bacon. She couldn't remember the last time she had bacon, or ham, or sausage, or beef, or any kind of meat really. She was about to get up when the feel of the decadently silky sheets under her registered in her mind. She stopped moving completely and froze like a statue. Quickly she took inventory of herself and her surroundings and decided that someone was most definitely sleeping next to her. She wondered why she didn't notice the hand that curved over her hip and lay possessively over her butt. Opening her eyes she was rewarded for her bravery with an image she will keep with her forever- Inuyasha asleep. She had seen him asleep many times before when they were children but there was a difference in the innocence of youth and the healthy glow of a grown male. Even asleep he looked dangerous but then again all men looked dangerous to her. It was a strange feeling because she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her. At least physically. Slowly she lifted his hand from her ass but he didn't seem to like that. He pulled away from her and with a firm grip pulled her closer to him, at which point he wrapped his arm completely around her waist and fitted against him.

Kagome's head was suddenly cushioned against a very firm chest that had a heart beat that pounded steadily against her ear. Closing her eyes once again she pushed her face further into Inuyasha; taking a deep breath she inhaled the scent that she had ingrained in her memory years ago. A woodsy scent, a hint of fresh air after a thunderstorm, the smell of life giving dirt, and something new that had never been there before. A musk that went to her stomach and intoxicated her mind, bringing forth pictures of tangled limbs, hot nights, and muffled moans. Slowly, so slowly so as not to wake him she brought her hand trembling up to his chest and lay it across his heart where she could feel it beat against her palm. His pectoral muscle jumped underneath her hand and her eyes jumped up to his eyes. They were still closed and Kagome let out a sigh of relief. She knew that she should pull her hand away and pretend to be asleep until he woke up and pulled himself away from her. She knew he would; he wouldn't do anything to make her upset. But for the first time in her life Kagome didn't want to listen to the scared part of her mind, didn't want to take the safe way. She wanted to touch life, taste it on her tongue, and revel in it's splendor. She just didn't want to get caught it the act.

So she continued her exploration of Inuyasha, but softly so she wouldn't wake him. She started were she had the first time so many years ago. With a tentative finger she outlined his ear, marveling at how soft and vulnerable it was. She could see the vague outlines of the veins that ran just beneath the surface. It twitched away from her exploring fingers, and she had to stifle a giggle at the look on his face. The realization that she almost giggled was shocking. She hadn't done that since…well, she couldn't really remembered the last time she giggled. It was such a girly thing that she didn't really do it even before her life twisted in the direction of Naraku.

Naraku… She didn't want to think about him. She blanked her mind to the man that caused her to shake with fear and instead put all her attention on the man who simply just made her shake. With what she didn't really want to name just yet. From the tips of his ears she petted the downy soft fur of them and trailed down to his jaw. A strong jaw that had taken more than it's share of punches, and then to his lips. She had always been intrigued by his mouth, though now it was for a completely different reason. They looked strong, but the pad of her finger told her they were soft and supple. Moist and inviting. She had a strong desire to kiss him, just once and too softly for him to ever notice. She moved closer to him, though if she ever got any closer she would be inside him, and moved her face above his. She now could feel his breath on her lips, fanning over them and bathing them in heat. Her cheeks were flushed and for some reason her body felt hot and twitchy. Bringing down her head she kept her eyes open and with a last centimeter their lips were touching.

She had been right. His lips were soft and giving, warm and moist. She had never given a kiss and was at a lost of what to do now. But she liked the feel of his lips against hers and uncertainly she moved her lips against his, sliding them back and forth and when she felt brave enough, opened her mouth just enough to feel his full bottom lip between her own. It shocked her completely when he captured her lip between his.

Jerking back with wide eyes, she stared down into Inuyasha's languid eyes that burned with both lust and questions. Kagome stared at him in horror. She had been caught fondling his sleeping body. She was a pervert and he would see her as a desperate harlot who was reduced to molesting him while he slept. She didn't know what she could say to show her apologies.

Inuyasha smiled suddenly and it was as if the clouds had broken after months of constant rain. He brought his hand to her face and brushed her hair away then rested it against her cheek. "I liked that." His voice was roughened with sleep but his eyes were very much awake. "I liked that, Kagome." He didn't throw himself on her, or attacked her in any way. He simply looked at her as if what she had given him was enough to last him a life time. His hand slid from her cheek to her throat were he felt her pulse jumping under her skin in response to the kiss and his sudden awakening. "Thank you."

They did nothing but stare at each other. She hadn't been aware that they were moving closer to each other until she felt his breath against her lips. Then she felt his lips once again on hers. He moved with out haste, as if he was determined to memorize every feeling. She knew she was. At first he only skimmed his lips against hers, feather light like butterfly wings, but she wanted more. More of him and in a second of courage she pulled his head more insistently toward her. He complied with her unspoken request and when that became too little, bit her lip and sucked on it in apology when she moaned.

Fire. Fire was burning her body from the inside out. Surely you couldn't feel this kind of burning ecstasy without dying. Her world was spinning out of control and soon she would fall off and free fall into space, enveloped in these feelings he made her feel. Opening her eyes she was surprised to find that he had changed their positions but she didn't really care. She tried to rub her thighs together but found that his jean clad leg had fallen between her own, gently resting against her. She pushed up against him thinking that that would lessen something but she was wrong it only made the feelings building in her that much stronger. "Inuyasha." His name had fell from her mouth without her consent but after it fell she couldn't seem to say anything else but his name. "Inu…Inuyasha." She whispered, praying that he would know what to do to make these feelings recede. Her hands were no longer obeying her senses and were instead wandering his body, feeling every where she had in her fantasies with abandon.

Inuyasha had to be dreaming. But he would never be able to imagine the sweet sound of Kagome's voice as she said his name. How it would get caught in her throat while she moaned, how it would drip with wanting. He would never have dreamed that he would wake to the feel of her lips against his. "Inu…Inu…Ya-ahh!" She bucked her hips under his when he pushed against her just a little. He could smell the dampness between her legs, how it told him that she would welcome him. He could feel her every muscle beneath his, wanting him, straining against him for more. "What…why…why do I feel so- strange? Inu?" She arched against him and Inuyasha almost forgot her words beneath the feel of her. He had never felt this wild before, but he forced his eyes to open and look into hers.

Her grey eyes were almost black with lust but he could see that she was afraid too. Not of him, he knew that for certain. She was afraid of how fast this came up, of how completely the feelings engulfed them. "Kagome? Kagome you have to stop…Moving!" He gritted his teeth as she writhed against him, out of control from her own longing. "Just slow down, Love. It's okay, Kagome. Just breath with me." Inuyasha took big breaths and tried not to notice how his chest pushed against hers. "That's right, baby. Just breath with me." Together they slowed their breathing, Inuyasha twisting them over so she wouldn't have to bear his weight. He rubbed her from shoulder to waist, over and over until they were both calm and exhausted from their unexpected loving. "Better?" He whispered into her ear causing her to shiver.

Silently she nodded, to tired to talk. They lay together like that for awhile, Kagome eventually falling back to sleep, her body and her mind drained of energy. She woke to Inuyasha rubbing her back in circles. She must have only been asleep for a few minutes because she could still smell the bacon that had woken her. "Hmmm?"

Kagome felt more of his laugh than she heard it. "I said do you want to get breakfast? You could use a good meal." And as if on cue they heard her stomach growl as if in answer to his question. He laughed again and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll take that as a yes. Come on." He pushed up out bed, bringing her with him. They stood in front of each other awkward for the first time since they had kissed. All of this was new to Kagome; she had never been involved with a boy and never learned how all this was suppose to happen. She didn't know why this was happening, why these feelings were suddenly assaulting her senses and making her want to touch, feel, and taste him. It didn't make any damn sense at all.

Inuyasha could see the uncertainty in her eyes and didn't like it. He wanted her to know without a doubt that she was his, as certain as he knew that he was hers. But he knew that it would have to go slow, hell he was surprised that he was able to kiss her this early and stunned that she initiated it. He made the awkward moment pass quickly when he bent down and planted a delicate kiss against the corner of her mouth; he wanted her to know that even though she was uncertain that he wasn't , that he wanted her for keeps. He grabbed her hand and was ready to walk out the door when Kagome stopped him. He looked back at her with a frown, but all Kagome did was smile as she reached up to right his disheveled hair. He smiled too and reached out to fix her own hair.

As soon as they opened the door they heard Inutahsio's voice echoing throughout the house. They found him in the kitchen where Izayoi was silently making breakfast with a somber expression and Inutashio yelled into his cell phone. "What the hell do you mean you don't have her records?! She's been a ward of the state for seven years. And you lost her? Would you even know if she had died?" His voice had dropped dramatically but it only made him more dangerous. "So now you can't release information. I would like to lodge a formal complaint. Yes, maybe I should talk to your supervisor." He grunted to who ever was on the other side of the phone and looked at Izayoi with a look of disgust on his face. "They put me on hold again. Again! At first they didn't know who she was, then her files were lost. They keep giving me the run around."

"They will never admit that they made a mistake. And they won't release information to a stranger." Izayoi said. "You haven't told them who you are and the only reason they're talking to you now is because you asked about a girl that they never heard about. They never thought you would have the girl with you and have proof that they screwed up."

Inuyasha cleared his throat and both his parents turned toward them. "Oh, Kagome, dear. I didn't know you were there. Are you hungry?" She held up some bacon with a smile.

Kagome nodded shyly. "That would be great, thank you. Mr. Takahashi? My case worker was named Minoto Ikita. She was the one who took me to Naraku. You might also ask them for the files of Souta." When all their eyes flew to her she was looking at the ground. "He was there with me." She explained lamely and went into the dining room alone.

"I swear if that girl has any more secrets she would be a lawyer. Or a cop." Inutashio frowned and looked at Inuyasha. "What happened to Souta if he's not with her now?" It was quite obvious what could of happened to him and Inuyasha followed Kagome to find out what did happen to her brother.

He found her looking out the window in the dining room, the light flowing around her and forming a halo of light around her head. She looked very much like the miko she was. "Kagome? What happened to Souta?" He figured a direct question was the best option. Harder to evade it that way.

Kagome looked over her shoulder at him and he was surprised to find her smiling. "It's nothing bad. He's happy and healthy. I talk to him about once a month. I even sent him some money when I could get a job." She turned around to the window. "I didn't really care about Naraku…hurting me as long as he left Souta alone. The first time he touched Souta I made some calls and was able to get him on a plane to America. He's living with our Aunt there."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome, shocked that she had kept that a secret. "You let us believe that Souta was dead?" He didn't shout but he hadn't spoken in exactly a calm voice.

Kagome tensed and turned so that one eye could be on him. "I never told you any thing about him. If you thought him dead then that was your mistake, not my lie." She stared at him fiercely but there was a softening in her eyes and she sighed and faced Inuyasha directly. "I didn't correct your assumption though and I'm sorry. When we ran away from Naraku's he was in a very bad shape. Naraku had…punished him for a very long time before I found them. That night we ran and decided that it was best if Naraku thought him dead. So I got used to acting as if he is." She didn't look at him instead staring at the floor.

Inuyasha processed this information but still couldn't see Souta willingly getting on a plane and leaving his sister behind with a monster. Kagome must have spotted this in his face and said, "He didn't know he was going to be the only one getting on the plane. I had to make him fall asleep before I left. When I first called him about two weeks later he was so mad. The first five minutes was nothing but him screaming at me." Strangely this memory brought a smile to her face and she even laughed a little. "He couldn't even talk when he left. I had healed most of his wounds but I can't heal things that I don't know anything about. I didn't know about a torn voice box. I was so happy he was screaming at me that I started crying."

"Why didn't you go to your Aunt's too?" Inuyasha was beyond happy to have her here with him, but if it meant she could have been free of these past few years of terror he would have liked her to be in America.

Kagome shrugged. "She could only take one of us. Souta was still a kid and needed to grow up in a place where he didn't have to worry about anything more terrifying than a pop quiz and taking out the trash. So I made sure he went." It was said simply, as fact. It hadn't been a sacrifice to her because it was the only way it would of happened. Inuyasha loved her ability to put every one she loved before herself.

"Breakfast!" Izayoi came walking in smiling and carrying two plates. "Now, Kagome I didn't give you too much. I don't know how well your stomach is yet. Myoga will be coming by sometime this week to check on you though." The subject of Souta was dropped and she and Inuyasha ate breakfast together, eventually being joined with the others as they woke up and came down to eat.

The day went by somewhat in disarray. Everyone was talking and yelling as they cleaned the house of dust and moths after a year of disuse. No one would let Kagome do more than take three sheets into the laundry room. The huge faux cabin was starting to gleam with all the cleaning. The windows were opened and washed and the light spilled over into the house and filled it with life and Kagome had never seen anything more beautiful. They stopped briefly for a lunch of cold turkey sandwiches and hot soup but then went right back to work. Through out the day if Inuyasha deemed that Kagome had been absent too long he would go in search of her, and when they found themselves alone in a room would share a quick kiss. Soon they had filled each of the rooms with a memory that was as soft and sweet as when their lips touched. The first time that Inuyasha had gave her a small peck on her lips in a small room that smelled of must and had books lining the walls, she had looked at him in surprise and hadn't said anything. He had started to blush and looked away from her, his eyes downcast. She then had smiled and gave him a small kiss before hurrying out of the room.

There were times when Inutashio's cell phone would ring and he would just answer it as he walked out of the room. Sometimes she would hear him yelling about integrity, incompetence, and law suites, but these happened very few and Kagome found it easy to push them out of her mind.

The day seemed to pass rather quickly, or maybe night just arrived more readily this high in the mountains. Either way the sky became dark before Kagome knew it and instead of sunlight that filled the rooms it was moonlight. Much more soft than it's cousin the sun, but none the less beautiful. It filled the house with a stillness and quiet that reminded her of her nights among the trees and when she used to dream of Inuyasha holding her and would feel his phantom lips on her own.

"Kagome? Are you hungry?" Inuyasha came up behind her and after a brief pause as if he was still debating with himself but in the end couldn't help it, his arms came around her waist and loosely held her. "Mom made soup." He laid his head on her shoulder and she heard him take a deep breath. She looked away from the shadows the trees made outside and glanced at his face that looked so peaceful at the moment.

Kagome was surprised how easily the normalcy came. It felt normal for him to kiss her in every room, it felt normal for him to hold her. Even their little interlude in the room, though still a little shocking to her, felt normal. It was completely out of character for her to accept a feeling as completely as she had with him. It was like it had always been there inside her, this yearning, and maybe that was why she had dreamed about him so much. To make the transition to the real Inuyasha easier. Or maybe she was just trying to rationalize her fast acceptance of his advances.

"I could eat some soup." But neither of them made their way into the dining room. Her stomach felt completely healed. It didn't hurt or ache in any way. Kagome had thought about it and decided that she could finally heal it because Myoga had told her what was wrong and after the long time in bed, had enough strength to do it. She wondered that if she could consciously do it the next time, without having to go into a trance.

Suddenly Kagome felt Inuyasha tense, and her eyes flew to the window, scanning the scene and trying to find something out of place. The trees, heavy with snow, swayed a little with a strong wind, the shadows danced across the white ground, and everything was still in the deep shadows that sleep in the forest, nothing was out of place. She looked over at Inuyasha for an answer and he sighed as if he knew what she was asking without her having to ask.

"Do you know what I was thinking every time we kissed to day? Besides what a lucky bastard I am?" Inuyasha lifted his head and frowned at his reflection in the glass. "I was thinking that you weren't going to let me kiss you this time. This time you were going to turn away and slap me. That there was no way that you would forgive me. It felt like a miracle every time I kissed you." His tortured eyes turned toward her somber steel and she was surprised at how much regret she saw in his eyes. "Do you forgive me, Kagome? 'Cause I don't deserve it." Kagome looked away and she didn't see the panic and hurt that flashed across his face at her movement.

Truthfully, she was just thinking. Taking stock of her emotional state and seeing if she had indeed forgiven him. Could she kiss him if she hadn't forgiven him? How did she see that part of her childhood now? And she found her answer. "I never hated you, Inuyasha. Or even was that angry. I was hurt. There was no way for me not to be." She stared at his expressions in the reflection of themselves in the glass. She saw his eyes raise in disbelief. "I understood why you stopped being friends with me. You had been shunned your whole life and suddenly every one wanted to be your friend. They wanted you to come over and hang out, you got invited to parties, and birthdays, and could play tag with the other boys at recess. Then there I was- the outcast. No one wanted to be my friend and everybody wanted to be yours. I would never have stood in the way, Inuyasha. You had the chance to have the normal life you always wanted. I wouldn't have let you choose me."

Inuyasha held her close, burying his head into her hair. He didn't want her to see the tears that where suddenly in his eyes. "You might have forgiven me, but I haven't. You were my only friend then. Afterwards you were still my only true friend. And I left you. I'll never leave you again, Kagome. I'll always be here for you." He kissed her neck and when she tilted her head away to reveal more of it to him, he growled and kissed it again. He wondered if she knew that she had just officially accepted his courtship of her. He wondered if she remembered that small bit of information when they had that slightly awkward conversation about Inu mating rituals.

"I'm sleeping with you tonight, right?" Her voice was soft and quiet. As though she didn't really want to ask but needed to know the answer. He felt her hands on his, leisurely rubbing his fingers, the back of his hands, the inside of his wrists. "I feel safe when your there." Her voice had dropped even lower that time, making it hard for him to hear.

A burst of pride exploded in his chest. She felt safe with him. She wanted him to protect her. The feeling leaked onto his face and he smiled. "Of course." He had never looked forward to sleeping as much as he was that night.

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Wow, it's been a while, huh?

I would like all of you to know that I never stopped writing I just had to write in between classes and homework and unfortunately that time was very small. I would like to THANK YOU all who kept coming back and checking up on my story. And thank you for your ideas. I have already started on the next chapter but I'm taking even more classes this term so I apologize in advance for the lateness the next chapter is going to take me.

As always, tell me what I did wrong and what I did right and what I did wrong I'll try to fix the next time around.

Also, I have never done a lemon and this was kind of a experiment. Did the intimacy seem real between Inuyasha and Kagome?

Until next time!