AN: As always, give me lots of reviews! (Pretty please?)
Romanceobsessed: Thank you! I tried to write the scene the first time with Inuyasha telling Kag all that, and it didn't work at all. So I'm really glad you liked my Plan B, lol.
InuKag4eva: Thank you! It's one of my favorite chapters now :)
IrishIndy: Awwww, two reviews for me? Thank you. I'm glad you liked both chapters.
SeekerHeart: Thank you! And thanks so much for the review.
Miyu-miyu: Hmmmm, who could that be?
Varietyisthespiceoflife: Eh, at least it wasn't seven months late, right?
Evelyn: Sorry. I wish I could have warned you before that happened. And thank you! That's one of my favorite chapters so far, so I'm glad you liked it too. Thanks for reviewing, as always.
Blondie525: Awwww, I'm sorry about your boyfriend. I'm glad I could help you though.
CookieTheif: Oh, I dunno, I'm sure I could write a much better cliffhanger. Shall I try? ;)
Lex22: Thank you! And thanks so much for reviewing.
Wolfy the Snow Wolf: I'm glad to hear it. If I'm allowed to have favorites, last chapter was definitely one of them. Thanks for reviewing!
Riia luvs anime: Good thing I just did, teehee. Thanks for the review!
Camille04: Maybe. Maybe not. You'll seeeeeee.
NurNur: No more then me. But here I am! With a new chapter :)
Gurgle: Thank you! And sorry if I made you wait to long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and I do not make money off this story.
November 11, 11:06 AM
Inuyasha's eyes widened as Kagome launched herself at him, his hands reflexively gripping her hips, "Woah Kagome! Are you sure-"
The soft sound of beads clinking and pinging to the floor interrupted him before he could finish his question...leaving him staring at what was left of his binding necklace in her fist instead.
She slowly opened her hand, letting the broken string slip from her grasp. "I love you. I trust you. I won't use the necklace to force you to stay where I want you to anymore."
While he stared at her wordlessly, she pulled the rubber band out of his hair, wanting to feel the silver strands run through her hands. "And I want to tell my family about us. We'll figure out a way to stop Gramps from trying to purify you, and Souta will probably build an altar in your honor. And I want you to meet my friends, and I want to help you start assimilating into modern society, and I want to pull one prank on Kagura with you. Just one though. Your brother might kill us otherwise."
Ideas raced through her head of how else she would prove herself to him in a nearly unending stream. "Oh, speaking of Sesshomaru, I want to become closer to your brother since mine loves you so much. That's fair right? And-"
Her words were swallowed by Inuyasha's lips, moving over hers hungrily. Heat spread, but it wasn't from her miko powers.
"Mate, what are you doing? I'm supposed to be the one groveling." He murmured against her mouth, placing little kisses and nips along her jaw. "You don't have anything to prove. We can go slow. I'm not letting you rush into anything you might regret later."
"You don't need to grovel either!" Kagome growled, emphasizing her words by tugging at his hair slightly. "As far as I'm concerned, Kikyo had been brainwashing you from day one." She shuddered, remembering what it had been like for him inside the mirror. The endless floating in darkness. In that black prison, Kikyo's voice had been a gift. She was amazed that after 500 years of it Kikyo hadn't broken him.
He shrugged under her hands, "It got me here, didn't it?"
Her heart melted as heat raced through her body. Trapping his head with her fistfuls of his hair, she dropped her lips onto his, trying to tell him how she felt without words.
He must have understood, because he growled low in his throat, hands clutching at her hard while her mouth moved over his, inexperienced but eager to try. He slid his palms under her sweatshirt and over her hips, dragging the fabric up. Goosebumps spread over her skin from the chill in the air and the patterns he traced into her sides, claws lightly skimming over her.
She let go of his hair to wrap her arms around his neck, the silver strands left to brush over her skin. His scent surrounded her, making her feel lightheaded with every ragged breath she panted when Inuyasha broke away finally, leaning his forehead against hers.
"I'm glad I'm your first kiss." He smirked against her lips. "You were waiting for me before you even knew me."
Kagome playfully shoved his shoulder. "Don't get too cocky. It's more than I can say for you."
His fingers brushed through her hair, and down her spine, stopping at the small of her back to spread his hand wide over her skin. "Don't be like that. They were only practice."
"Did you read that on a T-shirt?" Kagome laughed, the heavy hand on her spine keeping her close to him. "That has to be the biggest line ever for why a guy lost his virginity."
"But it's true mate." Inuyasha's hands skimmed up and down, teasing her, "How else would I know how to make you scream?"
She blushed, feeling the flush spread down her neck and over her chest. "So does that mean I should find someone to teach me how to make you scream?" she asked lightly,
Inuyasha suddenly clamped her tight to his chest, his arms iron bars around her. "You'll be learning from me, woman." He growled. "No one else."
He claimed her mouth this time, his kiss possessive and consuming. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, doing her best to hold on. Oops. Guess he wasn't in a joking mood anymore.
"You better be a good teacher then," she panted when he finally decided to let her breath again. Though maybe he wasn't bad giving instructions considering how he'd helped her with math.
"The best." He muttered, not loosening his grip.
Kagome shook her head, trying to regain some of the focus Inuyasha had kissed out of her. "Ok, let's try this again." She held his face still, pressing her lips softly against his. "How's that?"
"Sweet." He licked his lips. "Soft. Show me again."
Tilting her head at a different angle, Kagome gently rubbed her lips against his, shivering when her mouth started to tingle and hum.
"Even better." Inuyasha praised, breathing a little heavier.
"Well, practice does make perfect." Kagome pointed out, nuzzling his neck the way he often did to her.
Brushing a few strands of his hair away, she kissed and licked and nibbled, deciding to practice hickeys next. He had his mark on her, it was only fair if she left a few of her own.
Inuyasha stood up abruptly, holding her in his arms so she still had access to his neck, almost choking on his own tongue when she started nipping at it. "Let's move this study session somewhere more private," he hissed, fighting to not throw her on the floor and ravish her right there and then.
Nervousness hit Kagome hard. She loved him but she wasn't sure how ready she was. They had only known each other for two weeks and she'd never imagined she'd want to have sex this early or this young, "Inuyasha,.."
Inuyasha squeezed her reassuringly, knowing what she was worried about even without being melded to her. "This is only the first of many, many lessons mate. You have to do the preliminaries before you're ready to move on to the advanced course."
Kagome grinned against his neck. Yet another reason why she loved him. He wouldn't push her until she was really ready. "Then let's get started."
With a glance over his shoulder to make sure Kagome was still sleeping after their intensive 'lesson', Inuyasha crept out her bedroom door. He only had a few minutes until Souta was due home, and he wanted to make sure this got done.
Half an ear listening in case one of Kagome's family members showed up early, he padded into the kitchen, heading for the phone mounted into the wall. Picking it up, he dialed the numbers he had carved into the walls of his mind. Hesitated over what the two last digits were.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end asked cautiously.
Well, she did have reason to be nervous. "It's me."
"Oh, Inuyasha." Kikyo sounded relieved. "Thank God it's just you. Are we ready to move ahead with our plans, love?"
"No. We're not moving ahead with anything." Inuyasha paused, expecting to feel sad or regretful. Instead, he just felt warm, his lips humming and swollen. "I'm staying with Kagome."
"...come again?"
Yes please. But only with Kagome. And only when she was ready. He grinned, knowing that would have earned him a slap from her. "I don't want to mate with you anymore, Kikyo. I want Kagome."
Guilt almost crept up on him when the silence thickened. But it wasn't because he was hurting Kikyo or breaking his promise. It was because he had even made that promise in the first place.
"Inuyasha, I don't understand." There was just the fainest sense of tears in her voice. "I...I love you. You promised we would be together forever, I made so many plans..."
Inuyasha sighed. "I know Kikyo and I'm...sorry. But I've made up my mind. I'm mating with Kagome."
"Are you positive this is what you want Inuyasha?" Kikyo didn't sound as sad as he predicated. Just...harder. "Be sure, be absolutely certain, that she's what you choose."
"I'm sure."
"Very well. Good luck Inuyasha." The dial tone hummed in his ear before he could answer back.
Inuyasha stared at the phone in confusion, worried instead of relieved.
Kikyo threw the phone at the wall, her scream of rage louder then the sound of plastic breaking against the wall.
"God fucking, DAMN IT!" She kicked at her couch, growing angrier when she ruined the toe of her high heels.
She really shouldn't be surprised. She had predicted this day would come. She'd been getting ready for it ever since Inuyasha had told her Kagome was his mate. As much as she hoped it would never happen...she knew it would.
500 years of work, wasted, just like that. All because of one stupid girl and an unbreakable tie forged by some higher power who apparently hated Kikyo.
Still. She would have the last word. Those 'higher powers' would rue the day they ever tried to cross her.
Didn't mean she wasn't pissed now though. It wasn't fair. She had worked so hard, and what did she have to show for it? Some ruined plans all because that bitch and moron decided they should get mated...
Kikyo's rants abruptly died, realization practically slapping her upside her head.
Inuyasha and Kagome were mates. Forever and ever, true as decided by a higher power, mates. Mates that had bonds connecting them together.
...and she could use that.
Excitement made her dizzy, and she leaned against the couch, staring blankly at the certificates lining the wall. Why hadn't it occurred to her before? Probably because she had been fixated on the plans she had made so long ago.
Kagome turned out to be a mate to the demon who had access to the jewel; the first of the two Higurashi children born since she had tracked the family down. The solution and her backup plan were all right there, so close she hadn't been able to see them until her plans nearly fell apart. Maybe the higher powers didn't hate her as much as she thought.
So she'd give them a week to go at each other and make the mate bond nice and strong. For their love to deepen, their faith in each other to grow unwavering. She wanted those mate ties knotted tight.
Because now she didn't need Kagome Higurashi.
"So what do you think about my theory?"
Sesshomaru regarded his mate's research silently as they walked side by side. Whereas her arm would normally by looped around his, or hand tangled in hand when she insisted, his tail wrapped around her instead, keeping her tucked close to him. "It has merit."
Honestly, he had been considering something very similar, though she had provided some of the missing pieces. It would explain Kagome's mark, the extent of her powers and those strange voices she claimed to hear. Even Sango's transformation into a demon might be explained. The answer was mind boggling but...entirely possible.
"Oh, just merit?" Kagura's brow arched and she snuggled closer to the warmth provided by the fur draped on her shoulders. "It's completely unexpected, unthought of, and fucking insane. But it would make perfect sense if it were true. So it just has merit?"
This was why he could never let her win arguments. ...though she did somehow anyway. "Call my brother's mate and set up a meeting. I will retrieve the materials needed to test your theory."
"Cool." She slid her arm around his waist, enjoying the silk rubbing against her skin. "I forgot how incredibly hot you are like this. The business man look is great, but this?" She shivered.
Sesshomaru barely resisted the urge to pose for Kagura, loving the admiring eye she cast over him. He wore his Armani suits as comfortably as he wore his skin, but his warlord attire reminded him of different times. Helped him remember a different man.
From the corner of his eyes, he looked over the top of Kagura's head. He would never admit it to his mate, but there were days he missed chasing her. Proving himself to be a worthy male for her. Pursuing his prey. He'd loved the thrill of the hunt in those days.
His tail covered the back of her neck, hiding what should have been his mark. Maybe in a way, he was still running after her.
"I know you'll be annoyed with me, but promise you won't let anyone touch you." she rubbed a bit of silk between her fingers. "I'd hate for the outfit to get ruined."
Under the flippant words, he picked up on her thread of worry and the way her fingers dug into him ever so slightly. They didn't need a mind meld for him to know she was more worried about him, not his clothing. "There is no need to concern yourself with my welfare."
Kagura laughed, "Nice answer. A lesser man would have told me not to worry my pretty little head about it."
Sesshomaru patted her pretty little head once. "You may do that instead."
He wanted to puff his chest out when he won one of the grins that meant she was utterly delighted with him. "You're lucky confidence is just as sexy, hot stuff."
"Luck has nothing to do with it."
"You probably have a point." she allowed, smirking. "Fine, have fun kicking ass. I won't worry about a thing," she lied smoothly.
Kagura frowned as they turned the corner of the hallway, the mutter and clatter of voices loud even through the heavy door. "They sound rowdy."
Rowdy was a bit of an understatement. "It has been many decades since a tribunal gathered." Even though they both knew that wasn't completely the reason for the excitement behind the doors. With Inuyasha's name on the summons for the latest trial, the demons would come in droves to judge him. It might have been 500 years, but they still wanted blood.
Kagura eyed the door worriedly. "You have to do all you can to get a seat, Sess. Someone's gotta be on Inuyasha's side or he won't have a chance."
Reluctantly, he draped his tail back over his own shoulder, not missing Kagura's slight shiver when the warm mass was removed. He tugged the edges of her sweater closer together, adjusting the collar so it fit more snugly around her neck. "You have already been told not to worry, mate. Do you doubt my ability?"
Kagura smiled affectionately before lifting herself up on her tiptoes and kissing him more quickly then he would have liked. "No one's more capable then my Sessie Pie."
...sometimes he thought the woman was put on Earth only to give him absurd nicknames. "Wait in the library on this floor until I come to collect you. Do not enter this room under any circumstance."
"Yeah, yeah, I've gotten the lecture before. I won't get in any trouble. I'll just find a nice book to occupy myself." She whirled around gracefully on her towering heels, her loose hair brushing his chest. "Knock 'em dead, Sess!" She paused, rethinking her words. "On second thought, just lightly and non-fatally injure 'em!" she waved breezily over her shoulder, heels clicking on the tiled floors.
He waited, listening to her walk until she reached the library and stepped onto the carpet, muffling her footfalls. She would be safe there without him, protected by the roomful of guards in the room next to her, state of the art security system, fireproof doors and two accessible panic rooms.
Perhaps the one time he left her unprotected made him a little paranoid. But there was a reason why he had such a library for her on every floor of his buildings.
He remained where he was for few moments, making sure she wouldn't sneak out. Only slightly comforted she would stay put, he pushed the doors open.
Silence immediately covered the crowd. Eyes blank, face cold, he slowly looked over the demons assembling in what was normally his biggest presentation room. Now the rug was torn out, the art and technology put away, and dozens of cans of paint ordered to repaint the walls once this all was over. The men stared at Sesshomaru, a few shifting and tense but the majority were still. Relaxed, with their weapons close at hand, they were simply waiting for the time to strike.
Kouga, an old friend of Inuyasha's and the demon who had alerted him to his release, stood slightly away from the crowd, dressed in traditional fur and leather armor. He caught his eye and nodded once, moving slightly so the hilt of his sword was offered to Sesshomaru in an ancient gesture of alliance. At the very least his brother had one ally in the room.
Sesshomaru took a single step in and the mass of demons backtracked, opening up a large space for their lord.
If Sesshomaru cared for his brother, he would be worried. Despite the decades of softer occupations, many of the demons in the room had fought for him when he had called upon them, and he knew they were still deadly.
500 years ago Inuyasha had been able to easily compete with them, but his imprisonment had slowed him down, weakened him. It would be nearly impossible for his brother to gain his full strength back in time. And Kagura would be upset if Inuyasha died because he couldn't keep up with the stronger demons.
She'd always had a weak spot for defenseless animals.
It was...unsurprising; Inuyasha was causing trouble for him even after being locked away for 500 years.
"I, Sesshomaru, Lord of the West, call for the forming of the tribunal for the judgement of Inuyasha, Prince of the West, and accused betrayer of demon and humankind by Lady Midoriko." Sesshomaru spoke normally, knowing every demon was striving to hear his every word. "He has been released from his prison and seeks to clear his name. Do all gathered here seek to judge him?"
"Aye!" The demons cried out, tails stiffening, teeth bared, and eyes flickering.
"This is your one chance to leave. If you reserve any doubts in your ability to prove your worth to judge, go."
The crowd didn't flinch, so Sesshomaru nodded once, and the hall doors slammed closed. "The entrance will remain locked until five men are left standing. You will lose when you are incapacitated or dishonorably admit defeat. There will be no killing."
As he spoke, the demons began to eye each other, trying to estimate who would be easy to bring down and who they might ally themselves with. They moved from a large mob, to standing apart from one another, taking up the entire room. Kouga shifted over to him, covering his blind side.
Sesshomaru's sword was a heavy weight on his hip, begging to be unsheathed as he let a paralyzing toxin drip from his nails. "Begin."
With a roar, the demons attacked, sweat, saliva and blood quickly spilling across the concrete floor.
Kouga fit himself back to back with Sesshomaru as he causally flicked venom in the face of a young demon foolish enough to attack him, sending him screaming to the ground.
"Inuyasha better be innocent after all this shit." Kouga snapped as if he didn't like fighting, his fists pounding into someones face.
It was offensive Kouga would question the need for a trial. If Inuyasha had been truly guilty, Sesshomaru would have taken care of him himself.
But, he thought as he sidestepped an attacker, slashing his claws across the demon's neck, allowing the toxin to reach his blood that much faster, even I couldn't rule stupidity as a punishable offense.
Sighing at that particular inconvenience, Sesshomaru kicked out his leg, taking out two demons while pondering on his younger brother's ability to cause such havoc and nuisance in his own life in less than a week.
AN: Before I start getting any reviews screaming at me about the lack of a lemon, let me tell you I honestly tried. But they've only known each other for 2 weeks at this point and it felt wrong to force them into a bond that soon and that young, even if they are mates. So no sex yet.
