"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but the miko was right Hanyou."

"Shut it, Youkai." Inuyasha growled, throwing another cut tree into the pile. He had more than enough to cut down into planks, but his irritation from his talk earlier with Kikyo had him ripping a few extra trees down once she'd left. He had no right to be, he knew this. But she also didn't understand! Youkai in general were supposedly more virile, and with his being a hanyou, that shouldn't have been something he'd had to worry as much about. In fact, things had been going well with them, up until a month ago. Up until a month ago he'd been assured that the medicine that Kagome had been taking was enough. And then…he'd gotten an unwelcome visitor in the form of a flea.

Myoga had decided that since the battle was over and there was no longer a threat, he appeared in the village once more. One taste of Inuyasha's blood was enough to tell that he and Kagome had marked each other, and the flea was naturally ecstatic.

"It has happened! You've bonded yourself to the lady Kagome, I see! This is wonderful news, my lord!" The flea had paused, before asking, "Might I inquire as to when we will be graced with children?"

"The fuck you talking about?" he'd frowned, pinching the flea between his fingers. "Kagome ain't getting pupped anytime soon, Myoga. She has herbs to prevent that –"

Myoga looked concerned. "Are you sure, master? How can you be positive that these herbs will prevent her from bearing your children?"

"They're made especially for this," his eyes narrowed. "There something you're not telling me?"

"Only that as the son of the great daiyoukai, you are still a powerful youkai, even as a hanyou."

As Myoga had rambled on about how Inuyasha carried more than just his father's bloodline, the hanyou had wished that he'd smacked his neck a little harder. The one-sided talk had slid into territory that he could have gone a lifetime without knowing about various inuyoukai sexual exploits, and more importantly anything having to do with his old man and his mother….just no.

He thought that going through the well would help. Maybe get some perspective from others in the time where these herbs were created. Naturally he picked his chance while Kagome was at school. He'd sought out Mama first, but had only found Grandpa the one day he got up the courage to talk about this matter. It had been more than awkward, asking the old man what he knew about the medicine his granddaughter was taking without blatantly saying that they were fucking like rabbits in heat. Or, they had been. That talk with Myoga had made him wary.

Hearing the old man explain that while the birth control had it's strengths, nothing could prevent an unplanned pregnancy better than abstinence. At least he'd had the decency to not give the hanyou a disapproving look as he spoke. If he knew, he didn't let on.

With that, he'd stopped initiating any intimate contact with Kagome. If he'd so much as gotten her a tiny bit aroused, her scent would've driven him mad. As much as it sucked – and gave him a case of blue balls – he resisted. Anything that he might've done in the past that could've led to them naked and panting, he'd stopped. Of course, this meant that Kagome caught on to him, and took it to mean he was playing hard to get.

That couldn't be further from the truth. Hard, yes. Fuck – he'd offer himself up naked on a platter if he knew that she wouldn't get pupped before they were ready.

Kikyo didn't know how much it ate at him to turn Kagome down each time she tried to initiate anything. He had to keep to his word. She would not be pupped early because he had no control. Yet knowing how much it was hurting her gutted him. Even without their link he could scent her disappointment, but thinking that she was undesirable? That she'd done something to warrant him avoiding her?

Inuyasha let out a roar and split the log in his hands in half. He was damned either way!

"You could just tell her the truth," his human side pointed out.

"Again, I can't believe I'm saying this – again, but I agree with the human."

"Will you two shut the fuck up! I ain't telling Kagome anything -!" Inuyasha dropped the split log, grabbing his head. Where had that wave of dizziness come from? He shook his head, hoping that would clear it and reached for the next log. "She'll have finished school soon enough, and it won't matter then."

There was silence and for once he thought he'd gotten through to his two sides. Inuyasha split the log and dropped it into the pile, reaching for the next. His hand faltered as he grabbed the next log, and shook his head again. The hell was going on with him today? Did Kikyo's berating him somehow knock him senseless? Or was something wrong with Kagome? Other than upset with him, he hadn't noticed anything else amiss in their link. He tried to shake it off and focus. There was work to be done, and he was going to take advantage of the silence.

Too bad it was a short-lived reprieve.

"Kagome needs to know –"

"Our mate deserves to know –"

"If you keep avoiding her what's she going to think?"

"I know good and well what she'll think. She'll think that we've made a choice we regret, and that's – not – fucking – true –"

"You know we're right, Hanyou –"

"And we ain't standing for this –"

Inuyasha yelped as a sharp pain echoed through his head. It felt like he'd been impaled with a sword. On instinct, he reached behind his head to feel for anything that might've caused it, only to come up empty. It had to have come from within, just like the dizziness that was running up on him again. His vision blurred, and the feeling of bile rising up in his throat on top of that had him hitting his knees. He couldn't see, couldn't bear to think, and now he felt like he was going to vomit…what, exactly? He hadn't eaten since the night before. The pounding was getting worse, and he could swear he heard his heartbeat in his ears clear as day.

'What's going on?' he thought weakly. His body shook as he tried to get to his feet, only to collapse across the soft grass next to the home he'd been building. 'K…Kagome…' He needed to find her. Apologize. Make it up to her. His stubbornness was even starting to consider telling her the truth, because something was wrong.

He had to get up.

He had to get to the well.

His world went dark as the last of his strength left his body, falling face first into the grass.

Kikyo gripped the handle of the basket with more force than necessary as she trekked outside the village. The hanyou hadn't returned for lunch with the group, and she knew good and well that he wasn't five hundred years into the future. He was going out of his way to avoid Kagome if he could help it, and now that she knew why, she was conflicted in just how mad she should be at him. Inuyasha was scared. He had every reason to be, because he didn't know a lot of what he should have been taught growing up. However, she'd comforted Kagome on that walk back to the well, listening to the girl apologize for sobbing on her shoulder and asking why Inuyasha didn't want her. The defeat in her voice…it had infuriated Kikyo, because this was not someone who gave up easily.

Yes, she was still very mad at Inuyasha. Even with his excuse, the anger was swallowing the sympathy with each step she took towards the hut in progress. Her gut instinct began to warn her that things were not as she left them hours before. The hairs on her arms stood as she got closer to the cleared area.

Something wasn't right. It was too quiet.

She should have heard grunts of swearing, at the very least the sound of construction underway. Silence was more than concerning. "Inuyasha?" she called out, only to receive nothing in response.

Her hand tightened around the handle as she picked up the pace. Kikyo called out again, trying not to let her thoughts get ahead of her. He was alright. He had to be. He was only ignoring her calls because he was still irritated with her. If something had happened, she was sure that Kagome would've come back through the well. But the closer she got, the more panic began to cloud her judgement and overwhelm her thoughts.

When she next called out his name, it was nearly a scream. "Inuyasha!"

Finally – finally – she heard his voice, and from the distant tone it sounded like he was on the other side of the hut.

"The hell you screaming about?"

Kikyo's lips pressed together. What was that trick Kagome taught her? Deep breaths and counting to ten? Each step she took through the clearing, she lost her ability to make it past four. Slow steps turned into brisk walking and she was about to let him have it for scaring the hell out of her. "Me?" she nearly-yelled as she got closer to the hut, "You have the audacity to beguile me for being concerned?! You are an inconceivable piece of work Inuyasha! So help me when I get ahold of you I will –"

As soon as Kikyo turned the corner of the hut she did scream, much to the displeasure of the hanyou's ears. And the…youkai's. The human didn't flinch but he couldn't have appreciated the shrill sound either.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!"

"I can explain," the hanyou started.

"WHY ARE YOU NAKED?!"

The human on Inuyasha's left sat up and attempted to hide himself. "Yeah, about that…"

Kikyo shushed the trio before her. Her face felt like it was on fire, she was blushing so hard. She spun on her heel and began to open the basket in her shaking hands. "Why don't you tell me what you're doing split – again. Is this what happened before?" She set the basket down on the ground once she had what she was looking for out. "Here – you left these in Sango and Miroku's hut at some point." She barely turned her head at movement to her right to see the youkai form of Inuyasha standing before her, naked as the day he was born and not bothering to hide himself.

Her eyes might have looked down.

Twice.

She saw enough to wonder how Kagome managed to walk, much less understand why she was disappointed that he wouldn't even kiss her lately.

Youkai Inuyasha took the bundle of clothes from the blushing woman and chucked everything but the boxers at the human sitting on the ground. He didn't have a problem going without, but out of begrudging respect for the woman's peace of mind he still stepped into them. 'How the hanyou thought he had any feelings for this woman I'll never know. She's too…prim. No spark like our mate.'

Human Inuyasha made quicker work getting dressed than the youkai did. They still had awkward moments around each other even now. He really didn't wan to add her staring at him naked as another one. Not to mention once Kagome found out she'd seen – oh fuck. He swore under his breath and jerked the denim up over his hips. Kagome was gonna kill him. Them. Something like that. She was gonna be pissed – that much he was sure of. "This could've been avoided if you'd just listened to us in the first place," he grunted at the hanyou as he – carefully – zipped the jeans.

"I'm supposed to listen to you two?!" Inuyasha scoffed, rising up on shaky legs. "A human side who blurts out our innermost thoughts, and a youkai side whose thought process jumps between fighting or fucking? Like hell – I'm doing just fine!"

Kikyo stepped close to the hanyou and grabbed his arm to steady him when he started to sway. "Clearly, you are not." She leveled him with a look before he could object. "You need to fix this."

"Yeah, no shit." Youkai Inuyasha grumbled.

"I said shhh!" she hissed, not looking at the youkai. If she had, she'd have seen that his expression showed all kinds of being overly offended at her comment. "Whatever prompted – this again – you need to find the solution. You need to talk to Kagome and tell her the truth. So help me Inuyasha I will throw you down that well myself if you argue with me on this."

"Considering that you shot us to Goshinboku I believe it," the human commented.

Youkai Inuyasha grunted, still displeased at being silenced by a miko, and stretched his limbs. "Don't have to tell me twice, Kikyo," he grinned.

"I don't like that look," Inuyasha frowned. He'd seen it too many times before when they first split. He knew that asshole was up to something. He was always up to something.

"Good. You can stand here with your thumb up your ass with the humans. I have work to do."

The hanyou should've known. Should've anticipated it. so really, when his youkai side took off in a sprint towards the direction of the well, his shouting "Get back here, you asshole!" was gonna fall of deaf ears.

Selectively deaf, fuzzy ears.

"Kagome needs me!" was the gleeful response as he disappeared within the trees.

Human Inuyasha turned back to look at the hanyou. "That did no good whatsoever y-"

"Yeah, yeah…I know," Inuyasha groaned, running a hand down his face. Fucking hell, he wasn't planning to go to the future for a while still, but now… "Kikyo, you gonna be okay to get back to the village on your own?"

"Of course," she replied, frowning at the question. "I'm not an invalid. You're not going to eat the lunch that Kaede made?"

"Can't. I gotta go stop the youkai. Whatever he's up to I can't let him spill the beans to Kagome before I can explain."

Kikyo nodded, stooping to collect the basket. The food wouldn't go to waste, but she was still irritated that she carted it all the way out here for nothing. She was sure that the kitsune would be more than happy to polish it off. A sudden yelp had her looking up to see the human Inuyasha being slung over the hanyou's shoulder.

"Hey! Hey! No boxers, remember!"

"Not my problem."

"Better make it your problem, cause that's all the youkai's wearing."

"…Fuck."

Before Kikyo could ask Inuyasha what she was supposed to tell the others, he was gone. Human Inuyasha could be heard even after they disappeared, yelling about being bounced around like a sack of rice on a mule's cart going down a bumpy road. She shook her head and sighed, turning to start back down the path to the main village road.

This was turning into one hell of a day.

"I'm gonna do some homework," Kagome said as she reached the top of the staircase. The tonic that Kikyo had mixed for her back in the village had helped with her headache, but she was still left with the empty feeling of being rejected by Inuyasha. But then, he hadn't outright rejected her, had he? No, he hadn't. Even Kikyo was assuring her that wasn't the case. She felt guilty that she'd cried on the woman's shoulder on the walk to the well. Kikyo had gotten put through the ringer and had little to show for it. For her to sob about how the former miko's failed relationship starter wasn't giving his bride affection felt really…scummy.

She sighed as she shut her door, locking it for good measure. Souta wasn't home but sure as the sun was hot, he'd bust in her room with some inane question if she didn't. The stack of work on her desk didn't look the least bit appealing, even if taking care of it right then would give her more free time.

"Of course not," her thoughts intruded. "You want something hard alright…and math isn't it."

Kagome groaned. Of course the horny side of her mind would be the side to chime in. She was hoping that logic would convince her to tackle the homework, but instead she got… 'Not gonna happen, Peaches.' Why she nicknamed her libido Peaches was beyond her. 'Inuyasha's seen to that.'

If Peaches had a form she'd have shrugged. "So? You're a big girl. You know how to take care of yourself."

'Are you suggesting –'

"Damn right I am!" Peaches said proudly. "You know your body better than anyone. You know just how to make that kitty purr –"

Kagome let out a squeak as her face heated up. She couldn't deny that she'd indulged herself on more than one occasion, but to hear her thoughts put it that way – it sounded like she was insatiable! Well…maybe that wasn't too far off lately.

"You know you want it," Peaches goaded. "Treat yourself to a screaming o-"

'Maybe if I was home alone.' She shut that idea down quick. 'Although…maybe a little release wouldn't be a bad thing?' That big bed did look intriguing, and god knows she had enough memories in it to file through for inspiration. Kagome stopped at the side of her bed and chewed her lip in thought. 'I…I can't do this. Inuyasha will smell it if I –'

"And he should!" Peaches said firmly. "He needs to know that he's left you wanting! Let him smell that you took matters into your own hands!"

'But what is he gonna say?'

"He can't say anything! He can't deny you and not expect you to do without! At least you're not looking elsewhere to get off. It's by your own hand, which I need to remind you, you had before his cock." Peach's voice seemed to deflate as it sunk in. "I mean yeah…it doesn't compare to that good stretch…or how well he fills you with each thrust…but it's scratching that horny itch!"

Youkai Inuyasha watched with fascination as Kagome paced around her room, mumbling to herself. He'd crawled in through the window to find the room empty. Then he'd heard her in the hallway announce that she was going to her room to work. In a panic he'd ducked into the closet just before the doorknob turned. Couldn't risk her asking questions yet, but then it hit him that she'd locked the door and he was trapped in the closet. He had been seconds away from searching for pants – she'd created a whole section for his modern clothes – when he heard a soft sigh. The youkai cracked open the door the tiniest amount, a grin spreading across his face.

Oh, this was interesting indeed.

Kagome was laying back against the pillows in an enticingly short pair of shorts and camisole. Her bra had been discarded on the floor, giving one hand the ability to push the strap of her top off her shoulder to palm the breast without restraint. The other hand…

His cock strained against the tight fabric of the boxers as he watched that other hand move under the waistband of those shorts. He didn't need to see that she was already wet. Kagome's spicy scent permeated the air, not to mention the wave of arousal that he felt in their bond. Youkai Inuyasha bit down on his lip so that he wouldn't be tempted to groan at the sight.

She couldn't know that he was here. Not…not yet anyway. For now he wanted to see how far she'd go, what she'd do, letting his hand lazily stroke his length as he watched.

His mate was in need, and watching her touch herself made him want to kick the hanyou's ass. It was one thing if she did it to tempt him – and by the gods was she ever – but this wasn't temptation. It was desperation. The hanyou had been neglecting her, and it was obvious it had reached a tipping point. Seeing her squirm beneath her own touch – fuck it was a turn on – but it also made him want to help. Give her more satisfaction than her fingers could provide. At the very least answer her calls for him.

Slowly, he turned the knob on the closet door and stepped out, shutting it as quietly as possible. His mate still hadn't noticed as he approached the bed, her head tossed back against the pillows as the hand in her shorts moved faster.

"Inuyasha…" she whimpered, eyes closed tightly.

"Yes, Kagome?" he tried to keep his voice even, but now that he was right next to her holy fuck did her scent hit him like a blast of reiki. Instead it came out husky, and if she couldn't tell he was turned on from his voice alone, her gaze settling on the large bulge certainly did. She didn't look surprised to see the markings or the red eyes watching her touch herself.

Kagome shook her head and frowned. "Great. Even my fantasies are getting real. I must really be hard up for this if I'm seeing Inuyasha standing here watching me."

"You think this is a dream?" He knelt down and braced his arms on the edge of the bed, careful not to touch her. Not yet. It was starting to become his mantra. The scent of her slick coating her hand and shorts was making him dizzy, and he knew if he looked down he'd see just how damp the black fabric was. It was all he could do not to visibly inhale the scent, but he couldn't help that he did discreetly take a whiff.

That's how he discovered the tears before they fell.

"Of course it's a dream!" she sniffed, one tear rolling down her cheek. "Inuyasha's not here! He's back in the feudal era working on a home he won't even let me see! My own husband doesn't want to touch me…"

Her bottom lip wobbled, and it was the final straw. Youkai Inuyasha moved to perch on the edge of the bed, bracing his arms on either side of Kagome as he leaned in to kiss away the tears. "Trust me, mate," he whispered. "This is anything but a dream. I'm right here, and believe me, I was a fool for shutting you out. I never meant to hurt you, Kagome."

The feel of his lips against her cheeks and across her nose…it did feel real. Kagome blinked away the last of her tears as she looked up at the concerned hanyou above her. He'd let out his youkai side for some reason, but in that moment she didn't care to question it. Inuyasha was here, with her, and he was apologizing. That's all she wanted.

Him leaning in to kiss her lips was even better. After what felt like ages without even a kiss from him, the soft pressure had her reaching up to pull him down to deepen the kiss. She wanted more than just a light brush of his lips, and he was more than happy to oblige. The way his tongue darted past her lips only served as a reminder that she had missed out on much more. Kagome pulled away and looked Inuyasha in the eye. "If you're going to stop, you need to tell me now," she whispered, afraid that if she spoke louder it would break the illusion.

That would be her luck.

Youkai Inuyasha shouldn't have been hurt that she would say that. After all, the hanyou had given her every reason to doubt that he would give her what she needed. She needed assurance now more than anything he could do with his hips, and he fully planned on doing that once he got his message across. He reached down and grasped the hand that had been in her shorts and brought it to his lips. "How could I stop when you've given me such an appetizer?" he purred, grinning at how her face heated up.

She wouldn't have been blushing if she hadn't realized that he'd seen her finger herself, and he took great delight in licking her hand clean while she watched. For extra measure he groaned as he savored her flavor, sucking each finger that had been inside her a little longer than necessary.

Kagome wanted to be upset that he'd crept into her room while she was touching herself. She wanted to yell at him for leaving her on edge for weeks. She wanted…she wanted him to pound into her until her legs went to jelly. With the way that he was looking at her as he licked at her hand, he had every intention of giving her just that. As soon as she got her hand back, she reached down and pulled away the camisole, tossing it across the room. Her hands reached for the waistband of her shorts before he could, because while she wouldn't mind if he shredded an old pair, these were brand new. She got both shorts and panties down to the knee before he took them and pulled them the rest of the way.

Youkai Inuyasha couldn't help himself. It was inappropriate on every level, but this was his mate. He was within his right to hold the bundle of material up and sniff it. He hadn't been able to contain the low growl of appreciation either. "Been thinking about me," he grinned, tossing her bottoms to the floor. His ears picked up that squeak of embarrassment. It was too adorable, but it was his Kagome, and he wouldn't have her any other way.

Well…he could think of a few positions, but otherwise…

The boxers were the last piece of clothing to hit the floor, and he had to take care to not shred those. He still wasn't sure where the other clothes were in the closet, and the human was back in the feudal era with the pants. Shit – that was right – he had no time. He just knew that they would follow him, and if he didn't give Kagome the release she needed before they intervened… He wondered if she'd let him make it to the ground before she started using the beads. A pissed off Kagome was one thing. A horny and deprived Kagome that was pissed off was a hundred times worse.

He wanted to taste her, lick her thighs of the slick that had trailed down them, but there was no time. The youkai had to settle for one good swipe with his tongue through her folds. It was going to have to be enough this time, and if things didn't blow up in his face, maybe he could make it up to her. She was certainly wet enough already that it wouldn't be a problem. "I'd ask if you're ready for me, but that would be wasting time," he teased, lining the tip of his cock up with her opening. Youkai Inuyasha didn't wait for her to respond before he buried himself to the hilt and let out a low groan at the feel of her wet heat surrounding him. Fuck, he'd missed this!

Kagome's head rolled back at the familiar feel of him filling her. Peaches was right – nothing compared to this! Feeling his hands grab her hips and lift her butt had her looking back at him, and the quick thrust at the new angle had her slapping her hand over her mouth to muffle the moans. Oh gods, he'd gone deep with that one. Another thrust and she deliberately squeezed him, tearing a hiss from his lips.

"Mate?" he gasped, when she did it again.

"Not…home alone," she whispered. "Have to…be quiet." How – with the way he was pushing into her and rubbing against her clit with each thrust – she had no idea. She'd be amazed if her mom didn't hear them at some point.

Youkai Inuyasha paused, ears flicking back to listen intently for any approaching sounds. Shit, he didn't think about the family being home when he went balls-deep. He wasn't really thinking about anything. But…he only heard one set of feet downstairs. Mama's. The old man must have been elsewhere on the shrine grounds, and he hadn't heard her little brother once since he entered the house. He shifted, sitting back on his knees and bringing Kagome to straddle his lap, still buried within her. "Then we should be quick," he whispered into her ear when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "If we draw this out I will have you screaming."

Kagome couldn't help the shiver as his breath tickled her ear, nor the way she squeezed him again as his tongue darted out to trace the mark on her shoulder. Oh yes – she'd definitely missed him touching her there too. It had that lovely effect of sending waves of pleasure right to her core. "Please, Inuyasha…"

The youkai adjusted his hold, bringing each of her legs to hang against the crook of his arms before gripping her ass firmly. "Hold on to me," he growled, before slamming into her again.

"Oh god," she moaned, burying her neck into his shoulder. This wasn't a new position, but the way he was holding her – she had no movement. There was nothing she could do but to hang on and squeeze him as he thrust up into her at an alarming speed. She could feel the way his claws dug into her skin, even with the pads of his fingers gripping her tightly, she almost expected to see pin pricks left behind.

She'd wear them with pride, no matter how guilty he'd feel later.

Youkai Inuyasha could feel how with each thrust that Kagome was getting closer. He'd missed this so much that as soon as he got the hanyou alone he was definitely going to kick his ass. How he thought that denying their mate this pleasure was a good idea he'd never understand. Fuck – he was on the brink and about to blow! His stamina and manhood were taking a hit because of this forced abstinence, but given the way that Kagome was whimpering against him, she didn't care. She needed this. Well…she needed much more than just the fucking, anyway. "Kagome," he called. "Look at me."

Kagome had a hard time leaning back to meet his eyes. She was so far gone, so close to the edge, and he wanted her to look at him? Why? She was right there, and he wanted to talk? Now? "Inu…yasha?"

He pressed his forehead to hers, caressing her skin that he knew he'd marked, as he took his pace down to shallow thrusts. "I love you," he murmured, watching as the words sunk in. Kagome's eyes lit up and the smile she gave him made his heart ache. Three little words should not have had as much of an impact on her as they did in that moment. He captured her lips in a deep kiss as his thrusts increased again. There was no way he was going to be able to keep her quiet when she came, and with the way she was squeezing him on each thrust, he wasn't going to be able to keep quiet either.

Somewhere along the line Kagome would have to apologize for the marks her nails left in Inuyasha's shoulders. The rush of her orgasm hitting her, however, had her forgetting everything but the feel of being in his arms. The way he squeezed her to him as he filled her with his release. How he growled against her lips as his motions became staggered before he stilled. He gently lowered her legs to straddle his once more, but he didn't let her move away even after he slipped out of her. That was fine by her; she didn't think she could move if she wanted to.

Youkai Inuyasha buried his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent, satisfied that once more his scent was on her and in her. 'Just as it should be,' he thought, dropping a soft kiss to her shoulder. Everything felt as it should. They were both spent, satisfied, and content to not move for the foreseeable future. A low rumble escaped his lips when he felt Kagome's fingers reach up to rub his ears. What was it he had been worried about before...?

"What the fuck are you doing?!"

Oh. That.

The sudden shout had both of them looking towards the window. The youkai looked more annoyed, but Kagome was alarmed. That voice was so familiar, but it didn't make sense! How – her eyes shifted back and forth between where she sat in Inuyasha's lap to the window…where Inuyasha was jumping through… along with his human form…

"What the fuck are you doing?" the hanyou repeated in a frightening growl.

He was pissed.