Chapter One: On the Other Side
Kagome found herself filled with apprehension as she approached the well that had been sealed for so many years. The pain of coming here was almost never worth it, but she often found that it was the easiest way to feel those old memories of her life in the feudal era. Her hands brushed the rough wood and all she could think was 'I just want to see you. One more time.' The wind swirled through her hair and she felt that magical pull so strongly that she could have sworn the well opened once again. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw it. The sky. In the well.
"Kagome?" She heard her mother approach as tears filled her eyes.
"Mom." She paused, "I've been thinking." Her mother smiled back knowingly and she felt hope rise in her chest for the first time in years.
"I just want you to be happy, dear." Their hands clasped and a tear dropped from her mother's eye, "You have to go." She said it so softly that Kagome might not have heard it, but it was all the encouragement she needed.
"I love you, Mom." She crushed her mother into a hug, and pulling back jumped into the well as she had so many times before.
Inuyasha's ears, which were being pulled by Sango and Miroku's twins perked up as his nose caught her scent. He sat up straighter and inhaled deeply. He allowed himself to hope as he disentangled himself from the girls and tossed them lightly toward Shippo. "Slay the fox!" He exclaimed, jumping up and running as fast as his legs would carry him.
He made his way to the well and he could feel it, the energy that had been long since dead. He reached his hand in as he had done all those times before, and felt a hand clasp his. Kagome emerged from the well her smile blinding and tears in her eyes. Inuyasha pulled her to him touching every part of her to prove to himself that she was real. His kisses landed on her face gently and she giggled at his openness. Their tears mingled and he couldn't bring himself to care about openly crying for her.
"Inuyasha." She whispered as she pressed her face into his neck. The sound was like music, and he never wanted to leave this perfect moment.
"What took ya so long?" He laughed into her hair. As he spun her around in a circle.
The footsteps of their friends behind them grew fast as cries of "Kagome!" Echoed around the forest. Soon they were all there, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kagome, and Inuyasha sharing embraces and tearful smiles.
As they headed back toward Kaede's, Kagome recounted the well re-opening and her goodbyes with her mom to her friends. Miroku and Sango introduced her to their twin girls Kin'u and Gyokuto.
"So you're really back. Forever?" Shippo blurted out hopefully. Kagome smiled and nodded her affirmation.
"I had to come back. You guys are my home." She held Inuyasha's hand tighter as she said it and all he could do was smile a toothy grin.
Kaede emerged from her hut, eyes widening when she saw the young woman standing before her. "Kagome?" She clasped the girls hand affectionately. "Welcome back dear girl. How did ye get here?" Kagome held her hand tightly. She had missed the woman who guided and taught her so much during her time in the feudal era. She recounted the story to Kaede.
"It sounds like the Tree of Ages heard your heart's wish." Kaede said smiling. The old woman was surprised by the revelation. Having thought that only the Shikon Jewel held the power to travel through time, this was a new and exciting bit of information.
"Come in! I will make tea." Kaede excitedly bustled back into her home. And the group gathered like old times to catch each other up on their missed three years.
Miroku and Sango recalled how quickly they became pregnant after their marriage ceremony. They had been fighting demons together along side Inuyasha for the first several months of her pregnancy before the two of them were falling over themselves to protect her from any errant breeze. She stifled her laugh so as not to wake Kin'u and Gyokuto sleeping in the next room.
"I was still perfectly fine to keep fighting. Demon slaying is my life, you know. But these two." She gestured to the men and rolled her eyes. "They just couldn't handle 'putting me in danger'." She used air quotes around the words, mimicking the expression she had learned from Kagome.
"I'm sure you're still perfectly fit to slay Sango. With child or without! You're battling again now right?" Sango and Miroku exchanged a glance. The others glanced between themselves questioning.
"About that." Miroku laughed awkwardly and placed an arm around his wife. "We are more on the with child side of the spectrum at the moment." Sango giggled and affectionately touched her flat stomach. The group erupted into excited congratulations at the announcement.
Kagome reflected on how lucky she was to be here once again. To be surrounded by the people who meant so much to her. Inuyasha's hand tightened around hers as he watched her with only love and adoration in his gaze. The yearning in his heart almost to strong to bear. 'Soon.' He mused to himself. 'Soon that could be us.'
They all slept at Kaede's that night, their excited exchanges keeping them up well into the early morning hours. Each of them slowly lost their battle with sleep and found a comfortable place to rest, Miroku and Sango curled up in each other's arms. Kagome and Inuyasha were the last to succumb.
"You know," Inuyasha began stroking the hair of the woman resting her head in his lap. "We will have to find a place for you to stay. I suppose for the time being you could sleep at Kaede's." Kagome looked up at him questioningly.
"I was hoping to stay with you." She said simply.
"You'd really wanna do that?" He was surprised, not expecting her to want to take that step yet.
"If you did." She responded shyly. A flush creeping into her cheeks.
"Nothing would make me happier Kagome." He tilted his head down to capture her lips in a kiss.
Inuyasha's hut was mostly bare. He clearly didn't spend much time there, and typically only used it as a place to sleep when he was in town. In Kagome's absence he had kept himself busy demon hunting in other towns for lodging and food.
Kagome looked around the small space musing about all the ways she could make it more like a home. Sango was kind enough to lend them some of their old dishes, bowls, pots, and utensils to fill in those gaps. She even had a spare washing bin and water jug.
Kagome worked on setting these items up in their space and making the hut feel a bit more homey. When Inuyasha stepped in to join her with fresh meat in his hand she felt the puzzle pieces click together. He was her home, and with him here even their meager accommodations felt like more than enough. They worked together to get a dinner started with the kill Inuyasha brought back with him, and herbs and vegetables Kagome had helped Kaede gather this morning.
"Kaede wants to start training me in the ways of Reiryoku." Kagome told him excitedly. "She said that now that my spiritual powers aren't sealed by Magatsuhi there is so much more that I can learn."
"Hell yeah! I knew the old wench was good for something." Inuyasha joked, and Kagome playfully swatted at his arm in response.
"Be nice! Kaede only has so many years left with us. I want to learn everything I can from her about my powers before I can't anymore. The woman is immensely knowledgeable." She stirred the stew over the open flame, suddenly pensive.
"What is it Kagome?" Inuyasha pressed carefully.
"Human life. It's just so short." She looked sad for a moment as Inuyasha wrapped her up in his arms.
Inuyasha considered his next words carefully. He wanted to make this as official with Kagome as he could, and right now there was so much he needed to tell her. But, how would she react to the information that he was about to share.
Kagome looked around, sharing in the awkward silence that Inuyasha had created. She saw his cheeks turn red and when she tried to meet his eyes he didn't return her stare.
"Inuyasha? What is it that has you so flustered?" She looked at him quizzically.
"I want to marry you Kagome." He felt the words leave his lips before he could stop them, and then the rest came tumbling out. "But, its more than that. I want you to be mine and I want to be yours. I want us to be entwined together forever-," he stopped as Kagome crashed into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I thought you would never ask!" She exclaimed peppering his face with light kisses as he laughed. She sat back as Inuyasha reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. The gold of the band looked like vines delicately wrapping around to reveal the red stone set at its center.
"This was my mother's ring. It was very special to her, and I kept it for a moment like this. For this moment with you. I wanted to make sure that if we got here that I had a ring to give you so that you wouldn't feel so far away from your time." She held out her hand as he pushed the ring onto her finger, it fit perfectly. "And, there's more." He swallowed thickly and wrapped his hands around her hips, holding her to him as if she might float away.
"Inu yokai have… traditions… that we follow when we choose a mate. Being a half demon I never thought this day would come for me, but here you are and here I am explaining." He rambled to himself a bit trying to push back his nerves. "See, we mate for life, for forever, and when we choose someone and they choose us back we make that union permanent with a mark. I would," He paused and took a breath. "If we got married I would bite you.. after." He gestured awkwardly toward their laps implying that the mark would happen when they were as close together as they could be after their marriage ceremony was completed. "The mark is more than just a scar on your skin. It would tie your life to mine and lengthen your life span. You would also inherit some of my strength, my yoki."
"I know this is strange and foreign to you. It feels crazy, but I can feel this pull inside me. It's an instinct telling me that I have to do this. But, I would never without talking to you about it first. If it isn't something you want then I can ignore it." Kagome had butterflies. 'He wants something so permanent— with me?" She thought excitedly.
"Inuyasha. I want to bind myself to you in every way possible. If this is a custom that you want then I want it to." She looked into his eyes smiling reassuringly as he captured her lips with his. She moaned as he depended the kiss, brushing his tongue against the seam where her lips met. He grabbed her tightly from her place on his lap and lowered her so that her back was on the floor and he was above her.
"I love you." He said over and over as he trailed kisses down her neck toward her chest. He pulled at the neck of her top and gave her a questioning look, requesting permission. She nodded, breathless, as he pulled it over her head. He sighed as he looked over her topless form. She was stunning. He palmed her pert breast and sucked the other nipple into his mouth as she arched her back, pushing herself toward him. "I want to bring you all of the pleasure you deserve." He whispered against her chest before taking the other nipple into his mouth.
He spent an agonizing amount of time here lavishing her breasts while she moaned quietly. Her mind clouded with lust she wrapped her legs tightly around his torso. "Inuyasha. I need more." She pleaded. The devilish grin that he gave her made her heart sputter in her chest and sent shivers through her core. With no further prodding needed Inuyasha made his way down her body, kissing down her torso and quickly discarding her other garments. Kagome gasped as the cool air hit her.
Inuyasha bent down and ran his claws around the insides of her thighs as she squirmed and panted. He laughed against the skin of her thigh as he sucked on it, enjoying the torture he was providing. He sucked just hard enough to bruise but not hard enough to hurt as Kagome gasped at the sensation. He left several bruises around the insides of both thighs, whispering "Mine." As he nipped and sucked. She felt a jolt in her body at his possessiveness. Loving the way he claimed her for himself. She was dripping now from the teasing he was doing and when he blew gently against her clit she swore.
"You like that?" He whispered. She stuttered over her words, the teasing turning her brain into mush.
"M..more. Please." She begged, raising her hips toward him.
"You want more?" He asked darkly as he captured her clit in his mouth, flicking his tongue against it over and over. At the new sensation Kagome tensed and shuddered.
"Yes!" She yelled out, then bit her lip remembering others were likely sleeping nearby and she needed to be quiet. "Fuck, Inuyasha." He chuckled against her causing her to feel the vibrations as he quickened his pace a bit. Her legs straightened and tried to come together around his head as her orgasm drew nearer. He placed both hands on each of her thighs and pushed them apart, holding them away from him he restrained her against the ground.
"Uh uh." He tsked, "You wanted more, you get more." He stroked her exposed clit with his tongue moving in a way he knew would cause the most stimulation. Her hips bucked against his face with each stroke of their own accord. He swirled a finger around her entrance and slowly pressed forward. He carefully curled his finger up and moved in and out. She was so wet that he was easily able to add another. Her pants came faster and harder as he continued. He could tell she was close so he slowed just enough to push her climax back a bit.
Kagome groaned in frustration as her body heated. "Please. Please. Please." She pleaded with him as he slowed.
"Please what, Kagome?" She shivered at his tone, he was feigning innocence and clearly enjoying every moment of her struggle.
"Please." She said again. His tounge fully stopped its motion as his fingers lazily continued exploring inside of her.
"Use your words." He said sternly making eye contact.
"Please let me come, Inuyasha." She said shyly. Getting exactly what he wanted he dove back down between her thighs and gave her all the friction and pressure she would need. She was so close. Almost immediately her body pulled taut and she began to shudder and moan. Her climax ran throughout her setting every nerve end on fire with its intensity, and she called out his name over and over as she fell over the edge.
He licked at the evidence of her release, proud of himself as she caught her breath. Not a moment later she tackled him to the ground catching him off guard.
"Your turn!" She exclaimed victoriously as she opened his hakama. Her mouth was on him almost as quickly as he was exposed. She stroked his impressive length with her tongue and hands. His protests fell on deaf ears, so he relaxed and let her work. Her hot mouth enveloped him and took him fully into the back of her throat. He groaned loudly as he felt her around him. She bobbed up and down taking him in fully each time. It was heaven and he shuddered as he, too quickly, felt his climax about to overwhelm him. "Kagome. I-I'm." Before he could finish she came up for air, stopping her movements, and gave him a devilish look.
"You're what?" She asked, blinking at him innocently.
"A taste of my own medicine I see." He said with a laugh. She giggled and slowly swirled her tongue around the tip of his cock. Pulling back, she moved down and ran her tongue from base to tip up as his hips bucked toward her.
"Well, if that's how you want to play it." Inuyasha grabbed her hips and pulled her naked body on top of him, positioning her pussy so that she lined up with his mouth.
"Inuyasha! I said it was your tu-" she stopped and moaned as his tongue stroked her still sensitive clit again. 'Let the games begin.' She thought as she teased him more. If it was a game he wanted then it was a game he would have. Kagmoe took his length into her mouth again and sucked and swirled as she went. As she felt him stiffen and swell she would pull back a bit and slow her pace. Soon she was panting and moaning as he expertly ate her out. He knew exactly what would cloud her mind.
She was too close. Now, resolving herself to win she added her hands to her mouth and focused on making him come first. She moaned deeply against him and Inuyasha stopped his ministrations. She had him now. She laughed slightly and quickened her pace as he shuddered.
"Oh, fuck. Kagome!" He called out her name as his entire body tensed with the pleasure as he came. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down to him sucking her clit into his mouth. With the sudden intense pressure Kagome came along with him and thrusted her hips into his face as she drank every bit of him in.
After a few moments Kagome fell onto her back next to him panting to catch her breath. "Wow." She said simply.
"Wow is right." He said breathlessly as he came down. He took her hand in his and allowed both of their pulses to come back to rest. "I always knew you would be incredible but that was something else." He said in awe as he looked at her, appreciating the beauty of her post coital glow. "Gods, you're gorgeous." He whispered it but she heard, and graced him with a shy smile. "Can we do this again. Just this?" He asked, the question hanging between them for a moment. "I don't want to break too much tradition before we have a ceremony Kagome. I don't want you to feel I've taken something from you before it was mine to take."
Kagome thought that over a moment and said "Inuyasha. It's already yours to take. And it is mine to give." She smiled and reached out a hand to caress his cheek. "But, if it would make you feel better I am happy to wait. It won't be long now." At this he pulled her off of her spot on the floor and into his chest.
"You mean everything to me, and this is what I want. If it's okay with you then I want to wait." He pulled her tightly to him as she nodded her approval into his neck. They may have stayed like that for minutes or hours. Eventually that was how they fell asleep. Contentedly wrapped in each other's arms.
