The men in the village had cautioned Inuyasha against working in such weather, but he was determined. Kagome's mother had paid the fee to the clothes-maker and the date of the wedding was set. The ground where Kagome's home would be was ready, approved by Kaede and Miroku. His muscles could cut through the rough boards easier than any human in the village.

"Inuyasha!" A pink umbrella bobbed up the hill. His friend's familiar silhouette grinned at him. "How goes the wedding arrangements? Kaede says there is finally a date!"

"Did you kill that oni?" Inuyasha heard the heavy jingle of coins in his pocket.

"My beautiful wife took the finishing blow. I am a blessed man." Miroku eyed his near frantic work. "The weather is about to break. Come to Kaede's for a warm meal. Sango is dying to brag about her victory."

"Keh, humans! A bit of rain doesn't bother me." Inuyasha glared at the silver clouds. The light overhead was dim but his eyes would accommodate.

"It would bother Kagome-sama." Miroku suggested. The damp hanyou was ignoring the clothing sticking to his body. Every time his ears moved water droplets flew in random directions. A perfect picture of distressed Inuyasha having an emotional breakdown.

"We've only been gone a few weeks. Is Kagome-sama well?" Miroku began to worry.

"She's...fuck, Miroku!" The tool in his hands snapped in two. The back of his hand rubbed against his forehead distractedly. The tension in his posture, but his bounds of energy, clearly told him that status of their physical relationship.

"Inuyasha?"

"Her mother wants grandchildren!" Inuyasha's voice dipped deeper than humanely possible.

"I can see how that might concern you." Miroku leaned on his staff pensively.

"She brought out these little shoes, Miroku. From Kagome's childhood." Inuyasha's thumb and finger held up to estimate the size. "What if I can't afford little shoes? Who puts shoes on an infant, anyway? They don't walk!"

Worrying about providing for Kagome, perhaps? Having a wife depend on him?

"Kagome has her own bedroom; all of them do! They have a water toilet and a porcelain bathing tub. Kagome needs her books." Inuyasha seemed to be making a list. Miroku's eyes widened at the madness going on inside his friend's mind. Miroku stepped forward. With minimal protest he dragged his friend away from the worksite towards Kaede's. The spinning panic in Inuyasha's mind was unobstructed. For Kagome's sake, he would relinquish the gift from the Sake Sages he had brought.

"They put their toddlers into schools! Is that what Kagome expects?"

"Drink!" Inside the hut he shared with Sango, he pushed the sake towards his friend. His wife was spending the night with Kaede after a rushed conversation about his spiraling friend. Inuyasha was distracted enough that he accepted a pour of the marvelous clear liquid. With a raised glass, he drank.

"How expensive would it be to install glass windows?" Inuyasha accepted another pour. "I'd have to collect more things to trade. I could make a quick journey north and - "

"I'm sure Kagome doesn't want a palace." Miroku soothed. From the perspective of the village, Kagome was a princess. Her family was rich enough to feed them on journeys and furnish limitless clothing, books and paper. Her family had a multi-storied house. Inuyasha's desire to match her standards of living was commendable but unrealistic.

Miroku continued to pour and Inuyasha continued to drink. His friend's concerns began to unravel. Kagome's mother was taking him around her village to teach him their ways. The grandfather was making arrangements for papers. Her family had invested in scentless toiletries for him. Kagome was having dreams about having sex with him -

"What?" Miroku's head perked.

"Her dreams, bouzu. When she sleeps." Inuyasha mumbled. He reached for another glass of sake and sipped at the top. Their inebriated state still made him doubt what he heard. "She calls my name. Over and over. Her fucking scent - "

"What are you doing here, with a woman lusting after you?" The image of lovely Kagome, with her long pale legs, tucked in her bed, crying HIS name to satisfy her...with Inuyasha's enhanced senses? On a cold, dreary night? Baka!


It was misting heavily over modern Tokyo. The Higurashi house was quiet in the darkness minus the occasional headlights of a passing car on the street. Every member asleep in their respective beds, warm and dry. Buyo the cat was sleeping happily on the couch, unknown to the vigilant mother who would scold him. The fridge vibrated quietly from the kitchen.

Kagome pulled the sheets higher onto her hips. Her sleep was deep but restless; her hand was outstretched towards Inuyasha's usual spot. His shoulders would press against the bed and indent a bit. The clean, woodsy smell that inhabited white hair would spread across her bed and remind her unconscious self that she was safe. When she woke up, she would tweak his revolving ears and kiss his head.

A sigh escaped her lips, quiet. She mumbled a word to her dream companions.

It was unusual now for Inuyasha to spend a night separate from her. The hanyou had become more and more comfortable nodding off against her bed, until recently. Then he had taken to sleeping on the roof - wedding jitters, Mama said. Even Souta was disappointed when he had come to her doorway to wish them goodnight. He had been absent from dinner.

An enormous crack! sent her upright in confused fear. Kagome heard cursing in her dreaming state and watched long-fingered claws slip through the edge and push her window open. A red-robed figure tumbled forward and fell on his face.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome shook the fog from her head and moved forward. His clumsiness scared her. "Are you hurt, Inuyasha? Where's the wound?"

"Kag'me!" Inuyasha lifted his face.

"Inuyasha?" The smell of sake wafted from his person. "You're drunk!"

"Amnot," he slurred. He pushed himself upward with a slight hiccup and rubbed at his eyes. Kagome was glad to confirm no injuries. She huffed at him as she closed her window to keep out the wet. She shushed him when he called her name again, rather loudly.

"How did you get into this state?" Kagome lifted her arms defensively as Inuyasha shook, sending water droplets everywhere. She pulled at the collar of his robe. "You're soaked through! You're going to leave a spot. Put on something dry." A dry pair of sweat pants was deposited on his legs.

"Not he-ere, baka!" Kagome flushed as Inuyasha shrugged out of his haori and underclothes from his cross-legged position. She covered her eyes as Inuyasha wobbled to his feet. The rustle of clothing falling to the floor confirmed how drunk he truly was.

Miroku, I'm going to get you for this!

"Kag'me." Inuyasha's arms wrapped around her from behind. She felt something like a kiss press against her shoulder.

"Oh-kay, let's get you to bed." Despite her best intentions, she could not peel out of Inuyasha's grip. "Inuyasha, let go. You need to sleep, so get on the bed."

There was a high-pitched hiccup. The steel arms around her waist relaxed.

"Good boy. Now just lay down..." Kagome prompted. The drunk hanyou lifted his feet and slipped them under the covers. There was a distinctive ripping sound as the sheets caught on Inuyasha's clawed feet and sliced through them. She saved her irritation for later and started to pull the covers up.

"Kag'me!" Inuyasha's drunken hush startled her. The sound was low but harsh. Her husband-to-be normally had a sharp sense of his surroundings. Now, those quick amber irises were slower. "Join me, Kag'me. C'mon."

"You're really drunk. Stop that!" She gently pushed his hands off her hips. They were pressing a little too hard against her waist. The strength of his fist bound in her pajamas kept her still.

"I love, Kag'me." Inuyasha admitted softly.

Despite her irritation at her fool boyfriend, her heart fluttered. Her lips turned upwards at the unmasked affection in the curve of his face, the tilt of his eyes and his twitching ears. Her resolution faltered and she sank into his lap. Her face pressed against the curve of his neck.

"I love you too, Inuyasha." His sweetness warmed her heart.

"You smell good." The flesh of Inuyasha's warm, slightly damp torso radiated through her clothes. She accepted and let her lips brush against his. While his control was loosened, the kiss was definitely enthusiastic. His heavy arm rested across her lap so she ran her palm from his forearm to his exposed bicep. Lean and tan.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome squeezed with surprise to find her lying on her back. Her boyfriend had twisted her around effortlessly. His claws skimmed over the sheets. She smacked his shoulder lightly when they snagged on another section.

"Wha'sit?"

"Be careful." Somewhere in his drunkenness he had the recall to look remorseful. As he lifted his hand to examine the tear it lengthened. She grabbed his wrist and freed the cloth from the clawed ends. With some direction he eased down onto his side.

The bed was long enough that Inuyasha's taller frame could stretch his legs. She felt her feet brush against his legs as he pulled the covers up. Inuyasha's drunkenness insulated him against the awkwardness that seemed to overwhelm her. The lust in his gaze was unmasked. He bent forward to kiss her gently. Kagome's hormones surged as she wrapped her arms around his back. The muscles were smooth against her fingertips. He had never been half-dressed in her bed before. The thought made her warm and excited and nervous all at once.

We're making out in my bed! He smells good too. Kagome jumped a little as a male hand rested on the skin of her hip. Just underneath the band of her pajama pants; her shirt had ridden up to her belly button. As Inuyasha's tongue pressed forward, she felt his knee press against the bed between hers. A deep flush carried down as he let his weight press down. It was sexy and made her think sexy thoughts. She pressed against him encouragingly and heard him grunt. There was definite friction sparking between them as Inuyasha moved.

"Oh oh!" Kagome's spine curved when Inuyasha's lips followed her chin to her neck. Her leg lifted so that her knee was even with his hip. "That's really good."

"Yeah?" Inuyasha repeated the licking-sucking thing he was doing.

"Yeah." His lips returned to hers passionately, drawing her tongue into his mouth. It was followed by a small push forward against her hips. A sound came out of her throat. That's so embarrassing!

"Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?" The male did it again.

"You're drunk, Inuyasha." Kagome recalled. Her eyes closed when he did it again this time, twice in quick succession. The friction of the hardened length between his legs pushing against her hips there was causing interesting sensations. We're going to wait until the wedding. He's drunk. YOU have to be in charge, Kagome.

"So what?" Inuyasha kissed the small cut in her pajamas below her throat. His hand gripped her hip a bit tighter. The direction of his small pushes changed a bit. Kagome felt her hand curl around the post at the head of her bed as he accidentally found the right spot.

Inuyasha's drunk! He needs water, aspirin and sleep.

"Fuck!" Inuyasha's curse was a bit louder when he pulled on the little band of white underneath her pajama bottoms. His hand grasped her pink elastic waistband and pulled. Kagome squeaked when she realized her underwear was on display.

"Don't you dare!" She could practically hear his thoughts. Her self-control was already pulled ragged by the new sensations. The way his body felt over hers. That look in his eyes!

There was a riiiippp as Inuyasha destroyed the fabric. She squealed when she realized her bare legs were on display. Inuyasha seemed preoccupied by the little white triangle covering her bottom half. He tapped on the cartoon character decorating the front with a single claw. The touch made her jump.

"I will s-i-t you so hard if you rip them!" Kagome swore. "I'll break the bed if I have to!"

"It's pretty." Inuyasha's hand pulled on the waistband.

"I like them. Don't!" Kagome squirmed. It was partially about protecting her comfortable underwear that she had chosen to wear, not expecting these events, but mostly it was about the last shreds of her will. If Inuyasha touched her there they would have sex, while he was drunk, which neither of them wanted. She wanted their first time to be romantic and meaningful. Their honeymoon was already booked, if they could just wait!

"Keep them." Inuyasha's predatory smile made her nervous. The kiss was intense. Both forearms pressed against the bed beside her shoulders, flattening her spine. Inuyasha's full weight rested on her chest. His lips rested against hers with a smug tilt as she glared at him breathlessly. His eyes lowered to watch her breasts rise and fall under her pink top. A volcano's worth of heat rushed downward as she imagined Inuyasha undressing her, licking her.

"Fuck," Inuyasha shook his head. "That fucking smell."

"I don't smell, you jerk!"

"Yeah, you do. It's intense." Inuyasha winced. His hips rotated against her, searching.

"What?"

"You want me." The male smirk made her clench.

"What are you saying, you – you pervert." Kagome squirmed uncomfortably. The kissing-licking-sucking thing on her neck was back and her hips were seeking his again. Inuyasha groaned as they made contact. She waited in anticipation of each short, satisfying thrust made more intense by the thin cloth barrier. Her legs widened in an unconscious invitation as she clutched his back. Large, familiar male hands gripped her thighs for better leverage as he continued. The slightly rough cloth of his borrowed pants brushed against her sensitive thighs but went largely ignored. The growing sensation in her belly drove rational sense out of her.

"Yes, oh yes. Oh – " Kagome closed her eyes. The thrusting sped up as he curled over her, little gasps escaping her. Inuyasha's hand cupped her breast through her shirt, finding the stiff nipple.

"Inu, Inuyash – " She felt her legs pulled to rest on either side of his waist. Inuyasha thrust forward with a grunt. In a mixed moment of horror and delight, his hand pulled her pajama top down to reveal her bare breast. Before she could focus on the exposed flesh, Inuyasha's mouth was covering it, sucking.

"In-Inu-yasha," Kagome was finally overwhelmed. The building pressure of the pleasure waves crested and she felt wetness. She couldn't stop the sounds leaving her mouth, begging him to stop, threatening him if he stopped, feeling his mouth pull on her. It was delicious and wonderful and exactly what she needed. The satisfied sensation continued while Inuyasha thrust against her thigh, licking her tingling skin.

"D-did you, I mean – " She couldn't finish the question. The hardness against her was still present.

"I need..." Inuyasha shook his head. His hands tangled in her shirt.

"My s-shirt?" Kagome's fading orgasm brought back the embarrassment.

"Can I?"

Her hands trembled as they undid the buttons. Inuyasha watched as she shrugged out of the offending garment and tossed it into the floor. She was bare underneath him except for her underwear. She trembled as his eyes widened, the rosiness of her wet breast.

"Fuck," Inuyasha stared.

"M-maybe we should-mmph!" The kiss was sudden, desperate. She felt his hands cup her, squeezing. The thrusting became less even, more enthusiastic. She felt him squeeze her nipples between the side of each thumb and forefinger, rolling them, hardening them. Kagome let out a small cry as she felt the sensations growing again, her legs wrapping around Inuyasha's waist. He rose higher on his knees, driving at a steeper angle into her thigh.

"Fuck, fuck." Inuyasha exhaled. The groan against her ear was followed by a hard thrust, a harder thrust. She squeezed her thighs as the magical convulsions commanded her again, the pleasure more intense than before. Inuyasha's hand grasped the pillow behind her head as he made sounds. His pace slowed to a stop. His face was flushed.

The hanyou rolled beside her, short of breath. Kagome shifted her legs as a peaceful weariness washed over her. Her leg muscles were cramping a bit from being pressed against his side so intensely. It was still dark in the room as she stared at the ceiling. Her breathing was recovering. The need that had haunted her for weeks had subsided. It was no longer aching at the back of her mind, a constant reminder that she needed sex. Maybe I am a pervert. A secret pervert. I hooked up with Inuyasha while he was drunk and it was good! Did he think it was good? He didn't say much except for my name and 'yeah'. Didn't Yuka say that guys don't talk much while they're doing it? Inuyasha doesn't say much in normal circumstances anyway.

Kagome looked down at her bare breasts, wet from Inuyasha's mouth. Her stomach rose and fell with each breath.

I'm practically naked! Kagome reached for a sheet, tucking the ends under her arms. The memory of Inuyasha at her breast, pulling with those sinful lips, had her flushing again. What would it be like to be completely naked with him, to have him inside her? She had seen quick flashes of his naked self, but not enough to imagine it. Would she be even louder with something inside her, to fill that need she was still feeling?

"In-Inuyasha?" Kagome turned towards him, resting on her elbow.

The boy was practically face forward on the bedding, face turned against his pillow. His eyes were closed. An obvious combination of deep breathing, stillness and relaxation belayed that he was asleep. Dead asleep. Kagome prodded at his bare shoulder and an ear flickered.

That was fast.


Inuyasha was still asleep when Kagome woke up a few hours later. It was still early and misting outside, but Buyo still meowed at her. She scolded the silly cat to wait until later, when his fur wouldn't get wet, but he still followed her to the bathroom door. It was too early to feed him; Grandpa wouldn't be awake for another hour at least. She set down the change of clothes and looked at her naked self in the mirror.

Her hair was mussed and snarled. Her nipples were pink from their handling. They were still sensitive. Her discarded underwear was wet down the middle, which mirrored the odd mess she felt when she moved her legs. Using a wet cloth from the sink she bathed herself thoroughly to remove the feeling. She almost tossed the cloth into the hamper out of habit, but reconsidered. She dropped the used cloth into the trash can and covered it with some crumpled tissue paper.

Inuyasha. I have to make him clean up too.

She flushed as she imagined waking the beautiful boy in her bed. He was exhausted from the mixture of sake and dry sex. She had tried to cuddle with him but he was in the wrong position, or not complying with her. So while they had shared her bed, she had slept on her side. At least he wasn't a cover-hog. Living in such terrible conditions for so long, Inuyasha didn't expect covers, even unconsciously.

Her pajama pants had been ripped cleanly down the side. Not even her mother's perfect stitching could fix them, not that she would show such an embarrassing piece of evidence to anyone. Her new sheets were riddled with small tears from Inuyasha's feet, the new rip in her pillow from his clawed hands. Just looking at them made her flush. If her mother saw those she would know exactly what they had done...or pretty close.

Kagome brushed her hair straight and redressed in a pair of spare pajamas with little circles on them. It wasn't late enough for the sun to be rising, but it hinted at first light in the distance. Kagome sat in her chair and remembered the robe of the firerat in her floor, his shirt. She set them on her desk. Amazed that she was awake before the energetic hanyou, she watched him. His white hair practically glowed in the dark. His heavier body bowed her mattress a bit. His face was relaxed, quiet. The stern, prepared guardian she was familiar with had smoothed into a younger individual.

He really is beautiful. Kagome admired his arms, his lax hands, the small of his back. It would be a shame to wake him. Sleep was a precious commodity to her -

Lover.

Sleep was a precious commodity to Inuyasha and he needed it! Kagome pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. Always running, always fighting, always protecting everyone. The village relied on him to be constantly scouting the forest, watching the traders, helping with the worst of the farm work. Mama had put him to work around the house too, cleaning the garden and the shed and arranging furniture.

What would he say? Would Inuyasha be embarrassed about their activities? Would he be smug? We've never had an in-depth conversation about sex. We've briefly mentioned it, but we always switch the subject.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome called quietly. The internal struggle between waking Inuyasha and her mother walking in to check on her after the boy's absence from dinner last night had a clear winner. She sat on the edge of the bed and touched his shoulder. "Inuyasha, wake up now. Inuyasha?" A single eye opened and found her in the dimness.

Inuyasha flung himself upright, staring at her.

"You have to get cleaned up. My mother makes tea at six." Kagome addressed the hated little clock. The smell of their activities made her blush again. "I have to strip the bed and you have to be at breakfast. She thinks we had a fight and that's why you missed dinner."

"The bed? What we – " Inuyasha used the sheets to cover his damp waist. The uncomfortable feeling was bad enough without Kagome staring at him. She flushed and nodded her head. His eyes widened as he matched the drag marks on her sheets to his finger width.

"What are you doing!" Kagome scooted backwards. The hanyou was on his knees in the floor in a prostrate posture. His face was hidden. His shoulders trembled.

"I am sorry." Inuyasha sounded pained.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome didn't like this at all.

"I was drunk and assertive. There is no excuse." Inuyasha kept his head bowed. "I pushed my way into your bed. There's no way you could have fought me. I w-wanted you and – "

"Inuyasha, stop it!" Kagome grabbed him by the hair and forced his face up. "You didn't force anything. I w-wanted you too. You didn't hurt me, baka. My sheets are probably ruined, but you would never hurt me."

"Y-your clothes." Inuyasha's voice was immeasurably sad. "I forced you out of your clothes."

"You pulled my pants off. You asked permission for my shirt." Kagome blushed.

"I d-did?"

"Yes, baka." Kagome leaned down to kiss him chastely. Inuyasha's ears perked hopefully. He moved slowly into a kneeling position, like he was afraid she was going to strike him. When she didn't, he inhaled.

"We had sex?" The haze of the sake muddied his memories.

"Yes-no, not really." Kagome flushed. "You wore your hakama. There was o-other stuff."

"Your..." Inuyasha gestured at her chest.

"Yeah." Kagome resisted the urge to cross her arms.

"Can you start the bath?" Inuyasha hesitated. She held out her hand and led him down the hall to the small room. The boy lingered in the hall awkwardly as she turned the handles to get the water running, not too warm. She seemed at a loss for words.

"Thanks."

"I can wash your pants if you'll – "

"I'll wash them." Inuyasha turned pink.

"Mama will be awake soon. I can wash them – " Kagome matched his coloring.

"Bring me my normal clothes. I'll handle it." Inuyasha couldn't meet her eyes. The gray stranger covering his bottom half was uncomfortable and stiff after his short rest. The idea of Kagome being the one to scrub it clean humiliated him. He would dart back into the Feudal Era to scrub the fabric in isolation. He couldn't put it in the metal demon that spewed water.

"Will I see you at breakfast?"

"If you want me there." He nodded.

"I do, baka." Kagome's cheeks were red but her eyes were bright. She patted him fondly as she disappeared into the hall and closed the door behind him. He resolved to the quickest bath in history so he could pop back to the Feudal Era, scrub his substance away, and be back to support the inhumanely kind girl who loved him. That she still seemed willing to marry him was nothing short of a miracle.

The memories of Kagome's reactions were filtering back to him. The beauty of her unclothed body. The taste of her skin on his tongue. The little scar on her hip that had introduced them. The scent of her wanting. He was still angry at himself for invading her home drunk and unrestrained. The sheets on her bed had cost money. It would have been easy to cut her with his claws or bite her too hard. His feet could have raked down her legs and scarred her forever.

I cannot come to Kagome's bed drunk. I will never hurt her.

Demons in his era forced themselves on women, too weak to deny them. That his betrothed had invited him into her room didn't change what he could do in such a state. The fear of such a thing made him sick to his stomach. It would be easy to grip her arms too hard or lose his temper drunk on magical sake.

"Baka is right." Inuyasha's ears drooped.

I'll repay Kagome for the sheets and her clothes. I can bring back a few things to trade for what I broke. Sango reminded me that she'll need clothing from our era anyway. I can't replace her pajamas but I can get her something equivalent. Kagome shouldn't have to replace her clothes because some aroused idiot rips them off.