Several minutes of coaching was required to convince Inuyasha to step into the shiny metal box. Kagome held his hand in the elevator as the concierge pushed the button. The thick metal doors closed. Inuyasha's discomfort was palpable. When the floor shifted, his arms wrapped around her, to protect her from the demon. She helped him stay upright as his unsuspecting knees stayed rigid, rather than bending to accommodate for the elevator's rise. The concierge didn't seem to notice his unusual response, hands folded behind his back as he waited. Kagome rubbed Inuyasha's elbows and whispered to him.

"It'll just be a minute. We're perfectly safe."

Inuyasha's eyes glared at the concierge as the elevator came to a stop. Kagome dragged him out of the elevator into the richly decorated red hallway. Plush chairs and carpet, expensive light fixtures and a general air of luxury surrounded them. The concierge proceeded down the hall to the last room. Inuyasha watched distrustfully as he swiped the electronic card and the door beeped. A green light flashed. The thick door swung open into a hotel suite. Kagome bowed as she hastily dragged Inuyasha inside past the door demon. She released his hand to have a quick conversation with the concierge about the emergency exits, their morning wake up call, breakfast, and the duplicate door keys now in her possession. As quickly as possible without acting rudely, she pushed him into the hallway and closed the door. She leaned her back against the door and exhaled in relief.

"A flying metal box? Humans!" Inuyasha paced. She recalled the elevated heartbeat from the elevator. Her poor husband didn't understand the hydraulics or the safety mechanisms in place. She quickly kicked off her high heels on the tile foyer and crossed the main room. Inuyasha calmed down when she hugged him around the waist. He grumbled but stopped swearing about the demon box. Her ear pressed against his chest. The thump-thump-thump faded into a smoother rhythm.

The suite was decently large and nicely furnished. Someone had thoughtfully delivered a rolling cart with a filled ice bucket. A bottle of champagne rested in the ice with a courtesy note from the hotel. Double glass doors led to a small balcony overlooking the city. Inuyasha watched her unfold the note to read it. A bottle opener had been arranged on the cart for the newly wedded couple. An arrangement of flowers had been placed on the table behind the couch, red roses. Kagome could see their luggage parked in the bedroom. Her face flushed when she noticed the pink petals scattered on the bed with embarrassing precision in the shape of a heart.

My friends must have gotten the key from someone!

"Inuyasha?"

"What is it?"

"Wait here. You can open the bottle, if you want!" Her nervousness affected the speed of her words. Inuyasha watched her disappear into the bedroom. She shut the door quickly to gather the petals into her hands. In her frenzy several were torn or tossed onto the plush carpet. In the toilet was a small trash bin. Kagome closed the door as she realized her nerves were affecting her bladder. Her heartbeat raced as she studied her appearance in the mirror. Fingers combed through her hair to drape across her shoulders. In the bedroom, she found her small vanity case. In the side pouch she found her medicinal compact of birth control pills. She set the unzipped case on the side table to retrieve her hairbrush. Hastily she relaxed the curls beginning to form until her hair hung straight and beautiful. The click of the opening door scared her.

"What should I do with this?" Inuyasha held out his outer jacket. Bare toes rested on the carpet. Several buttons of his formal shirt had been undone, revealing a section of toned skin. Kagome kept her head down as she took the formal wear to hang in the empty closet. Inuyasha's relaxed stretch shifted the fabric to widen the gap. With limited movements, his hair was freed from its topknot to hang freely down his back. As Kagome placed the metal hook in the closet, she heard the bed shift.

Is he - ?

Kagome's heart raced. Inuyasha was lying on the plush white duvet with his arms under his head, dressed. His eyes were closed. His relaxed posture didn't ease her nerves. All evening he had stayed by her side, tense even when standing with her family. The worry lines on his face smoothed away as he breathed deeply. Kagome quietly went to her small travel case. The dark-haired boy on the bed appeared completely relaxed. The little case unzipped quietly and she found her sleepwear packed neatly inside. Is Inuyasha that tired?

The sexy bag containing her blue sleeping set teased her from its compartment. Her familiar blue and gray cotton set felt good under her hands. Uncertainty made her gut churn. Is Inuyasha falling asleep? Should I get into bed too? Should I wear my pretty outfit now or wait until tomorrow at the inn? It might be more romantic. I really wish Sango could answer a phone!

Inuyasha's right eye opened to find her.

"Did your mom pack my clothes?"

"Your clothes?"

Inuyasha rolled to his feet and moved around the bed. She watched him kneel to unzip the biggest piece of luggage on its side. His shoulders relaxed when the flap opened. The Robe of the Firerat and his hakama were neatly folded at the top of the pile. He smiled at her as he zipped the case closed after grabbing a pair of gray sweats that he tossed on the dresser. Kagome stood frozen as he stripped out of his white dress shirt and handed it to her. He shrugged and draped it over his shoulder as his fingers went to his waist.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Kagome covered her eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"What are you doing!"

"I'm changing, stupid! I'd rather wear the gray."

"But you're just - right here?!"

"You've already seen me! Why not?" Inuyasha's eyebrows met. Kagome's arguments sounded juvenile in her head, no matter how weird it felt for Inuyasha to drop his clothes so freely in the same room. She huffed and grabbed her vanity bag and disappeared into the toilet to hide. Despite their impromptu tryst earlier, she wasn't comfortable changing together yet. Kagome used the opportunity to brush her teeth over the sink while she found her nerve. It's just Inuyasha. I've been alone with Inuyasha plenty of times.

Kagome emerged from the bathroom in her blue satin cami and shorts with purpose. The human boy sitting on the bed was wearing his soft gray drawstring pants. It slightly put her off that he was picking at his teeth with his fingernails. He flicked something into the air. Dark violet eyes turned in her direction. She waited as he noticed her clothes.

"What is that?"

"Do you like it? They're clothes...for sleeping." Kagome felt nervous when Inuyasha just blinked. Her fingers adjusted the thick strap on her shoulder. Her arms and shoulders were exposed. When she looked down, she could see the dip between her breasts. Inuyasha's silence drove her crazy.

"So what do you think?"

"You wear that for sleeping?"

"...yeah." Kagome was beginning to feel self-conscious. His less-than-stellar response to her sexy clothes made her cover her chest with her arms.

"What if a demon attacked? You couldn't run outside in that!" Inuyasha's nose wrinkled. Kagome was stunned. Her husband left the bed to circle around her, examining her clothes, making a vein pulse in her forehead. A finger slipped under the strap on her left shoulder and pulled to test the fabric. "There's no protection in those clothes! It's dangerous!"

How can he miss the obvious?

"This thing wouldn't last a second in a fight!" He tugged on the strap experimentally. The thin seams threatened to give as Inuyasha pulled.

"It's meant to be delicate!"

"You've never worn something like this before. What happened to your pink ones?" The incredulous tone to his voice matched the confusion in his gaze. Inuyasha is the most socially unaware person I've ever met. Kagome was left dumbfounded. With a slightly insulted huff she moved into the living room. Inuyasha watched as she twisted the cork out of the champagne bottle clumsily. It took several tries to figure out the mechanism. The cork came free and fizzy liquid spilled over. Kagome set the bottle back on the tray while she used the rag.

"Nah, no thanks." Inuyasha shook his head.

Kagome took a long sip from her glass. Inuyasha sank into an easy lounge on the couch, stretching his long limbs. He locked his arms behind his head. Her heart beat ascended into a crescendo. Long, defined arms were clearly displayed. Even in his human form, there was nothing soft about his biceps. Kagome finished her glass of champagne. The rush of heat down her throat helped.

"Your mom's great." Inuyasha turned his head back.

"Y-yeah, she is. She adores you."

"Keh. Whatever you say." Inuyasha seemed pleased. No matter what he might say, she knew the attention pleased him. Inuyasha's mother died a long time ago. It must be really hard to go along in the world without a mom. I can't even imagine what that would be like. Her heart softened and she touched his head. The soft hair felt nice under her fingertips. Feeling impulsive, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Bending over the couch, she pressed her cheek against his head. He tensed at first but eased into the contact. His skin was pleasantly warm. The smell of boy was amazing.

"Oi, what's that for?" Soft. Questioning. Self-conscious.

"Because I wanted to." It saddened her to remember how withdrawn Inuyasha was by nature. How long was he alone after his mother died? I know he's older than he looks.

"How old are you?"

"What?"

"I just want to know."

"I haven't exactly kept track."

"You're older than the rest of us, aren't you? Miroku, Sango and I." Their friends were several years older. She had no idea how old Shippo might be. Inuyasha could be extremely immature at times, but she attributed that to his extreme isolation. No one had socialized him.

"Does that matter?" His muscles tensed under her palms.

"I was just curious." The anxious reaction instantly made her retreat. She patted him before coming around the couch. It was plush and white and dipped under her weight. She drew her knees up onto the cushions and spun to face Inuyasha. The defensive reaction had been headed off. His hand opened as an invitation. Her palm happily slid across his to grasp his hand firmly.

"I don't remember exactly...we don't keep track of the days like your era." The reluctant eye contact and the soft answer made her feel safe. It was a real answer. "A century or so would be close. Shippo might be half that or less. Kitsune are different. The runt keeps that to himself. It makes humans uncomfortable to see a kid that small older than their parents."

"He does keep quiet about that!" Kagome's voice pitched. She made a specific choice not to react to Inuyasha's confession. Personal information could rarely be pulled from their hanyou. Everyone in the group had wondered about his age. Sango only knew that youkai matured more slowly, but Inuyasha's human mother and the fifty years stasis had complicated the equation.

"He plays cute and innocent but the runt understand more than you think." A little wrinkle formed around his nose. Kagome giggled.

"He's learned a lot from watching Miroku hit on girls."

"That pervert is a kitsune's best target. He's going to be formidable when his transformations hold." The slight edge of pride warmed his voice. The sad orphaned kitsune they'd adopted had grown into a confident, competent little warrior.

"He's learned a lot from watching you, too. You made him safe and showed him how to be brave. You never back down from a challenge."

"The kit keeps popping out of nowhere trying to kick my face."

"I'm sure he means it as a compliment. You're hard to surprise." An inkling of playfulness crossed her mind. While Inuyasha was staring into thought she reached behind her to grab the small, decorative blue pillow. It felt soft and cushy in her grip. Before she could think twice about it, she pulled it forward. There was a slight poof as it hit Inuyasha square in the head. She laughed at the disbelief on his face. He lunged but she fell from the couch onto the carpet. Before Inuyasha could recover, she kicked to her feet. She felt a slight impact as something soft hit her hip.

"No - aah!" Kagome felt his hand glide along her ankle but slip. She raced around the couch. The suite was large but there was limited space to escape. Inuyasha was already over the arm of the couch. His legs were conditioned for speed. Her body reacted and she dashed for the little pale kitchen. She circled round the island but Inuyasha easily cornered her. Arms caught her waist and she laughed.

"No! No!"

"Got you!" Something soft smacked her in the hips. The little cushion dropped to the floor. The expanse of taut skin under her hands caught her off guard. Inuyasha's grin was still playful when his arms locked around back. The full contact warmed her through the thin satin fabric. The sharp angle of his collarbones drew attention to the planes of his chest. Intense warmth pooled in her stomach.

"As if a human could outrun me! Ha!"

"You're human!"

"Still caught you." The immature arrogance was familiar. She huffed to let him enjoy his victory while her mind whirred in other directions. Inuyasha placed a quick kiss to her ear. Her hands couldn't help but glide over his shoulders. Her eyes closed briefly when Inuyasha's breath warmed her neck. For weeks, the temptation had been held at bay by the promise of marriage. Hesitation froze her limbs when Inuyasha kissed her shoulder. We're not just playing.

The quick, messy sex was a symptom of her anxiety, her readiness to experience the act. Weird and awkward but not painful. She trusted Inuyasha with her whole heart. The hanyou would rather die than cause her pain. Somehow the prospect of slow, sober sex in a bed seemed scarier. Real. Her body was ready - a part of her wanted to push Inuyasha to the ground.

"I'm nervous."

"It's just me, wench. It was only a game."

"No, I mean - I'm nervous." Vulnerability overwhelmed her. She buried her face in his hair. Warm hands moved over her shoulder blades. The slight pressure relaxed the muscles until her hunched shoulders slumped. Whether the rapid beat of her heart was known to him was unclear. Rationally, it was only Inuyasha! Protective, immature, loyal Inuyasha. Fingers glided over her bared skin gently. The lack of inhuman claws presented possibilities to her poor, confused body.

"Stupid, I don't expect anything. If you'd rather sleep or watch the box or eat, I don't care. Whatever you want." The soft, slightly gruff edge was followed by a slight squeeze. Inuyasha never lies. He might steal food from Shippo and have a child's manners but he says what he means.

"Inuyasha, that's so romantic!" Dark violet eyes blinked at her when she smiled up at him.

"Huh?" The sweetness of his oblivious attitude only endeared him more to her. If the statement had come from Miroku, she might have suspected reverse psychology. Not her husband. Trickery and manipulation weren't in his nature. It required social intelligence and devious planning and a moral ambiguity.

"You're really cute when you're confused." Her tippy toes brought her lips to his. His jaw relaxed when she deepened the kiss. The familiar, soft pressure confirmed everything. It was Inuyasha underneath the dark hair. The lips were the same. The fangs were missing. Curiosity took hold and she gently bit his lower lip. The pressure was quick, soft to entice him.

The kiss was bold rather than sensual. Her feet slid backwards as Inuyasha pressed forward. A little groan filled her right ear when his hands clutched her shoulders. Forlorn, she stared at him. The sensitivity of her bottom lip made her conscious of her mouth.

"Inuyasha?"

"If you want to wait, we have to stop."

"What?"

"You say you want to wait, then you kiss me! It's confusing, Kagome." The bewilderment made her heart flutter. A lump formed in her throat as her body waged war with her emotions. We have a limited amount of time until the sun rises. I don't want to wait another month for human Inuyasha. The warm, taut skin of his lower back felt amazing under her palms.

"Yes."

Inuyasha's dark eyebrows came together sharply. Her pulse quickened as she hesitantly touched the rumpled border of his gray pants. The fabric had a line of elastic around the waist for comfort but the loose knot had allowed it to slip during their short chase. The definition of muscle on his lower body was outrageous. The only comparisons were on the cover of magazines or athletes or movie stars. Inuyasha's muscles were the result of years of conditioning, not a quest for vanity, which made them even more appealing. The combination of slimness and muscle perfectly suited him.

"Yes, you want to wait?"

"Yes, I want to." She focused on the way his body felt against hers. The intensity of his eyes made her stomach flutter with anticipation. Inuyasha was still studying her. Feeling bold, she kissed the skin below his collarbone. Inuyasha's heart rate sped considerably. Her hands crept upwards towards his middle back.

"Hey!" Inuyasha had dipped at the knees to bring her over his shoulder. The sharpness of his body pressed against her stomach. It was not what she had been expecting. His arm kept her legs in place so she wouldn't fall. The lack of romance was so undeniably Inuyasha that she laughed.

"I would've walked, you pervert!" She pulled on his hair for revenge. The boy's boundless energy excited her in a strange way. The smoothness of his gait kept her from losing her breath. The slim backside in her field of vision was pretty cute. It did not take long for him to reach the bedroom. Inuyasha steadied her hips when her feet touched the carpet. The enthusiastic kiss that followed took her breath away.

"Inuyasha," Kagome pouted when he pulled away.

"Just hold on - stay here." Inuyasha kissed her chastely. She sank onto the bed when he darted out the door. She leaned back on her arms while she waited for her husband to return. The sound of furniture scraping caught her off guard.

What is he doing?!

"Inuyasha?"

"It's safe now. We're protected." Inuyasha reappeared. His eyes appreciated her posture. Before she could ask questions he was kissing her. His arms pulled her body higher on the bed while his torso weighed against her. Excitement vibrated through Inuyasha's body. There was too much tongue in his kiss but she didn't react. The feel of his mouth on her neck was nice. His long hair fell forward and tickled her.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you turn down the lights?"

"How?" Inuyasha leaned on his forearms. When she pointed to the dimmer switch on the wall, he exhaled through his nose. She twisted on the bed to reach the lamp on the bedside table. The lamp gave off a dim light in the suddenly darker room. The bed bent under Inuyasha's weight when he rejoined her. His hand crept under the edge of her cami. The press of his body against her backside was nice. Inuyasha's mouth glided from her cheek to find her mouth.

Kagome turned to kiss him more fully.

Inuyasha's hands pulled on her delicate cami. His lips were pressed against hers but they stopped moving. Kagome laughed a little as he seemed to focus on getting under her top. She decided to help him by pulling the soft fabric off herself before he could rip it. Inuyasha's eyes were glued to her chest. Kagome fought the urge to cover her body. The exposure to the air made her nipples react. She clenched her hands. Inuyasha seemed content to stare at her.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome flinched slightly when his head descended. The warmth of his mouth on her sensitive nipple felt good. The slight tug as he sucked experimentally forced sounds from her. That's really embarrassing!

Inuyasha definitely felt encouraged. His hand crept onto her free breast. The weight seemed to intrigue him. Her eyes closed as his harmless nails strafed down her leg towards her sensitive knee. Her hands tugged on his human ear to get his attention. The kiss brought his mouth back to hers. It was less careful, less restrained than usual. His human strength wasn't enough to break her.

Still - he was distracted.

Kagome withdrew from their kiss. Inuyasha's mouth immediately skimmed over her neck. His tongue bathed her skin. The only sound in the room was her voice - wordless sounds of appreciation. Her hips lifted without her command when he gently bit her, instinctively searching for him. The sight of her own breasts exposed to the air aroused her.

"That feels good?"

"Y-yeah. It does." Inuyasha's head dipped back down. The curve of her torso pushed her breasts into the air. His hands skimmed down her body to her waist. Without thinking about it, she lifted her hips. Inuyasha leaned back on his heels to pull the shorts down her hips. Her legs were in the air while he pulled them past her thighs, over her knees and off the ends of her pointed feet. She kept her thighs together as embarrassment surged through her. Inuyasha frowned at the little shorts in his hands.

"Inuyasha, what is it?"

"Keh, humans!" Inuyasha tossed the little shorts into the floor.

"What about humans?"

"This nose is fucking useless. I can't smell anything!" The boy shook his head, sending his hair flying. Kagome tried to empathize with the disappointment on his face. His inhuman senses were natural to him. His sense of smell was a direct, constant stream of information. It's not personal.

"Come here." Inuyasha leaned above her. She kissed him gently despite his pout.

"Your nose will return in the morning. Don't spoil the mood." Kagome wrapped her arms round Inuyasha's neck. As she suspected, his eyes dropped from her face to her breasts' new position. She giggled and kissed the hard edge of his jaw. Her tongue protruded to trace his human ear. Her teeth teased the round softness. Inuyasha turned his head towards her mouth. The hard planes of his chest quivered under her palms. That show of vulnerability hit her hard. Through the past weeks, through the engagement, the wedding - Inuyasha had been on edge. He'd confessed to being on his best behavior around her family, probably driven by fear.

Her legs naturally parted to allow him closer.

He was quieter than she expected, her loud arrogant hanyou. Her hands tangled into his hair and forced him to make eye contact. The intimacy added something extra to her passion. Her cries emboldened him to thrust faster, more consistently. His breath became audible as his hips snapped against hers. Kagome's spine arched when her passage clenched around him. It was brief but wrought a moan from her.

Inuyasha buried his face in her neck. She felt him shudder and slow. The wetness between her legs felt warm. His weight dipped the bed beside her.

"Did you - ?"

"Yeah." The happy little glow brought a smile to her face. Her response seemed to please him. A familiar smirk warmed his face as he settled on his pillow. Kagome was surprised to feel the bed shift. Warm lips covered hers for a chaste kiss.

"It was better than before?"

"Definitely." The smirk warmed his face so much. She squirmed happily when his arms wrapped around her. The kissing was really nice. His chest was warm. The sheets were dragged over her legs and tucked round her waist. The feel of Inuyasha's legs under the sheets with hers almost felt too intimate.

"Oi," Inuyasha shifted when she snuggled into his chest. His skin was warm against her cheek. It was comfortable in a weird way. Her feet stretched out against his calves. A fierce yawn wracked her body. The male hand rubbing circles on her shoulders felt good.

"I have to set the alarm." It was responsible but she was too comfortable to move. The alarm was packed in her vanity bag.

"I'm your alarm, wench."

Kagome soaked in the warmth and the comfort of his body. The sense of intimate safety left her drifting. Memories of the day brought a smile to her lips. Unlike some of their nights together sleeping in the Feudal Era, her belly was full of good food and her toes were warm. It had been a long day of constant movement. Inuyasha had stayed in a fairly good mood throughout the entire ordeal. Hopefully he would stay in a good mood during their trip.