Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Waiting on a Wish	By : Quillwing717 Category: InuYasha > General Views: 42890 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
CHAPTER
12

The
fuming, gravelly tone cut into the night, rasping over her internal
senses and lashing along her spine. She stilled, her eyes widening,
her fingers gripping around the door handle. A fine tension seized
her entire body, and for an instant, her mind went blank, and she
found herself unable to react.

Then
her heart jumped, adding to the dull thickness in her throat. Slowly,
she turned, afraid she’d imagined it, afraid she was
hallucinating…until she saw the pale-haired figure sitting
perfectly balanced on railing--back against a post, one leg drawn up,
and a katana wrapped in his arm, resting against his shoulder.

Her
breath caught in her throat, and the tears that she’d been
fighting all evening stung as she lost her battle with them.
“Inu…Yasha?” Kagome’s voice failed her,
coming out a mere whisper of sound in the otherwise silent night.
Through the dark, she saw the outline of white ears shift forward as
he scowled, unfolding from the railing and dropping effortlessly to
his feet. The sword transferred to his fist as he stepped forward
through the shadows of the hallway.

“I
told you to go straight to the orphanage and not leave until I came
back--why the fuck didn’t you?!” Fury laced his tone as
he lashed at her with his voice, and a growl underlined his words.
He’d been so scared when he couldn’t find her, when she
hadn’t been where she’d said she would be. “What
the fucking hell were
you thinking, wandering the city with a youkai like that son of a
bitch on the loose?! You could have been hurt!”

Kagome
didn’t even flinch. She just stood unmoving in front of her
door and stared at him, the tears welling in her eyes blurring his
image even more than the shadows surrounding them. He glared back,
clearly waiting for an answer.

Then,
almost of its own accord, her hand lifted, and she was hurling her
purse at him as hard as she could. “You…jerk!” He
caught the purse with his free hand, a soft sound of surprise issuing
from his throat. “I could
have been hurt? You’re
the idiot who ran off to fight the biggest rogue I’ve seen in
my entire life!” Despite her volume, her voice wavered. “You
don’t have any right to lecture me when what you do is ten
times worse!”

Incensed,
her threw the bag against the wall. “Lecture?! Screw that! I’m
a youkai and a hunter! If I
come up against a rogue, I can defend myself! If you--”
He broke off, distracted by the low, disturbed sound that came out of
her. “Kagome?”

Before
he could say anything else, she sucked in a breath and threw herself
at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in
his chest. “Where were you?!”
Her words, despite their breathy softness, rang clearly in his ears.

The
wetness on her face dampened the dust coating his shirt as she
pressed herself closer. “I was so…. That thing, it
was…we saw it on TV! It took hours
to kill…and I was waiting, but you didn’t come, even
after it was dead…and I called Miroku and Sango, and neither
one of them was answering their phones…and then yours didn’t
even pick up! And I
thought…I thought that you were hurt--” She choked
softly on her own breath, her fists clenched into the material at his
back, twisting it, “or worse,
you impulsive idiot!”

Shocked
out of his anger, InuYasha could do nothing but stare down at her
through the rambling tirade against his chest. His eyes widened when
his nose caught the salt of her tears. Her body shook, trembling
against his. Even after she fell silent, it took him a moment to
translate the fear in her tone. “Kagome…“ He
blinked. “You were…really worried, weren’t you?”
Astonishment tinged the gruff words.

“Of
course I was worried
about you, stupid! You could have been killed!” Her fist
thumped at his chest, but she didn’t move otherwise. Then she
added, in a smaller, more suffocated tone, “So many people
were.”

Immediately,
he gentled. His ears lowered as his body relaxed into hers. His arms
came around her, holding her tight as she cried into his shirt, chin
resting atop of her head. His voice was muted, fingertips stroking
over the feathery tips of her hair. “Baka. Why were you
worried?” He rumbled softly, deep in his throat--a laugh. “Feh.
As if a stupid little thing like that could actually hurt me.”

Stupid
little thing?! She didn’t know whether
to kill him or kiss him. Whatever that thing had been, it was neither
stupid, nor little. Hundreds had died tonight, crushed or eaten by a
monstrous youkai…and he had the nerve to laugh
at her for worrying about a hunter whose job it was to take the
damned thing down?

Killing
him was sounding the better option.

Then
his chin nuzzled softly against her hair, and Kagome shook her head
and buried deeper into his arms, slightly embarrassed by the growing
dampness of the cotton against her cheek. She had
been worried. She’d seen the destruction on the TV-- the
casualties had been severe. She’d dealt with quite a few of
them firsthand. Through the endless procession of surgeries,
stitches, and scared, wounded faces, the cold terror that he had been
lying severely wounded or dying somewhere under the battle’s
ruins had eaten away at her.

Now
she knew he was
fine--mussed and dirty, but real in her arms--and the relief was
crippling, rising to couple with exhaustive stress of the night’s
activities; she felt completely exposed, emotionally defenseless. She
hiccupped, digging her fingers into the already twisted material at
his back, reassured by the warmth of the skin through the cotton.

She
inhaled, taking in the musky smell of exertion and dirt, unable to
completely curb the tears. “InuYasha, you’re ok. Thank
the gods you’re ok. You didn’t die. I was so afraid….”
She couldn’t ever remember being so unreasonably terrified in
her life. “I was so afraid I would lose you.”

The
admission slipped out before she even realized it, and then it was
too late to take it back.

He
sucked in a breath, half-stunned, half-disbelieving, and his hands
gripped at her shoulders, pushing her gently away from him. “Lose
me?” Golden eyes
imprisoned her wide, glazed ones in the semi-darkness. “Damn
stupid….” His features blazed with intensity, and he
shook his head. He muttered something fierce, his voice as harsh as
his features. “What the hell do you think I’ve been
doing? I can’t….
You’re the
reason I’m even here. I’m
the one who can’t--” He cut off the words and tugged,
his mouth descending aggressively to smother hers.

The
kiss was demanding, frustrated--rougher than he’d really
intended. She wasn’t the only one who’d been upset and
affected by the stress of the attack. His whole godsdamned night had
been one scare building on another.

He’d
been worried too.

He’d
been worried about Sango, who’d gotten injured--not something
he wanted to tell Kagome--and about Miroku, who’d almost gotten
himself killed trying to get her to safety. He’d been worried
about the damn rogue going any farther than it had and possibly
endangering more people; it had taken the strength of several hunters
just to hold the damn thing in Roppongi; then it had taken hours
before his way was clear enough--Damn the city
anyway!--to use Tetsusaiga without harming
anyone else. Mostly, though, he’d been worried about Kagome.
He’d been afraid, deeply afraid, that something would happen
while he wasn’t around.

That
he couldn’t be with her, that he couldn’t see
her--knowing she was safer away from him than anywhere near him--had
killed him.

It had
taken him hours too
long to be done with the whole damn thing since the Council had
demanded an immediate account of all hunters. And then…holy
fuck, she hadn’t
been where she’d said she would be. Heart in his throat, he’d
practically beaten down the door to a damn orphanage, singeing
himself on the damned miko wards, to find out where she was--when, if
he’d only used common sense, he could have figured it out for
himself--only to get to the clinic and find her gone again.

He
hadn’t known what to do when he’d actually beaten her
home. Waiting for her to show up had been nerve-wracking. He’d
been so relieved to finally hear her yelling at him.

But
now she was crying, and he didn’t know how to handle that, and
there was only so much anyone could be expected to take. So he was
taking it all out on her--the fear, the frustration, the
whole last damn week--with a bruising
kiss…that she didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, she
was responding enthusiastically, her mouth crushing back, lips
parting and tongue slipping through to brush and tangle with his. It
only took him seconds to lose himself, to forget the anger and be
consumed by the enthusiastic welcome of her mouth.

Her
hands moved to his collar, fingertips reaching to find skin. One hand
curled around his nape, pressing firmly. The other smoothed along the
skin of his neck, unconsciously looking for the warm pulse of his
heartbeat. Her touch encountered a scratch--a long, thin line--and
she broke the kiss with a gasp, pulling away to stare up at him,
suddenly reminded that she didn’t really know
if he was injured or not.

The
partial moon only cast the dimmest of lights through the night,
though the stars were brighter than normal because of the power
outage. She could barely make out his features. She peered at him
accusingly. “You…you’re hurt,
aren’t you?”

He
stared at her, disbelieving that she had stopped to ask him something
so ridiculous. “What? Of course I’m n--” He choked
off as her hands slid down his front, only to smooth back up and over
his chest to find the scratch on his shoulder.

“You
are,” she challenged softly. “Here.” Her fingers
skimmed along the edge of the rather significant tear in his shirt,
grazing lightly over the scab that had formed long ago. She felt
clearly the faint tremor that wracked through his body; its current
passed through her fingertips to pool low and thick in her belly. Her
voice dropped lower, becoming a sheer exhalation rather than true
sound. “Where else?”

He
wanted to deny it, but the air had seized in his lungs, and he
couldn’t produce the words. Her hands moved again, over his
shoulders to lay against his neck, spreading to make sure no more
abrasions could be found. Her fingers reached up to explore the
planes of his face, searching for any injuries that she couldn’t
see.

He
didn’t make a sound of protest, just stood still and let her,
something deep and quiet inside him stirring as he absorbed the
intimacy of her touch. With every gentle pass of her fingertips, the
longing between them coiled and tightened, entwining around them in
the thin, cool air of morning.

He
could feel the mounting excitement in the rise and fall of her chest.
The faint pressure of her breasts brushed against his shirt in
quickening intervals; electricity thrummed even through the barriers
of their clothes. His nostrils flared slightly. With each moment, her
scent heightened, provoking his arousal--a dull pressure in his veins
that sharpened viciously with his every inhalation--thickening the
blood in his head before sending it elsewhere.

He
nearly groaned. Shit.
Too much. Way too much…and not nearly enough.

His
arms, still wrapped around her, tightened, pulling them flush,
letting her feel the growing effect of her touch. She gasped again,
but eagerly accepted the renewed kiss, her fingers curling into his
hair, combing through the silver strands, then grabbing tight to pull
him closer.

He
took one step forward, then another, pushing her back with his body
just enough so he could reach out a hand, grasping around until he
turned the key that was already in the lock, allowing the door to
swing open. A few more steps and they were inside, and he was shoving
the door closed behind them. The sword in his hand hit the wood of
the entryway with a clattering thump, and with a brief stumble, they
hit the wall in the hallway, hands now free to roam.

Her
fingers yanked at his shirt so her hands could slide over the skin of
his chest and stomach, searching out any hidden wounds that he would
try to pretend didn’t exist. His hands grasped at her skirt,
wrenching the material up to bunch around her waist, brushing along
smooth skin, claws scraping bare thighs for the first time. Their
kiss had become frantic and hard, teeth nipping at soft lips, tugging
and sucking as tongues tangled briefly, parting only for the
occasional haggard gasp.

He
lifted, guiding her legs to wrap around his waist. She wound around
him eagerly. Their hips connected, and she whimpered into his mouth
as the startling pressure of his erection nestled against her swollen
center. Intuitively, her hips shifted, rubbing against him.

The
action ripped a growl from his throat, and in retaliation he rocked
against her, earning the loud moan echoing into his mouth. He gritted
his teeth. Her scent alone was driving him insane. Every time he drew
in a breath, her arousal assaulted his senses. He was already having
a hard time controlling his instincts through the sexual haze coating
his mind without the
maddening little motions and sounds.

He
didn’t want to hurt her.

His
mouth trailed from hers, leaving satin lips to savor silken,
mouth-watering skin. She tugged at his head, directing him downward,
her head falling back to allow unimpeded access the delicate skin of
her neck. He obliged her, dropping small, hungry kisses down her
body, stopping briefly to draw on the soft skin where jaw and neck
met. His claw-tipped fingers skimmed over her shoulders, feeling
along her collar-bone to curl over the edge of her top. With a sharp
tug, it ripped in two, splitting down the center, clearing his way.
The only notice she spared it was the time it took to shrug from the
sleeves. The annoying material floated away, instantly forgotten. She
was left in black lace, only identified as such by the way it dug
into her pale skin in the almost non-existent light. The bra formed
little hindrance to the warmth of his mouth as he trailed along the
newly revealed flesh.

He
left a damp trail from her throat down between her breasts, teasing
along the edges of the material, skimming across the swelling above
it. Her heavy, panting breaths pushed the soft skin into his face, a
temptation he didn’t care to resist. His tongue flicked out,
gliding roughly over the tops of her breasts to push at the lace,
seeking out nipples cresting with excitement against the material.
Through the barrier of her bra, he laved at the peaks, dampening the
lace, mouth closing to suckle as the hands framing her ribs held her
in place.

The
slight pulling sensation slammed through her body like a shock, and
the clutching in her belly became a fierce, demanding ache. Her eyes
closed tightly as a strange tingling raced along her nerves. Her tiny
whimpering became full-blown, breathless moans. Her arms went around
his head, and the grip of her legs tightened around his waist; her
hips hitched against his.

Another
growl sounded, almost warningly. He lost patience with the material
encasing her breasts, and a single slice bared her completely. He
took full advantage, tasting, fascinated by the subtle textural
differences he found between her aroused nipples, and the softer skin
surrounding them. Delicately, lightly, he scraped his teeth over the
taut peaks, careful of the sharp edges of his fangs on sensitive
skin. His fine-grained tongue followed, soothing the scrapes, curling
gently.

Kagome
whimpered loudly, arching her back to bring him closer.

His
hands reached down to rip at the skirt bunched around her waist. Not
even bothering to look for a fasten, he simply sliced them off her.
Her panties matched her bra, and they released her rich scent,
already soaked through with excitement. He paused in his attention to
her breasts, his hands trembling slightly around her waist as he
inhaled, all of his senses and what was left of his brain savoring
her spice. His claws and fingertips hovered along her skin,
hesitating over the thin elastic band securing the black lace low on
her hips.

Her
head tipped back, and her she let out a low moaning scream.

“InuYasha…please.”
Her voice was muted and husky, thick and soft with desire--barely
aware of the plea as it left her lips. Her hips tilted, pressing
slowly against his arousal, yet another instinctively seductive
caress. He felt the touch even through the constriction of his jeans.
A tremor ran through his body, and he hovered on the brink of
temptation. So easy to simply join them once and for all. She was
more than ready for him; her entire body practically begged him, and
his own instincts demanded that he give her what she wanted. So fast,
so swiftly.

Too
fast. She was a virgin, and he could hurt her more than necessary by
being careless, damn it all to hell! He had to find a way to slow
them down.

His
teeth clenched, and a frustrated hiss escaped, even as his mind
uttered a long list of all the expletives he’d ever heard. His
hands gripped around her thighs, and gently but forcibly unwrapping
her legs from around his waist, a move she protested with low vocal
groans that echoed his growl. Her legs buckled the minute her bare
feet hit the wooden floor, unable to support her despite the tension
holding her in a tight grip. His hands went to her hips, holding her
in place with very little effort.

Her
bare feet touched the cold wood,
and she wondered inanely when she had lost her shoes. Then his mouth
returned to her body, and she lost all focus on anything but the
energy humming through her limbs. Steamy pleasure swamped her, heat
rising through her skin, and a thick ache pulsed between her legs.

Swiftly,
with the wet brush of lips, and the erotic roughness of tongue, he
made his way down her flat stomach, stealing all her faculties and
earning a strangled squeal when he rasped over her belly button. He
paused when he reached her hips, his nose nuzzling at the sensitive
line where the elastic hugged her skin. She froze, her breath
suspended. Then a delicate scratching as his fingers curled under the
slim waistband, and she looked down in astonishment.

He
didn’t look up, his attention focused intently on the scrap of
strategically blended lace and cotton. He inhaled, his growl settling
into a low, steady rumble. Through whatever dim light filtered into
her apartment, she saw the silver head bend, and she felt a kiss, a
tiny touch on the skin just above the elastic. Then the tiniest lash
with the tip of his tongue. The muscles in her lower abdomen
tightened, contracting reflexively. His growl deepened. Teasing
kisses brushed over the thin material covering her, touching on her
hips before moving lower.

She
watched with wide eyes as his tongue flicked out again, sweeping a
gentle, deliberate lap over creamy, damp fabric, savoring her most
intimate flavor seeping through the insignificant lace. Her mind went
blank, faint, unable to protest, unable to encourage. The breath
rushed from her body, and her head fell back to smack against the
wall.

“Oh,
gods!” Her voice was a mere pant of sound, shocked, stunned,
giddy. “InuYasha, don’t…”

“Don’t?”
For the first time, he looked up.

Somehow,
in the darkness, her glazed eyes met his golden ones. A question, a
hint of concern shone in the smoldering depths, and he hovered just
above her. Waiting.

He
would stop if she asked, even if it killed him. She knew it without a
shadow of a doubt. He was giving her one chance, one last
opportunity, to halt this if she wasn’t ready.

She
paused, staring down at him. She already knew her answer, had known
it from the moment she saw him waiting for her on her balcony. She’d
seen so much death tonight, so much pain and suffering that she--with
all her supposed knowledge and skill--hadn’t been able to do
anything about. What she wanted now was a confirmation of life in one
of its most basic acts; she wanted the pleasure to help rebuild the
spirit the night had stolen from her. She wanted it from him, for
him, and with him.

She
flicked her tongue over her lip, biting back another groan. “Don’t
stop.”

She
sensed more than saw him relax. “Heh.” She heard his
husky, growling laugh, and his hands grasped her thighs again,
pulling them forward to drape over his shoulders, using his body as a
brace to keep her up against the wall. The position was precarious at
best, leaving her completely dependant on him to keep her from
falling. Rather than being distracting, it was exciting, the
uncertain stability only serving to heighten her senses even further.

He’d
had enough of her underwear, and with an intolerant twist of his
fingers, the delicate lace was gone. A quiver ran through her as the
cool air of her apartment drifted over burning skin for the first
time. She could feel his breath--heavy pants, the lightest of
caresses--on her sensitive flesh as he hesitated briefly…then
leaned in to taste her. His lips pressed against her in an intimate
kiss, then his tongue drew a slow line along her swollen folds,
parting them, its roughness a shocking contrast to the slickness
gathered there.

Slowly,
with careful, exploratory laps, he began an assault on her senses,
narrowing her focus to him, to his mouth, to his tongue. He slipped
inside her, stroking briefly as his mouth nuzzled against her,
growling his enjoyment. Her eyes squeezed shut, and her head fell
back against the wall. Her hands took a death grip in his hair as her
volume increased dramatically, alternating between wordless moans and
gasps, and broken or incomplete cries of his name.

It was
the first time he could ever remember welcoming loud noise of any
kind. He found that spot, that one tiny spot that made all women
insane, and surrounded it with his mouth, listening carefully, using
her reactions to guide his. His hands, laying flat along her waist,
moved, raking ever so gently along the skin of her hips.

She
yanked at his head, her grip tight as she moaned and twisted against
his mouth. The sensations had her in a state of blissful agony, and
she was barely aware of what he was doing anymore, just that she
would die if he stopped. Then his claws reached up to drag along her
heaving sides, and she felt his tongue inside her again, and with a
muted shriek, the building pressure snapped. She reached for it
eagerly, allowing pleasure to engulf her mind even as she clung to
him desperately, trusting him to catch her when she fell.

Distantly,
she heard his growl, felt him shrug off her legs, and his arms caught
her as he surged upward, lifting her limp form and carrying her
through the darkness. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her
breathing ragged, her body so relaxed that she didn’t realize
that he’d brought her to her bedroom until her back hit the
mattress.

Settling
her gently onto her bed--her big, familiar, comfortable, Americanized
bed--she felt him next to her, felt him as his body covered hers. One
jean-clad knee slipped between her legs as his weight settled on his
elbows, caging her with his arms. His head bent forward, his nose
nuzzling at the corner of her jaw. She gave a low moan and a slight
tilt of her head.

“Kagome?”
His voice rasped thick with raw emotion and need. “Please tell
me you’re ok to keep going. I really don’t think I can
stop now.”

The
ragged warning surprised a giggle out of her, and he lifted his head
at the sound, searching her face in the dark. She reached up a hand
to caress his lips, her fingers slipping over the remnants of her
desire still coating his mouth. Her eyes widened, and a rush of
breath escaped her lungs. Wordlessly, she grasped at his head and
pulled him down for a kiss, tasting herself as he tasted her, pushing
her tongue into his mouth to taste the curious mixture of the both of
them together.

She
could still feel the need crowding her body, the hot, achy wanting
pushing them towards each other. Her previous climax hadn’t
settled the craving--it had only taken the edge off. It was him
she wanted, his body in hers, the fervent intimacy of body clasped
with body. Even with their earlier insanity somewhat abated, she
wouldn’t turn back. Couldn’t. He needed her just as
much--if not more--than she needed him, and she could never deny him
that.

He
understood her unspoken message, and reassured, took control. His
hands clasped her head, holding her still while he consumed her
mouth, sweeping inside and exploring thoroughly, aggressively laying
claim to every moist inch that he touched. She could feel his
tenseness, the readiness of his body as he lay over her.

His
clothes formed a frustrating barrier between them. She tangled her
hands in his shirt, silently insisting that he remove it, feeling the
inequality of being naked on a bed while he remained fully clothed.
She wanted him naked too, dammit!

With
an irritated growl, he complied, releasing her to push up. He ripped
the shirt over his head, and then it was gone--where to, she didn’t
know, and didn’t care. All she cared about was the skin he’d
exposed, the as yet unseen strength of him.

Lamenting
the lack of light, she reached out and set her palms against his
skin--smooth, bare, and scorching. Everything about him was rigid,
taught, strictly controlled--even his breathing came in shallow,
restrained bursts in between breath-stealing kisses. She relished the
feel of skin and muscle, drew her hands slowly down his body.

Her
fingers brushed over his nipples, and she felt a shudder run through
him; she smiled, but her hands didn’t stop feeling across his
chest and down the ridges of his abdomen. She was thorough, her hands
covering every inch of his skin, still unconsciously searching for
any wounds he might be carrying.

She
found another one, a shallow groove that ran along his lower belly.
With gentle censure, she bit at his lip, her nails circling the minor
cut that she knew would be vanished by morning. His breath hitched,
and she felt the muscles under her fingertips jerk; with a rasping
growl his hands grabbed at hers, pulling them away from him and
slamming them down next to her head. She gave a breathy laugh, noting
the sensitivity for future reference.

In
response, his body lowered to hover just above hers, and he began a
slow assault on her neck. He took his time, grazing over every inch
of her he could reach with his mouth while still keeping her hands
imprisoned. He took pleasure in each pass of his tongue, in each
gentle nibble, in each brief suckle, knowing he was arousing her body
again in steady degrees.

Kagome
felt the heat he was generating as it rose from deep inside her,
spreading like fire along her skin, stopping to quiver around certain
key points, increasing her temperature. She squirmed beneath him,
biting at her lips and turning her head with a moan. His unruffled,
unhurried pace contrasted starkly with their earlier madness, and his
grip on her wrists and the firm weight of his body held her
motionless for the deliberate plundering of her senses with his mouth
alone.

Her
inability to respond in any way was absolute torture.

Impatiently,
she flexed her hands in his grip, twisting slightly, silently begging
for release. He paused, lifted his head, considered her. She noted
the brief flicking motion of his ears before his hands slid from her
wrists and down her arms. His calloused palms abraded over smooth,
sweat-dampened skin, following the path his mouth had taken over her
body.

With
her hands free, Kagome returned to her study of his, dancing her
fingers along every inch of him she could reach, even as he did
things to her body that were wiping out her mind, blurring coherent
thought. She almost clung to him; his skin, the definition of muscle,
the firm heat of his body, grounded her, helped her deal with the
sensations that were slowly pushing her beyond whatever limits she’d
once had.

InuYasha’s
attention was absorbed completely in his exploration of her body. His
hands and lips wandered aimlessly, experimenting to learn what she
liked. It wasn’t hard to figure out--Kagome was vocal about
everything. Every lick along the underside of her breast elicited a
gasp; any attention to the dip of her belly button, a moan. Her sides
were sensitive enough that even the slightest brushes had her
squirming--mindless, wordless murmurs issuing from her throat. And
when he raked his claws ever so lightly just above her dark nest of
curls…well, she liked that a lot. Loudly
a lot.

Her
fingers wandered up to his ears, rubbing the fine fur along the sheer
edges, nails scratching, fingertips massaging tenderly. He stilled,
his mouth just above her belly button. His eyes slitted in pleasure,
and his entire being focused on what her hands were doing. A small
smile tilted her lips, and despite her ragged breath, she hummed,
delighted to have found yet another weakness.

He
moaned and surged up her body. A rough, wet tongue encircled a
nipple, and he sipped teasingly at the erect peak. One hand sank into
the mattress along her side, claws diagramming faint patterns onto
one of the most sensitive areas of her body; the other dipped between
her thighs, one long finger sliding into her with excruciating care,
while his thumb sought and found the swollen bundle of nerves above,
passing over it lightly.

Kagome
gasped, and arched slightly against his hand, her inner muscles
clenching reflexively, drawing on the long digit. A growl erupted
from his throat, and whatever was left of their leisurely mood was
gone.

His
mouth seized at hers, crushing, urgent, open. His hands gripped
tightly around her waist, while his knees gently spread her legs.

He
still wore his jeans, and she found them abrasive and uncomfortable.
She scratched her nails down his chest, searching for the waistband,
before hooking in the loops sitting low on his hips, tugging
insistently. Her fingers found the fastening, groping frantically,
brushing against the tight swell of his arousal. He shuddered at the
butterfly touch. Growling again, he wrenched away from her, sitting
back to work at the button, freeing his erection and ridding them
both of his pants.

Objecting
to even that much separation, she started to sit up, only to be
pinned down as his hands shoved at her shoulders, and the hard,
demanding force of his kiss returned to her mouth. She grabbed at his
neck, uncaring as long she had some form of contact with him.
Anything to help relieve the pressure within, the sparking fire that
burned in her gut and burned through her veins.

His
knees nudged her thighs farther apart. Her fingers tightened
painfully as she felt the sleek, scalding heat of him brush against
her core. Another whimper, one hovering on the edge of fear and need,
slipped past her lips.

Panting
with need, trying desperately to retain some semblance of control, he
pulled back just enough to make out the outline of her features in
the dark. Silently, he cursed the darkness that hid her from him now.
Now, when he desperately wanted to see her eyes, read the
expressiveness of her gaze.

His
teeth gritted. He might not be able to have the light, but he could
have her acknowledgement all the same. His fingers gripped at her
chin, making sure she stared at him, and he had just enough light
that he could see her eyes widen as he began to push into her.

She
bit her lip at the sensation, but refused to look anywhere but at
him. Her hands flexed, and her fingernails dug into his back, pulling
at him. She tensed slightly at the sudden discomfort, and he
hesitated, his thumb brushing a silent question along her jaw. She
shook her head, and wound her arms around his shoulders, her silent
encouragement obvious in the light, open-mouthed kiss she place on
his lips.

Unwilling
and unable to drag out their torture any longer, he shoved into her
with a quick, hard thrust.

She
felt the breath leave her body in shock.

Their
kiss broke as her head fell back onto the mattress, and her eyes shut
tightly. The pain had been expected, but worse than she’d
thought. Above her, InuYasha went perfectly still, and she could feel
his intense golden eyes studying the strain on her features as she
struggled to adjust to his invasion, her breathing slight and
shallow.

His
head dropped forward to rest against her collar bone, thick silver
tresses falling over his shoulders to feather lightly against her
skin. His breathing was rough, and she could feel the slight heave of
his chest as he gasped for air. His claws shredded into the sheet
beside her head, and he swallowed audibly.

“Kagome…
gods…are you ok? I didn’t want…” His soft,
penitent whisper floated across her breast. The subdued remorse in
his tone caught at her, and her breath snagged in her lungs.
Tenderly, she brought her hands to his face, caressing at his cheeks,
reassuring him without blame.

“Shhh.
Just…wait a moment.”

Kagome’s
eyes slid shut, and she concentrated on the feeling of fullness, on
relaxing the tensed muscles of her body. She gave the tiniest start
when she felt his tongue flick out along her collar bone, stoking
long, comforting swipes over her heated skin, moving slowly into the
hollow of her clavicle and up the column of her neck.

Some
of her rigidity drained immediately, and her head tilted to allow him
better access, reveling in the ministrations. She loved his tongue.
It was always just slightly rougher than she expected, and somehow
managed to be both soothing and thrilling all at once.

Her
hands were stoking unconsciously, rubbing his trembling shoulders and
rigid arms as he fought his own instincts to stay motionless. It had
to be hard for him--he was seated so tightly inside of her that she
could feel every throbbing inch of him burning against her skin.

A
slight smile flickered over her lips. She was amazed at his
consideration, his determination for her comfort. His concern for her
well-fare was far more beguiling than his strength could ever be.

It
took several slow, drawn-out minutes for her body to relax and accept
him, to release its uncomfortable tension. But eventually Kagome
became aware of the subtle shift in the strain on her body, and with
it the urge to do something, to move, to relieve the pressure in
another way.

With a
slow lick of her own tongue over her lips, she shifted
experimentally, her hips hitching upward slightly, allowing him to
slide deeper inside of her. She drew a sharp breath at the sensation;
InuYasha stopped mid-lick, a shudder racking his body. His head
lifted, a barely restrained rumbled vibrating through his chest. In
the shadows, darkened amber eyes searched her face in silent, urgent
question.

“Kagome…”
He barely breathed her name, the lightest of whispers.

Kagome
reached her hands up to his face, cupping his cheeks and pulling his
mouth to hover just over hers. She flicked out her tongue across his
lips, savoring his taste before whispering into his mouth. “Now.”

A
growl ripped from his throat, and he sealed their mouths together,
stealing her breath. He moved then, his gentle thrusts shocking her
once again--this time with pleasure. Her back arched, she moaned low
in her throat, and her legs bent slightly, pushing her hips to meet
his. He buried his body as deep into hers as it would go, shuddering
at the incredible sensation, at the unrelenting, intimate clutch of
the soft skin encasing him.

It was
awkward at first; it took them a few minutes to feel out each other’s
pace. But then they were moving together, with an urgency so deep it
drove them both. The pressure, already high to begin with, built
quickly. The sounds issuing from Kagome’s throat grew louder,
more demanding as she clawed at his back and sides, the hard
scratches only adding an edge to his pleasure.

He
buried his face in her neck, his mouth on her skin, the slickness of
their exertion mimicking the wet slide of his length plunging into
her. His hands curled around her slim shoulders. His thrusts grew
harder, faster--whatever gentleness he’d had now forgotten in
the drive for completion. Breathing came in short, gasping bursts,
only drawing in the necessary amount of oxygen to sustain their
momentum.

She
reached it first, peaking with a wail, her nails biting into the skin
of his back, her head thrown back, scattering her hair across the
sheets. He tasted blood, his teeth cutting into his own lip as her
satisfaction quivered and contracted around him in a maddening
caress.

He
pulled her as close as he could, folding his arms around her as his
next few thrusts tumbled him after her into climax. His body quaked
by violent shudders, he released himself into her, completely losing
himself for a just a moment in mindless bliss, breathing wordless
nonsense into her skin.

For a
long while, they were lost in each other’s arms--breathless,
shattered, satiated. They lay tangled together, arms and legs twined,
waiting for some semblance of normal thought to return. Neither cared
to move.

InuYasha
had his head tucked against her neck, fighting a growl of wholly male
satisfaction as he took in her scent. It was altered now, marked by
his essence within her body. She was his--not yet permanently, but
for the moment, enough.

His
nose twitched against her skin, and she gave a drained giggle when it
tickled.

A
slight frown curved his brows. She was completely exhausted. He could
smell it, feel it in the idle stroke of her hands on his back, hear
it in the tempo of her breathing. He was aware she’d been at
the clinic all night--he could detect blood and the sterile, numbing
scent of medicines lingering on her skin.

His
head lifted, and he stared at her, golden eyes anxious. Even in the
darkness, he could see the satisfied flush coloring her features,
and--despite his concern--the beginnings of a smile tugged at his
mouth. His fingers pushed at the damp strands of black clinging to
the sides of her face. “You’re tired.”

“Mmmmm.”
Kagome smiled in return, her fingers brushing over his mouth. “I’m
fine.” She whispered. “Better than fine.” Her
eyelids drooped heavily, and her fingers wandered, tracing his
features. She turned her head to drop a soft kiss on his palm.
“InuYasha…thank you.” Her mouth barely formed the
muted words.

Thank
you. His head bowed again, hair falling
across his face as the thanks seized in his chest. The whisper had
been heartfelt, laced with pure sincerity--and probably underserved.
If only she knew…if only she was aware of how truly dangerous
her life could become. If she knew, would she still thank him then?
Or would she blame him like he blamed himself?

If he
had his way, she’d never find out.

He
stared through the darkness for a moment, then looked up, only to
find her eyes closed. An exasperated sigh left his throat. He shook
his head. She was already half asleep.

Ignoring
her protesting murmur, he withdrew, despite the rather enticing pull
of her inner muscles, and turned her to spoon against him. She
shivered, and he pulled the sheet over both of them before lodging
her back tight to his chest, wrapping his arms securely around her
front. She didn’t even try to fight him, wriggling to get
comfortable and curling her hands around his forearms, cuddling into
his warmth. With a sigh and a few words of mumbled nonsense, she was
asleep, her head tucked against his shoulder.

He
stayed awake for most of the night, solemn eyes contemplating her
form in the darkness. She fit perfectly in his arms, her posture
completely trusting as she slept within them. By accepting him into
her body, she’d accepted him as her protector, and something
deep inside him had eased with the knowledge. She was safe with him,
finally--finally--where
she belonged, and from here on out, with him she would stay.

Contentment
crept through him, catching him by surprise. For once he wasn’t
on edge, senses hyper-focused for any sign of some unknown enemy or
danger. He’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be so
relaxed.

So he
watched her--watched the rise of her chest as she breathed, watched
her eyes move as she dreamed, watched her shift blissfully in her
sleep--until the sky beyond the blinds began to lighten. The
electricity kicked on at some point, and not long after, the faintest
stirrings of life began to sound throughout the building.

Eventually,
he allowed his eyes to close, his body curling protectively around
hers as he joined her in sleep. Peaceful. At ease.

Dreamless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome’s
eyes drifted open lazily and she stared at the spots of sunlight
sprinkled across the ceiling of her bedroom. Early morning. She gave
a single, slow blink, drowsily debating the merits of returning to
sleep. She felt to good to actually get out of bed--heavy, relaxed,
and deliciously weary. Heat cocooned her body, and the warmth bid her
to stay put. She found she agreed, and, amiably, her eyes began to
drift closed again.

Warm
breath stirred her hair, and in response a silent sigh slipped from
her lips. InuYasha…

Her
eyes popped open as the night before sharpened vividly in her mind.
Every moan, every whisper, every action came back in acute detail. A
fierce blush spread over her skin, and her heart gave a heavy thud of
amazement in her chest. Had that really been her? Had that really
just happened?

She
turned her head and encountered the solid flesh of his shoulder. He
lay next to her on his side, his legs tangled around hers under the
sheets. His chest rose and fell in the even flow of sleep, while his
body held her in place. He had one arm wrapped around her to drape
across her stomach, his clawed hand splayed firmly over her hip, the
other thrown across the pillows above their heads. One leg had
slipped between hers, curving around her calf. His head bent close,
his nose practically in her hair.

Even
in his sleep, he was domineering. She couldn’t move even if she
wanted to.

Not
that she was complaining.

Kagome
glanced up, and a smile tilted at her lips. He looked absolutely
adorable. His head rested comfortably in the indent of her favorite
pillow, his beautiful hair spreading out around him, and his ears
twitched involuntarily at random intervals. His eyes were closed, and
his features were lax and peaceful in slumber. He looked so much
younger and more exposed--deceptively harmless--when he slept.

She
bit her lip, gazing thoughtfully at her sleeping hanyou. Carefully,
cautiously, she searched her conscience…but could find no
regrets for last night’s actions in the rational light of day.
She could still remember the abject fear that held her for most of
the night--the soul-deep terror that he would die, and she’d
never see him again. The relief that had swamped her on seeing him
had shocked her with a realization.

He’d
become so important to her.

Somehow--she
couldn’t figure out how, but he had--in the space of only a few
days, he’d managed to earn her trust, her respect, and her…

Her
face cleared and she shied away from the thought. She cared about
him--more than she thought she could care about anyone in only a few
days. Last night, she’d been confronted with the possibility of
losing whatever was growing between them.

No,
she had no regrets.

But
she had a few worries. What now? Now that he’d gotten what he
wanted from her, would he leave her? He was still here now, but that
didn’t mean he would stay. Uncertainty didn’t sit well
with her, and right now she had no idea what to expect.

His
angry, frustrated words from the night before drifted through her
head. What the hell do you think I’ve
been doing? I can’t…. You’re the reason I’m
even here. I’m the one who can’t….

A
smile bloomed, despite her best efforts to curb it. She didn’t
want to acknowledge the way his words made her feel, the thrill they
sent through her. He’d sounded so…desperate. So upset.
So invested.

She
just wished she understood better. What couldn’t he do? What
was he doing? What was
he thinking? What was he refusing to tell her?

What
had prompted him to come after her so single-mindedly?

But
then again…maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe she was
reading to much into the whole situation. Maybe he just…wanted
her.

But if
it was truly that simple, then was there anything to keep him from
walking away? Death, after all, wasn’t the only way that people
could lose each other. She wished she knew for sure so she could
start dealing with it, start bracing.

Still…whatever
he intended, she refused to regret her night with him.

She
sighed, silently so she didn’t wake him, her gaze wandering
from his face to his chest, studying the even planes of muscle and
skin that she had only felt the night before. She’d seen him
without clothes once before, but that had been in the clinical
capacity of his doctor. Now she was free to study him in the more
intimate capacity of--she gave a tiny gulp, her brain still having
trouble wrapping around the concept--a lover.

I
guess Miso won her bet.

His
body was lean and lithe, tightly sculpted, with no excess fat. She
could see the chisel and mold of every muscle, watched them shift and
bunch slightly with each quiet breath. A very nice body, blessed with
youkai strength, healing, and metabolism.

Her
grin was back. Oh well. If you’re going
to do something…

She
noticed a pale, thin line running obliquely through the middle of his
chest, the only remnants of the jagged wound that had almost taken
his life. She frowned at the tiny scar. Youkai didn’t scar at
all unless the wound was very grave. Life-threatening.

Her
fingers reached out and stroked tenderly along the whitish slash. The
scar was completely healed, no tissue raising the skin, the only
indication of a wound the slight difference in color. She could find
no trace of his other scratches, the ones he had received last night.
Absently, she wondered how many other scars he had on his body. The
thought didn’t sit well, and to sooth her mind, she leaned
forward and pressed a feather-light kiss to the mark.

A
rumble sounded in his chest, and she felt the vibrations against her
lips. Startled, she glanced up to meet the languid golden gaze
focused so intently on her. Her breath stopped and she stared, caught
by his expression. The faintest hint of a smile had softened his
mouth, and his eyes revealed equal amounts of relief and warmth as
they searched her features. Gradually, an intimate, comfortable feel
settled into the air around them, and she felt the core of her
anxiety begin to melt away.

At the
same time, she was struck with the realization that--once again--he
had already been awake. Her cheeks pinkened, heightening her color.
She rolled her eyes, but was unable to resist returning her gaze to
his. “You don’t sleep much, do you?”

At her
wry tone, his mouth curved up into a grin--a real
smile, complete with amusement and a slight crinkling at the corners
of his eyes. He propped his head up in the palm of his free hand.
“Youkai, remember? I’m not nearly as weak as you.”

Again,
she was caught by his look. The smile, combined with the free, easy
manner, stunned her. She’d yet to see him so completely
unguarded. She had a feeling he never was.

She
felt her own mouth tug upward in response. He had such a nice smile.
He really should do it more often.

He
blinked slowly, the smile fading somewhat as he continued to study
her face. “How are you feeling? Are you alright?”

She
felt her blush deepen, but didn’t look away. “I’m…feeling
very well, thank you.”

A
small frown carved the skin between his brows, his gaze growing
troubled. “I didn’t…hurt you too bad, did I?”

For a
moment, she was surprised by the question. She frowned, concentrating
on her body for a moment. She still hadn’t really moved around
yet, but… “I’m a little sore, I think.” She
admitted. The smile tipped her mouth again. “But not too bad.”

One
golden eye closed and he studied her. He rolled up onto his side, his
hand sliding from her hip to cup her cheek. His head bent, and he
captured her mouth in a slow, chaste kiss. His lips brushed lightly
across hers, caressing sweetly rather than instigating deeper
contact. She felt it, understood it, accepted it for what it was--a
silent apology for any pain he had caused--and was touched by it,
even if she didn’t see the need.

She
hummed with pleasure and her hands spread against his chest. A
thought struck, and she smiled against his mouth as she let her hands
wind around his head, fingers seeking through his hair. They found
their target, and her nails scratched gently along the base of his
ears while her fingertips soothed the thick, soft skin--a repeat of
her actions from the night before.

He
hesitated, then moaned softly, burying his head in the crook of her
neck to give her better access. She hummed again as he allowed his
weight to settle comfortably on top of her, then shrugged her
shoulder at him. “You like that, don’t you? How cute.
Just like a puppy.”

He
growled softly, without heat. “Bitch.” His warm breath
floated the mumbled comment across her skin. The disgruntlement in
his tone prompted a delighted grin, and she bit her lip to hold in a
giggle. She noticed he didn’t object to her
ministrations--rather, his ears canted slightly downward, encouraging
her touch.

The
lay like that for a while--his body practically enfolding hers, his
face in her neck, her arms wrapped snugly around his head--too
content to move.

InuYasha’s ears suddenly perked up, flicking away from her
fingers, swiveling outwards. His body tensed, and his head lifted. He
rumbled. She stared at him, slightly alarmed. “InuYasha?”

“Someone’s
coming.” He twisted and sat in one smooth motion, staring hard
at the partially open door to her bedroom. His eyes narrowed.

Kagome
frowned, unable to understand his concern. “Coming?”

“At
the front door.” He frowned. His ears flicked again, and the
tension in his body suddenly relaxed, his face clearing. “They
have a key.”

Kagome
blinked. “A key?” The clattering sound of a the tumblers
in the lock on her front door confirmed his words. He eyes widened
and she bolted upright, wincing as her body gave a twinge to remind
her of her recent activities. “But the only one who has a key
is--”

They
heard the door open, and a cheery, feminine voice called out
inquiringly. “Kagome?”

“--Mama.”
Her voice dropped to a squeak. Oh, gods! She
can’t find out this way! She glanced in
horror at InuYasha sitting next to her on the bed, apparently
completely unconcerned now that he thought the visitor was no threat.

If
he only knew.

He
flopped lazily back onto the mattress. “Keh. It’s just--”

She
jumped at him, slapping her hands over his mouth, glaring fiercely.
“Don’t you dare!” She practically hissed the words
at him. She glanced around frantically. Her bedroom was a small
square that basically only held her bed, and a small dresser and
mirror over by the window. There really wasn’t anyplace to
hide. She supposed she could just stick InuYasha under the bed,
or…out the window! He could survive a measly two-story drop.
She’d seen him jump
higher than that.

He was
staring over her hands with creased brows, baffled and slightly put
out at her actions.

She’d
waited too long to answer. “Kagome,” Mama sounded
uncertain now, hesitant. “Kagome…are you…here?”
A step sounded on the wooden floorboards as her mother started down
the hallway.

The
extremely short
hallway.

No
time. His clothes were scattered around her bedroom, and she couldn’t
just send him out the window naked, could she? She glared another
warning at InuYasha to stay quiet. His eyes glared back, objecting to
her hands over his mouth.

“Mama!
I’m here…I was just…” Playing
with my hanyou lover’s ears. She
cringed at the errant thought, glancing around the room again.
“…sleeping.”

The
closet! It was against the wall opposite the window, and they
wouldn’t have to pass in front of the door--the
open
door, damnit!--to get to it. She wasted no
time grabbing hold of one of his precious ears, yanking him up and
towards the edge of the bed. Annoyance flashed in his eyes, and he
protested, the sound muffled by the hand still pressed over his
mouth. The slight huff earned him yet another
death glare.

“Oh,
Kagome,” Mama’s voice sounded relieved. Her voice was
getting clearer as she moved down the hallway. “I thought
something was wrong. Especially after last night--”

“Uhhh,
Mama.” Kagome broke in, panicked. She had to stop her mother
from coming into the room. “Why don’t you--” Her
feet hit the floor, and she grimaced as real pain shot through her
stiff muscles, gripping the edge of the bed to brace herself.
InuYasha was beside her instantly, his arm slipping around her waist.
His expression was absolutely priceless--some bizarre mixture of
bewilderment, concern, and irritation. She would have burst into
helpless laughter if her mother hadn’t been about to walk in
the door.

To
find her daughter standing with a strange, dog-eared man. In the
middle of her bedroom. Naked. Eep!

“Kagome?”
She sounded just outside the door.

“Mama,
would you put on the tea, please?!” Kagome tugged desperately
at his arm, taking the two steps to the closet, and sliding the door
open. “I’ll be just a minute.” She gestured inside.
He balked, glaring at her in disbelief. She gave him her blackest
look, and shoved. Scowling, he allowed himself to be pushed into the
closet, batting her clothes out of his way.

He
popped his head back out of the open closet door, but had the sense
to keep his voice low. “Why the hell do I have to get in here?”

She
pushed his head back in. “Are you insane?! Be quiet or she’ll
hear you!” She kept her voice just below a whisper, well aware
that with his senses he could hear her perfectly.

“So?”

“So
she’ll find out!”

“So?”

“So
that would be bad!”

“Why?!”
He looked offended.

“Ooooh!”
She shoved at him again. “Just stay here until I can get her to
leave!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“I’m
not hiding in a closet!”

They
glared at each other through the closet door, neither willing to
give.

“Kagome,
where did you put the tea?”

Kagome
gave an exasperated sigh, relieved to hear her mother in the kitchen.
“In the cupboard next to the sink!”

Her
eyes narrowed impatiently at InuYasha. “Why don’t you
just…oh--” Frustration curled her hands into fists as
her eyes fell on his ears. “--osuwari!”

She
didn’t know why she did it; she didn’t know why she used
the command specifically reserved for dogs instead of what she would
normally say to a guest. It had been completely impulse, almost an
instinct. The word had simply popped into her head and directly out
of her mouth--and the moment she said it, she regretted it.

Her
hand clapped over her mouth as she stared, eyes completely
apologetic. How insensitive could she be? It was probably one of the
most insulting things she could say to him, and…

…And
his reaction wasn’t exactly expected. He flinched, jerking away
from her and into the back of her closet, slamming into the wall,
shock washing over his features. She blinked at him in surprise.
“Ehh…”

“Kagome?
What was that sound? Are you ok?”

“Fine,
Mama. But…” Her gaze turned beseeching. “Please,
InuYasha--just for a little while, just until she’s gone.”

He
scowled again. Then he dropped to the floor, folding into a sitting
position at the back of her closet. She spared him a brief smile
before she grabbed an old robe off a hanger and dashed away from the
closet.

She
caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she wrapped herself in
the cloth, and froze, groaning quietly. I
can’t see Mama like this--she’ll know!
She bit her lip, glancing back at the closet door, quickly debating
the pros and cons. “Mama? You don’t mind if I take a
quick shower, do you? I…didn’t get one after work last
night.”

“Of
course not, dear. Take your time.” Mama’s genial tone
rang clearly from the kitchen. “I’ll have the tea ready
when you get out.”

Kagome
sighed and rushed for the bathroom. Take her time? She took one last
glance at her bedroom, before she shut the door behind her. Not
likely. She just prayed that InuYasha stayed
put, and that Mama didn’t get the urge to straighten her room.
The last thing she needed was a naked hanyou greeting her mother in
any part of her
apartment.

Now
there was a terrifying
image.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He sat
against the corner of the closet, his arm propped on a drawn-up knee,
scowling blackly. His ears swiveled slightly, listening to the sounds
in the apartment. Kagome scurried frantically about the bathroom,
while her mother puttered about at a much more sedate pace in the
kitchen, preparing the tea.

His
jaw clenched, and his teeth ground impatiently. Humph.
Who the hell does she think she is, sticking me in here? This is
stupid. There’s no reason for me to stay in here.

But if
he left the closet…a fleeting vision of her in a full-blown
temper tantrum caused a brief, involuntary wince. Shit.
Why should I care if she gets mad?

His
ears sank, and he slumped sulkily against the corner. Kagome was
scary when she was angry. His hand moved to his neck, rubbing over
the naked skin, assuring himself that it remained
naked. Osuwari his ass. What in the world had prompted her to….

He
scowled again. He wasn’t her pet, damnit! Feh.
Stupid woman.

Her
shower had to be the shortest on record. If he had to guess, he’d
say the spray of running water only lasted about three minutes total.
He heard the shower go off and after thirty seconds of renewed
frantic movements, the bathroom door opened, and her bare feet padded
lightly down the hall.

He
listened with half-hearted interest as she greeted her mother
breathlessly in the kitchen. “Mama! It’s so good to see
you. Umm…what are you doing here so early in the morning?”

“Oh,
Kagome. I’m so glad you’re ok. How are you doing? After
we didn’t hear from you last night, I just had to come by to
see if you were all right. So many people dead, and so close to you!
We were all worried to death about you.” Kagome’s mother
had a pleasant voice, with a warm, even tone that suggested a rare
ease and tranquility with life.

“Ahhhhh…the
rogue that attacked
last night,” Kagome’s voice held trace amounts of relief.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call, but I had to pull an
extra shift at the clinic. The hospital sent some of the overflow
victims to us. It was horrible. Some of the injures were…very
severe.” She paused for a moment. “We were busy most of
the night. Forgive me, Mama. I meant to call, but I didn’t even
get off until after three this morning.”

“Oh,
Kagome. You must have been exhausted.”

“Terribly,”
Kagome agreed, her voice laced with just a bit too much sincerity. “I
just came home, and…um…fell…into bed.”

He
snorted quietly.

“Oh,
you poor dear. It sounds like you had a rough night. Here, have some
more tea.” The sound of water filling a cup. “You’ve
always worked so hard, Kagome. I don’t know how many mornings
during high school that I found you sleeping at your desk. And Kami
only knows where you slept during most of university.”

A
quick, involuntary grin tugged at his lips. Long-time
habit, huh?

“I
used to worry that you work too
hard, Kagome. I still do.” A considering pause. “Well, at
least you got an excellent night’s sleep. You look very lively
this morning. You’re practically glowing.”

Kagome
choked and coughed.

“Sip,
don’t gulp, dear. You’ll burn yourself that way.”

Heh.
InuYasha smirked. This
is more interesting than I thought it’d be.

“Are
you sure you’re ok, Kagome? All that terror and destruction
last night happened so close to you. Your Jii-chan couldn’t
pull himself away from the television last night. They’re
saying this morning that the damage and loss of life is at least
equal to last year’s earthquake in Kyoto.” Her mother
gave a little sigh. “These rogue attacks are getting so
serious lately. It never used to be like this when you were younger.
These days everyone has to be so careful when they go out. What about
that orphanage you’re so fond of, Kagome? Is everyone alright
over there? How is little Shippo?”

His
eyebrows quirked. Kagome’s mother knew the brat?

Kagome
sighed. “He’s fine, Mama. Everyone escaped any physical
damage, and the rogue never got out of Roppongi, so the orphanage was
never in any danger. But the wounded they sent to us…oh Mama,
it really was terrible. I’ve never seen so much blood and
destruction in one place. It was all we could do to help the wounded
at the clinic.” InuYasha frowned at the weariness in her tone.
His head leaned back against the wall, his ears twisting.

“Oh,
Kagome.” Clothes rustled slightly. “We’re so proud
of you for doing what you’re doing. Just be careful dear, and
remember that your Jii-chan and I both worry about you. It’s a
relief to know you’re alright. And make sure to relax--it’s
an excellent thing to help people, but I don’t want you making
yourself sick.”

“Thank
you , Mama. Don’t worry too much about me. I have the rest of
the day off because I worked so much yesterday. I’ll get plenty
of rest, I promise.”

Several
moments of idle female chatter followed, and InuYasha quickly lost
interest. He began to wonder how long she expected him to stay in her
closet.

“Oh,
and Kagome, what about that charming youkai friend of yours--Kouga,
was it? He’s a hunter, isn’t he? Did he get hurt in the
fighting? They said that subduing the rogue took most of the Alliance
hunters.”

His
ears perked, and his top lip curled in reaction to the name. Kagome’s
mother knew Kouga?
How the hell…? A
loud growl slipped out, and he barely suppressed the urge to storm
from the closet.

In the
kitchen, he heard Kagome gasp.

“Kagome?
What was that sound?”

Oops.

“Umm…”
She let out a nervous laugh. “It’s probably just some
silly dog somewhere. I think a few of the neighbors have pets.”

Silly
dog!?

“Oh.
Of course. These places have such thin walls. It’s a wonder you
don’t hear more of what goes on. It’s an eavesdroppers
paradise.”

Shocked
silence descended over the kitchen. Another smirk tugged at his mouth
as he imagined her stillness, her horrified expression as she
realized the implications of her mother’s words. He could
practically smell her mind working, going over the night before; he
knew exactly what she was remembering, because he was remembering it
too.

“You…”
Her voice squeaked. “You think so, Mama?”

“Oh
yes. It’s a good thing you’re not terribly loud, or your
neighbors would be listening to every conversation you’ve ever
had--whether they wanted to or not.”

She
groaned, loud enough for her mother to hear.

“Kagome?
Are you sure you’re all right, dear?”

He bit
his tongue to hold in his snicker.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She
managed to get her mother out of the apartment fairly quickly, which
was a surprise, because usually her mother stayed for longer chats
when she dropped by for a visit. But she stood as soon as her tea was
gone, declaring that she had several errands to run that morning,
despite the wide-spread destruction, and that she had just come to
make sure her only daughter had survived the disastrous night intact.

Kagome
closed the door after her mother and leaned back against it, relieved
and a little guilty. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to
talk with her mother--she did, just not in front of InuYasha. And
getting caught would have been bad. The last thing she’d needed
this morning was questions and fuss from her mother--not to mention
what InuYasha would be put through.

He
deserved to suffer through her mother’s scrutiny for that
growl, though. She frowned, heading for her room. “InuYasha!”

He met
her in the doorway, scowling himself, still completely and
unabashedly naked. “Why did I have to spend that last twenty
minutes in a fucking closet?” His eyes flashed, then narrowed.
“And just how the hell
does your mother know that bastard?!”

Unimpressed,
she narrowed her eyes right back and poked a finger at his bare
chest. “You--”

The
keyhole in the front door jiggled again. Immediately panicked, Kagome
flattened both palms and shoved hard. She caught him by surprise, and
he lost his balance, hitting the floor inside her bedroom with a thud
just as her mother poked her head through the door again.

“Oh,
Kagome. I almost forgot. I threw out your clothes--I hope that’s
ok. I would have tried to mend them for you, but they were shredded
beyond any reasonable repair. You really shouldn’t leave them
lying in the entryway like that, dear. Anyone could find them there.”
Kagome’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. Her mother’s
lips twitched. “It’s a such shame, too. All that pretty
lace is completely ruined.”

Kagome
stared at her mother in horror, her face instantly cherry tomato red.
No. My clothes from last night!
“Uhhhh…”

“Tell
your friend hello for me. I’ve put his sword in the living
room, just in case he was wondering. The entryway is most definitely
not the place for such
a dangerous weapon. Oh, and your purse does not belong in the hallway
outside your front door--I don’t care how distracted you are.

“Now
I really do have to go, but I hope you enjoy your day off, dear.
Remember, though, you promised to relax. Bring your friend for dinner
sometime soon, Kagome. We’d all love to meet him.” With a
gentle, twinkling smile, her mother left, closing the door behind
her.

Kagome
stood in frozen dismay for an instant. Then she turned, squeezing her
eyes shut, and banging her forehead lightly against the doorjamb. No.
That did not
just happen. My mother
did not just find out about…this…from
the ruined clothes in my hallway. She
groaned, then whirled a glare on the hanyou who watched her warily
from the edge of her bed.

“This
is all your fault!”

“What’s
all my fault?!”

She
advanced on him, meeting his scowl with one of her own. “You’re
the one who destroyed
my clothes last night. If you had just taken them off like a normal
person, my mother wouldn’t have found them this morning!
Gods--how am I supposed to face her after this?”

“How
the hell should I know?” His scowl was defensive. “What’s
the big deal? She’d have found out eventually, anyway.”

“Not
like this!” Her fist hit her thigh. “Ooooh! What am I
supposed to say to her?”

“So
how do they know each other?”

She
paused, blinking at him. “What?”

“Kouga
and your mother?”

She
stared at him in disbelief. “Kouga? Don’t tell me you’re
still worried about Kouga?!”
When he just glared at her, she looked around for something to throw.
The only things anywhere nearby were his jeans, so she plucked them
up and hurled them at him as hard as she could.

He
caught them with an indignant “hey!”

Kagome
was already looking around for something else to throw.
“Unbelievable! I’ve spent more time with you in the past
five days than I’ve
spent with him in the past three months,
and you have the nerve to be jealous!” She started to storm
past him, intending to go for her alarm clock. “You’re
sitting on my bed,
completely--”

She
gave a startled gasp as his hand reached out and grabbed her wrist,
yanking her off balance so that she landed flat-backed on the bed.
She stared, wide-eyed, as he twisted to hover over her, his hands
planting firmly into the thick mattress on either side of her head.
“First off, I’m not jealous of that flea-bitten moron.”

“Yeah,
right.” Too bad her voice didn’t sound nearly as firm as
she wanted it too.

He
ignored her, an interesting, almost mischievous gleam in his eyes and
an insufferable arrogance in his tone. “And second, it’s
only natural for you to spend time with me. You belong with me.”

Her
heart gave a little jump, and she swallowed. “Oh, really?”

“Of
course.” He said it like it something the simplest child could
understand. His eyes narrowed. “Now how does your mother know
Kouga?”

Obediently,
she opened her mouth to tell him, then stopped to consider. A sly
smile curved her lips. “I’m not going to tell you.”

“What?!”

Stubbornly--still
smiling--she shook her head. “You’ll just have to
wonder.”

His
narrowed look didn’t waver, and he stared at her for a long
moment. Then his shoulders noticeably relaxed, and his head dropped a
little lower. “Fine. I’ll get it out of you eventually
anyway.”

She
raised her eyebrows in question. “And how do you plan to do
that?”

“You
have the day off--I heard you tell your mother. You’re spending
it with me.” He smirked. “Maybe we can give your
neighbors something more than their stupid dog
to talk about.”

“I
didn’t say
stu--”

She never really got to
finish her protest.
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Waiting on a Wish