Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Sloppy Seconds	By : CutiePieHentai Category: InuYasha > General Views: 23931 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 31
- 32
- 33
A/N: You all are phenomenal! WOW! In less than a week, I got over 100 reviews!!! Thank you guys sooo much- that brought a genuine smile to my face. And Sloppy Seconds has been nominated again by the IY Fanguild, this time for Inu/Kag Romance! Thanks, quirkslayer, for the nomination (readers, check out �Passion Needs A Straight Jacket� by quirkyslayer- funny, fluffy, and angsty Kag/Inu/Kou love triangle. Good stuff.). Oh�and for those who noticed and asked- the Monty Python reference was COMPLETELY intentional. I can�t ever see Sesshomaru without thinking of the Black Knight skit. Again, me and my twisted sense of humor.

Please bear in mind, before you judge Kikyo in this chapter as OOC, I am playing off of eps after 150- she actually shows some other sides and she is less vindictive and spiteful. Also, I popped a few quotes in here from episodes 47 & 48� Remember how mad you all were when Inuyasha met with Kikyo and �rushed into her waiting arms�? Well, now you will have your answers.

The Kamis said, �Let there be Fluff.� And it was good.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome�s eyes opened to a misty vision of a man and woman near a fallen log in a forest clearing, locked in a lover�s embrace. She tried to look away, tried to turn her head, avert her eyes, lift her feet. She even tried to open her mouth to alert them of her presence. She couldn�t.

It was like watching a train wreck or a poorly made horror film. Her eyes were drawn to the scene. Try as she might to look at something else, anything else but them, her body betrayed her and she was forced to watch as Kikyo wrapped her arms around Inuyasha and he nestled his head against her bosom, kneeling at her feet.

Kikyo gently ran her hand over Inuyasha�s silver mane soothingly and whispered, the hanyou�s ears flicking towards the sound. The movement of her lips were visible to Kagome, but the words lost in the night. Inuyasha looked up at Kikyo and cupped her face in his hand as he nodded.

The winds shifted and their words began to carry to Kagome.

�Kikyo, why?�

She seemed bemused by his question and sighed like a parent repeating a simple subject to an uncomprehending child, �Is it not what you want?�

He nodded again, rising to his feet and joining her on the log that was her seat.

�Inuyasha, things have changed. I have changed. And I have come to realize many things in my travels. The life that I had, once, was to live as the protector of the Shikon, to live as the priestess of my village. For you, I would have given up those responsibilities. For you, I would have been a normal woman,� She remained calm and expressionless as Inuyasha squirmed uncomfortably beside her, �That was not my fate. The intent of those walking the earth after death is to regain life. Real life. But it is not possible. The existence that I lead is not living and I will choose to leave this earth after I see Naraku�s demise.�

�How�after the times when you have tried to hurt her�how do I know that she will be safe?�

�You are asking if you can trust me. It matters naught if you trust me. Ask Kaede. She will tell you that I will be unable to harm her.�

Inuyasha tensed at her accusatory tone, guilty for doubting her yet again, but nodded as she continued, her tone subdued and introspective, �The trees that grow on the shore, in the crags of the high rising cliffs, are bombarded by high winds and inhospitable conditions. They are buffeted by the unceasing winds of time. Those that do not yield invariably splinter and break under the maelstrom. But those that submit to the elements, those that bend, in time are shaped into beautiful bonsai.

�A wife, a mother, offers herself with her hands as she prepares rice balls for her family. When molded gently it forms into the nourishment and embodiment of her love for them. But if it is forced, the grains do not conform. The shape crumbles before it is even created.

�The bridge that crosses the ravine, sways gently over the raging river. Even the greatest gale does not break it from its anchorings. Yet, were it steadfast and immobile, unyielding, it would be torn to pieces by the slightest breeze.

�In life, I was too rigid, too unwilling to bend, too unable to be swayed. I did not change. I could not. I would not. That is why I was so easily overcome.

�Once, she and I had become trapped in a cave by a youkai that devoured mikos. I was weakened without my shimandachi, but instead of escaping, as she could have with her strength, she refused to leave my side. When we were finally free, I asked why she had been so selfless. She smiled and simply said that I would be missed. She implied that you would miss me. I knew that she cared deeply for you and she could have easily left me there. .I would have been gone and she would have been free to win your heart. No one would have been the wiser. I cannot say that I would have done as she.�

Inuyasha looked at Kikyo in shock, �She�she never told me.�

�I expected she would not.

�When she healed me after Naraku�s miasma dealt me a lethal blow, she reasoned that she did it out of instinct; that if she could, it was her responsibility to save another. I never thanked her.

�Her powers exceed even my abilities. At times, I envied her. I was jealous that that which I had worked so hard for, came so naturally to her. She was able to heal your heart as I had hoped to do, had I lived. Even in that, I would have failed. I was selfish. I wanted your humanity, for you to give up half of yourself for me, but her purity is in her ability to see beyond, to overlook, to accept. Her power lies in her very nature, ingrained in her being.

�She changes, as do you. Even now, even knowing, I cannot. But for this one thing.�

Kikyo took Inuyasha�s hand in hers and brought it to her face, �I will ask again. Is it not what you want?�

�Hai.� Inuyasha�s shoulders slumped, ashamed.

�Will you answer a question and promise me one more thing?�

He nodded.

Kikyo kissed his cheek gently before rising and looking into the surrounding forest. Her back still to him, she asked, �Do you love her?�

Inuyasha hesitated then whispered, �� Hai. With all that I am.�

�With all of your being? All of your heart? What of your love for me?�

�I am sorry, Kikyo. You were� are� a good friend. You were the first person� to talk to me� to care for me. I will always carry you with me. I will always think of you. But, we were not meant to be� Not as a man and a woman. You were right. I trust because of her. I� am comfortable. She accepts me as I am. No more. No less.�

Kikyo seemed satisfied by his answer, �Then it is as it should be... Once the red string of fate has been broken, it cannot be rejoined�You must now make me your promise.�

�What would you have me promise you? I will not cause her pain, my life is already forfeit��

�No� You must promise me that you will be happy.�

�What?�Happy?� He asked, the word rolling off of his tongue as if it were foreign.

�Yes, happy.�

Inuyasha thought for a moment and stared at the stars, his voice wistful and longing, �If she will have me, I will be happy. And I will spend the rest of my days making her happy.�

Kikyo nodded and returned to him, pulling him into a final farewell, �You asked me why� It is because I know, if she were in my place, it is what she would do� I must leave now to prepare for the upcoming battle with Naraku. Inuyasha,� She released him and looked into his eyes, � When Naraku is defeated, I will return the rest of Kagome�s soul to her. And I release you from your debt to me. You are free. Your life is your own.�

Mist clouded her vision again and Kagome�s eyes grew heavy. Suddenly drowsy, her eyes slid shut.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome awoke to amber eyes.

Inuyasha grinned slightly and adjusted her in his arms so that she was at eye level with him, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, �You�re awake.�

She was almost concerned with the tenderness in his voice. It was softer than she had ever heard before. Gentle. So very gentle. Kagome�s heart beat within her chest, the memory of Inuyasha and Kikyo fresh in her mind. She focused her gaze on the beads around his neck and nodded, still trying to make sense of everything.

�Kikyo is gone. Your soul is whole again.�

Kagome looked again to his eyes, afraid to see the sorrow that they would hold, but instead found relief, contentment� hope? She nodded again.

�Did she show you?�

Kagome�s head motion confirmed in the positive again.

Inuyasha could see that she was still dazed and chuckled at her, �Oi, wench, can�t you talk?�

There was the hanyou she had grown to love.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she shook her head.

Inuyasha noticed the change in her demeanor and raised a clawed hand, a smirk on his lips, �I have ways of making you talk, wench.�

Kagome shook her head again, her lips turning up while biting her cheek to keep from giggling.

His descended upon her and, with a flick of his wrist, had her squirming against him, trying to withhold her laughter as he tickled her stomach.

When she could take no more, she gasped and finally giggled, �Inuyasha, stop, stop. Stop!� His ears flicked playfully but he relented.

As her laughter died down and her breathless pants mellowed, Inuyasha sobered a bit and asked hesitantly, �Could you� do you mind�telling me what she showed you?�

Kagome reached up and curled a lock of his silver hair around her finger, �She showed me the last time that you went to see her in the woods, just before the battle.�

Realization dawned in his eyes and a blush sprang to his cheeks. He coughed uncomfortably and looked away, �I, um, asked her, if she could� since she knows I always fuck these things up.�

�Ahh.�

The crickets around them chirped, filling the companionable silence. Drawing a deep breath, he caught her hand, still idly playing with his hair, in his. Kagome watched as his eyes slid over her, from her eyes to her nose, resting on her lips. Finding her mouth suddenly parched, her tongue snaked out to wet her lips. His eyes followed her movements and her heart skipped a beat from the intensity in his gaze. Slowly, his head leaned towards hers and Kagome�s eyes slid shut as his lips covered hers.

They joined languidly, each tasting and savoring the other, with no force, no restraint, and no rush. They kissed slowly but heatedly, gently but passionately. This time, there were no worries, no threats looming on the horizon, and all of the time in the world. It was a first kiss. A kiss of a new beginning that spoke of all of love that they shared. A kiss that relinquished the bonds on all of the things that they had held such tight rein on. One of her hands clutched his haori tightly as the other tangled in his hair. One of his hands cupped her cheek gently as the other held the back of her head. Inuyasha nibbled on Kagome�s lip as the kiss ended and both pulled away breathless.

Inuyasha slid his hands down to Kagome�s waist hugged her against him. He nuzzled her neck and sighed in contentment, �Well, since you seem to always be griping about wanting a bath, there�s a hot spring nearby.�

Kagome disentangled herself from him and sat up, squealing and clapping her hands, �Really?�

�Do you have to be so noisy about it, bitch?� Inuyasha�s ears flatted against his head and he scowled at her.

She matched his scowl with a pout and smacked his chest, �Well, why do you always have to call me bitch?�

Rising to his feet with her in his arms, Inuyasha chuckled and dropped from the tree they were perched in, �We�ve got some things to talk about. I�ll explain after you have a bath, okay?� He wrinkled his nose at her and teased, �You smell.�

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him but wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his chest, as he carried her to the spring he had mentioned. She relaxed against him, savoring his nearness and his scent. When he arrived at his destination, he set her to her feet and she inspected the spring.

The water did look inviting, reminding her of the ache in her muscles and the grime in her clothes and on her skin from the battle with Naraku. �Naraku� he�s really dead�� Instinctively, her hand went to her neck to fondle the small vial of shards there. Inuyasha saw her and reached into his sleeve, pulling out the large portion of the orb she had retrieved from Naraku, �Here.� He held the jewel out to her. She touched it timidly at first, her fingers only brushing the surface, but at Inuyasha�s nod, her hand slipped around the jewel and she took it into her fist.

Pulling the shards from around her neck, she shook the vial�s contents into her hand and cupped both palms around the pieces. A burst of light glimmered around her. As the light died away, she opened her hands and stared in awe. The Shikon no Tama was complete once again.

Silently, she held out the jewel to Inuyasha, but he shook his head, �You keep it.�

�But� this is what you worked so hard for. It�s yours,� she whispered, half afraid of what he would do if he did take it.

Inuyasha turned his back to her and stuck his hands in his sleeves, �Feh. You hold onto it for now� until I�m ready to make my wish.�

�You�� Her arms dropped to her sides, �You know what you�re going to wish for?�

Her response was a snort, �If you don�t hurry up, I might change my mind about this whole bath thing�� She didn�t press further and quickly shrugged out of her clothes while Inuyasha remained with his back to her. Kagome stepped into the water, Inuyasha following her movements with his ears. She moved to the center of the pool, lowering herself into the warmth up to her chin, and reclined against a boulder, shutting her eyes. The heat soothed her tired muscles but she still felt dirty, �Mmmm,� She sighed, �This is� heavenly� I just wish I�d thought to grab my backpack.�

�Why?�

The voice was close, too close, and her eyes snapped open to find Inuyasha standing a few feet in front of her. In the water. Apparently, as naked as she. She hadn�t hear the rustle of fabric as he dropped his garments on the shore, hadn�t noticed the ripple of water as he silently made his way to her. Her cheeks heated in embarrassment, �Um� for my soap and washcloth,� she stammered, unable to keep her voice from cracking.

He smirked and took a step closer to her.

Her eyes wandered over his chest, the steam rising from the water reflecting the moon�s rays and shrouding him in an ethereal glow. He caught her open scrutiny and closed the distance, now within arms reach of her. Kagome looked away, still embarrassed. Sure, they had shared a bath before, but this time she could see him.

Inuyasha hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face to his. His voice husky, he caressed her trembling lips with his thumb, �Kagome� may I� wash you?� He raised his other hand out of the water, producing her requested soap and washcloth.

Kagome whimpered and nodded as the flush on her cheeks increased.

Never taking his eyes from hers, Inuyasha lathered the soap in the cloth and reached across her to set it on the boulder. His eyes were molten, devouring, scorching. A shiver snaked up her spine. Slowly, painstakingly, Inuyasha ran the washcloth across her neck and down her collarbone, stopping just before the swell of her breast. He lifted one of her arms and bathed from her shoulder to her hand, his claws tickling her palm, then repeated the other side. The tenderness in his actions mixed with the coarse cloth singed her skin, every nerve in every inch awakened with his touch. His hand dipped below the water and her stomach tightened as he continued there, stilling his movements and torturing her when he stopped below her bosom and above the curls at the apex of her legs. He seemed to relish the sweet agony she was in as he avoided any area of her body that would move his actions from purely innocent to something more carnal. With one hand behind her knee, he lifted her leg and proceeded to clean that as well, then its twin. Gently turning her, he simultaneously washed and massaged her back.

For a brief moment, she felt his presence disappear from behind her, but he was back again before she could turn around. After the snap of a bottle opening, his claws were in her hair, the scent of her strawberry shampoo cradling them as he massaged her scalp in circles. Kagome could not hold back a throaty moan at the relaxing, yet erotic, feel of it. Inuyasha placed his arm across the small of her back and dipped her backwards, rinsing out the length and cupping his hand to lift water to rinse her crown.

Gently setting her to her feet again, he ran his fingers through her hair and brushed his lips across hers, before stepping back. Both remained silent, simply enjoying the touch and sight and feel of each other, silent seduction that did not need words.

Kagome caught his wrist and stepped towards him, her eyes now mimicking his predatory gleam. She wanted to feel him, every inch of him. She grabbed the soap and rubbed it in her palms, returning it to its place on the rock. Her hands repeated his movements, tracing the contours of his neck and shoulders. Her chest pressed against his as she leaned into him, running her hands down the length of both of his arms. Pulling back with a smug look of her own, her fingers, slippery and slick with the soap, grazed over his chest and abdomen, the muscles bunching with each pass. Having dressed his wounds so many times did nothing to quell the satisfaction she felt as her fingertips grazed the near flawless skin. She, too, ignored his more sensitive areas, prolonging the teasing in retribution for his actions with her. As she washed each leg, she kneaded the muscles in his thighs and rolled her thumbs along the balls of his feet, a tantric trick she�d read in a girlie magazine somewhere. She was rewarded when his eyes rolled into their sockets and his head lolled back, a vein in his neck pulsing as his blood quickened. He yielded to her guidance as she urged him to turn and ran her hands over his back and down to his glutes. She scraped her nails along the length of his spine and buttocks, the sharp hiss of a breath indication that she had succeeded in rattling him.

Kagome squeezed a fair amount of shampoo into her palm and worked the lather into his thick hair. A rumble erupted, further attesting that he, too, was not immune to the scrape of her nails on his scalp or the gentle caress of her thumbs on his ears. She did not think she could manage to rinse his hair as he had done hers, so when she finished her delicate ministrations to his head, Inuyasha flattened his ears to keep water out and leaned himself back to remove the suds.

For a moment they stood, still, gazing deep into each other�s eyes. Inuyasha leaned forward and kissed her temple lightly and placed her back against the boulder. The water had still covered them throughout the interlude and he took her modesty into account as he whispered in her ear and stepped away, �Koi, relax here for a few minutes while I get out, okay?�

Kagome nodded dumbly, still in a breathless haze from the electric tingle throughout her body and in shock from his endearment. As he neared the edge of the spring and the water receded, revealing more of his physique, Kagome screwed her eyes shut. She listened as the sounds of movement in the water were replaced by footfalls on the shore before opening them again, relaxing and savoring the calm that had seeped throughout her entire being.

Inuyasha quickly dried and dressed in his pants, opting to leave his under kimono and kaori off until they could be cleaned of Naraku�s stench. He retrieved his pack and replaced the dirty clothes Kagome had left on the ground with a fresh kimono and two fluffy towels, before walking farther from the spring to give his miko some space to dry and dress.

�Kagome?� He called out to her hidden form, �I�m going to be on the other side of those boulders so you can get out.�

�Thanks�� She returned.

Kagome was remiss to leave the soothing comfort of her bath, but the heat was beginning to make her light headed so she headed towards the shore. �Damn. I didn�t bring anything to change into. I�m gonna have to put my dirty�� Her thoughts were cut short when she spied the pile of fabric where her clothes had been. �What? Where did�� She dried off and wrapped the extra towel into a turban around her hair, then picked up the folded silk and shook out the garment.

She gasped at the beauty of it. Soft green silk shimmered in the moonlight, silver embroidery accenting the edges and frog clasps. More silver was woven into an impossibly intricate pattern on the kimono, swirls and tendrils of thread dancing across the fabric like banks of fog. The detail reminded her of the appearance of her aura when it snaked and curled along the ground. It was a modern kimono, for which she was grateful as she had little experience tying obis, with short cap sleeves, and she quickly fastened the buttons, then set off to find her hanyou.

Once again, he surprised her. As she rounded the pile of boulders on one side of the hot sprigs, she noticed a flicker of light. It was not so steady or so bright as to be from a fire, and as she drew nearer, she saw candles, dozens upon dozens of candles. They were strewn among the rocks as she passed and others lay surrounding a blanket on the ground. In the middle of the blanket, bare chested and magnificent, sat Inuyasha.

His head was raised, looking at the heavens, and a gentle breeze played with his hair. She stood speechless as she drank in the sight of him, finally drawing his attention with a flick of his ears when she murmured, �Beautiful.�

Inuyasha turned towards her and returned her sentiment at the vision she created in the kimono. Standing, he offered his hand to her, calling her to him. Kagome blushed and moved to join him, taking his hand in hers and allowing him to help her to the ground so that she could sit beside him. He pulled out a box of chocolate covered cherries and handed them to her.

Kagome grinned brightly at the box, opening it and offering him one, then taking one for herself, �Guess this means we have some talking to do now, huh?�

�Feh.� He bit into his cherry, savoring it as he had the first time she shared them with him.

�Inuyasha, where did?� She motioned to her new clothes.

�They were from your mother. She asked me to give them to you.�

�Huh? She did?�

He nodded and looked back at the stars, �She, uh, gave me your two-sew and told me to give it you when you needed it.�

Kagome puzzled for a moment. �Two-sew?� She gasped, her heart thundering in her ears, �You mean my trousseau?�

�Feh.�

�But�that�s for��

Inuyasha placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. �First off, you said you wanted to know why I call you bitch sometimes.�

She nodded, his finger still on her mouth.

�Well, I am half-dog demon. An inu youkai�s mate is a bitch.�

Kagome cocked her head to one side and pulled his finger away, �But you�ve always��

He nodded.

�Oh�� Butterflies sprang up in her stomach at the realization, a giddy happiness filling her. She smirked and muttered to herself, �Guess Sesshomaru was right, after all.�

Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow but didn�t press further. He took her hand and intertwined her fingers with his. Inhaling a calming breath, he steeled himself, returning his gaze to the sky. In spite of everything, even knowing that she had professed her love to him, had asked for his love in return, he could not help the gnawing iciness that settled in gut, �Kagome� now that this is done� what will you do?�

�That depends,� She hesitated, her own insides in knots, �Will� will you still become a full demon?�

Inuyasha scowled, �Baka! Of course not. Those times I transformed showed me what I would be like if I did that� I would live for nothing but killing. I might even kill you. No, I don�t want that any more. Besides, you�re the one who keeps whining that I�m fine like this.�

She smiled at the concern hidden behind his harsh words, �Do you know what you�re going to wish for?�

He nodded, his face solemn.

�Can you tell me?�

�It�s�a surprise.�

�Okay... I trust you.�

Her words brought the faintest of smiles to his face, �I know you do. I don�t know why you do, sometimes. And� I trust you, too.�

�Well, in that case, I guess what I do will depend on where I am wanted. I mean, I was here as a shard detector, right? �Now that we�re finished, I�m not needed anymore,� Inuyasha winced, but she continued, �Of course, I don�t have much of a life left for me in the modern era�.I� I�d like to stay here. If I knew I wasn�t going to be a� burden� on anyone.�

Gingerly, Inuyasha ran the pad of his thumb along Kagome�s chin, �Kagome, You are wanted.�

Kagome turned watery eyes hopefully to him, � I am? Who� wants� me?�

He rested his forehead against hers, �Shippo, Miroku, Sango�� A single tear slid down her cheek, �Me.�

�You?� She hiccuped.

Inuyasha nodded, �Me.� He gently wiped away the tear and reached into his sleeve, withdrawing a small box and inhaling deeply, �Ashitero, Kagome.� There it was. The one word that she had been waiting so long to hear from his lips. �Will� will you be my mate?� He opened the box, revealing Kagome�s mother�s ring, �Will you be my wife?�

Kagome gaped and stuttered, gazing from the endearing light of hope in Inuyasha�s eyes to the glittering ring in the box, �Isn�t that� a human custom? Do� do demons��

�No. But, I am half human�I�m both� maybe� it�s okay if I do it that way, too? If you want it, you will have it.�

Kagome smiled, the bright glowing smile that melted Inuyasha�s insides, �Hai.�

�Re�really? You would have me? A half-breed? I don�t have much to offer you. I have no lands or wealth. You will probably spend much of your life ridiculed for being with me.�

It occurred to Kagome that, once again, he was as much worrying about her as he was reenforcing the negative thoughts in his own head.

Kagome nodded, reaching up to cradle his cheeks and kissing his nose, �Don�t say that,� she whispered, �You are you. You are Inuyasha. I don�t need lands or things. We can sleep in the trees and catch fish in the stream. Being at your side is enough for me. It has always been enough. And I don�t care what others say, as long as I have you. The man, the hanyou, the youkai, that I love.�

Inuyasha blushed, one fang peeking out of a lopsided grin as he pulled the ring out of the velvet and slipped onto her finger, �I don�t know what I ever did to deserve you.�

�Inuyasha, where did you get this?�

�Your mom.� Kagome�s brows raised, �She told me that this was the ring that she and your father married with. And she wanted you to have it.�

Kagome�s eyes watered as she stared at the band with its tasteful cluster of gems. A simple circle, a symbol, by its design, of an unbroken bond. No beginning and no end. Kagome kissed his chin and looked into his eyes, breathless at the rare, tender expression in them as his fingers caressed her hand, �Inuyasha, I love you, so much. So very much. For so long.�

Her own eyes twinkled with a new light, a giddy happiness coursing through her. She remembered the vision. He had chosen her. Her. He had even told Kikyo. And the miko had essentially given them her blessing. Her soul was complete. He loved her. And she loved him. And now, they would be starting a life together. Finally, nothing was standing in their way, all of the pieces were falling into place. Everything she had waited for, ached for, yearned for, dreamed for, was coming true. She leaned forward and held his face in her hands, pulling him to her and pressing her lips to his. He did not hesitate to respond, holding her tight against him with equal fervor.

When they broke he rested his cheek against her shoulder and buried his nose in her hair, �Not a dream. Please not a dream.� He whispered hoarsely, fervidly, unbridled fear in his voice.

Kagome clutched his hands in hers and shook her head, �No. No. If it is, don�t wake me up.�

Inuyasha dropped her hand and began fidgeting, a slow blush creeping to his cheeks. He cleared his throat, �There are�um�some things I should explain about, with the, um, mating.�

She spread her arms with a flourish, a new happy grin on her face. She was going to be his mate. �Mate. I like the sound of that.� �Explain away.�

�Well, it can be dangerous. And I� don�t want to hurt you.�

She rested a comforting hand on his, �You would never hurt me.�

He shook his head stubbornly, �I have. In the past. Not physically, but I have� I�m sorry.�

�Inuyasha, it�s the past. Now finish before I have to s-i-t you.�

He pouted at her and she had resist the urge to kiss him again for his adorableness. Of course, he probably wouldn�t appreciate that she thought he was adorable. �Feh. Insufferable wenches and their damn sits,� he grumbled. He saw the anticipation in her eyes and sobered, �I mean it. Inu-youkai mate for life. It�s forever.�

�But� you�ll live longer than me. I don�t want you to have be alone again.�

�Remember what I said about mates choosing each other? And how if the female denies the claim, often the male never chooses again?�

She nodded.

�It�s because most die of heartbreak. And when you go, I will no doubt follow.�

�But��

�No buts. I want this. You think I take this lightly?�

The hardness of his eyes told her that he had, indeed, already thought of all of that and willingly accepted the consequences.

�Kagome, without you, I wouldn�t want to be here now. I probably would have died long ago without you by my side. I�d rather have you for a few decades and share your life with you than not have you at all and live for centuries. Understand? I don�t ever want you to think I�d regret this.�

Her voice was soft, �Okay. I just� I want you to be happy.�

He smiled at her, �I know. You make me happy. This mating� when we join,� They blushed at the lurid thoughts that crossed both of their minds for an instant, �Our auras, our souls join, too. It happens so mates know if the other is hurt or in danger. But if you have any doubts, the bond won�t work properly. My youkai is strong and it could hurt you. Or you could purify me. You have to trust me without reservation. And I have to trust you completely.� He placed his hand upon her chest, �I need you to look in here, really look. I don�t want you hurt.�

Kagome confidently met his gaze, his eyes pleading and searching hers. She placed her hand over his, squeezing gently as she affectionately scolded him, �Baka! How many times do I have to tell you? I trust you. I�ve always trusted you. Always. And there is nothing else I want more.�

He nodded and dropped his hand to her knee, �I believe you.�

�Why didn�t you just tell me all of this, that day on the beach, after the intent claim?�

�We had to wait until this was all finished. Remember? I told you that I would explain when Naraku was defeated, didn�t I? Well, I didn�t want him, or any of our enemies, hurting you to get to me� And I knew, if I told you, and you accepted, I wouldn�t want to wait.�

�Do you� have to bite me again?� She asked sheepishly, chewing her lip.

�Feh, no. I told you, I won�t, can�t, hurt you, especially during mating. It�s youkai law.�

�Okay� but I thought that there is permanent mark that happens with mating?�

His raised an eyebrow at her and drawled, suddenly amused, �Since when did you find out about that? Hmmm?�

�Well, Sesshomaru mentioned a few things, and�er� I talked, a bit�with Sango��

Inuyasha smirked at her, her interest revealing that she had been as preoccupied with the idea as he had been. The thought brought a lightness to his heart, �Sango? Heh�When did this come up? Perhaps while you were doing the laundry?� He snickered when she blushed and turned away, �The permanent mark comes from the, uh, claiming. Our scents mingle and the,� he scratched his neck and coughed, �act� makes the mark become a permanent scar.�

�Oh.�

They sat, mulling their thoughts for a few moments. Kagome drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders, �So� when do we mate?�

Inuyasha choked. �I thought we would wait until we can have the human ceremony performed.�

�But, if we do the human ceremony, shouldn�t we wait for your human night?�

�So?�

�So?!? That�s three weeks away!�

�But��

She fluttered her lashes at him and smiled demurely, �No buts, mister. You made me wait this long and now you want me to wait even longer?�

�What�s a few more weeks? You can go back and tell your mom�. And I thought you would want to relax for a while, do all that girly shit you guys do before you get married.�

She smacked his arm playfully in retort, �So, you�re saying we can�t just do this now?�

His attention turned sharply to her, �Uh�.Now?�.Are you� sure?�

Kagome rose to her knees so that she was at eye level with him, her face serious but adoring, �Unless you don�t want to, Inuyasha�. I want to be yours. Only yours. Always yours. We can do the human ceremony later. I�ve waited so long for you, for this. Don�t make me wait any longer� Please?�

His answer was a kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Yippeee! Author does happy dance. Inu and Kagome Osuwari-ing in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love. Then comes�.guess what the next chapter will be????

I realized that it�s a good thing this is nearing the end, because it seems my chapters are getting longer and longer. Over 6,000 words this time, yikes!

Don�t worry, though. We�re not done yet. Not by a long shot.

I also wanted to give my sincerest thanks for all of your support and understanding when I posted my last author�s note. I know some of you look forward to new chapters, so it can be disappointing to just read an auth note, but I didn�t want anyone to think that I was leaving you hanging. I haven�t really had anyone to talk to much in the past four years about my grief and my feelings. I�m the eldest daughter of four (my sister is 9 years younger than me and I have two brothers, 11 and 18 years younger), and I�ve always been the good daughter. The strong one. The one everyone leans on. And since I am so young, most of my friends aren�t married, let alone having gone through anything like I have, and they don�t quite understand. I think that�s why I can empathize with Kagome a bit. Because of how I am, I�m used to putting on a happy face. But since I�ve bared my soul to you all, though I really hadn�t meant to originally, I really feel like I�ve gained an amazing, albeit unintentional, support group. This has been very fulfilling to me, allowing me to be expressive through my writing, and I feel I�ve also made some new friends along the way. That so many of you have reached out to me with your words of comfort and understanding, is just another example of the inherent goodness in humanity. It�s stuff like that that gives me true hope for the future of mankind. See? We�re not all rapists, murderers, thieves, and liars. I�ve given some of you enjoyment with my fic and I�m happy to say that you have returned the favor.

Lastly, an update, for those of you who offered your prayers and thoughts. Good news. Looks like modern medicine strikes again. Idiot doctors.(no offense, shirin) The PET scan for my grandpa came back clean, and now they are thinking they may have misdiagnosed him. He might not even have cancer at all. He had to go to some specialists to be sure, but he had polio when I was 5, and they think is might just be acting up again. I guess if they messed up, at least we got good news in the end. Now, we just have to wait on more tests..

X-X-X

I�m taking a leaf out of Sueric�s book (because she is the QUEEN) and adding some responses to the end�

Fanfiction dot net reviewers

Scherezade, NefCanuck, NordicaVB, Tonyf96, sleep walking chicken and HAP, Brethless M, Nekomata-17, Jace, sesshys-punk-girl, LavenderRose66, Jess B Cuz, The Soultaker - thank you so much for all the support. I couldn�t have asked for more devoted, helpful, and ego-boosting reviewers. You�ve been here almost all the way through- Thanks for sticking with me!

Spitfire-Hanyou14, MiRrOr-ImAgE-oF-u: Well�.I�ve never been so insulted and praised at the same time in all my life. LOL

Unwiredmascot- thanks for the honest, helpful critique. You are right. And I may revise later. I do try to read out loud to myself, but I�m a speed reader and it doesn�t work the same.

SummerRaven, starlit333- Did I answer all of your questions?.

cjflutterbye,fujinakaheero, DarklessVasion- thanks for sticking with me and even hopping sites to send your review- now that�s dedication!

Animegirl008, INU-KAGLOVER, Pcklmonkey8, Rogue, Inu-Tachi Clan, MBC, inu�s-girl-forever, Funshigi Aoi Tenshi, Chibi Kenshin6490, Euen-Neekyou, Sedaika, SftbalLazerGurl, Madie, stargazer009- thanks! Your reviews mean so much to me!

Welcome to my newest reviewers:

Hana no tenshi, neobrad, wwtipton, kris- glad you found the fic recently and enjoyed it!

Mediaminer is floopy and hasn�t been posting reviews, so I will get to you guys when the kinks are worked out- so you all get the recognition you deserve.

A special thanks to the mediaminer reviewers who actually took the time to email me since they could review me on the site- that was soooo nice of you guys!

Adult fan fic dot net reviewers- you hentai�s will get yours, don�t worry J

Midnight Sparrow, hanyou-slave, kinky lurker, Spud, YoukaiMusashi, Jake, Cherise, hanyou-elf- You guys have never left my side- thanks for the support, the honest reviews and critiques, and thanks for helping me improve- hugs all around.

MidsummerDreamer, offduty ninja, - hope it was worth the wait. Thanks guys!

Camille, Psyco_chick32, No Sugar Added, essie, ecttweak2004, Mia, Modernday Swordsman, Sandro666, Suze, catt, Angel, chio, comicfancat, Lucy- you guys are too good to me- thanks so much!
- 31
- 32
- 33
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

Sloppy Seconds