Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Love Potion # Kyuu	By : SplendentGoddess Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 15093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi or VIZ Productions, and I do not gain financially from my fanfic in any way.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter 9 - Hell hath no fury like an undead miko scorned
Inuyasha's cracked shinbone was just about healed by the following morning. It was still tender, but he could walk on it without the risk of aggravating it further. The gash on his opposite thigh was gone, and it was voted that they would continue heading out towards the trading village without any further delay.
After dinner the previous night, since he had spent the night on the ground propped up against a tree rather than perched high above in its branches, Kagome had dragged her bedding right next to where he'd sat, and the two had talked long into the night. They'd talked about everything and nothing. She had apologized for any possible misunderstanding on his part from when she hadn't wanted to go through the well to tell her mother of their mating, if he'd thought she was ashamed of being with him, assuring him she was only embarrassed of how she'd behaved because of the tea, but that she would definitely be telling her family about their joining the next time she needed to return home. She had then immediately amended her use of the word 'home', assuring her hanyou mate that it was in his time, by his side, that she belonged. She'd insisted that she would still need to continue going through the well to finish her schooling, because it was an obligation and a matter of honor, but he hadn't put up as much of an argument regarding that subject as she'd feared he would. If anyone understood the concept of fulfilling an obligation for honor's sake, he did. He'd told Kagome in that moment that he still had to keep his word to protect Kikyou from Naraku, practically begging her to understand that she was more important to him than her preincarnation, despite the fact that Kikyou was also still important to him, as well. Kagome couldn't rightfully fault Inuyasha for still caring for the woman he had once loved, and could accept the fact that he and Kikyou were friends. She'd told Inuyasha that she trusted him, silently adding in her mind that it was Kikyou she didn't trust. But she hadn't wanted to sour the mood by speaking ill of the dead, and so she'd let the subject go, moving on to lighter topics. She had told him that for her family's sake, as well as herself, she would like to have a traditional Shinto wedding back in her time. It wouldn't be legally binding since he had no paperwork, not that it mattered since she would be living in the past with him anyway, but she had always dreamed that one day her grandfather would perform her wedding at their shrine, and she was sure that allowing him to do so would help ease the old priest's mind when it came to his granddaughter's choice in husbands. Inuyasha hadn't objected, telling her he was familiar with the concept of human wedding ceremonies, though in his time it was usually only done amongst nobility. He had joked lightly that at least he didn't have to worry about her Jii-chan accidentally purifying him during the ceremony, which had earned a pleasant chuckle from the miko. It had also been agreed that starting a family definitely had to wait until after the defeat of Naraku, though they were both relieved to know that they each wanted to have children as strongly as their partner did. Kagome had told Inuyasha that there was a medicine in her time that she could start taking, once her mother had been brought up to speed so that she could authorize the prescription, which would prevent her from getting pregnant until they were ready. Not that she didn't trust his sense of smell, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Should an accident occur, she knew that neither of them would have the heart to terminate the pregnancy, no matter how horrible the timing was. Inuyasha definitely agreed with that assessment, though he couldn't stop grinning over the simple fact that mentioning birth-control like that meant that Kagome was openly admitting to the fact that they would continue having sex. The most logical course of action, to avoid starting a family until after Naraku was killed, would be to simply abstain from intimacy until that time. He'd joked that maybe everything she'd done to him that night hadn't just been because of the tea and secretly she'd been a closest hentai all along. She'd responded by lightly smacking his arm, though when he'd laughed she'd immediately joined in, chuckling and smiling.
Inuyasha had been building up the courage to broach the subject of the soul-bond when Kagome had suddenly changed the subject, asking him lovingly to tell her more about himself, since it was true they really didn't know all that much about each other. Sure, in some ways they knew more about each other than any other person alive, but just because Kagome could look her mate in the eyes and read the very foundation of his soul, that didn't mean she knew everything about him. Smiling, he had held her close, an armed wrapped around her shoulder as she'd leaned against him while he told her stories from his childhood, both good and bad. She had every right to know every detail about him, though he had spoken his words softly enough to ensure that only Kagome's enhanced ears resting six inches from his mouth would hear them. He had been fairly certain that everyone else at camp was asleep, but some things were definitely meant for Kagome, alone. Finally growing sleepy, herself, the miko had promised to return the favor of sharing stories whenever he asked it of her, and settling herself closer against his side, she had drifted off to sleep in her mate's secure embrace, her head pillowed on his chest.
Now, as they headed out on the road again, while Kagome still had that nagging little feeling in the back of her mind that there was something important she didn't yet know, she also wasn't worried about it, knowing that it would take time before she and Inuyasha could finish revealing everything to each other. After all, such conversations should be kept private, and therefore reserved solely for the dead of night while the others were asleep. She wouldn't question him about it during the day and in front of their friends. Instead, she focused her thoughts on wondering just what other side effects she had gained as a result of his youki in her system. Besides hearing, she had already discovered that her night vision had distinctly improved, and her senses of smell and taste were also definitely much more acute than they used to be. Was she physically stronger now? Could she run faster or for further distances before getting tired? She supposed it was probably a pretty safe bet that her immune system was stronger now, but how fast would she heal from a physical injury? Not that she wanted to injure herself to learn the answer, though she supposed it was more logical than pessimistic to presume she'd find out sooner or later, given the nature of their mission. How about physical endurance when it came to her threshold of pain? If she could last longer in a fight now than what would have previously been considered normal, that would only be a good thing, as far as she was concerned. All in all, Kagome couldn't think of anything negative that had come, or would come, from the little bit of his youki in her body. It certainly hadn't affected her miko powers, but then again Kagome had never believed in the two-dimensional 'truth' of youki being a force of evil and reiki being a force of good. Both were simple magics based on spiritual energy, and either could be used for good or bad. Just as a miko or houshi would be needed to defend a human village against an attacking youkai, a so-called holy person on a personal crusade could just as easily desecrate innocent youkai families, like a den of kitsune or some other species not known for being overly hostile. And while it was true that the two forces had a tendency to fight each other, if for no other reason than being natural opposites, Kagome and Inuyasha had already proven that spiritual and demonic powers could be combined harmoniously. A 'Kaze no Kizu' augmented by one of her arrows came to mind. Her arrow certainly hadn't 'purified' Inuyasha's attack back then, just like her aura didn't fight against the echo of his own brushing up against her now. Kagome found that when she closed her eyes and concentrated, she could actually sense the touch of Inuyasha's youki within her, no doubt thanks to her ability as a miko to sense youki in general, and she found in that moment that the sensation actually gave her comfort, like his arms were wrapped around her while he whispered gently in her ear that she belonged to him. She didn't find the possessive nature of the feeling uncomfortable; she wanted to be his, and she could feel her aura accept the change with open arms.
Finally coming upon the trading village, the miko knew, regrettably, that she couldn't say or do anything in front of the locals that would tip them off to her relationship with Inuyasha. Not if they wanted to be greeted at least semi-decently and possibly have any leads to Naraku shared with them. The reactions they got as they walked through the town were average, with some people spitting insults while others wondered only who they were and what Inuyasha was. Some people feared them all, as if they were a group of bandits about to attack their home, though those townspeople were thankfully too cowardly to dare raise weapons against them, silently, or really not so silently praying that at least their own lives would be spared. Other people fortunately recognized Miroku as a houshi and Sango as a taijiya, and immediately put Inuyasha out of their thoughts, presuming him in their service in some capacity or another. One person even commented on his beads, recognizing the kotodama for what it was, and since Kagome wasn't dressed in the robes of a miko and most people thought the 'strangely dressed girl' was a regular archer, they presumed Miroku was the one who held power over the hanyou's subjugation spell.
Mention of the beads caused an immediate wave of guilt to wash over the miko, but when she glanced Inuyasha's way he brushed her worries aside, stating quietly, "Keh, don't worry 'bout it, Kagome. I'm used to 'em, and besides, the thing's come in handy at least a few times." He didn't tell her that it was his canine nature that had initially had him hating the beads as strongly as he had, because it was like being collared, like he belonged to her like a common inugami, nor did he tell her that after getting to know her and falling for her as he had, the notion of belonging to her didn't bother him quite as much any more. He wanted to belong to her, now, and in a way she'd put her mark on him long before he'd returned the favor. That was all right with him.
As the inu-tachi continued to question the local merchants of the trading village, they did learn of a possible lead that had to do with some strange demonic activity to the north, and so it was quickly decided that, after taking advantage of spending a night indoors and utilizing the facilities of the local bath house, they would be taking the road north into the mountains. Sleeping arrangements that night were kept proper out of respect for their hosts, with the girls sleeping on one side of the dividing screen and Miroku sleeping on the other, Inuyasha taking up his traditional position of resting propped up against the far wall with Tetsusaiga leaning against his shoulder. He was surprised when he found himself missing Kagome's company. That was twice now, that he'd held the girl all night long as they slept snuggled together, and as he stared at her still form from across the room as she lied by herself in her sleeping bag, he knew it wouldn't be the last.
That was a silent vow he was all too eager to keep come the following evening, as they once again camped out in the woods off the beaten path. Kagome wasn't about to complain, except for possibly how sleeping somewhat upright gave her a kink in her neck the following morning, but that was a problem easily solved when Inuyasha shimmied himself down into her sleeping bag, blinking up at her innocently when she shot him an incredulous look. After a few seconds of his 'What?' expression she couldn't help busting out laughing, which caused the hanyou to chuckle in turn since his expression had been a deliberate joke to make her laugh in the first place.
Miroku's quick-witted comment of "Don't do anything I would do." had everyone laughing all over again. It was happy times for the inu-tachi.
Or at least it was until somewhere around one or two in the morning, when the quiet peace of the forest was unceremoniously disturbed by a foul stench on the air accompanied by the eerie slithering glow of serpent-like soul collectors.
Damn...Kikyou's scent... Inuyasha thought regretibly as he peaked open his eyes to gaze toward the nearby shinidamachuu, the inu-hanyou having not been asleep though he'd been enjoying the sensation of holding the slumbering Kagome in his arms.
First Kouga and now this... he griped, wondering what the universe's hurry was with getting all of their...less than favorable encounters over and done with so quickly. Still, he supposed it was better to be quick about it rather than delaying the inevitable. He had already told himself that the next time Kikyou showed up he would inform her of all that had changed between himself and her reincarnation, reiterating his promise to protect her though at the same time making sure she understood that the choice between them had been made and that Kagome was number one in his life.
While that was a decision he had made silently within himself quite some time ago, he regretted that so far, Kikyou had been kept in the dark just as much as Kagome had previously been. Of course, the undead miko was usually pretty perceptive, so it was actually quite possible that she had already concluded long ago where his heart truly lied, but that thought actually worried him more than it comforted him in that moment. Kouga's appearance so soon after their mating had been a legitimate coincidence, bad luck and something Kagome had referred to as 'Murphy's Law'. He wasn't so sure Kikyou's arrival could be chalked up to the same thing, though.
Slowly and carefully wiggling himself away from his sleeping mate so as not to disturb her, Inuyasha gazed down at Kagome's still form for a few minutes after vacating the sleeping bag to make sure he hadn't accidentally awoken her. There was no point in troubling her thoughts with his current predicament, and he had every intention of being back long before morning. Decision made, he quickly turned tail and headed deeper into the woods, silently following Kikyou's scent as it drifted down to him on the breeze. It only took a moment for the undead priestess to come into view, and as Inuyasha felt the lump begin to form in his throat at the thought of all he had to say, he suddenly found himself wishing he had been asleep and missed her summons.
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Kagome waited until after she heard Inuyasha run off into the forest to open her eyes, knowing it was safe to sit up now that he was no longer observing her. It wasn't hard to fool the hanyou into believing she was asleep, since it wasn't something he could smell. Kagome knew she could never hope to fool her mate's nose, but keeping her breathing and heart rate steady was something she'd gotten remarkably good at over the last few months. There was no way she could really sleep through one of Kikyou's appearances; the piece of her soul that the undead miko carried literally called out to her, tugging on her spirit like a magnet. When Kikyou had first been resurrected she had begun drawing her soul back within herself subconsciously, not physically aware of what she was doing, and indeed she still possessed no memories of that moment, the event having been explained to her by Kaede. But since then, Kagome had now come to realize that she actually possessed the ability to call the rest of her soul back to her at any time, and in fact it almost seemed to be begging her to do so. Though what that would mean for her, or Kikyou, she couldn't be certain, and if it was true that Kikyou's spirit would not have rest now until after she acquired the vengeance she sought, then the last thing Kagome wanted to be responsible for was forcing her preincarnation to suffer in the afterlife. She caused her own suffering enough as it was, allowing herself to feel miserable, to feel unwanted. Even in that moment as she continued to sit there, gazing in the direction of the shinidamachuu's light, Kagome couldn't help the nasty little voice in the back of her mind that taunted her over how Inuyasha would still dare go sneak off to see Kikyou in the middle of the night without her knowledge. Sure, they had discussed the undead miko briefly, and Kagome had accepted Inuyasha's reasoning that he still had to keep his vow to protect the priestess from Naraku, but silly her for imagining their new found level of closeness would mean he would actually be open and honest with her when it came to such things. Would it really have been so difficult to shake her awake and murmur softly how Kikyou had come calling and so he needed to go see what she wanted? The fact that he had still thought to sneak away was what hurt the worst, far more so than the fact that he had left to see Kikyou at all. But Kagome tried not to let those negative thoughts get her down. Maybe he hadn't thought of it as sneaking, but simply hadn't wanted to disturb her? Maybe the thought of seeing Kikyou after all that'd changed was troubling and he wanted to bear the burden alone to spare her knowledge of his turmoil? Whatever the case, Kagome couldn't shake the feeling that something would go wrong, and reminded in that moment of how she knew she did trust Inuyasha, but she didn't trust Kikyou, she suddenly found herself wondering what she was doing still sitting in her sleeping bag.
Crawling out of the nylon bag, she didn't bother changing out of her pajamas, though she did put her shoes on and grab her bow and arrows. Inuyasha would be angry if she stupidly put herself in danger by wandering into the woods unarmed. Stealthfully following the same path Inuyasha had taken, careful not to make a sound, Kagome didn't let the notion of her 'spying' on him bother her. After all, they were mates now. Didn't she have a right to know what he was up to, if indeed he was up to something? Besides, what if Kikyou was the one up to something? Was her presence at this time merely another coincidence, or something more? What if she had been spying, and already knew of her new relationship with Inuyasha? While Kagome could sense it whenever Kikyou was near, those creepy little snake-insect things of hers were another story, and she wouldn't put it past the undead miko to use her demonic servants as spies, just like Naraku's saimyosho. But even if Kikyou did already know, what did that mean? Was she going to try and steal Inuyasha away from her, or give them her blessing? Knowing that she shouldn't jump to any conclusions prematurely, Kagome vowed to withhold judgment until all of the facts were in, as she continued to follow after her mate as he answered the call of his first love, praying to stay downwind.
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Groaning silently to himself as the air currents shifted for a moment and he caught a brief whiff of Kagome's scent coming up on him from behind, Inuyasha knew there was nothing he could do about her following him at that point, as he closed the gap between himself and the undead priestess, as she stood idly by obviously waiting for him, leaning against a tree, her shinidamachuu flying all around. Crossing his arms over his chest and tucking his hands into the sleeves of his suikan, Inuyasha waited for Kikyou to break the silence first. He didn't have long to wait.
"Inuyasha..." she began, her voice deceptively calm. "How nice of you to join me." The statement was lacking so much in emotion that it ironically sounded sarcastic, despite the neutrality behind it. Whether or not the stoic miko was truly being cynical, he couldn't be certain, but something about the look in her eyes had him on guard. He decided to get right to the point.
"What do you want, Kikyou?"
Instead of looking taken aback by his abrupt tone, she merely smiled, her grin giving him the chills.
"Why, I merely wanted to see you. Is that so wrong?"
"You haven't wanted 'merely to see me' since your resurrection." he pointed out matter-of-factly, adding, "We haven't spoken at all recently except regarding Naraku, if you had information to share or wanted to see if I had any information of my own."
Thinking about that for a moment, he softened his tone a bit as he asked her next, "Is that it?" adding, "We actually are on our way to a possible lead in the northern mountains, but I don't know yet if Naraku is involved or not." He felt like a fool for coming off so harshly if Kikyou had been drawn to him merely sensing they'd acquired a possible lead about the dark hanyou. Sometimes he could be such an ass.
The way Kikyou only continued to grin at him quickly had him feeling creeped out, though, as he suddenly found himself acknowledging more than ever how the woman before him was a walking corpse. Sometimes she still seemed like the kind, sweet woman she had once been in life. Other times...
"It is not only news of Naraku I seek." she stated matter-of-factly, her grin gone to be replaced by a stoic poker face once more. "Tell me, have you no other news?"
How subtle... he chuckled to himself sardonically, finding he wasn't as surprised as he probably should have been. Kikyou always had a way of discovering things for herself.
Sighing, he answered, "As well as I'm sure you already know, yes Kikyou, I have other news."
He figured in that moment that maybe the universe had the right idea all along, in that it would be better to just hurry it up and get it over with without beating around the bush. Especially considering the fact that if you chose the right bush, you would probably end up finding an eavesdropping Kagome. He knew she was out there, somewhere, most likely able to hear every word both he and Kikyou said, but in that moment Inuyasha decided that that was all right with him. There wasn't anything he planned on saying that he wouldn't have been willing to say in front of Kagome directly.
"Indeed..." Kikyou replied in that moment, immediately earning his attention. "It involves that copy of mine, does it not?" she questioned bitterly, causing his ears to lower to his head.
From her hiding spot a few trees over, Kagome had to bite her lower lip to keep from gasping at her preincarnation's harsh words. She couldn't see Inuyasha's guilt ridden expression from her current position, but if she had seen the look in his eyes she would have recognized that he wasn't feeling ashamed for his joining with her. He had promised that he wouldn't regret their mating and he'd meant it, but that didn't stop him from feeling guilty for having caused Kikyou pain in the process.

"She's not your copy..." he defended quietly, adding louder, "But yes, it involves Kagome." Squaring his shoulders and meeting Kikyou's gaze head on, he stated firmly, "She's my mate."
Kikyou's eyes remained hard, and he rushed to continue, stuttering over his words.
"I-I haven't broken my promise to you, Kikyou. I swore to protect you and I will. I have every intention of avenging you still. Naraku will fall by my hand."
"You haven't broken your promise to me?" she questioned then, her voice eerily calm. "Did you not tell me, as I held you in my arms, that you wanted to stay with me always? When I had asked of you if you wished that I could freeze time, locking us forever in that moment, did you not tell me yes?"
That's not fair! Kagome screamed in her mind, remembering the incident Kikyou spoke of with crystal clarity, considering the undead miko had given her a front row seat to the event with the way her shinidamachuu had held her pinned against that tree. You had him under a spell and you know it! Kagome silently berated the other woman, praying that Inuyasha wouldn't be tricked by her words.
The hanyou did falter, for a moment, his eyes opening wide, but it didn't take him long to remember that that had been the time when Kikyou had tried to drag him into Hell with her, when she'd tried to kill him, the 'forever' she had spoken of referring to the afterlife. But he hadn't been able to die for Kikyou then, and he wouldn't die for her now. Not when he had somebody else he needed to live for.
"That's not fair, Kikyou." he answered then. "At that time, saying those words, I hadn't known you'd meant to kill me, and I never promised you my death."
"Do not fool yourself." she spat, her tone condescending. "Your life belongs to me, and you know it."
Much to the undead miko's chargin, he actually chuckled at those words.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait your turn, then, because you're not the only one who claims ownership of my life. Just about everyone I've ever met has wanted to kill me. But you know what I've come to realize? My life belongs to me...it's mine to do with as I please, and I choose to spend it with the one person who understands that. The one person who loves me for me, as I love her."
It was then Kikyou's turn to laugh, the sound bitter and cruel.
"You can bed with that woman-child all you want, Inuyasha. Your body is yours to do with as you please, but that doesn't change the fact that your heart shall always be mine. Even as I take Naraku with me into Hell and leave your life unbroken, your thoughts shall forever be of me. Not a day will pass that you do not long to be by my side. It will be a far more fitting punishment, forcing you to live with your crimes rather than killing you for them, and as you use my reincarnation to satisfy your carnal lusts, you will see me in her eyes, and regret what you can never have."
"That's not true, Kikyou." he denied right away, raising his voice some as he proudly declared, "Kagome is her own person, and I do not think of her as a replacement for you."
In her hiding spot behind the trees, the future-born-miko raised a shaky hand to her cheek, silently wiping away her tears.
"Kagome is my mate, Kikyou." he added then. "It wasn't just a rut, I've claimed her in the inu-youkai fashion. She's mine and mine alone."
"Yes, but are you hers and hers alone?" the undead miko questioned sarcastically, causing Inuyasha's eyes to widen in panic.
No, she wouldn't!
Kagome, meanwhile, had a furrow of confusion on her brow.
What does she mean by that? If I'm his then of course he's mine...isn't he?
"Why so shocked, Inuyasha?" Kikyou asked teasingly. "Did you truly think you could lay claim to her without my knowledge? She and I share the same soul, do not forget, and I am well aware of the fact that you have marked her as your mate, just as I am equally aware of the fact that she did not mark you in return." Looking quite pleased with herself as she glanced breifly behind the hanyou to where she knew her reincarnation stood hidden among the trees, she added, "Kagome is your property, but that does not mean you wish to be hers. It is your love for me that disuaded you from completing the soul-bond, is it not? You cannot commit yourself to her fully because deep down, you know your heart is disloyal."
Unable to say or do anything, a look of dread on his face as the breeze shifted direction again, bringing the scent of Kagome's tears to his nose, Inuyasha stood silent and immobile as Kikyou delightfully continued destroying her reincarnation's faith in him. Truly Kagome was a fool, to put so much trust in a hanyou.
"Yes, that's it, isn't it? You do know that you can never truly have me. After all, I am dead, and I am just as aware of that fact as you are. But a part of you will always desire me, and it is for that reason that you can never give yourself fully to my copy. She may be my reincarnation, but as you yourself have stated, she is her own person. She will never be me, and that saddens you."
Inuyasha was shaking, but not with guilt or remorse. He was furious with Kikyou for saying all of those hurtful lies, knowing that Kagome could hear them. Having lowered his head, his expression concealed by his bangs, Kikyou stood idly by with a smug grin on her face, not truly caring if her assessment of the situation was accurate or not because she had accomplished what she'd truly set out to do. She had known that there was no way, given the present circumstances, that Kagome would not have followed after Inuyasha at her summons. Satisfied as she was with herself, it caught the undead miko completely off guard when Inuyasha whipped his head back up to glare at her hatefully. His eyes in that moment held more loathing than the mask of his face that Naraku had worn the day she had died. If she had still had breath within her body, she would have gasped in surprise.
"Kagome, get out here!" he cried out, calling for the living miko who did gasp despite herself at the unexpected shout, throwing her hands up to her mouth afterwards only to roll her eyes at herself when she realized it was far too late to try being quiet. He obviously already knew she was there. Nervously creeping out from behind her hiding spot, her confused and tear-filled eyes opened wide at the look he shot her.
"Don't you dare listen to that nonsense." he commanded, the look in his eyes more pleading than demanding as he silently begged her to allow him to explain himself. "It's not what you think."
"I don't know what to think..." she muttered quietly, though he heard her just fine. "Is it really true that I could mark you in return? That you're not really mine and mine alone unless I do?"
In that moment, as he saw the hurt and betrayal in her eyes, he wanted to experience what he'd heard Miroku refer to as an 'out of body' experience so that he could kick his own ass.
"Yes...and no," he began cryptically. With an apologetic tone, he beseeched, "Please, just here me out."
Nodding hesitantly, Kagome promised not to interrupt, as he quickly explained the difference between claiming and bonding marks. Yes, she could mark him in return, and yes, technically he was presently free to mark another, if he'd wanted a harem instead of one true mate, but he quickly assured her that his heart did indeed belong to her and her alone. He insisted that he'd had every intention of completing the soul-bond with her, and that...under the circumstances...he had just decided to give it a couple of days before broaching the subject, nervous about how she would react to the information.
"Kikyou is right, in that the bond wouldn't take if my heart wasn't fully loyal to you, but that isn't why we didn't do it that night." he told her vaguely, not wanting to recap too many details of their night together in front of the undead priestess. He was pretty sure Kagome could read between the lines. "Here's something you should know, though...the position of your mark, it matters, a lot. A true possession mark is placed from behind, because the female is not considered in equal standing to the male. It's a show of dominance, because it's impossible for her to mark him in return in that position. The placement of your mark...it was meant to be a bonding mark, and any youkai who actually saw it would immediately know that. Kouga didn't know because he didn't see it, he only smelt it, and it's true that on the surface, the scent is the same. Until the bond is complete the meaning is the same, because I've still marked you and so you're still mine, regardless, but it's clear I had intended to bond with you...and I still do."
Raising a shaky hand up to feel her mark, Kagome's eyes once again filled with tears, though this time they were born from relief and love. She could get how he'd wanted to do the soul-bond and that in the heat of the moment it hadn't occurred to him that she knew nothing about it and therefore wouldn't fulfill her end of the deal. He'd already told her that he had in reality wanted to be with her for a long time now, and especially considering their earlier conversation regarding children, there was zero doubt in her mind that as he'd fantasized about being with her, it had always been with the soul-bond in place. Yes, she could definitely understand his hesitance to confess such a concept to her, especially considering how skittish she'd acted at first over the whole 'mate' thing in general, and she decided in that moment that she believed him, that he'd intended all along to broach the subject in only another day or two.
Kikyou, meanwhile, was absolutely livid at this new turn of events. Spying for herself the position of Kagome's mark, as the girl was currently dressed in a tank top and pajama bottoms, she knew that Inuyasha spoke the truth, and while she didn't know why they hadn't completed the bond at that time, apparently something had occurred that Kagome was accepting as legitimate reasoning for the delay. It sounded like Inuyasha had every intention of rutting with the bitch again to complete the bond in the very near future. That wouldn't do at all. She was just opening her mouth to speak again when Inuyasha's next words beat her to it.
"Besides..." he spoke back up, his words as comforting to Kagome as they were devastating to her preincarnation. "Don't forget I also agreed to marry you in the Shinto tradition before your family. Even if there were no such thing as bonding marks I would still belong to you and you alone, as your husband. I'm half human, don't forget, and that half of me wants you just as much as my youkai half does."
"Bastard!" Kikyou shouted unexpectedly, startling both Kagome and Inuyasha who each turned to stare at her in surprise. His claiming of Kagome's flesh in a dirty, lust-filled fornication dictated by his youkai side was perfectly acceptable to her, because in her mind it only went to prove just how vile his demonic half truly was, and how impure and unworthy of the title of miko her copy was, as well. But to hear him say that they were to be wed in the human fashion, in a traditional Shinto ceremony, no less, knowing that the girl came from a shrine family...that was too much for Kikyou. His human side belonged to her!
As Kagome and Inuyasha both continued to stare at Kikyou in disbelief, it was almost seemingly in slow-motion that they observed the way in which she drew an arrow from her quiver and notched it in her bow, yet Inuyasha's own muscles seemed even more sluggish as he attempted and failed to move quickly enough. His ears echoed loudly with the vibration of the bowstring as her arrow was let loose straight for his heart, a blazing trail of purification glowing in its wake, and then the next thing he knew, he was lying face down in the dirt. It took another full second for the mild pain of impact to reach his brain, as Kikyou's arrow thwacked into a tree somewhere behind him and it suddenly dawned on the hanyou that Kagome had used the subjugation command. In that moment he was more thankful than he ever thought he'd be that she hadn't removed the rosary.
His relief was short-lived, however, as his ears suddenly registered a gasp of surprise followed by the sound of another arrow being fired.
Kagome!
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Love Potion # Kyuu