Heat by Leloi

Inu Yasha watched with borderline fascination as Kagome went about her nightly ritual.  He had watched it countless times in the past two years and it never deviated from its form.  When she was ready for bed she would rise, ruffle through her equipment, find her strange bedding, snap it out and yawn loudly.  This would cue Shippou, the fox child demon to bounce into the bedding as she removed her shoes and followed him in.  Shippou curled up beside her as she called out, “Good night Inu Yasha, Shippou, Myouga…” or variations thereof depending on who was travelling with them.

The others always chorused a response.

Inu Yasha always grumped.

It was a time-honored tradition, perfected with age.  If it ever deviated from its form there was sure to be some chaos in the night.

Inu Yasha settled back onto his tree branch.  He allowed his eyes to rest on his charge.  Her face was slack with attempted sleep.  His eyes followed every curve of her face.  He enjoyed these little moments when he could watch her without her knowledge.  She always got so defensive…

A strange scent brushed his nose.  It held the smell of demon.  Quietly he hopped down from his lookout perch and began to follow his nose to the intruders.  As an afterthought he turned back and retraced his steps.  He took off his indestructible outer robe and carefully placed it over his sleeping charge.  With a tiny smile he returned to his quarry.

Through the bushes that surrounded the encampment and over the hill, the scent grew stronger in the cool night air.  Two distinct demon scents mingled with a third.  Inu Yasha gulped as he carefully made his way to the crown of the hill.  He averted his eyes for a moment from the spectacle of two demons, rutting in the moonlight.  Inu Yasha cringed as he recognized the third scent.  It sent his body racing with a strange mix of anticipation and frustration.  It was the scent of demons in heat.  He had only been in heat a few times in his lifetime.  All those times had been sparked by the scent of another demon in heat.  He covered his nose and slowly backed away.  The grunts and moans rang in his ears even after he lost sight of them.  Demons rutting could not be good, demon spawn was sure to follow.  His body tingled with sensitivity.  “Please, not now…” he breathed as he retraced his steps back to the camp.  He had to wake Kagome and get her away from this place… all while ignoring his hormones. 

He jumped over the last set of bushes and looked around the empty clearing.  He stared, puzzled by the emptiness.  It had to be the right clearing.  There were the remains of the fire.  His robe lay crumbled on the ground, but his companions were missing.

A chubby rabbit caught his eye as it cowered in the bushes.  It popped into the fox boy’s form.  “Oh, it’s horrible.  It took Kagome!”

“What took Kagome?” Inu Yasha demanded of the whimpering demon child.  Something small bounced on his shoulder.

“It was a big bloodsucker, my lord,” Myouga wailed.

“Why couldn’t you stay with her, you coward?”  Inu Yasha seethed as he flicked the flea demon off of his shoulder.  He lifted his nose and caught Kagome’s scent.  He chased after it.

Around him the forest whispered, “Poor half-breed, his woman was taken away.”

Inu Yasha skid to a halt at the strong scent of blood.  The leaves on the bushes before him were covered with a sticky red.  He tasted it… blood… Kagome’s.  His body quickened in its anticipation.  “Stop it!  I have to fight,” he chastised himself.  He hated being in heat.  There was never any relief for a half-demon.  Demonesses would kill him, half-demonesses were rare (if they actually existed) and full-blooded women feared him.  That left no one to quell his need.  He frowned at his distraction.  “Come out!” he demanded from the bush.

A black shape lumbered forward, through the bush.  It had a human-like face with sharp fangs, which were plunged in Kagome’s neck.  Kagome’s eyes were open but vacant.  The blood-drinking demon stopped its suckling and frowned at Inu Yasha, mouth dripping with Kagome’s blood.  “I need the jewel!”

“Give her back, you asshole!”

“Poor half-breed, in heat without your woman to…”

Inu Yasha scowled.  He pulled out his sword and slashed the bloodsucker from neck to hip.  “Never say that!” he screamed as the monster fell into two pieces at his feet.  Inu Yasha leaned forward and caught Kagome’s limp body before she could fall.  Her scent made him stagger as his body revolted against his mind.

“She’s lost a lot of blood,” Myouga said critically from his place at his lord’s shoulder.

“I need to get her somewhere safe,” Inu Yasha said as he angrily kicked the body of the monster at his feet.  He arranged Kagome in his arms and began to run with Myouga and Shippou at his heels.  He followed his nose to a place without demon scent.

There had been a cave a few kilometers back down the path.  He made a beeline for it, hoping it would offer at least a night of safety.  If he didn’t hurry, Kagome would… He angrily pushed the thought from his mind.

“The half-breed’s little witch is dying.  Who will he fight for when his mate is gone?” the bushes and trees rustled and giggled.

“Mate…” Inu Yasha frowned.  “She isn’t my mate yet…” With that thought he dived into the cave entrance.  “Stop it!” he growled to himself as he took in the scent of the cave.  He sensed no other demons besides himself and his two companions.  Kagome’s blood was sharp in his nose.  He carefully laid her on the ground.  He took off his outer robe and used his father’s sword to make a makeshift seal to the cave entrance.  The sword’s aura crackled and gave off a faint blue light.  Satisfied with the impromptu safety he returned to Kagome’s side.  Shippou sat by her head, looking worried.

“Is she going to die?” he asked in a little voice.

Inu Yasha scowled and backhanded the fox boy.

“No!” he said sharply as he sat and pulled Kagome into his lap.

“What are you going to do, my lord?  She’s lost too much blood,” Myouga whispered from the half-demon’s shoulder.

“The only thing I can do,” Inu Yasha replied.  It had to work.  It had worked before, but he hadn’t been prepared for the side effects… Mother died anyway.

Inu Yasha grunted and raised his hand to his lips.  With his sharp fangs he tore open his wrist.  With his other arm, he cradled Kagome’s head and placed his open wrist to her lips.  Only a few drops were needed.  He licked away the remaining blood from his already mending arm. 

“Ah, my lord… The demon’s kiss…” Myouga approved.

“Shut up,” Inu Yasha responded as he leaned forward to place his lips on her forehead.  They burned against her skin.  He closed his eyes and silently called to his blood now flowing in her veins.  “Take my strength.  Mend.  Take my power.”  He could sense his blood racing through her body.  It increased in volume and took the place of her missing blood.  His lips burned hotter as he called to his blood.  His body tingled in response.  Slowly he slid his lips down her nose to her cheek and then to her lips.  Some of his blood still lingered there.  He licked it away as he felt his demon power waning.  Unexpectedly he felt the raw emotions of his human side as it took over.

His body ached for release.  Images flashed in his mind of the demons rutting in the moonlight, like animals in wild abandon.  His body needed it, craved it.  He tasted blood and suddenly noticed that he had been biting her lip.  Her blood mingled with the taste of his own and together they rippled through his body.  He tore himself away in horror.  “Appease your desire!” his body sang.

“No!” he screamed as he fell back onto the ground.  His vision cleared and he slowly returned to his senses.  He stared at the cave ceiling as he gasped for air.

“He’s gone human on us, again… Stupid half-breed,” Shippou commented.

“My lord, can you hear me?” Myouga asked.

Inu Yasha turned his head to the voice to see the flea bouncing beside him.

“You’re in heat, aren’t you?” Myouga asked.

“How’d you guess, bug?” Inu Yasha half snorted.

“Because your demon kiss turned into the first step of the mating ritual,” Myouga chuckled.

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes.

“And your scent… changed.”

“Yeah well… I was affected by a pair of demons earlier tonight.”

“How… unfortunate,” Myouga sighed.

“Why?  Why is it unfortunate?” Inu Yasha demanded.

“Your human body won’t be able to resist the call…”

“What are the steps of the mating ritual?” Shippou asked quietly.  The older demons stared at him in shock.

“I…um… am not sure,” Inu Yasha frowned as he rolled over.

“The mating ritual, young demon, has been perfected over many millennium to ensure the progression of our race.  It begins with the exchange of power to balance the pairing… which is good, because otherwise the weaker demon can be killed.  This is generally why demons do not wish to mate with partial demons.  They lose power to those deemed unworthy…”

“Shut up!” Inu Yasha growled.  “You don’t have to tell him everything.”

“He needs to know eventually and so do you, my lord,” Myouga responded.  “Occasionally a demon will take a mortal mate.  Only the strongest mortals are chosen.  Other demons don’t like that and tend to kill the mortal or the half-demon produced from the union.”

Inu Yasha snorted in disgust.  Most of his childhood had been spent running away from such demons.  His mother was killed…

“It’s the truth, my lord,” Myouga protested.  “The second step is very important.  Demonesses don’t go into heat like male demons do.  They need to be prepared to receive the male’s…”

“Do we have to talk about this shit now?” Inu Yasha interrupted as he sat up.

“This is important, my lord… The female needs to be prepared to receive the male’s seed.”

“How does he do that?” Shippou asked, wide eyed.

“It depends on the demoness.  Some enjoy battle and others like to be tickled in the left armpit.  I knew one demoness who liked it when I…”

“Shut the fuck up!”  Inu Yasha snarled as he gathered Kagome in his arms and stood.  He turned his back on the other demons and faced the darkness of the inner cave.

“But demonesses are fickle.  They get bored and leave before the male is finished.  That’s why demons choose mortal women.  They have greater stamina,” Myouga completed with a chuckle.

Shippou’s laughter rang out with the flea demon’s.  “Did you see the look on his face when you said, ‘seed?’… Priceless!”

“All that blood rushing to his face,” Myouga replied.

“And other places.  Half demons are so easy to fluster.”

Inu Yasha grumbled at the echoing conversation as it followed him into the bowels of the cave.  All he wanted was peace and quiet for the rest of the night.  Kagome needed her rest so she could get better and not need him to watch over her.  Then he could disappear for a few days and deal with his little hormone problem without interruptions.  He tried to focus on the trickle of water he heard deeper inside the cave.  The trickle began to burble and splash.  A hole in the ceiling of the cave softly illuminated the cavern and allowed water to pour down from a small stream into a tiny waterfall.  He laid his charge down beside the pool of water at the base of the fall and tasted the water.  It seemed pure.  Carefully he dripped some against Kagome’s lips.  He touched her cheek and brushed her hair away from her forehead.

Kagome lay silent with no indication of waking anytime soon.  In the dim moonlight she looked deathly pale and her hair gleamed white.  The demon blood in her veins also lengthened her fingernails and made her ears pointy.  “Kagome,” Inu Yasha whispered.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have left you alone tonight.  Please come back to me.  The Shikkon Jewel is nearly complete.  We can use it to… If you’ll have me, that is.  I…” He didn’t want to complete his thought.  He knelt beside her and pulled her head onto his lap.  How long ago had she done the same for him?  Belatedly he struggled out of his inner robe and used it as a blanket to cover her.  He leaned back against a stalagmite and closed his eyes.

Sleep came fast as it always did, with the sounds of the water washing over him.

He was somewhere bathed in blue light.  He felt weightless.  Something in his peripheral vision caught his attention.  He turned his head and his hair swirled around him in slow motion.  Kikyo was beside him.  “Inu Yasha,” she whispered.

“Kikyo.”

“You promised.”

“What?”

“That we would live together… start a family and grow old…”

“Did I really promise all that?” Inu Yasha chuckled in amusement.

“I know what you truly wanted.  You know too.”

“I’m sorry,” he sighed.

“Don’t be.  You are in heat now, aren’t you?”

Inu Yasha made a face.  “How does everyone know that?” he grumbled.

“I’m part of your dream.  I know what you know.”

“R-right.”

The lighting shifted slowly to a red hue.

“Human males don’t go into heat,” Kikyo smiled as she drew closer to him.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head to hers.  Lips met and she delicately bit to draw blood.  “I want to feel your passion… As I should have when I was alive.”

Inu Yasha moaned as his blood began to race.  His arms held her close.

“Give me your soul…” Kikyo hissed.

“What?”  He snapped out of his daze and focused on her.  His blood was on her lips.

“Stay with me, here.  Fill your promise to me.”

“But… Kagome…”

“Forget her.  It’s me you loved,” Kikyo purred as she nuzzled his throat.  “All we need is the jewel…” She bit him… hard.

He cried out in response.  Kikyo was pulled away and someone screamed, “Get away from him, you bloodsucking bastard!”

Inu Yasha blinked and he was once more in the cavern.  A bloodsucker was crouched above him with Kagome on its back.  She shone with an unnatural light.  “Don’t touch him!” she screamed as she stabbed it in the back with her demon claws.

The bloodsucker trembled and went limp.  Its body wasted away into a pool of blood… Kagome’s blood.  Even with his demon senses dulled he still knew her blood scent.  It masked the bloodsucker’s own scent.

“Kagome,” Inu Yasha whispered, gazing at the young woman who was kneeling before him, staring at her hands in shock.

“Inu Yasha?  What happened to me?  I have claws.”

“A bloodsucker took you and drained you.  I thought I killed it, but apparently not.  I gave you my demon power to heal you.”

Kagome crawled on her hands and knees to the bloodied man.  “You are human… because of me?”

He nodded slowly in response.

“How long will it last?”

“For as long as you need it.  A few days I should think.  Then it will return to me.”

“Have you done this before?”

“Once… A long time ago.”  He shifted uncomfortably.

“Who for?”

“My mother,” he sighed and pushed himself up to stand.  “Eew!”  He scowled at the blood on his under robe and pants.

“But she…” Kagome began.

Inu Yasha shot her a pained look.  “She was killed before her healing was complete.  I couldn’t help her.”  He untied his pants and let them slide down his legs.

“What are you doing?”

“Washing these.  I get so dirty as a human,” he said as he pulled off his under robe.  He stood for a moment to stare at her, unmindful to his nudity.  “What’s wrong?  You look like you’ve never seen a naked man before.”

Kagome covered her eyes with her hands, immediately aware that she had been staring.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t know that you were going to…”

“It’s alright.  I don’t mind you admiring my body,” he said with a smile as he stepped into the underground pool and shivered.  “Cold,” he grunted as he knelt in the water.

“Pervert,” Kagome sighed.

“You were the one looking at me,” he responded as he reached out for his clothes to rinse them.  The cold water against his loins felt good.  It pushed away the desire to mate.  Not that he would mind mating, but Kagome was in no shape to… He pushed the thought away angrily.  “Stop that, stupid.  You’re going to lose control and give in to your desire,” one part of his mind said.  “You undressed in front of her so she could see you naked…” another part whispered.  “Maybe you want to lose control and that’s why you did it.”  Inu Yasha frowned at that part of his mind.  “I undressed because my clothes were dirty… and I have no qualms about people seeing me naked,” he informed himself.  “But if she touches me…”

“Inu Yasha?”

He turned guiltily to see Kagome standing behind him.  “What is it?”

Kagome blushed.  Her hair was beginning to darken to its natural color.  “This robe isn’t dirty.  You can wear it while your other things dry,” she said, holding out his inner robe.

Inu Yasha stood and snapped the water out of his rinsed clothes before laying them down to dry.  He took the robe she offered, careful not to breathe her scent or touch her hand as he did so.  He pulled it around himself and sat down.  “I think you’ll heal quickly.  Mother’s injuries were more than blood loss and I was still small and weak.”

“That’s good, right?” she asked, sitting beside him.

“Very good.  We shouldn’t stay in one place too long.”

“I wonder why…” she began as she scrutinized her knees.

“Why what?”

“Why you let it bite you,” she said softly.  “Why you seemed to enjoy it.”

“I dreamt it was someone else.”

“Who?”

He shifted uncomfortably.  “Forget it.  It wasn’t who I wanted it to be.”

“Who did you want it to be?”

He stared at her.

“Was it Kikyo?” she asked quietly.

“Kikyo was there,” he responded.  “But she’s not who I wanted.”

“Why not?  You love her, right?”

“I loved her,” he corrected.  “She’s gone now and I know that.”

“Well then… who?”

He felt fear.  His fingers played with the hem of his robe.  He closed his eyes and held his breath for a few seconds.  “I’m in heat,” he announced quickly.

“What does that mean?”

He opened his eyes and stared at her confused face.  “I’m just saying that I wouldn’t normally dream about anyone, but my instincts to rut have taken over my thoughts, making me think about partners.”

“To rut?” Kagome still looked confused.

Inu Yasha scowled.  “Don’t your kind spawn?  Feel desire?  Fuck?”

Kagome blushed.  “Oh… Yes.  I wasn’t aware that demons felt that too.”

“Well, we do.”

“Oh…” Kagome looked thoughtful.  “So… What are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do about it?  I usually hide away in some cave until it’s all over,” he said irritably, taking in his surroundings.

“You mean you’ve never…?” Kagome began.  She stopped herself and looked away.

“Never been in heat around anyone I liked before.”  He frowned.  She turned back to him and their eyes touched.  “It occurs rather infrequently, thank the gods.  How about you?  You ever rut?”

Kagome frowned.  “That’s a personal question.”

“I answered you,” he countered.

Kagome looked back to her knees.  “No.”

“Any particular reason why not?”

“I just haven’t, OK?  I don’t even have a boyfriend…”

Inu Yasha pouted.  A part of him was hurt.  They had spent so much time together… “Why not?”

Kagome sighed.  “I spend all my free time here with you…” she trailed off and looked thoughtful before she chuckled.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she smiled.

“Fine!” he growled as he leaned back and closed his eyes.  If she wanted to be so damn secretive it wasn’t his place to…

“I was just thinking that you are the closest thing I’ve had to a boyfriend.”

Inu Yasha’s heart sped up.  “Yeah?  Well, don’t expect me to buy you flowers.”

Kagome laughed.

“Or chocolate, even though I don’t know what that is.”

“How do you know about that?”

"I read your little picture books on romance.”

Kagome smiled.  “You read my manga?”

“Whatever you call it,” he shrugged, pretending not to care.  “What’s chocolate?”

“A brown candy that melts in your mouth.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…” he responded.  Not so good.  “Well, what about flowers?”

“I don’t know.  I guess I like them better in a field.”

“OK… I won’t buy you flowers, but the chocolate is debatable.”

Kagome giggled.

“So…” he began.

“So…” she echoed.

He couldn’t ask her what he really wanted to, not that it ever stopped him before.  But now… What did she mean by boyfriend?  He couldn’t figure out whether she liked him in that way or not.  If not then he would be the fool for letting a mortal control his emotions.  There was too much to think about and his body wasn’t helping.  “So… We should get some rest.”

“Oh.”  Kagome looked a little sad.  She repositioned herself beside him and lay down.  “Stupid rock!” she grumbled as she pulled it out from under her back and tossed it away.

“Here,” Inu Yasha said, reaching out to guide her head to his shoulder.

“Thanks,” she whispered as she lay an arm on his chest and cuddled against him, trying to get comfortable.  “You know… You’re much sweeter when you’re in human form,” she whispered.  “Much more like a real boyfriend…” she trailed off as she began to doze. 

“Like a real boyfriend,” he mused to himself.  “An overprotective demon boyfriend who cares for nothing but becoming whole… and his lady.”  His body shuddered in excitement at her nearness.  He was instantly aware that only one thin robe separated his skin from her body.  Her upper body was covered, but her naked legs could get tangled with his during the night.  He carefully kicked out one leg from the folds of his robe.  The coolness on his skin excited him.  “Gods, what am I doing, trying to casually touch her?” 

His mind went numb as he felt her hand delicately run down his chest to clasp at his waist as she shifted in sleep.  His body was painfully ready to take her then and there, but he held himself back.  “Do something!” he screamed at himself.  One of his hands reached out and caught her in the left armpit.

She contorted around his hand and shrieked as she woke, “Inu Yasha!”

“That wasn’t the right spot?” he asked quietly.

“Right for what?”

“Never mind,” he sighed and tried to roll over.  She was on part of his robe, pinning it to the ground, so as he rolled he exposed himself.

“No tell me,” she insisted as her arm circled his chest from behind and her body pressed against his back.

“Now!  Now!  Now!” screamed his body, internally.  He gasped.  “Careful-woman-I’m-gonna-explode!” he slurred.

“What?” she asked as he fingers tightened on his chest. 

A sense of euphoria crashed over him.  He closed his eyes and tried to push the sensation away, but it was like trying to stop a tsunami with a little stick.  “Oh gods,” he moaned as his loins released.  He knew from experience that this would be the first wave of many in the next few days.  He gasped for air as his loins expelled the first seed of heat.  Kagome removed her hand and shifted off of his robe.  He rolled to his front and grunted.

“Inu Yasha?  What happened?  Are you OK?” she asked as she poked him in the back.

“Leave me…” he whimpered.  “Don’t watch.”

“Are you really…?” She patted his shoulder in sympathy. 

He rolled over with a cry to face her and took her in his arms.  One arm pulled her hips to his, his robe and her clothes separating them.  He grunted in her ear as another wave of pleasure crashed over him.  He pressed his hips to hers as he again released.  He went limp under her and gasped for air.  “You understand now?  I can’t resist you.  I NEED you.  But it’s better if you go wait with the others.  Ohh!” he moaned the last bit as his body gave a shiver.  “Go…” he whimpered.

Kagome carefully pulled herself off of him and stood on shaky legs.  She looked down on him in sadness.  “Do you really hate me so much?”

Inu Yasha sat up.  “What?!” he cried.

“That you would make me leave rather than let me help you,” she said sadly.  “Do you really hate me so much?”

“It’s not that, Kagome.  It’s… Damnit! I want to rut with you!” Inu Yasha moaned.

Kagome stared at him in shock.

“Even if I wasn’t in heat I’d want to rut with you.”

“Why?” she demanded of him.

“Because… I think of you as my… my mate.”  Another wave washed over him and he closed his eyes and let it pass.  He regained his breath.  “Mother once told me that it’s the nature of dog demons and their kin to mate for life.”  He opened his eyes to see her kneeling beside his head.  “What are you doing?”

“Will it hurt?” she asked quietly.

“Will what hurt?”

“Rutting?”

“Gods, I hope not.”

“Will you be gentle?”

He gazed at her in shock.  Was she actually considering this?  His heart began to pound in his ears.  “I’ll try and be as gentle as my passion lets me… our first time.  Now or later, I can wait.”

She nodded and began to undress.

“Why are you doing this now?” he asked as he watched her remove her shirt and bra.

“Because you mate for life,” she said simply as she pulled of her skirt.  “Inu Yasha, I…” she stopped and stared at him.  She took his hand and held it tightly.  “You are such a jerk sometimes, but you’ve gotten better.  I…”

“Kagome,” he whispered.   He raised his hand to her cheek and pulled her face to his.

For a moment he understood his sire.  He felt the devotion that rushed through him for this mortal woman.  He would protect her always with his body and soul.  They would raise their pup in love and one day she’d grow old and die while he was still young, unless he became mortal for her.  Gently he bit her lip and the tip of his tongue.  Their blood mingled.  Her power washed over him.  Someday she would die and leave him alone again.  They had so little time in this lifetime… Why waste it?

He removed his robe as she shifted to remove her panties.  “My lady,” he whispered as he hugged her close.  In his mind he could already see the children of their union.  Pups bouncing on his knee… little voices crying, “Inu Yasha!”

No, they’d call him ‘papa,’ not… “Inu Yasha, Kagome, what are you doing?” a little voice asked.

Inu Yasha felt a weight on his head.  He opened his eyes to see Shippou staring down from the top of his head.

“Go away!” growled Inu Yasha.

Shippou hopped down and stared innocently at the two.  “Why?  Are you two getting ready for a bath?  May I join you?”

“No!” Inu Yasha responded.

“My lady!” Myouga cried out as he bowed to Kagome.  “I will serve my lord’s lady always.”

“Stop that, we haven’t done anything yet, you bastards!” Inu Yasha growled.

“Looks like you’re about to.  We’re here to bless the union.”

“Aargh!” Inu Yasha cried as he grabbed his wet clothes in one hand and Kagome in the other.  “Peace and quiet,” he mumbled as he left the other two behind.

“May you have many healthy demon spawn from your union!” Myouga encouraged.

“Fools!” Inu Yasha cursed as he pulled his damp inner robe on.

“What did they mean…?” Kagome began as they rounded a corner.

Inu Yasha stopped her words with his lips as he pressed her against the wall.  “We don’t want them to find us,” he whispered tenderly.

“Can’t they smell us?”

“Not if we keep moving and confuse them,” he breathed as he wrapped his robed arms around her.  The front of his robe was open and his hot body writhed against hers as he kissed her lips.  Another wave began to crest and he fell to his knees with a moan.

“What is it?” she asked.  “Another one so soon?”

“My body quickens in anticipation,” he mumbled, pressing his cheek to her thigh, breathing hard.  He felt her hands touch his scalp.  They scratched behind his mostly human formed ears.  He purred in response as only a demon in ecstasy could.  “I don’t know if I can do this now,” he confided as he reached for her wrists and pulled her down to kneel before him.  “Never doubt my loyalty or claim to you, Kagome.  But I’m not sure I can put you through this now.”

“Inu Yasha,” she breathed.

“What I said about mates was true.  The demon in me may lie to conceal his heart, but the man… the man knows better,” he whispered with a kiss.  “I don’t want to see you hurt for taking a demon husband.”

“Would you hurt me?”

“No, not me!  My bark is much worse than my bite.  I’m talking about the demons out there that will hunt you down if you accept me as mate.”

“What’s wrong with you?” she moaned as she stood and stumbled away.  “One minute you can’t keep your hands off of me and the next you warn me away.  What do you want from me?”

Inu Yasha stood and reached out for her in the dark.  He hugged her close.  “Kagome,” he whispered.

“Inu Yasha, I… like you… a lot.  I’ve never met anyone like you.  Something in me wants this.”  She began to cry.  “Something else asks me why I’m giving myself to you.  Why do I feel it’s so important?  Is it Kikyo inside me who desires or is it me?  Why am I so excited by your touch?  Is it really so wonderful as the girls at school say it is?”

“Kagome,” he murmured, holding her close.

“It doesn’t help if you can’t decide.  What are you so divided?”

“My lord!  Where are you?  My lady?” Myouga’s voice called out.

“Hey dog man, we have your sticky inner robe and Kagome’s clothes!” Shippou sang.  “Why are you two hiding from us?”

Inu Yasha cursed under his breath and picked up Kagome to stumble through the darkness.  He rounded another corner and leaned against a column of limestone.

“Divided?” he muttered.  “I suppose I am,” he said as he let her stand on her own feet.  “The demon would deny it, but I’m afraid of losing you.  As much as I want to lose myself in you… I know that once I do we will be hunted.  How can we raise a pup like that?”

“Pup?” Kagome echoed.

“Or not, if you’re not ready.  I can control the potency of my seed until we are ready to make a pup… erm… whelp… child-like thing.”

“A baby?”

“Yes.  One day we should make one.  Until then we can practice mating…”

He was surprised by her lips on his.  His body sang of desire.  “Don’t tease me,” he begged.  “I don’t think I can take much more.”

“I’m not,” she responded as he touched him… in a place he never usually gave much thought to unless he was in heat.  It marked him as a male and usually it was half-erect.  In days of heat it was painfully erect for mating.  She touched his phallus and he groaned.  “Big,” she mumbled.

“Is it?” he asked, feeling every nerve ending come alive in his body.

She breathed heavily.  “You really want this, want me?”

He thought for a moment.  Even if he could stop himself he didn’t really want to.  “Yes, do you?”

“Yes.”

His legs gave out and he pulled her on top of him.  “Anyone who interrupts us, dies,” he grunted with feral glee.

Her body covered his.  She opened herself to him.  The tip of his phallus was against her… burying it slowly where it was made to go.  Heat surrounded the first few inches as she grunted above him.  “Oh gods, Kagome… it’s…” he moaned.  This was his first time… first time sharing himself with his chosen mate and love.  Could he think that?  Yes!  It wouldn’t kill him.  Maybe it would later, but at the moment he didn’t care.  This woman wasn’t Kikyo.  She was more.  And… and she seemed to be having trouble taking all of him.  He rested his hands on her hips.  “Relax,” he offered, rubbing her thighs.

She pulled off of him a bit and for a moment he thought that she was giving up.  Maybe he was too big.  Maybe some cruel twist of fate made it so he could never completely couple with his chosen mate.  Maybe… she was planning to come down hard on him, nearly taking him all in.  She cried out and collapsed on him.  He held her.  “I’m sorry I hurt you,” he cried.

“No… just give me a moment.”

He held her, reveling in her scent and touch.  He was inside of her.  That idea thrilled him to no end.  Slowly she began to push against him, taking him completely.  He was pleased.  He moved against her.  His wave was beginning to crest in him.  “Kagome!” he grunted as his hips moved on their own against hers.  He rolled over on top to get a better tempo.  So close… so…

Sharp pain caught his shoulder and he found himself ripped away from the warmth.  “Inu Yasha!” Kagome screamed.

“Poor little half-breed, taken from rutting bliss… blood made sweet by desire!” something laughed in the darkness.  It carried him to the entrance of the cave.  The blue light of the sword revealed a bloodsucker.  “Know me?  Too bad you sliced me in half after I drank from your little witch.”

“You were killed… twice!”  Inu Yasha grunted.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kagome approach cautiously.

“That second one was my lower half.  I have a habit of dividing when I am cut in half, especially after such a powerful meal.  This half is smarter.  It knows to sweeten your blood with desire from the act of rut before it drains you.”  The bloodsucker smiled and leaned forward to take Inu Yasha’s neck.

“No!” screamed Kagome.  She jumped out of the darkness and touched Inu Yasha’s foot.  “Take back your power.”

The cave was illuminated with a blinding light.

“Kagome, no!  You’ll die!” a now demon blooded Inu Yasha screamed.  He shook out his white mane and glared angrily at the bloodsucker that held him.

“Your woman can’t live without your power after I have drained her.”

Inu Yasha snarled and kicked as he used his claws to rip off the hand that held him.  He bounced back, careful not to step on Kagome.  In a flash he took the sword from the cave entrance and swiped it at the bloodsucker.

“Think that will stop me?” it laughed.

“No, but sunlight will.”  Inu Yasha smiled evilly as his outer robe slipped to the ground and early morning daylight poured in.  “Morning!” he growled as he hit the cringing bloodsucker.  It screamed and fell as it reduced to ash and blood.

Inu Yasha’s sword fell to the ground with a clatter as he tossed it aside to kneel next to Kagome.  “Stupid woman,” he cried, gathering her in his arms.  He reached back and took his robe to wrap her naked form in.  “Stupid, stupid woman.  Don’t leave me, mate.”  He held her close.  “Please.  Please don’t leave me!”  He kissed her lips and called to any remaining demon blood in her veins.  It was gone.  He cried in frustration, pounding the ground around her.  “Kagome!” he screamed.  “Return to me.  Your lord commands it!”

“My lord,” Myouga called, making his way to his master’s side followed by a sorrowful Shippou.  “It’s the way of mortal mates.  They all must die… You know that.”

“No!” Inu Yasha wailed, burying himself against her chest.  It was too soon.  He barely had a chance to show her how much he needed her.  Despair tore at his chest, leaving his arms numb as he held her close.

“Ouch!” someone said.

Inu Yasha sat up and stared at a confused looking Kagome.  “You… You’re…” he stuttered as relief washed over him.  He never thought he could feel so much pain.  Joy turned to anger.  “You bitch, I thought you were dead!” he growled.

“Well I’m not so stop squashing me.”

He dropped her on the ground, somewhat abruptly.  He turned away from her and reached for his clothes as he wiped his eyes.  He would rather die than show her weakness.  He began to dress and tossed her clothes at her irritably.  “Come on, we have to get out of here.  We’ve wasted enough time,” he announced coldly.  “Myouga, Shippou… go back to last night’s camp and gather everything we left behind.  We’ll follow.”

The flea and fox demon left the cave without a word leaving Inu Yasha and Kagome in silence.  Inu Yasha leaned against the cave entrance and watched her dress. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Kagome whispered as she straightened her blouse.

“I wasn’t scared…” Inu Yasha frowned.

She made a face as she passed him.  He reached out and delicately touched her arm.  A tiny smile played on his lips.  She returned his smile and he followed her down the path, away from the cave.

Epilogue

Kagome peeled off her clothes and tested the hot spring temperature with her foot.  She sighed and lowered herself into the healing waters.

She glanced up at the approach of Inu Yasha.  He gave a shy smile and began to disrobe for the bath.  “Tell me,” he said as he settled into the hot water.  “Do you have any regrets about what we did?”

“No,” Kagome said softly.  “It was never completed, was it?”

“No, but it was enough to…” he broke off and blushed.

“Enough to bind us?” Kagome offered.

He dropped his head in acceptance.  “Yes.”

“Do you have any regrets?”

“Demons don’t regret,” he responded automatically with a snort.  He turned to stare at her with a strange mixture of sadness and guilt.

“Really?” she prompted.

“No,” he said quietly, leaning forward thoughtfully to blow bubbles in the water.  After a minute he raised his mouth out of the water.  “I guess I’m a little regretful that I couldn’t make it good for you.  It was your first time and I was inexperienced.  I’m also sorry that we were interrupted.  That’s what you get for accepting a demon mate.”

“Next time will be better,” she smiled as she touched his arm.

He smiled and shifted so he was between her knees, facing her.  His hand rested on her hand.  “Yes… next time,” he said sadly, playing with her fingers absently.

“What is it?”

He sighed and looked deep into her eyes.  “This morning I called you a name because… I thought… I thought I lost you.”

“Inu Yasha…”

“I wasn’t scared… I was hurt.  It’s very difficult for a demon to love a mortal, you know.  The mortal can easily die and leave the demon all alone with all his misery and pain and… sometimes he’ll go insane if the love is deep enough.  Do you understand?”

“I don’t know… I…”

Inu Yasha took her hands and held them tightly.  “I sometimes wonder if it’s really all worth it… love for pain and insanity.  But then I remember.”  He leaned forward and carefully kissed her forehead.  “Thank you.”

She blushed.  He shifted so he could sit beside her, his body touching hers.  They let the moment pass, content just to be near the other.

“So,” Kagome smiled lightly.  “How many pups do you want?”

Inu Yasha frowned for a moment in thought.  “As many as you’re willing to give me.”

“Want to start now?” she laughed.

He laughed along with her for a moment before he stopped abruptly.  “No.  Not yet.”