Bloodborne Duties

Bloodborne Duties

An ancient curse was placed upon the Inuyoukai family: if the youngest born heir does not produce an heir-apparent before his 205th birthday, the Dogs will surrender to the Panthers. Inuyasha is the youngest heir and it is his duty to avoid the curse.

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Kagome felt the wave of dark energy from the tree and was surprised as to why she didn't feel it earlier. Somehow the tree masked its true intentions and now? Now she was hoisted twenty feet into the air as her mate went beast mode. Still struggling, Kagome tried to use every bit of her energy to get the tree – Ookiiki was it?—to put her down. Alas, nothing was to avail.

"Did I get the puppy mad?" The tree sneered. Its root began tightening around Kagome's waist and she screamed even louder, the air being pushed out of her lungs. Inuyasha roared, almost psychotically, as he began running to the tree: full demon and fully armed with his fang.

"Let. Her. Go." He hissed out as he scaled the length of the tree. Apparently, Ookiiki didn't take into consideration the fact that he was rooted to the ground and couldn't move—and even if he could, he would never be able to match Inuyasha's speed.

"Wh-what are you doing? GET OFF?" Ookiiki began shaking his trunk but it didn't work as well as he'd hoped it would. Inuyasha jumped onto the branch that was suffocating his mate and instantly chopped it off. Then, in one fluid motion, he dove off of where he was standing to catch Kagome before she hit the ground.

All while Ookiiki was trying to get a hold of Kagome again.

All while Inuyasha was in full demon form.

Inuyasha managed to hack away at the sharp roots that were going for his mate. Kagome had managed to turn herself (while falling) and look at him. "INUYASHA!"

His eyes flashed back to their natural ochre shade before succumbing to the red once more. Inuyasha snarled, willing himself to fall faster and—as always—he defied gravity to make it to his beloved on time. Wrapping his left arm around her waist, he flipped them over so he took the brute of the fall. Within a heartbeat, though, Inuyasha got off of the ground and bounded a good few feet away from the tree.

"Stay," he whispered. Kagome looked at him, worried.

"But you?"

Although he was in his beast mode, his eyes shone with sincerity and passion. Only for his mate. He trailed a few fingers down her cheek and managed to whisper. "Me safe. You stay."

Hesitantly, Kagome nodded. Inuyasha turned back around and gripped his tetsusaiga tightly. "Die," he snarled as he raised his sword. Ookiiki's roots weren't long enough to reach Inuyasha and Kagome so all he had to do was—

"KAZE NO KIZU!"

In an instant, the scars of the winds incinerated the tree. Kagome let out a yelp as, from existence, the tree vanished. All that remained was a lone jewel shard. Eyes narrowing, Inuyasha sheathed his sword, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. Upon reopening his eyes, he was back to his normal half-demon self.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called, running towards him. Without thinking, he held his arms open for her and she hugged him, tightly. "Oh, you're okay! I thought you were gonna be stuck in your youkai form."

He smiled, albeit softly. "Keh, of course not, wench."

Kagome giggled, pulling back. "Right, right, almighty hanyou. Gotchya." Before he could make his snide remark, Kagome jogged to the jewel shard and picked it up. Number one… out of an unknown amount. She watched the shard purify before dropping it into her pocket. She needed another vial.

"We said it once and I'll stay it again," she murmured walking back to Inuyasha. "Here we go again."

Inuyasha shrugged and fell into a step beside her, walking away from where the tree once stood. It was gone from existence, its entire entity erased from history altogether. It deserved it; what kind of living creature, let alone an immobile tree, could even fathom that they could touch his mate and get out alive and in existence?

"And like I said before," he looked over his shoulder to the empty clearing. Oh well, some runts were gonna have a great playground now. "We're stuck to each other for eternity. Might as well make a hobby of it."

"So true, so true. Then let's make our way to Totosai?"

Inuyasha, uncharacteristically, smirked at her. "We could. Can we also detour through a hot spring I smell that's just a few yards ahead?"

The glint in Kaogme's eye matched his. "Race you there?"

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. "Last one there has to cook dinner and catch the game."

"Deal!" As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Kagome made a break for it. Inuyasha counted to ten before, slowly, jogging in the direction his mate was running. He had always intended to let her win—keh, I'm such a good mate.

.xx.

"I won!" Kagome shouted in glee. Inuyasha watched her in sheer amusement, finding it humorous that she found so much joy in winning a race against him. Coyly, he shrugged as she hopped around like she was a flea demon (Thank ramen she isn't half flea... Inuyasha thought).

"Well," Inuyasha shrugged, "guess I have to hunt and cook tonight."

Kagome snorted, stopping her 'happy hop' and saying, "I know you let me win. Besides, you always hunt."

"I hardly ever cook though!"

"Well learn." Kagome smirked (it frightened Inuyasha how much it looked like his "evil" smirk.) "You're gonna live to be in an era where women are equal to men and it doesn't matter who prepares dinner."

Inuyasha pouted. "Keh, when we're finally in that era, we will see wench. I'll hire those chef people you told me about. Like I'd waste precious time cooking…"

"We will," she winked. "Now be a good mate and find us a nice bear." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"Keep your arrows close," he reminded her before running off.

.xx.

Kagome was soaking in the hot spring as Inuyasha skinned and gutted a bear he caught. Kagome watched him intently; the way he concentrated while cutting open the bear, the way his arm flexed (Kagome was secretly gleeful that Inuyasha had decided to take his haori off for the skinning and gutting process.)

"Inuyasha?"

He looked up at his mate and grunted.

"Finish cutting it up and I'll cook it... You need a bath too."

Amused, Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Keh, woman I can do it."

"But I wanna cook it!"

"And I said I can do it."

Kagome glared at him. "Don't make me come over there."

Inuyasha stopped cutting the bear and leaned back onto the ground. He had one leg flat against the floor while the knee of his other leg was propped up. He rested an arm on his knee and used the other hand to lean back on to. He smirked at his wife. "I dare you."

Kagome stood up with her hands on her hips and realization dawned. Inuyasha was hungrily oogling her naked body and she dropped back into the water. "Pervert." She mumbled. "You picked up from Miroku."

Inuyasha raised both eyebrows. "How am I a pervert when I'm staring at my mate?"

"You tricked me into standing up!"

"But that doesn't make me a pervert."

Kagome pouted. "Sure it does." And to her surprise (and delight), he stood up and untied the strings to his hakama's. Her eyes, hungrily, drank in the beauty of her husband's naked body and before she knew it, he walked into the hot spring.

"I'll show you pervert," he snarled playfully, "it'll make Miroku seem like a child."

"Is that so?"

Closing the gap between them, he had and arm wrap around her shoulders and the other stroking the column of her neck. Before Kagome could retaliate with any words of sarcasm, he brushed his lips against hers, tightening the hold around her waist.

Ecstasy rocked Kagome. This was what she always wanted (granted, not in a hot spring with a half cut bear as an audience), but the fact that he could so easily approach her and… do that. Of course, the only reason he could do that was because they were blood bound – till death due them part, for the rest of eternity.

The best of both worlds, demon and human.

Inuyasha pulled away and stared into Kagome's eyes. His heart was racing uncontrollably, and he could hear her heart rapidly beating away as well. Bringing her arms up around his shoulders, Kagome pulled him to her lips once more, linking them together as one unit.

Mate, Inuyasha thought. This was his mate; his wife, his partner, his better half. To find somebody who wanted him as a half demon was remarkable, and many half demons were not as lucky as he was.

"So," Kagome pulled back and winked at him, "when do we start making pu—" her voice dropped as she looked behind Inuyasha. Frowning, he turned around and was surprised to see Kikyo's soul stealers flying atop many trees. Cursing silently, he turned back to his mate.

"Let's go?" He asked and her eyes widened.

"Sorry?"

Inuyasha chuckled softly. "I said, let's go. You told me last time that you wanted to come next time she came."

Kagome's heart melted into a puddle of goo. She kissed his chin and smiled at him. "I trust you," she murmured, "besides, I have to get making some bear stew." She ushered over to the bear that Inuyasha had forgotten about. Looking into her eyes, Inuyasha was searching for something. Finally, when he found the answer that he was looking for, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll be back soon." He murmured. Kagome reached up to rub his ear.

"Stay safe," she whispered. Their lips touched for one final kiss and he pulled himself out of the hot spring. Quickly pulling his clothing on, Inuyasha took one last look at his mate before turning around and running off towards where Kikyo was. Kagome yawned loudly and proceeded to pull herself out of the hot spring. Pulling a towel out of a little pack that Sango had given them, Kagome wrapped herself in it and continued to cut the bear from where Inuyasha left off.

I could make a really good stew, she thought. For some reason, it felt amazing to not have to worry about Inuyasha and Kikyo. She knew that he cared about her, but he was her husband, not Kikyo's. Smiling softly, Kagome used the sharp stone that Inuyasha had been using (coupled with his claws) to hack off chunks of the bear.

Glancing over at the pack, Kagome wondered if Sango had packed them some spices…

.xx.

"You're wet," Kikyo stated. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment. He would control his mouth when he was around Kikyo, it was a promise he made to himself—a promise for Kagome.

"I was bathing," he murmured, curtly. Kikyo studied him for a bit longer and took a step towards him. Inuyasha held his ground.

"Bathing?" Kikyo's lips curled into a dark sneer. "With my… reincarnation?"

"Kagome." Inuyasha immediately clarified. "My mate's name is Kagome."

The sneer dropped from Kikyo's lips fast. Inuyasha studied her hard, his eyes narrowing slightly. Kikyo took a step back and held onto her bow tightly. "I see," she whispered, "despite the fact your soul—"

"Does not belong to you."

Kikyo's eyes widened.

"I avenged your death, Kikyo," Inuyasha stated, "and I, by no way, belong to you." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I belong to Kagome. And only Kagome. Naraku has died and your soul can be at peace now. Why don't you let it?"

Kikyo's free hand fisted. "You will regret it, Inuyasha." She murmured before turning around and leaving abruptly. Inuyasha stood there for a few moments longer, thinking of what just happened. Kikyo, inadvertently, told him that his wife's life could possibly be in danger by Kikyo herself. Inuyasha knew why- Kikyo refused to give up her soul so that Kagome can be whole.

Kikyo had a lot of hatred in her heart and Inuyasha had no idea what to do. Sighing deeply, he turned around and trudged back to where his mate was. Breaking into the clearing, any thoughts prior of Kikyo immediately evaporated and a goofy smiled plastered onto his face. Kagome was, donned in a yukata provided by Sango, was turning skewers of bear over an open fire. His nose smelt the delicious scent of fresh herbs and—honey?

"Wench?"

Kagome looked up and grinned. "Hey!" She greeted. Sitting down beside her, he eyed the meat before trailing his gaze up to a fallen bee demon.

"Did you get attacked?"

He sounded frantic and Kagome giggled. "Kind of? A bee demon wanted to sting me for my shards but… I used my arrows, killed it, and harvested some honey to make honey glazed bear kabobs."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes before playfully shoving his wife out of the way and taking over in turning the spokes of bear meat. Kagome threw a soft punch at him but decided to take the break that was given to her. "Think you're all tough because you can kill a bee demon?" He teased. Kagome nodded in all seriousness.

"Oh yeah, that stinger would've made sure I was a goner. Naraku was a puppy compared to it." She laughed seeing the look Inuyasha threw at her.

"Don't insult the pups of the world." Inuyasha paused and added as an afterthought, "Especially if you're gonna be giving birth to a litter of my pups."

Kagome threw a pebble at him and Inuyasha laughed. Settling down, she decided to ask him why Kikyo dropped by. Inuyasha's mood dampened and he told her the truth: "To tell me that I belonged to her."

Kagome gulped. "And?"

Inuyasha looked over to his mate. "I told her that I belong to you."

Her heart thudded against her chest and Inuyasha heard it. He glanced sideways to see that she was staring at him. Inuyasha turned his attention back to the cooking bear meat and continued talking. "I avenged her death but she refuses to give your soul back to you. She wants me to go to hell with her but I won't. I can't. My life-" He didn't finish because Kagome hugged him from behind. Lowering his head, Inuyasha's free hand came up to cover Kagome's hand on his shoulder.

My life belongs to you, he finished in his mind. I love you, Kagome…

.xx.

Walking in tandem, Inuyasha had his arms crossed in front of him while Kagome had Sango's pack swung over her back. They were chit chatting, silently, talking about all the things they'd done, everything they'd seen, and all the people they'd saved.

And then…

"What kind of robes did you say you wanted?"

Kagome tapped her chin. "Umm… well, I was thinking about it. I want pink!"

"That's such a girly colour!" He whined. "Why not something manly… like blue!"

"Last time I checked, I was a girl."

Inuyasha wiggled his eyebrows. "Last time I checked you were a girl too. I should check again, just to be sure."

Kagome laughed, as she rolled her eyes. "You are an even bigger pervert than Miroku."

"I learned from him." Inuyasha admitted. "He knows a lot of strange things."

"Tell me about it," Kagome murmured. Glancing at each other, they smiled softly and Inuyasha reached over to grab her hand. Giving him a tight squeeze, they continued their journey to Totosai's cave, to forge Inuyasha's fang. A slow smile crept onto his face just at the mere thought of it. The feeling that erupted in his stomach never seemed to go away whenever he thought of forging a sword. From his fang.

For my son, he thought. Idly, he glanced over at Kagome.

For our son...

.xx.