Convergence

Shippou was waiting on the other side. As soon and InuYasha set Kagome down Shippou jumped into her arms. “Hey InuYasha, we were looking for you last night. We heard a rumor about a shard to the south. Where did you go?” Shippou asked.

Kagome looked at the now blushing hanyou beside her. “Yes InuYasha where did you spend last night.”

“What did you hear?” he asked trying to change the subject.

“Mama saw you sleeping in my room, you know.” Kagome said.

“Wow InuYasha, did you really spend the night at Kagome’s?” Shippou asked. “Usually you just sit by the well and pout until she gets back.”

InuYasha reached out to grab the kit, but he jumped out of Kagome’s arms and took off for the village. InuYasha started after him. “InuYasha.” Kagome called stopping him. He turned around. “Aren’t you the one who’s always saying I shouldn’t walk alone.”

He waited for her to catch up to him. “I’m going to kill that runt.” he mumbled.

“I miss you too, when I go home.” she said softly.

He looked at her, surprised by her confession. “Come on.” he said taking her hand. “If they really did hear about a shard, we should get going.” She nodded.

Before they reached the village he released her hand. Kagome was more than a little confused. InuYasha was acting so strangely. He’s like a different person when no one else is around.

“Ah InuYasha, Kagome, you’re back.” Miroku said at their approach. “We have heard of a possible jewel shard a week to the south.”

“Well what are we waiting for.” InuYasha replied.

“Actually InuYasha, we were waiting for you.” Miroku said with a smirk.

InuYasha ignored Miroku and led the way out of the village. “Hey Miroku, I found out where InuYasha was last night.” Shippou announced.

“Really, where?” he asked.

Before Shippou could answer, InuYasha had grabbed him and thumped him on the head. Shippou sought refuge in Kagome’s arms. “Why doesn’t he want anyone to know he spent the night in your room?” the kit asked.

Kagome blushed, as Miroku and Sango turned to look at her. InuYasha growled and jumped to grab the fox demon. “InuYasha.” Kagome said. “Sit boy.”

InuYasha groaned as his face hit the dirt. Miroku took advantage of InuYasha’s position. “Ah, so tell me InuYasha, what exactly were you doing in Kagome’s room all night?” he asked.

“When I get up monk, you’re dead.” InuYasha growled.

“InuYasha.” Kagome warned.

“Fine.” he said, dusting himself off.

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They traveled for a week and were about to make camp for the night, when Kagome stood suddenly. “InuYasha .” she said. “I can sense the shard.”

“How close?” he asked.

“I can’t tell, but it coming closer.” she said.

“Let’s go then.” he told them. “If were this close, we might as well get the shard.”

They all agreed and Kagome directed them toward the presence of the shard. Soon they came upon a lager clearing. InuYasha drew his sword. He could feel the youkai approaching rapidly. Before long they heard the sound of falling trees and a large hare youkai came barreling toward them.

“Kagome, where is the shard?” Inuyasha yelled., as he jumped out of the way.

“I can’t tell.” she replied. “It is moving too fast.”

InuYasha jumped and swung his sword at the hare, but missed. “Damn it.” he cursed. Then he noticed it was headed straight for Kagome. He chased after it, and managed to draw its attention by slashing its back leg with his claws. The injury slowed the hare’s movements.

“InuYasha, the shard is in the other back leg.” she told him.

He nodded. He used Tetsusiaga to sever the back leg, crippling the demon, before finishing it off with a swipe to the neck.. Kagome walked over to where the leg with the shard had fallen. She looked at it with disgust.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked. “Get the shard.”

“I can’t.” she whispered, turning lightly green.

InuYasha shook his head. “Oi wench, do I have to do everything?” he asked. He used the sword to split the leg open revealing the shard. He removed it from the remains and set it in Kagome’s hand. She closed her hand and turned away, only to find her self facing the rest of the slain demon.

She didn’t know why it was effecting her this way. She had seen plenty of other demons killed before, with more gore than this. She felt unsteady.

InuYasha watched with concern as she swayed on her feet. Damn it. He reached out to catch her as she fell over in a faint. “Let’s get out of here, before she wakes up.” he said.

“She has seen worse than this.” Miroku started. “I wonder what effected her so.”

“We’ll have to wait until she wakes up to find out.” InuYasha replied.

When they were far enough away, they made camp. Soon after Kagome woke up. “Kagome.” Shippou cried. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” she said. “I guess maybe because it looked like a regular animal and not some strange beast that it effected me. I’m sorry for reacting like that.”

“It’s all right.” Sango said. “We were just concerned about you, since you have never done that before.”

“Still, you think I’d be used to this stuff by now. After all we have rabbit often. It isn’t like I haven’t seen one before.” Kagome replied.

“It’s over. We got the shard, so quit worrying about it already.” InuYasha said.

Kagome nodded. She had thought that InuYasha might be mad about her acting so weak, but he seemed to be fine with it, so she decided to let it go. Maybe she hadn’t been eating enough, or getting enough rest.

It took just under a week to get back to their village and they found that they would be setting out again in the morning. Kaede told them that there was talk of a demon to the north that possessed a shard. Though they were tired, they knew they couldn’t risk not setting off right away. They couldn’t afford to let Naraku get as powerful as before.
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They had been searching for six days. Kagome could sense the shard, but it kept moving. She hoped it wouldn’t take too much longer to find. She wanted to be home in time for her 18th birthday, which was in just over a week. She also wanted to get away from InuYasha for a few days.

Since yesterday he had been moody and distant. More than usual that is. She couldn’t tell what it would be that would set him off next. As soon as they stopped to make camp he jumped up in a tree, not even coming down to eat. They were having Ramen, so she knew that something must really be bothering him.

Before going to bed, Kagome bent down to add some more wood to the fire, and heard InuYasha take off into the woods. I have to see what’s bothering him. She set off into the woods after him. She walked for about 20 minutes before realizing that she had no chance of finding him, if he didn’t want to be found. She turned to go back to camp and realized that she didn’t know the way.

I guess that only leaves me one choice. “InuYasha.” she called, and waited to see if he would answer. “InuYasha, please. I can’t get back without you.”

She heard something behind her and spun to see InuYasha had appeared. He was standing about ten feet away and she started toward him.

“Stop.” he said stepping back.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” he replied. “You shouldn’t have come.”

She approached him again and watched as his eyes turned from amber to crimson, and back again. “InuYasha what is it?” she asked.

“Please go.” he whispered.

“Let me help you.” she said closing the last of the distance between them. She gazed into his amber eyes and gasped as they turned red. He put his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. Her vision clouded and she went limp in his arms.

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When she woke up, she found herself in a cave and there was a fire going. InuYasha was standing at the entrance looking out into the night. She stood and realized that his haori was wrapped around her.

“Just stay over there.” He said not turning. “I don’t think I can control it next time.”

“Control what?” she asked.

“My youkai blood.” he replied.

“I don’t understand.” she said walking toward him.

“Damn it.” he yelled. “If you don’t stay away, I’ll end up hurting you. I won’t do that to you.”

“For the last time InuYasha, do what?” she asked.

“Mark you.” he yelled. “Claim you as my mate.”

“Your mate?” she asked. “You mean you want to.”

“Haven’t you been listening, baka.” he said. “I almost did it when you found me.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asked, afraid he would say that it was because of Kikyou.

“I won’t do that to you.” he said. “I won’t put you through what people will say about you, about us...”

“I don’t care what people will say.” she said. “Are you sure it isn’t because of Kikyou?”

“Damn it wench. Kikyou, the Kikyou I knew is dead.” he told her.

Kagome moved to stand beside him. “Is it because you don’t love me?” she asked.

He turned and pushed her away. She watched as he battled the demon within. “No.” he replied. “It would mean forever, and I can’t ask that of you. I could never forgive myself.”

“If I told you that I wanted to be with you, would it matter?” she asked.

For the first time he really looked at her. “You don’t want me.” he said sadly. “They would say I forced you.”

“But we would know that wasn’t true.” she told him. “InuYasha I love you.”

She couldn’t mean that, could she? He studied her face and saw only the truth. She moved to stand before him. Could I really ask this of her... She put her arms around him and decided for them both.

He growled and picked her up. He took her further back in the cave and laid her on the ground. His haori fell open and he slid his claws up the front of her shirt. It fell open to reveal her naked breasts. He growled his pleasure.

Even as she looked up at the purple lines across his face and the red of his eyes, she wasn’t afraid. She knew that the real InuYasha was there, just below the surface and that no matter what form he was in, he would never hurt her.

While he pulled off his shirt, she unbuttoned her pants and slid them down. She couldn’t let him ruin all her clothes. Before she could remove her underwear, he cut them off.

The scent of this woman pleased him. He knew that she was his. She didn’t resist and he could tell that she wanted him. He growled his pleasure. He was tempted to take her, to just force himself into her , but something held him back. She was human. From somewhere deep inside he realized that he would need to dull her pain.

He brought his lips to hers as his hands explored her body. She moaned loudly. It only served to excite him further. Her vision started to cloud. He was doing something to her, relaxing her. She gave into it. His touch was rough and wild, but in a way that excited her. Soon the world around her was gone.

He positioned himself to enter her. As he thrust inside her he bit down on the base of her neck, but she felt no pain. He tore his wrist with his fangs and put it to her mouth. When she had sealed their bond with his blood, he began to move within her. Her body responded to him, meeting his thrusts with her own. When it was finished, he laid beside her and pulled her into his arms.

An hour later, Kagome awoke. The sun was just beginning to lend its light to the sky. At first, she wondered if it had all been a dream, but as she felt the skin of their bodies presses together, she knew it was true. She smiled and planted soft kisses across his chest.

InuYasha slowly came awake. He was holding someone. He breathed deeply. Kagome. Kagome? He realized that they were both undressed and then he noticed his mark. What did I do? He moved away and pulled on his hakama.

Kagome wrapped his haori around her and sat up. Why is he acting like that?

“I’m sorry.” he stammered as he backed away. “I’m so sorry.”

Kagome stood up and walked over to him. InuYasha was forced to stop as his back hit the wall. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I don’t.. I didn’t ...I’m sorry.” he said. “I shouldn’t have. I don’t even remember what happened.”

“Are you sorry because you don’t want to be with me?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. He shook his head. “Then why are you sorry, if we both wanted this?”

“I really could have hurt you.” he said softly.

“I don’t remember exactly what happened, but I do know that of all I felt last night, not once did I feel hurt or afraid.” she told him. She put her arms around him.

InuYasha buried his face in her neck. He could smell himself all over her, especially where he had marked her as his own. The smell of what they had done together was filling the cave and stirring a longing within him. He licked the wound softly and she let out a low moan. He raised his head and pressed his lips to hers. Kagome let his haori fall open, and stepped back. He looked at her and wanted to take her, but wasn’t sure that he should.

“Show me.” she said softly. “Show me what it is like, to be with you, the real you. I want to remember.”

It was all the encouragement he needed. He took her in his arms and lowered her to the floor. She went to cover herself with her arms as he stared at her. “Don’t” he whispered. “You’re beautiful.”

He began to explore her body with his hands and his lips. He felt her hands at the waist of his hakama and he helped her to remove them. He trailed kissed down her body stopping when he reached her breast. She couldn’t suppress her moan as he gently flicked her nipple with his tongue and then took it fully in his mouth. She was surprised by the gentle nature of his touch. He lowered himself between her legs. As he tasted her, he felt her body give an involuntary shudder. He growled softly, happy to find that he was pleasing her.

It didn’t take him long to find out what excited her most. He matched each of her soft moans with a low growl. He couldn’t get enough of her. He was intoxicated by her scent and the taste of her body. She reached her climax and he delved his tongue inside her savoring her. She pulled him up and kissed him deeply.

Kagome felt his hardness rubbing against her. “Please.” she whispered.

InuYasha slowly worked his way inside her. As they moved together he felt something change inside him. He felt her love wash over him as their souls reached out to one another. It was if he found a part of himself that had been missing. With every caress of her hands along his back another part of his wounded heart as healed. He marveled at how she could so easily tear down every barrier he had erected to keep the world out. He knew that after this he would never be able to live without her.

As Kagome looked into his amber eyes, she felt a change in the auras around them. His and hers were merging, becoming different, yet the same. She felt his desire for her and the truth of his heart, filling her, making her whole.

He felt her body tense beneath him and then relax. He felt her muscles contract around him and as her nails dug into his back, it pushed him over the edge and he released himself into her, while whispering her name. He rested lightly on her. She could feel his hot breath against her ear. “Mine.” he whispered.

He kissed her softly on the mouth. “Yours.” she agreed, and they both relaxed and let themselves sleep.