The Importance of Being A Youkai's Mate

Kagome stood behind her table as the judges went from student to student sampling their gourmet meals. Her professor had wanted the class to pick a holiday and cook a meal for it. Kagome had chosen Thanksgiving. She had stayed up all night sweating over a hot oven in her own apartment instead of Inuyasha's. Luckily, he'd been distracted all night by his latest prep party for tonight's football game. She'd been to several of his parties before she'd made up her mind that they were just too wild for her. She didn't mind Inuyasha going out with his football buddies as long as he didn't misbehave with the girls who were always throwing themselves at him. Inuyasha was surprised that Kagome still gave him the freedom to be himself now that they were together. Her trust in him made him adore her even more. Although he made it very clear, she wasn't going to any damn parties without him. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, he explained, it was the males that he didn't trust.

Last night she'd gone to sleep alone in her bed exhausted from working so hard and had awaken in Inuyaha's arms, his body wrapped possessively around hers. She'd managed to wiggle free without waking him up and make it to class on time without being late. Her dinner looked mouthwatering, she was sure she would win. The gigantic turkey was glazed to a golden brown and the stuffing was just right. When the judges walked to her table, they stopped and stared at it in confusion.

An older man with a long beard turned to her teacher. "This turkey is not presentable at all. Do you really expect us to taste this?"

Totosai looked down at the turkey and back at Kagome. "Kagome, is this a joke?"

Kagome stared down at the turkey. It looked perfectly fine to her until Totosai turned it around on the other side. There, on the side of the turkey, was a huge gaping hole. It was as if someone had grabbed it and took a large bite out of it. Kagome began to fume when she saw the teeth print in the meat and the fang prints besides the teeth prints.

"INUYASHA!" She mentally screamed at him.

Inuyasha was in the midst of class when Kagome hit him at full blast. He fell over in his seat and groaned weakly. "Ouch... "

He suddenly saw a vision of the delicious turkey that he'd taken a bite out of before carefully putting it back in the refrigerator. He swallowed. He'd forgotten Kagome had told him she had a holiday food contest today. "Oh shit," he said and quickly cut her off.

Kagome couldn't believe he cut her off where she couldn't reach him. Guilty as charge, the jerk! Fine, two could play this game. She looked down sadly at her beautiful turkey as Totosai gave her a D-. He had a feeling it wasn't her fault and couldn't bring himself to give her an F.

"Hey Kagome," Kanna walked up to her after class. "What happened to your turkey?"

"Inuyasha," Kagome sighed. "He's going to kill my future career."

Kanna giggled then stopped when she saw Kagome was serious. "He's quite a handful isn't he?"

"You have no idea," Kagome said.

"Well, I wanted to ask you if wanted to go to the rave. It's off campus, I can take us there."

Kagome was still pissed at Inuyasha when she made her decision. "Sure, I'll go. I can use a good rave to release some tension." She'd never been to one before, but she heard it was serious partying.

Kanna eyes lit up. "Great! I'll pick you up seven!"

Kagome blinked. That was early for a rave, but who cared. Inuyasha's game was today and she definitely was not going. Instead, she'd be at a forbidden party that he was sure to get pissed over. She grinned. She had made him swear that he wouldn't bother her turkey after he got home from his party and he'd done it anyway, so why did she have to do anything he said. "Serves him right...taking a bite out of my turkey," she mumbled as she stomped through the campus.

"Hi Kagome."

"Hey Kagome."

"Love your skirt, Kagome."

"Great shoes, Kagome!"

Kagome put on a fake smile and waved at her fans. Sheesh, she couldn't even get mad in public with everyone watching her. She knew everyone expected her to act like Kikyo and be with Inuyasha at all his parties and games, but sometimes she just wanted to relax in her own world. They didn't understand and gossiped about it, but they always smiled and tried to talk to her whenever they saw her. Obviously, being beautiful and Inuyasha's mate made people like and respect her no matter what she did.

She looked towards the big water fountain in the middle of the campus and wondered where Shippou was. Usually, he made it his ritual to meet her after class. His green eyes would light up and he would start to smile every single day he saw her. Inuyasha teased her about Shippou having a little crush on her, Kagome thought it was cute.

Instead of finding Shippou, there was someone else sitting in his spot. A small girl with long golden brown hair was sitting there sketching something. She was a cute little thing; Kagome had never seen her before. Then she did a double take when she saw Shippou on the side of the fountain spying on the girl. He was peeping around it with a smitten look on his face. Kagome grinned and tip toed up to him.

"HEY SHIPPOU WHATCHA DOING?" She yelled once she'd gotten behind him.

Shippou yelled in fright and fell on his face. The girl he'd been watching turned around.

"Ahh!" Shippou screamed and scurried behind the fountain.

Kagome snickered remembering all the times he'd sneaked up on her and frightened her just to get a laugh. Revenge was sweet!

"She almost saw me!" Shippou said breathing hard.

The cute girl stared at Kagome in fascination. Kagome smiled and waved at her. She waved back shyly.

Shippou snatched Kagome behind the water fountain. "What are you doing?" He asked in panic.

"What? I'm just being polite, unlike a certain youkai," Kagome teased. "Why were you spying on her?"

"I met her during one of my tours, I didn't think I'd see her again, but here she is, sitting in my spot."

"That still doesn't explain why you're spying on her... " Kagome suddenly stopped and looked at him closely. "Do you have a crush on her?"

Shippou turned beet red.

"Oh my gosh, you do!" She pointed accusingly at him.

"Excuse me," a soft voice said from behind her.

Kagome turned around to see the cute girl staring up at her in amazement. "Are you a model?" She wanted to know.

Kagome smiled. "No, not at all..."

"Can I draw you?" The girl asked.

"Oh are you an art major?" Kagome wanted to know.

The girl nodded. "I'm Leia, sorry I didn't mean to be so forward. I'm usually not, it's just that, you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen. I wanted to draw you, if you have time for it."

Kagome blushed. "Oh well...thank you. Sure, I have time." Kagome sat down on the fountain and pulled Shippou beside her.

"This is Shippou, a good friend of mine."

Leia turned to Shippou and blushed. "I remember you," she said shyly, "I was in your group during the campus tour."

"I know," Shippou said shyly. "I remember you too."

Leia looked surprise at his acknowledgement. "I could draw you together," she suggested.

"Sure," Shippou said. He put his arm around Kagome's shoulders and made a peace sigh with a big cheesy grin on his face.

Leia giggled.

"She's not taking our picture, Shippou, she's drawing us. How long you think you can hold that pose?" Kagome said in amusement.

"It's okay," Leia said. "I draw pretty fast." She began to draw on her pad as she stood in front of them.

Kagome felt Inuyasha peeping in on her. "Is she drawing you and Shippou?" she heard him ask.

"I'm not talking to you," she told him as she continued to smile.

"Will you at least go to the game?"

"You got a lot of nerves asking me that after what you did!"

"I'm sorry, Kagome. It seems like I've been apologizing a lot lately."

"Leave me alone, Inuyasha. I said I wasn't talking to you." She cut him off.

"Kagome, are you angry?" Leia asked when she suddenly began to frown.

"No," Kagome said quickly and began to smile again.

Twenty minutes passed by, Shippou began to sweat trying to keep his pose. "My face hurts," he mumbled between his teeth.

Kagome giggled. "Too bad, she's well into it now."

Shippou playfully poked her in the neck causing Kagome to jump.

"Stop trying to make me lose my pose!" She said somehow still managing to smile.

"I thought she was fast," Shippou whispered.

Kagome giggled again. Her eyes widened when she saw Galieo and Jinko walk up behind Leia. They stared down at her drawing with interest.

"Finished!" Leia finally said admiring her work proudly.

"Amazing," Galieo said.

"So life-like yet it's drawn in pencil..."Jinko said rubbing his chin.

Leia screamed in fright and turned around. She had no idea someone was standing behind her, especially two very tall, gorgeous, yet intimidating men.

"Do you think you could draw us one day?" Jinko asked. "I've been wanting someone to capture my virile essence," he began to pose showing off his muscles.

Kagome almost began to drool before she caught herself. He'd certainly managed to enchant Leia as she stared at them with wide eyes and opened mouth. She nodded slowly. Shippou frowned.

Jinko and Galieo were Sesshoumaru's closest friends, both of them as arrogant, beautiful and rich as Sesshoumaru. Kagome use to laugh at the idea of men being called beautiful and masculine until she'd met Sesshoumaru and his friends. They'd intimidated the hell out of her when she first met them, power seemed to circle around them like an invisible aura. They'd changed a little since the past months. It was as if they were steadily growing into mature youkai.

Galieo had long flowing black hair that seemed to have a life of its own. It moved in the wind in every direction even when he stood still. But, those beautiful locks could be transformed into the most dangerous poisonous snakes when he fought and so could his fingers. It was all part of him being a sea-serpent youkai. He had beautiful dark blue eyes that often appeared to be as cold as Sesshoumaru's, and his personality tended to be just as cold, but lately he'd seemed to have warmed up to Kagome and her friends every since Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha began to get along.

Jinko never had any problems with Kagome and the rest. He'd been flirty and outgoing with them from the beginning, especially with Kagome. He had a head of thick golden hair, unruly and untamed as his personality. Jinko was a lion youkai. Everything about him was golden, his hair, and his skin, except his eyes. They were a beautiful color of light blue. Whereas Galieo was lean and muscular, Jinko was bulky and muscular. He was the friendliest of the group, but people still got the sense of danger around him. Kagome had seen Jinko fight once and it was something she'd never forget. His lion's roar in battle shook her to the core, as she'd watch him rip his enemies to pieces with his mouth and hands. He wore their blood on his body as if it was a trophy. She shivered at the memory, not someone she wanted to piss off.

"Have you seen, Rin? She's managed to escape us, yet again," Galieo said sighing.

"Sesshoumaru got you back on Rin patrol?" Kagome teased.

"We don't mind, Rin is a lot more fun now that she's half youkai," Jinko laughed.

"Yes, it's become more of a challenge to keep up with her," Galieo said. "She seems to love playing hide and seek."

Kagome laughed.

"Anyway, who is this pretty little human who can draw so well?" Jinko asked leaning down to get a closer look at Leia.

Leia backed away. Shippou suddenly stood in front of her as if protecting her from Jinko. Kagome looked at him in surprise.

"No one you should be concerned with and she's not going to draw you," Shippou said bravely.

"What's this?" Jinko asked clearly intrigued. "The little fox youkai has suddenly grown a spine?"

"Guys," Kagome interfered before something happened. With youkai, she never knew what to expect from them, they were such temperamental creatures. "We haven't seen Rin."

Jinko straightened up and crossed his arms. He sniffed the air for Rin's scent checking to see if she was nearby. "Wait a minute, the little minx is heading straight for us," he mumbled.

Rin suddenly appeared shaking her head at Galieo and Jinko. "You guys suck!"

Kagome covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Rin it's not nice to make us worry so much. This game is a dangerous one, Sesshoumaru will not be pleased if he finds out," Galieo gently scolded her.

"You're not going to tell him, are you?" Rin asked looking at him with big eyes.

"She's giving you the "eyes." Jinko pointed out chuckling to himself.

Galieo sighed and patted her on the head.

Kagome couldn't help but notice the long black claws on Galieo's fingers. She shivered and walked over to look at the drawing of her and Shippou and smiled. They were drawn perfectly, down to the last detail. "Shippou, come see, this is wonderful!"

Shippou walked over this time holding the timid Leia's hand and looked at the drawing. "Wow," he said and looked at Leia. She blushed and stared at their hands. Shippou blushed and quickly released hers. She looked somewhat disappointed.

"I want to see," Rin came over and stared at the drawing. She gasped. "Oh my gods! Can you paint also?"

Leia nodded.

"You must do a painting of Sesshoumaru and me."

Leia had no idea who she was or who Sesshoumaru was, but she nodded just to be agreeable around the strange people.

Kagome jumped when Jinko suddenly appeared beside her grinning down at her. "You're looking absolutely beautiful today, Kagome."

Oh boy, here we go, Kagome thought.

"Um thanks."

"Would you like me to walk to your dorm or anywhere else you might be going?"

Kagome glanced at Shippou who was smiling shyly at Leia. He usually walked with her after classes if Inuyasha couldn't. She had a feeling; Shippou wouldn't be around much anymore. "Sure, why not," she found herself saying. "Bye, Shippou," Kagome told him as they walked away. He didn't even hear her.

Kagome sighed sadly. She was going to miss him. They grew up so fast...

"Is there something wrong, sweet Kagome?" Jinko asked.

"Oh no, I was just thinking I was going to miss Shippou hanging around me."

"It seems as if he's found his mate," Jinko said nonchalantly.

Kagome looked up at him in shock. "You can tell she's the one?"

"He was very possessive with her. Most youkai are like that the moment they spend time with their mate," Jinko gave a short laugh. "He probably doesn't even know it."

"You know I think I could sense it too, I was already secretly saying good bye to him. Weird..."

"Hey! Eyes forward, before I pluck them out," Jinko suddenly threatened a group of guys as they stared at Rin and Kagome. Rin was walking in front with Galieo, Kagome and Jinko trailed behind them. Jinko let out a growl loud enough for them to hear when they continued to stare. They turned pale and ran.

Jinko turned back to her and smiled. "I like to be the only one looking at you."

"Jinko! You should be aware of what you say. She is Inuyasha's mate. Show some respect," Galieo turned around and gave him a disapproving glance.

"Oh that's classic coming from someone that's constantly fawning over his best friend's mate," Jinko replied.

Galieo's face turned dark red when Rin turned to look at him. She tilted her head curiously but didn't say anything.

Kagome changed the subject before both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru could hear them. "So when are you two ever going to find mates?"

Jinko gave an exaggerated sigh. "No woman will have us. We're too wild, too dangerous, too.."

"Speak for yourself," she heard Galieo mumbled.

"What happened with Kagura? I thought you liked her," Kagome asked Jinko.

"We dated for a while, but things got weird, she kept comparing me to Sesshoumaru which was a big turn off."

They heard Rin gasp. Jinko looked slightly guilty. "Sorry, Rin."

"You'll find someone; soon, I know you will." Kagome patted him on his arm trying not to notice how muscular it was.

"If Inuyasha hadn't met you first, I would have made you my kept female."

Kagome slapped her hand to her forehead. She heard Rin giggling. "I don't think so," Kagome said. "And you better stop talking like that before Inuyasha hears you. I don't feel like breaking up a fight."

"Kagome has a lot of admirers. Koga, the wolf youkai, Jinko, Shippou, well scratch Shippou off the list."

"Don't try to help, Rin," Kagome told her dryly.

"I suppose you'll be at Mr. Popularity's game tonight," Jinko said.

"Nah, I'm sitting this one out. I'm mad at him."

"You're always mad at him. You two need to see a marriage counselor, do they have that for youkai?" Rin asked thoughtfully.

Galieo chuckled softly.

"Oh shoot, I need to get to the dorm to pick out something to wear. I forgot I'm going out tonight."

"Where are you going?" Rin wanted to know.

"Some sort of rave," Kagome said. "It was nice guys, but I really have to go."

They watched her disappear.

"Rave?" Galieo asked.

"I hope she's not talking about the youkai rave off campus," Jinko eyebrows drew together in concern. "I've been to one of those and they can get very wild and dangerous. They like to destroy buildings while they're partying. Kagome may be half youkai, but she can still get hurt."

"I'm sure Kagome wouldn't go to one of those," Rin said although she looked worried.

"It's only for youkai and it's very secretive, Kagome shouldn't know about it," Jinko said. "You're right; it's probably not the one I'm thinking about."

The Rave

Kanna had driven Kagome to a desolated building in the middle of nowhere. She was beginning to feel a little spooked when she realized they were leaving the city, until she saw a large group of people standing outside a building that looked like it was about to fall any second.

"Are you sure, it's safe to go in there?" Kagome asked her as Kanna parked her Ferrari and jumped out.

"Sure! The band is playing and lots of people are in it. It just looks old from the outside," Kanna grabbed Kagome's hand and led her inside.

Kanna was right. The place was so crowded, she could barely move. It was also very dark inside. Colorful flashing lights lit up around her. The music was pumping. Someone was passing out neon headbands, wristbands, and glowing glitter.

"Come on, Kagome," Kanna said after leading her in the middle of the floor. "Let's dance!"

Kagome put on her wristband and laughed at the way it glowed an eerie green light in the dark. This was her first rave. "Why not!" She grinned and threw her arms in the air watching the sparkling glitter rain down on them like fairy dust.

She had managed to avoid Inuyasha. It wasn't hard to do. He usually went straight to the stadium to get ready for his game after his last class. He knew she was still angry with him and hadn't tried to spy on her much. The few times he did, she slammed a wall down blocking him until he'd finally given up. Now that he was in the midst of his game, she had nothing to worry about; his concentration would be on the game, instead of her.

Kanna looked like a ghost in the dark with her pale skin and white hair as she danced with Kagome. They danced through two songs and Kagome had to admit to herself, she was having fun. Somehow, they were separated during the third song. Kagome didn't worry too much, she figured she'd find her sooner or later. After the third song ended, the lights suddenly came on nearly blinding her. She squinted and tried to listen to what the band was saying through the loud cheers. They were talking about a Boom Boom Pow song. Strange. Whatever it was, the crowd was going wild. They began to sing the weirdest song Kagome had ever heard. A couple of people began to head bang and the ones at the front began to shove and push each other around.

Suddenly she heard something that sounded like an explosion. She stopped and looked around. No one seemed to notice it except her. A much louder explosion rocked the building, this time she heard a loud crumbling sound. She quickly turned around and saw a group of youkai kicking and punching the walls of the building. What the hell was going on here? Didn't they know the walls held up the building?

Kagome began to look for Kanna. It was time to leave before things got out of hand. There was another explosion. She watched in horror as a large chunk of the ceiling fell down on a group of people. They cheered and raised their fists, punching through it as if it was nothing. It was then Kagome realized she was in a building full of youkai whose idea of fun was tearing it down while they were still in it! This was a youkai's rave?

"I have to get out of here," she said aloud in panic. She didn't know if she was strong enough to punch through cement without hurting herself. She called for Kanna through the crowd, but she was nowhere to be found and the exit seemed so far away. Chunks of wood, cement, and plaster began to fall around her. She coughed from the dust as she worked her way through the crowd. Something heavy fell on her shoulder and split in two. She was being hit in every direction either by the tumbling building or by an out of control youkai. The sounds were so loud they were deafening. Someone slammed her in the back. She fell to the floor hard. She looked up just in time to see a large chunk of cement falling towards her.

Inuyasha!

Inuyasha was just about to score a touchdown when Kagome's frightened voice caused his entire body to stiffen. He stopped and dropped the ball ignoring the outrage of his fans in the stadium.

Kagome?

She wasn't in her room like he thought she was. She was somewhere else, somewhere dangerous. She'd let up her wall just in time for him to see a large chunk of cement falling towards her. She was lying on the floor helpless to stop it. Then, everything suddenly went dark.

"Kagome!" He ran straight into the oncoming team knocking each of them towards the ground as he made his way out of the field. Something had happened. Something had happened to her! How? How could this be? She should have been in her room waiting for his return. His heart raced in sheer panic. He didn't know where to find her.

Kagome where are you?

Kagome hesitantly opened her eyes when she didn't feel any pain from the falling cement. She gasped in shock when she saw Jinko on his hands and knees holding up the large chunk of cement on his back. His face was inches from hers. Long golden hair fell over his shoulders covering the side of his face and hers like a curtain as he stared down at her in pain and anger. Blood trickled down his forehead.

"Kagome, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Jinko," she whispered as she stared at the trickle of blood running down his face.

Jinko let out a roar and sat up on his haunches letting the thick chunk of cement fall off his back to the floor. He grabbed her and ran for the exit.

Kagome couldn't believe he was there, holding her close, protecting her.

"Dynamite, dynamite, dynamite!" Someone began to chant.

Oh no, had they lost their minds? Kagome thought.

"Get the fuck out the way!" Jinko began to throw people out of the way with his free arm to make a path for them. "Kagome hold on tight to me. Don't let go no matter what!"

She nodded and held him. Her arms wrapped around his waist her, her legs around his hips. Jinko got on all fours and began to run just like the lion he was, roaring so loudly that even the youkai made a path for him.

He'd just made it to the exist when the building blew.

Inuyasha had seen everything as soon as Kagome had opened her eyes again. It did not take him long to reach them since he'd mastered his new ability to flash. He'd made it as soon as the dynamite went off. Jinko had just made it out the door. He stood between them and bright light from the dynamite. Within a second, he drew out his sword from his back and held it in front of his body.

"Blow up my mate, you assholes and feel the wrath of my fury!" He threatened.

Jinko placed Kagome on her feet and they both stared in awe at Inuyasha. He stood in front of them with that strange gigantic sword held in front of his body. It seemed to be holding back the explosion. His long white hair whipped violently around his body. His muscles strained against the force as his feet slid back in the dirt. Kagome watched as his clothes melted away from his upper body from the heat leaving only his pants. The explosion whipped around Kagome and Jinko but didn't touch them since they were standing behind him. Jinko continued to shelter Kagome as best as he could from the heat. It seared the clothes off his back leaving a big gaping hole in his shirt. Then everything stopped. It was over.

Inuyasha lowered his sword and plunged it into his back where it disappeared.

"That was so fucking cool," Kagome heard Jinko mumble. "I heard youkai became more powerful in order to protect their mates, but this is crazy. I need to find my mate!"

Inuyasha turned to Kagome and Jinko. His golden eyes flashed red.

"Let her go," he demanded in a growling voice.

Jinko released her immediately and stepped back. He did not want to get between a youkai and his mate, especially after a dangerous situation like this.

'Don't be afraid, this is Inuyasha, he loves you, he wouldn't do anything to hurt you,' Kagome thought to herself forgetting that Inuyasha could read her mind.

He let out an irritated growl and flashed towards her before she could run away. He grabbed both of her arms and glared down at her. His hair flew wildly about him. His face was covered in black soot. The muscles in his arms moved underneath his golden skin. She stared at his muscular pecks, his wide heaving chest and down his six pack abs. Gods, she wanted him! Could he look anymore sexier and dangerous?

She could feel him reading her mind, going over her memories, the conversation she had with Kanna, talking to her friends after class, blocking him out while she got ready and coming here. Those golden eyes of his peered down into hers drilling right through her. When he finally turned away, Kagome legs went limp. He continued to hold her up, his hands wrapped tightly around her arms.

"Why are you here?" He snapped at Jinko.

"Is that anyway to talk to the youkai who saved your mate's life?" Jinko asked casually.

"I ended up saving both of you now answer me."

Jinko decided not to mess around with Inuyasha. He could feel him on edge, about to snap. "Kagome told me she was going to a rave party. I came here to make sure this wasn't the one she was talking about, unfortunately, it was."

Inuyasha gave him a stiff nod. "Thank you for protecting her until I could get here."

Jinko nodded.

"I'll forgive you this time for the things you said to her earlier."

Jinko looked at him in surprise then at Kagome. "I meant no disrespect to you or your mate." He watched as Inuyasha pulled Kagome in his arms and flashed away with her. He sighed, another cool trait no doubt developed from having a mate. He hoped Inuyasha wouldn't be too hard on the poor girl. She looked so fragile beside the angry hanyou.

He looked around; the rave was still going on outside. The building was completely obliterated. Oh well, he might as well stay and have some fun. Perhaps, he'd find a cute youkai to take to his apartment tonight.

Inuyasha's Apartment

Inuyasha silently sat her on her feet and began to take off her dirty clothes. He raised his eyebrow at the short black leather skirt she'd borrowed from Sango and growled when he saw the terrible condition of her legs. Kagome hadn't noticed until now, when she was safely at home, that her legs were cut up and bleeding, so were her arms. Inuyasha growled as his picked a shard of glass from her leg. She winced.

"Is this what you wanted, Kagome, to hurt me by disobeying me?" He asked coldly.

"I wanted to get back at you, I admit it, but how are you hurt? You seem fine to me?" Kagome asked looking him over in confusion.

He swiped a drop of blood, running down her leg, on his finger and held it to her face. "Do you think this doesn't hurt me, to see my mate bleeding in front of me, to have the scent of your blood fill my nostrils? If I had gotten there a second late... Jinko might have survived it, you wouldn't."

"I don't understand, you said I was stronger," Kagome said.

"Stronger than a human and a weaker youkai, but not strong enough to stop glass from slicing through your skin or hold up a ton of cement! You are not invincible, Kagome. You can still die so easily, why do you think I got stronger? It was to protect you!"

"And you did," Kagome tried to sooth his anger by caressing the side of his face. He caught her hand in his and stared down at it. His fingers traced a deep cut on the back.

"Your game! Inuyasha how was you able to leave your game?" Kagome suddenly realized it was still going on.

"Easy, I left," Inuyasha said taking off the rest of her clothes until she was naked in front of him. He stared at the blood on her face.

"It's Jinko's," Kagome said." He got hurt when he shielded me from the cement. "

"He'll be fine," Inuyasha said running his hands through her hair to feel her head just to make sure. "Youkai heal fast, he probably didn't even know about it."

He picked her up and took her into the shower. Kagome watched him turn on the water, then take off his own clothes and step in the shower. He painstakingly began to wash her body and the cuts on her arm and legs.

"Aren't you going to yell and shout at me?" Kagome asked. "It's what you're known for."

"No," Inuyasha said. "Why would I yell at you when you're hurt?"

Kagome looked at him closely and decided to explore his emotions. He was hurt, too hurt to scream and yell at her. He felt she'd betrayed his trust in her.

"Inuyasha, I'm so sorry. Sometimes I get mad and I don't think. You get that way sometimes..."

"You could have died tonight, Kagome! " He glared at her, but continued to wash her gently.

"I'm sorry," was all she could think of.

"I don't want to hear it, Kagome. Do you know how much you frightened me? Do you have an idea?" He suddenly grabbed the sides of her face and pulled her forehead against his. "Feel what I felt when I was on that football field, when I couldn't find you."

Kagome was suddenly overwhelmed with his emotions. They were intense, scary. She could feel his panic, his heart pounding so hard in his chest she was afraid it would burst. Where is she? Where is she? She kept hearing him say over and over. Kagome! He'd yelled her name. Finally, the intense emotion that felt like he was dying, a second before he saved her from the dynamite. He didn't think he would make it on time...

Tears ran down her cheeks as he slowly let her go. "Oh Inu," she pulled him down to her lips. He let her kiss him for a long moment before pulling away.

He took in a deep breath as if to steady himself. "You're hurt. I can't have you tonight."

"I don't care," Kagome whispered. He was hard as a rock and she wanted him.

Inuyasha shook his head. "You have to heal. I can't interfere with the process," Inuyasha stared down at her. She looked so pale, so fragile. "Tommorrow, you should be okay." He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. He washed her hair until it was clean of the soot, dirt and another youkai's blood. He growled angrily causing her to look at him warily. His fangs grew, aching to sink into her skin, to show all youkai and humans who possessed her. He wanted to take her so badly, to sink inside her so deeply that she'd learn again who owned her and know that she could not put herself in danger like this.

Tommorrow when she was healed and well again, he'd yell and rant at her. For now, all he could do was take care of her and hold her in his arms tonight. She was still new to the laws of youkai and their mates. Kagome was about to learn the hard way that this hanyou did not let his mate run around and nearly get herself killed just because he took a bite out of her turkey.

A/N: Okay everyone delivered as promise. I bet the title threw some of you off. hehe This was a very long chapter, a lot happened in it, but I loved writing it.