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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Inuyasha slammed into a force field that was around the rat; his eyes widened. "What the hell?"

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Kagome shrieked and Nezumi snickered; its beady eyes trained solely on Kagome. Inuyasha scrambled back onto his feet, his hands gripping the hilt of his fang of destruction tightly.

"The asshole has a shield around him. Fuck our lives!"

"Guess you can't protect your woman now, can you?" Nezumi snickered, scurrying towards Kagome. Snarling, Inuyasha leapt backwards, picked her up and jumped out of the way. Finding a nearby tree, he planted Kagome safely upon the highest branch and looked dead into her eyes.

"This battle's gonna be tough, you know that, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah—I wish the others were here."

"GET DOWN HERE!" Nezumi head butted the tree, but it was to no avail. A rat could only do so much. Inuyasha idly glanced at Nezumi before he turned back to the woman before him.

"I can do it. I'll just need to power up for the Akai Tetsusaiga so you need to shoot your purification arrows at it, to keep it preoccupied." Inuyasha whispered to her. "Just try not to fall, wench."

Kagome glared at him. "I can fight with my feet on the ground you know."

"But it's safer up here, woman!"

"Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'm weaker."

"We're in the middle of a battle and you're ARGUING with me?" Inuyasha rubbed his temples. "Seriously Kagome, just this once, do what I'm saying. You can fucking sit me for all I care later but in case you didn't notice, a rat is scratching at the tree we're on and it's not doing us any good."

Kagome bit her lip before arguing back because she knew he was right. Looking at him square in the eyes she responded with, "Alright. But on one condition."

"I wasn't asking for conditions," Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "but what is it?"

"We talk about the mating thing after we destroy the mouse."

"Oh for the love of— FINE," Inuyasha caved. "Whatever, wench, just stay on the tree."

"Not like I can go anywhere." Kagome rolled her eyes and Inuyasha leapt off the tree. Nezumi stopped scratching the tree and reared its head onto Inuyasha, its tiny eyes boring into the half-demon before him.

"Finally decide to fight me? Leaving the woman up there are you? No matter."

"Just attack him, Nezumi," The headman commanded a few feet off to the size. Inuyasha glanced at the headman before back at the rat.

Keh, I'll get the bastard later. This rodent is my main concern—I just have to time the Tetsusaiga right...

Inuyasha glanced up at Kagome and saw that she was getting her bow and arrows ready. That's my wench… He turned back to Nezumi. "Ready to get your ass whooped and body chopped into tiny little bite-sized pieces?"

"I should be asking you the same thing!" Nezumi began to scurry towards Inuyasha who jumped out of the way. The headman ran in the opposite direction of Inuyasha, trying to keep as much space between the half-demon and himself. As Nezumi tried to turn around, Kagome shot her first arrow.

It deflected off of Nezumi's force field.

Good job, Kagome... Inuyasha thought to himself. He was trying to channel enough of his energy into his Tetsusaiga so that he could power up for the Akai Tetsusaiga. He would need to call upon Nezumi's youkai chi as well, and that was what was posing as the biggest problem for Inuyasha.

He glanced between Nezumi and the headman before his brain clicked— Shard in the forehead! If I get the headman then Nezumi is without an owner…

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha roared, jumping behind Nezumi and charging directly at the headman. Cluing in instantly, Kagome powered up for a spiritual arrow and aimed it directly at the headman. As much as both Kagome and Inuyasha tried to spare the lives of the humans that were affected by the dark powers of the jewel, they soon learned after they began their travels that they could not control and save everybody—such as Kohaku and his inevitable death.

"MASTER!" Nezumi roared but it was too late. Kagome released her arrow and Inuyasha slashed the headman into two pieces. The jewel flew out of his forehead and his body disintegrated, no trace of life remaining. Inuyasha's sword pulsated and the Tetsusaiga consumed all of the energy the headman released.

"Prepare," Inuyasha hissed and Kagome released another arrow that seemed to imbed itself into Nezumi's now weakened barrier, "to die."

Raising his sword above his head, Inuyasha slammed it down just as it flashed a brilliant shade of red.

"GO!" Kagome roared, her arrow following the path of energy ripples that Inuyasha's sword created. Nezumi's eyes widened as its barrier shattered and the combined energy of the fang and the purified arrow incinerated the overgrown rat.

"NOOOOO-ohhhhhhhh!" Nezumi's voice echoed as four shards lay on the ground, blackened by the dark auras that surrounded them. Inuyasha panted slightly before returning to the tree Kagome was resting in and quickly taking her down to the shards. Without haste, Kagome purified all five shards and placed them in her container.

"We now have twenty," Kagome murmured.

"Can we leave?" Inuyasha murmured, nudging Kagome. She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Pardon?"

"Let's leave. Before the damn humans start pestering us with stupid gifts for killing the demon. You know I hate that shit."

Kagome nodded. She couldn't be bothered to be thanked—although it was nice, the gesture got old. Humans and demons alike frown upon Kagome and Inuyasha because of his half-demon stature and her… attire, and then they suddenly love them both more than anything because they just saved their lives.

Hypocrisy at its best.

"We'll rest in a tree or something," Inuyasha knelt down and Kagome climbed onto his back. "Besides," he muttered unenthusiastically, "we have your damn condition to talk about."

.xx.

Kagome had passed out almost immediately when she nestled comfortably into Inuyasha's lap. His arms were lazily crossed over her waist and he was deep in his thoughts, for once allowing himself to shut off all of his senses. The odds of any bad guy approaching them were low either way—and if one did decide to sneak up on them, Inuyasha was damn sure he could just wipe them out in a heartbeat.

Even Naraku.

Looking down at Kagome, Inuyasha began chewing on his cheek. So the wench wants to mate with me. Maybe she does have feelings for me?

Or maybe she pities you, fool.

Shut up. She has to have some sort of feelings for me if she was the one that suggested having a damn pup together!

Or… she could just pity you?

Inuyasha hated his internal turmoil but he couldn't really do anything to stop Angel Inuyasha and Devil Inuyasha from yelling at each other in his imagination. I'm fucking going crazy…

You are, my friend.

I'm not your friend!

Keh. She just pities you.

I don't believe you, asshole!

Really, for the Angelic part of Inuyasha, you sure have a potty mouth.

Listen to yourself; Angelic part of Inuyasha. How holy do you think I actually am?

…True. Back to the point halo-head, you gonna fuck her?

Um… I want to. Well, Inuyasha wants to, I'm just playing voice of reason. I know he wants to, and you being the asshole that you are and saying that she pities the poor sap, are making him second guess himself.

Well why else do you think his imagination created me? To play the other voice of reason.

You aren't reasoning with anything, horny.

I'm not horny, idiot...

I meant your horns— Oh, never mind!

Inuyasha twitched. He could picture himself fighting against himself. It was comical but he wasn't sure it was doing his sanity any good. Making the two chibi characters disappear from his head, he turned his attention to the stirring woman in his arms. He was going to listen to his heart and not his brain because his brain really didn't do him any good in his life.

Got me pinned to a fucking tree…

"Awake?" he asked quite tenderly. Kagome blinked her eyes open before stifling a loud yawn.

"Hmm…"

"Slept well?"

Kagome shifted so that she could look up at him. "More or less—when do we head out?"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "You're ready to head out? That's a first!"

Kagome laughed. "Well I feel motivated now! We have 20 shards, just a few hundred more left to go!"

"I doubt there's a few hundred, wench."

"You never know… Can I go pee?"

Inuyasha tightened his hold on her slightly. "Can you wait a bit? We kind of need to talk…"

Kagome raised an eyebrow before realization dawned to her. Inuyasha told her after they defeated Nezumi, and were running out of the village, that they were going to talk about her condition. She blushed slightly. What had gotten into her? Yes she loved him and yes she wanted to give birth to his pups but she had never been so bold and rash before. Whatever had come over her, she loved it and maybe because of her rashness she would be able to spend eternity with the man she loved.

And pray that he loved her in return.

"Fine, but if I urinate on you, don't hate."

Inuyasha snorted. "The fire-rat absorbs and cleans that shit itself."

"Self-laundrying clothing? Can I get some?"

"Be serious."

"I am. I want one."

Inuyasha grunted, "Fine, if you're serious then I'll hunt down the mountain witch that made mine. Now can we talk?"

"Okay. About the mating thing?"

"Yes about the mating thing. You're serious about it?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes I am. It's what I want. I want you to be happy and you to be safe and I won't stand idly by and watch your race succumb to the panthers."

"We could find the jewel shards and you could be back in your time before then. You, technically, at that point wouldn't see any of us die or succumb to anything," Inuyasha pointed out. "BUT I wouldn't let either of that to happen, especially the you going back part, but we're looking at all situations here."

Kagome giggled. "Of course, because you can control what Midoriko and the essence of time wants to do, right?"

"Exactly." Inuyasha puffed his chest out. "Now, you positive?"

"I am if you are." Kagome shrugged. "I'm of age—maybe in my time I'm still considered young but in this era I'm of child-bearing age." She paused. "Well…more like pup-bearing age."

Inuyasha stifled his snort. The woman was a riot.

"And I want to. We're good friends, Inuyasha, and I care about you more than anyone—Sango, Miroku, Kaede… not as much as Shippo though," she teased. "But he's already like my baby!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I figured that one out the first week after we met the runt." He paused at the memory before continuing to speak. "Do you know what we have to do if we mate?"

Kagome shook her head and Inuyasha sighed. "Well… there's something called the ketsueki no yūgō no gishiki. In short, it lengthens your lifespan to match mine. If I die before time, you'll die with me and vice versa." Inuyasha watched the look of interest in Kagome's eyes—she really wanted to know about Demon Mating… "But this becomes null and void if we have pups. Because our blood is now in the veins of our pup, if one mate dies, the other will survive to raise their pup."

"Kind of like your mother?" Kagome inquired and Inuyasha nodded.

"Yeah, exactly like my mother. If I wasn't born, she would've died with father." The topic of Izayoi and Inutaisho was iffy for Inuyasha, but when it came to Kagome he didn't snap at her as much if she ever brought them up. In this instance she was clarifying what he was saying so he was okay with her mentioning his parents.

"Ketsueki no yūgō is well… I heard it's complicated, mostly from Myoga." Inuyasha spat the flea's name out in disgust. Sure Myoga was the messenger for the Inu-taiyoukai but that didn't mean Inuyasha had to like him in any way, shape or form. "Apparently for the human, so you, it's kind of painful and you'd be unconscious for two days -I think two days?- while your body accepts my blood."

Kagome bit her bottom lip. "Really?"

"I think so, I'd have to talk to Myoga, or maybe even Sesshomaru." Inuyasha shrugged. "I'm pretty sure the asshole would help me if I'm doing this to avoid our curse."

Kagome nodded. "He might. Then what?"

"Then?" Inuyasha rolled his neck to crack a kink. "After the ceremony is done and you wake up, we'd have sex, I'd mark you and the process is complete."

Kagome looked into his eyes. "It sounds… lengthy."

"It is. From what I heard. Still up for it?"

In a heartbeat Kagome responded with a yes. "I do." She was positive. "What else are you gonna do, Inuyasha?" she asked. "I know you. You won't settle for just anybody at the end of two years. And I doubt you'd have the patience to demon-divorce her."

He laughed. Yeah, he wouldn't. At least with Kagome he knew that he could spend years with her. Hell, he'd already spent quite a number of years with the wench and he couldn't say that he hated it. In fact, it was probably three of the best years of his life and he wouldn't change any of it.

Well, maybe the Kikyo bits and the making Kagome cry bits… But apart from that, nothing else!

"You positive?"

Kagome nodded. "Stop asking me. I'm a hundred and fifty two percent positive I want to mate with you and get pregnant and have your pup so you don't have to die along with your entire dog-demon race."

"Fine." Inuyasha pulled Kagome away from him. He looked her into the eyes and breathed deeply. "If we're gonna do this, might as well do it right." He always knew that Kagome wanted a romantic proposal, with flowers, and a ring (he had learned about the wedding ring some time into their journey together when Kagome was telling Sango how her mother's cousin got married and bought a massive rock...). Years of eavesdropping—no, no, not eavesdropping, more like standing guard—on Kagome and Sango while they were bathing in the hot springs taught Inuyasha a thing or two about what Kagome wanted in terms of a man, a husband, heck even a proposal.

He leapt off the tree and placed Kagome to stand in front of him. She watched him as he shifted his feet slightly before taking a hold of her hand. "This is so weird," he muttered. "But I might as well give you what the hell you want since you're doing this for me."

He dropped to one knee.

Kagome's eyes widened.

"I know you've always wanted a romantic proposal but fuck me if I'd do something like that. So hopefully this will be fine… Kagome," He looked up at her, "will you be my mate."

She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing before something hit her.

"Yes I will be but how do you know that I've always wanted a romantic proposal?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Uhh…"

Her eyes narrowed. "You've watched Sango and me bathe, haven't you?"

"N—no…"

"Inuyasha…" Her voice came out warningly.

"I was standing guard!" He came up to both feet. "Woman, I get on a fucking knee for you and you're standing there berating me about protecting Sango and you? I deserve a thank you!"

"THANK YOU," Kagome roared, "for watching me and my friend bathe in a hot spring, while we were NAKED. And all those years we thought it was Miroku!"

"IT WAS MIROKU!"

"YEAH? MIROKU JUMPS INTO A TREE TO WATCH ME AND SANGO BATHE IN A HOT SPRING?"

"…YES!"

Kagome growled. "OSUWARI!" Inuyasha plummeted. "I'm going to pee. You sick and twisted pervert can gather firewood and breakfast and if you even dare to come watch me, I will wash the floor with your ass."

Wow, wench shouts out threats like how I do. Inuyasha peeled himself out of the self-shaped crater. It's kind of attractive…

When he finally removed himself from making love with the ground, he noted that Kagome had left to take her piss. He wasn't angry about the sit, though. Inuyasha was more in shock that he got down on one knee to propose to Kagome and the fact that she said yes (he already knew she was going to but the entire series of events was shocking. In a good way).

With one last glance to where she sauntered off, Inuyasha turned to gather firewood and game.

.xx.

By the time Kagome got back from peeing and washing up and changing her clothes, Inuyasha had already skewered his bunny and fish and was roasting them over a fire. Kagome stomped back, sat on the opposite side of Inuyasha and watched the meat roast.

"Not even two seconds into my proposal and we're already fighting," he muttered. "How the hell are we gonna survive eternity together."

Kagome snorted. "If you don't watch me bathe…"

"I'm going to be sticking Inuyasha junior in you to get you pregnant and you're worried about me watching you bathe?" His voice was incredulous. "Wench, we might as well bathe together now!"

"I'm sure that's what you want."

"Well obviously, how else are you gonna get pregnant?"

Something hit Kagome. Her eyes widened, and she looked up at Inuyasha. "Wait, hold up… We're actually engaged…?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Keh, not yet. I have to mark you—our version of your stupid ring."

A sudden goofy smile spread across Kagome's face. "You really did just get down on one knee to propose to me…"

"…Are you blind and stupid woman? You said yes before fucking sitting me and you're asking if I did it?" Inuyasha groaned. "I'm stuck with an idiot, great. Can I take my proposal back— Umph!" Inuyasha fell over backwards as Kagome tackled him into a tight bear hug.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..." She was freaking out. "You're my fiancé… Oh my God, I have to tell Sango and Miroku and Souta and Mama and Jii-chan!" Kagome squealed. "And the girls!"

"Wait a second!" Inuyasha pushed her off and sat up. "The three blind mice ain't knowing about this yet. They already think I'm a crazy psycho who's out to kill Ojho—okay well maybe the latter but not the former!"

"It's Hojo," Kagome's automatic correction of the name came before anything else. "And they have to know."

"And how are you gonna explain two bite marks instead of a ring?"

Kagome frowned. "Wait, what?"

The half-demon sighed. "I told you but your ass was too stupid to listen. We don't give rings. I have to bite your neck and claim you until we actually mate. It's our form of engagement."

"Ohhh…" Kagome's mouth opened in understanding. "When you gonna bite me?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and Kagome rolled her eyes. "In the least sexual way possible."

Inuyasha snickered. "We could do it now, if you want."

"Now?"

"If you want."

Kagome pulled her hair to the side and Inuyasha felt his inner demon roar. This was what his demon wanted for the past several years and now it was finally getting what it wanted—his human, on the other hand, was still a bit skeptical on the situation but with Kagome wanting to mate with him, his human couldn't really do anything about it but go with the flow.

"You sure?"

"Stop asking me that!" Kagome sighed. Moving closer towards her, Inuyasha caught her around the back of her neck and licked his canine teeth.

"It's gonna hurt…"

"I'm ready…" One hand was clenching onto Inuyasha's haori. Without a word, his fangs pierced her skin and she screamed in utter pain. He let his fangs rest in her neck for a few moments as his scent and aura linked with hers, ultimately marking her to be his intended-mate. Kagome had tears rolling down her eyes and Inuyasha finally withdrew his fangs, licking her wound clean and looking at his work of art.

"I'm done, wench." He licked the wound again and felt something within him explode.

A need.

A desire…

He had to kiss her.

Kagome turned to look at him and tears were streaking down her eyes. "That wasn't that bad…" she sniffed.

"You're crying and you're saying it isn't that bad?" Inuyasha laughed. "You've been spending way too much time with me."

She was in too much pain to argue back. Her left hand went to the wound and covered it—she was hoping it'd eliminate the throbbing. Inuyasha's ears drooped. Already his mate instincts were kicking in.

"You okay?"

"I will be."

"Want me to kiss you better?"

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "No it's alr—" She was cut off.

Inuyasha didn't mean he'd kiss the wound better. He meant he wanted to kiss Kagome better. His lips were coaxing hers and almost instantly, her pain subsided. The kiss was tender and warm, exactly what she wanted for the longest time and she didn't hesitate to allow him to consume her. Their lips were softly teasing each other, their tongues hardly caressing the other. Her hands laced around his neck and his were placed firmly on her arms, keeping her from moving away from his mouth.

After a few moments, they pulled away for air.

"Better?" he murmured and Kagome smiled.

"Better." She leaned forward and kissed his jaw. "And we just sealed our engagement with a kiss. It's official now."

"Yeah." Inuyasha let go of her. "I'm stuck with you forever. Dammit."

Kagome threw a pebble at him. "Way to ruin the moment, jackass."

"It was getting too mushy." Inuyasha made a face. "I don't like mushy."

"I'm gonna make sure to turn you into the mushiest sap in the world during the course of our marriage," Kagome muttered. "Don't like mushy my foot."

Inuyasha hid his smile before taking a bunny off of a skewer to eat. So what if he ruined the moment and Kagome was mumbling obscene profanities under her breath while eating a fish kabob? she was his now…

All mine…

.xx.

I have to dedicate this chapter to my dear friend, Mystical-Lia, for being the best pesterer in the world and waited patiently for this update even though I've promised her at least like… a billion times that this chapter will be up earlier. I'm sorry, hun!

Beta-edited by: Sakura-chan Master of the Clow