** chapter revised 4/17/2010 **

~ Chapter Twenty Five ~

INUYASHA jumped through the well, his emotions still raging. Taking a breath to calm himself, he leaped out and landed topside. The doors to the well house were closed, but that didn't matter to him. He could see perfectly fine.

Looking around him, he remembered all the other times he'd been here to Kagome's time. There was much here she loved, but there was nothing here, save her family, that she was better off having—if he were asked. The air here stank of pollution and decay. The woods and animals had been driven away to be replaced by hard surfaces and glaringly bright metal objects. Someone like Kagome deserved to have nature all around her, beauty that matched hers.

Pushing open the doors to the well house, he easily caught the soccer ball that was flying through the air. "Inuyasha!" he heard Souta yell with excitement.

Tossing the ball back to the boy, he looked him over. Kagome's brother was getting taller these days. What was it Kagome had called it? Oh, yeah. A growth spurt. "Hey, Souta," he said as he tossed the ball back to him and looked around for Kagome's mother. Her scent was all over the place, but that was to be expected since she lived here. He couldn't tell if she was there, though.

Souta raced up to him, excitement lighting up his face and reminding Inuyasha so much of Kagome. His eyes looked around Inuyasha anxiously. "Kagome with you? I haven't seen her in ages."

"Nah, she had...things...to take care of. Your mom around?"

If Souta thought it odd that he wanted to talk to their mom, he made no mention of it and just answered his question. "She took Grandpa to see some friends, but she should be back soon. Want some ramen while you wait? Mom's been expecting Kagome to come back for supplies and she has everything ready to go."

At the mention of ramen, Inuyasha's ears perked up. "Yeah, kid. That'd be good," he said, following after Souta into the house. There was nothing like a full stomach to bolster courage and courage was what he'd need. There was just something about Higurashi women. They were scary; either Kagome mad scary or calm mom scary. And Inuyasha didn't really want to deal with either one of them right now.

The things he did for that girl....

***

Kagome stared up into Sesshoumaru's golden eyes, glowing in the darkness of night. He leaned down just as she turned her face up to his. His lips brushed lightly across her own. The touch was so fleeting and yet so filled with indescribable heat.

She wanted more.

She felt Sesshoumaru wrap his arm around her, his muscles tightening as he coiled around her, and then there was a blinding flash. A feeling similar to weightlessness, like the feeling of being carried by the well, engulfed her. Just as she was getting use to the feeling, the blinding light disappeared and she was back on solid ground once more. Looking around her, she found herself standing amongst the now familiar field of white flowers, memories of this place washing over her both from her own mind and Sesshoumaru's.

The daiyoukai found peace here. Peace like no other.

Stepping away from him, wrapping her arms around her as the chill of the air hit her skin, she looked up into the night sky where the moon hung above. Stars littered the sky in the billions and offered a soft blanket of night for the moon to sit upon. Then he was standing behind her and Kagome could no longer focus on the sky. She turned to face him, coming face to chest with the daiyoukai. His armor had been removed and he was staring down at her intently, eyes tinged with lust and desire. Blushing from his heated look, she forced herself to keep eye contact. "So," she said, needing to the fill the silence with something. "What do I do?"

The intensity of his gaze did not lessen. If anything, it grew. "Close your eyes," he answered, his voice whisper soft. His deep baritone floated across her like a caress all its own and raised goose bumps across her skin. Kagome shuddered, her entire being focused on his next words. "And feel."

Taking a deep breath, Kagome did as instructed. She did not feel afraid or nervous. Rather it was like coming home after being away for a long, long time. Thoughts of others seemed far away in her mind as all she could sense, all she could feel was Sesshoumaru.

His youki flared up around her, fully released and blanketing her and the surrounding land with its dominance. She found her own answering; pushing up against his, taming the wild edges. Even with her eyes closed, she could see all of this in her mind. Then she felt his hand upon her face, his claws skimming through the long length of her hair with the greatest of care. He could so easily break her. It wouldn't be anything for him to end her. And yet, he was treating her as if she were the most delicate of flowers. But she knew she had strength in her. Strength to match his, in spirit if not physically.

Unable to stop herself, she reached forward with her hands, laying them against his chest. His heart beat strong underneath her palm, racing in time with her own, and his chest rose and fell with uneven breaths. She leaned into his warmth, lifting her face towards him, and was rewarded by his lips settling possessively over her own. Kagome willingly opened her mouth to him, inviting him to taste of her, and Sesshoumaru greedily took up her offer. His lips and tongue mastered her own, drawing out the carnal side of her that had been so long hidden. Kagome gloried in the feelings he arose within her and wished for it never to fade.

She was so lost in the sensation of their mouths linked together that she wasn't even aware of her lungs screaming desire for air until Sesshoumaru pulled away from her and she was panting. But she knew she wasn't panting only because of that. Her body was tingling from head to toe, longing for something she knew not of except through instinct.

Opening her eyes, Kagome looked up into Sesshoumaru's face. The markings on his cheeks were jagged and elongated and the gold of his eyes had fully bled away leaving sparkling rubies centered with brilliant blue irises behind. He was so close to losing his precious control and it was all because of her. "Do you fear me, miko?" he asked, his voice barely a growl.

"Never," she breathed and it was the truth. Whatever fear she had held towards him had melted away. He would never hurt her, would always be there with her, and would love her. She would be his only one and he would be hers.

He leaned down towards her, rubbing his cheek against her own in a gesture entirely inu. His lips moved to kiss the side of her face and down her jaw line. His tongue flicked across her throat, tasting her, and he nibbled her just below her ear. The sensation tickled and Kagome couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled forth. He answered her with a growl that seemed to rumble through her entire being and she felt his mokomoko snaking around her once more. Her hand reached down, grasping the pelt, stroking and squeezing it as if it were the daiyoukai in front of her. "Can you....," she paused, unsure of whether or not she should continue with her thought. Her mind blushed as she realized the double meaning of her words, but her lips would not be stopped. "Do you feel it when I touch it?" she asked breathlessly as his lips moved down her throat.

He nodded his head against her, not wanting to pull away from the seemingly delectable morsel he'd found as his lips suckled against her pulse point. The feeling of his silky hair rubbing against her suddenly over sensitized skin only increased her pleasure. Kagome grasped the mokomoko firmly in her hand and ran her fingers through the fluff, loving the shiver that raced through Sesshoumaru's body as she did so. She repeated the motion again, twining her arm through the fur and holding it close.

His hand moved down from her head to her lower back, settling possessively upon it. His thumb moved incessantly back and forth, stroking her through her clothing. Kagome shivered, but not from the cold, as his hand moved lower, cupping her bottom and bringing her flush against him. She gasped when she felt his hardness there and Sesshoumaru used that to kiss her fully once more, delving his tongue into her wanting mouth. She soon found herself being lifted and automatically wrapped her legs around his lean waist, her hands settling upon his shoulders as he lowered them both to the ground.

Slowly releasing her hold upon him, she gazed up at his face where he stared down at her. Her hand reached up, brushing his bangs away from his ruby eyes. She wanted to see him, all of him. And she wanted to see him now. "Now this seems familiar," she said teasingly as she smiled up at him.

"Does it?" he fairly purred back at her.

"Yes. Flashes here and there coming and going," she answered, trying to sound vague. "What was it that you said to me when I asked you what happened here? Ah, yes," she continued to tease, taking on his tone. "Something like 'sharing myself with this Sesshoumaru in such a way is not something that will be lightly put from my mind'."

"And?" he pressed as he continued to stare down at her, his eyes hard with lust and desire and love.

Kagome smiled to herself as she realized her next words would entirely seal her fate; would make her his, would take her beyond anything she knew, and that she was more than willing to walk that path now. "And it hasn't been put from my mind. I find myself eager to know what more there is to you, Lord Sesshoumaru."

His eyes widened momentarily with surprise before returning to their previous lust filled intensity. It was only for a heartbeat, but she saw it all the same and her body shivered as she realized what she'd done to him. "Vixen," he growled, grinding his hardness against her before lowering his lips down to hers once more.

***

Inuyasha ignored Souta's wide-eyed stare as he watched him devour his seventh cup of ramen. He heard the front door open and smelled Kagome's mom as she entered. "Souta!" she called out. "I'm home."

"In here, mom!" Souta yelled back and then lowered his voice when he noticed Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head. "Inuyasha's here," he continued in a quieter tone.

Kagome's mom came around the corner, her face brightening when she saw him sitting there, and Inuyasha felt the ramen he'd just eaten curling in his stomach. "Inuyasha," she greeted with a smile. "What a pleasant surprise. Is Kagome here with you?"

"Nah," he said as he stood up, pushing the now empty ramen cup aside to join the other empties. "She had things to take care of."

The explanation had worked on Souta. Why wouldn't it work with her? he thought. Of course, he should have known better. Fate couldn't be kind to him or give him any kind of a break. Those things only happened to people the Kamis didn't like to mess with on a regular basis. "Oh?" she said as she set some bags she was carrying down on the counter top. "What did she have to do?"

My brother, he almost said but stopped himself. Straightening, glad his mind had caught up with his mouth in time, he fought the need to bolt. Let Kagome come back and explain everything to her family, he thought to himself, fighting the need to flee. Then he shoved the thought and feelings aside. Kagome had asked him to do this and do this he would! But how to explain it?

Mrs. Higurashi, sensing his need to gather his thoughts but knowing instinctively that nothing was wrong with her daughter, waited patiently. She put away the groceries and shooed Souta upstairs to get ready for bed while Inuyasha continued to stand there as if rooted to the spot. Then the hanyou opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "I take it Kagome is well?" she prodded.

"Oh. Oh yeah," he stuttered out. "She's better than well. Missin' you. Wanted me to pop back here and explain a few things for her...since she couldn't be here herself and all."

The hanyou paused again, his face red. Ms. Higurashi took a patient breath. Whatever the situation was, Inuyasha was definitely not comfortable with it. "Would you like some more ramen, Inuyasha?" she asked as she cleared away the empty containers that had been left on the table.

"Yeah," he answered automatically and Mrs. Higurashi smiled to herself as she set about fixing it for him.

He watched her until she was done, taking his seat back at the table when she motioned for him to. She set the ramen before him and his hands picked up the chop sticks, but he made no move to eat the food in front of him. His eyes were focused on the broth as if it held the answers he wanted. "Kagome's with my brother," he finally shot out, still not looking at her. To keep himself from saying anything else, he shoved a large heaping of noodles into his mouth.

"Your brother?" she echoed. Kagome had told her some about Inuyasha's family. She knew she didn't get the full details of what her daughter went through on the other side of the well and she knew there was plenty more danger than her daughter ever told her about. But she also knew that her daughter felt a responsibility to fixing what she believed she had wronged and so she'd decided, long ago, that she wouldn't try and stop Kagome from doing what she believed right. Every time her daughter went through the well and disappeared from her reach, she just closed her eyes and prayed for Kagome's safe return. "His name is Sesshoumaru, right?"

"Yeah, that's the bastard," Inuyasha mumbled as he shoved another heaping bite of ramen in his mouth.

She sat down across from him, a cup of tea she'd made herself in hand. Something told her it would take time to get all the information out of Inuyasha. "I thought your brother and you didn't get along. Why is Kagome with him?"

Why does she have to be so persistent for information! Inuyasha wailed to himself as he filled his mouth with another bite. He didn't really want to be eating right then, his stomach still twisting with dread, but it gave his mouth something else to do other than talk. Of course, the food never lasted long and Kagome's mom had the patience of a saint. "They're connecting...," he mumbled as he scooped another overly large bite into his mouth.

"Connecting," she repeated thoughtfully, making Inuyasha wonder if she was being stubborn on purpose.

He finished his bite and went to take another only to find no more. Why did the ramen have to be gone? Pushing the now empty container away, he set down his chop sticks and looked over at the woman across the table from him. She didn't seem upset or worried. Of course, she never did. Mrs. Higurashi was always calm, cool, and collected. Like Sesshoumaru.

Thinking of his brother almost made Inuyasha growl and he knew he needed to just spit it out and run away like a dog with his tail between his legs. Mrs. Higurashi couldn't cross through the well. He'd be safe on the other side.

Standing, he braced his hands on the table, willing himself not to gouge his claws into the wood. Kagome would be upset with him if he broke anything while he was here. "Look. They're soul mates. Destined for each other or somethin' like that. She can't come back here yet because he'll go all psycho crazy if she does, but she'll come back and tell you everything when she can. Now I gotta go."

He was out of the door and in the well house before Kagome's mother could formulate a response.

***

Sesshoumaru took in the scene before him; memorizing every sight, sound, and smell. Kagome lay before him, surrounded by his mokomoko and the lush grasses and white flowers of the valley floor. Her long, luxurious hair cascaded across the rich fur of his mokomoko, contrasting darkly. Her lips, red and swollen from their kisses, were parted slightly and her breasts were rising and falling rapidly as she gasped for air. Eyes darkened with passion, her hands were lightly stroking his chest. The feel of her touching him while she demanded to know more of him made Sesshoumaru want to devour her where she lay. The miko's touch was so innocent and yet so sensuous. The scent of her surrounded him, poured into him, and her heartbeat raged in his sensitive ears. He could smell the blood rushing through her veins as her body reacted to his slightest movement. Her legs were still clamped tightly around his waist and he could feel the heat of her arousal as it blossomed and spread against the hardness of his body.

He held such power over her right now, but, in truth, it was she who held him in the palm of her hand.

In all their previous encounters she had seemed shy and unsure, but now she was being so brazen. Her hands were pushing aside his haori, stroking the bare skin of his chest, demanding to touch him. Her nails danced across the muscles, stroking and teasing as they moved. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips as her eyes seemed to feast upon his form.

Staying completely still had never been so satisfying before.

Her eyes looked up into his and she smiled, a blush spreading across her cheeks when she realized he'd been watching her the entire time she explored him. "You're beautiful," she whispered, her voice resonating what he could tell her body was feeling.

Their bond, complete in a way no other than they could render once the miko had given herself entirely to it, pulsed between them. It hadn't happened with a flash or a bang. The bond had just come into being as if it had been there all along, covered but ready and waiting to form. Sesshoumaru needed no words to tell her what he was feeling, what she did to him. He needed no actions to convey everything to this mortal woman before him as she was now with him and he was with her. Bringing her here had been his desire, his wish. It was here that he wanted to first lay with her, to bring the miko her first taste of pleasure, of passion.

He watched as his mokomoko acted for the hand he no longer had, slipping within the kimono she wore and parting it for him. His eyes feasted as much as hers had done with him. When she made to cover herself, her maidenly instincts rising despite the want within her, his mokomoko forced her hands easily to her side, holding them there. "Mine," he growled as his eyes continued to move across her lithe figure, imprinting the scene. "You will never hide yourself from this Sesshoumaru."

He barely noticed her nod as he lowered his mouth to hers once more.

Leaving her breathless, he trailed kisses down her throat. His claws traced his name in kanji across the smooth, flat planes of her stomach and slowly moved upwards to cup one of her breasts. She jumped at his touch, but soon melted into him as his mouth continued to move across her skin. "Mine," he growled again, finding a satisfaction he never knew existed in the claim.

She followed his progress across her body, her breaths becoming more heated. "Yours," she agreed with a moan of pleasure as he squeezed the flesh trapped in his hand. Her eyes traced his features, strained as his instincts to dominate and control came forth. He knew she found no fear there. The miko's next whispered words wrapped him in a vice-like grip and Sesshoumaru knew he was lost to her. "Now take me, Sesshoumaru."

***

Glad to be back in his own time, Inuyasha jumped out of the well, all the dread he'd been feeling slipping away. Yeah, Kagome might be mad at him when she found out how he'd handled the situation, but what did she expect? He wasn't one for talking about such things. Now if it needed killing, he was the hanyou for the job.

He was walking back towards Kaede's to await Kagome's return when he ran into Shippou on the path. "Come on out, runt," he said towards the bushes the kitsune was hiding in. "I know you're there. I can smell you."

Shippou popped his head up, looking around Inuyasha to see if he was alone, and then jumped out the rest of the way. He came over to where Inuyasha was waiting for him. "Why are you out here, runt? Coming to check on me, too?"

"No!" Shippou said, crossing his arms across his chest. "I'm looking for Kagome. Sango said she left to talk to you. So where is she?"

Inuyasha growled to himself. Would he get no relief today? "She's busy, runt. Come on back to Kaede's."

He started walking again, not bothering to see if Shippou were following. It took the kitsune a minute to race after him. "What is she doing, Inuyasha?" he asked when he finally reached his side.

"She's connecting," he answered, giving the same response he'd given both Souta and Mrs. Higurashi.

The kitsune sounded a little perplexed when he said, "With Sesshoumaru?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha answered gruffly. "She'll be back tomorrow. Sometime."

"Sesshoumaru's not going to hurt her, is he, Inuyasha?"

He glanced at the kitsune walking beside him. "No, Shippou. Now come on. I'm hungry," Inuyasha lied. If this kept up, he'd be fat in no time trying to keep from talking by stuffing his face with food. The faster they made it back to Kaede's, the better.

"But you smell like ramen! And Kagome's home!"

"So. I'm still hungry."

"No you're not. You're just trying to avoid the subject. You know, Miroku says it is unhealthy to keep your feelings inside of yourself."

"I ain't avoiding nothin', runt. And that good for nothing priest needs to learn to take his own advice. Now shut up and get moving or I'll leave you out here."

Shippou easily dodged Inuyasha's strike for his head. There was one good thing about Inuyasha picking on him. His reflexes got a daily work out and kept him agile on his feet during battle.

The two of them walked on in silence for a time and then Shippou stopped, turning to look at the darkened forest behind him. "Hey, Inuyasha."

"What now, Shippou?!" Inuyasha answered from several paces ahead of him. The hanyou wasn't going to stop until he reached Kaede's.

"If Kagome chooses to stay with Sesshoumaru, do you think we'll ever see her again?"

"Of course, runt. It's not like she could stay away."

"Yeah," Shippou agreed, hurrying to catch up with Inuyasha again. "She needs to bring me candy."

***

Kagome groaned as she came back into the waking world. A ray of sunlight seemed determined to shine directly in her face and she turned away from it, surprised as her face became buried in fur. Opening her eyes, shading them from the light, she looked around her. Surrounded by thick white fur that was slowly rising and falling, Kagome knew where she was and her body stilled, tensing, before relaxing completely.

Sitting up, she winced as the movement caused pain in muscles she didn't know could be sore. She looked up to where Sesshoumaru's head would be and found herself staring into the blood red eyes of his true form. He was watching her with a lazy grace Kagome only wished she could possess. Fighting the blush that rose on her cheeks as she recalled vividly what they had done the night before, she looked away from his intense gaze. "Good morning, Sesshoumaru," she said as she raked her hands through his thick, soft fur. "I suppose you would like me to get off you now."

She made to slide off his side, but his large muzzle came down, holding her in place. He took a deep sniff of her, lifting her hair with the force of his breath. Kagome laughed as it tickled her, putting her hands up on either side of his white nose. She leaned her head against his. "I think you've gotten bigger since the last time I saw you like this. Or maybe it's because you're lying down. You know the saying cats walk thin, sleep fat? Maybe it applies to you, too."

He snorted and she could feel what he was thinking almost as if he were saying it aloud. Lying back against him, Kagome let out a short laugh. "Yes, I know, I know. You haven't an ounce of fat on you. I'm very aware of that. Kami, I knew you were vain, but not that vain!"

Sighing to herself, she stared up at the blue sky above. Clouds were lazily floating above and Kagome realized it was much later than she had suspected with the sun nearing the position for late afternoon. "I don't feel any different," she suddenly said aloud. "I thought I'd feel different, but I don't."

Well, she supposed silently, she did feel differently. She felt...happy. Complete in way never experienced before—not even when gaining the missing half of her soul back from Kikyou. And she knew she would never be alone in this life. Sesshoumaru rumbled underneath her, waves of contentment echoing through her. It was one of the first times she could say that she had genuinely sensed such a thing from him.

Ignoring his displeased growl, she slid off the opposite side of him, using the fur of his back to slow her descent down to the ground. Her bare feet touched the soft grass just as a wave of youki washed over her. She didn't have to turn around to know that Sesshoumaru had transformed once more. The feeling of him standing directly behind her, looming over her, was enough. She trustingly leaned back, smiling when she came into contact with his warm body. A few strands of his hair floated over her shoulder and Kagome picked them up. She twirled them around her fingers, not wanting to turn and face him yet. Seeing him in his dog form was one thing after the night they'd had. Seeing him as she knew him was something entirely different. She'd practically committed bestiality last evening. Albeit her dog was willing—very willing, in fact. And he'd been willing several times. Her once virginal mind was just still coming into acceptance of that act was all. Still, though. "So what now?" she asked.

She could feel his unspoken laughter at her shyness. Youkai had no concept of modesty, she realized, when he easily scooped her up against him and she found him to be as naked as he'd been the night before. "Now we bathe," he answered.

Kagome settled her arms comfortably around his shoulders. She leaned her head against his chest. "And then?"

Sesshoumaru smirked and Kagome's blush intensified...

***

FINISHED

***

Well, that's it, folks! My Only is done and complete. There will be no sequel—at least not in my lifetime, lol. Thank you for the wonderful ride and for all your support and comments. I know there's a lot left to be explored in this fic, but I prefer to leave some things up to my readers' imaginations and my muse loved this way of coming to a close.

I couldn't have finished this without the devotion, encouragement, and harassment you offered me through reviews and PMs on a regular basis. I'm sad to see this end as I've loved talking with you all, but also happy it is complete as I'm ready to move on to other ideas and this one's consumed me for long enough. My sincerest gratitude to those who have nominated this fic for the Dokuga fan fiction awards and to those who have voted. Though I do not write for the pretty banners, it's still a nice thing to receive.

I hope to see you all again on my next ride through the wonderful world of Inuyasha fan fiction.

LC Rose