Kagome's breath hitched and she instantly leaned in towards Inuyasha. Her only thought was for his safety. Slowly, Inuyasha's eyes opened reliving two golden orbs and a furrowed brow. Kagome let out the breath she had been holding and felt the tension in her body release. 'He's safe' she chanted to herself.

"Can you feel your body?" Rei asked as she stood up and began to put away her supplies. Kagome watched as Inuyasha's head swiveled slowly around the room, trying to take it all in.

"Uhg, yeah trust me I can feel everything." Inuyasha groaned as he started to sit up.

"Inuyasha! No, you should rest more!" Kagome frantically explained as she tried to push him back down with little to no success.

"Actually he should be fine, Kagome. His body heals much fast that a human's so you need not worry yourself over him. In fact, it would be best if he moved around to get his body back in working order. The venom Mayumi got him with needs to be worked out of his system and the easiest way to do that is to move around, not let it settle." Rei explained as she finished cleaning up. Kagome glanced worriedly from Rei to Inuyasha and slowly removed her hand from his chest, concern still etched into her face. Her eyes locked with his and she tried to convey everything she was feeling. All of the hurt, confusion, and relief fought over her expression forcing a tangled mess of teary eyes and a sad smile on her face.

"Well I'd best be going." Rei announced slamming her small trunk shut and slinging it over her shoulder. Kagome jumped at the sudden noise and Inuyasha moved in front of her, his need to protect her still evident.

"Going?" Kagome asked peeking out from behind Inuyasha, who, still had not let his guard down.

"Yes, I have to find Mayumi and Masaru and most likely give Mayumi some medical attention and help calm Masaru down. I need to explain what our situation will be in the future." Rei answered as she walked towards the door and into the now dark hall.

"We-we'll go with you! It's already dark what if something happens to you?" Kagome said. However, her comment was only answered with a confused look from Inuyasha and Rei quirking an eyebrow.

"Umm, well I think I'll be fine. But thanks I guess…" Rei said an awkward tone in her voice as she stepped out into the hall. "Oh, and I won't be back till morning." Rei added looking over her shoulder at Inuyasha before disappearing into the dark hallway.

Kagome sat upright behind Inuyasha, confusion on her face. 'Why wouldn't Rei want us to come along? And what about that morning comment? What did she mean by that?' Kagome asked herself.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. His voice had a hint of a growl in it that only made Kagome shiver more from the absence of light in the room. Only three small candles still flickered and the light from outside had vanished with the setting sun.

"Yes? Are you okay? Does something hurt?" Kagome fretted, "Because if it does I think I can call Rei back and-" she was cut short by Inuyasha's sudden embrace that had her pressed up to him as he wrapped his arms around her body. She could feel Inuyasha burying his face in her neck and Kagome felt a blush creep up her cheeks in response.

"W-what are you doing? Inuyasha?" Kagome stuttered out. Slowly he began to pull her to him, placing her body on top of his as he lay back down. Kagome struggled to get out of the, what she deemed, awkward position. But Inuyasha's hands held fast on her back forcing her into him.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered, making her name sound like a prayer. Kagome felt his tongue dart out to lick her ear. She was in full battle mode then, her body wiggling and pushing against him. 'What is he doing!' Kagome screamed mentally. She tried to get her arms out of his iron clad grip but he was too strong. It seemed as though the more she struggled the harder he held her. She could feel the air being squeezed from her lungs as Inuyasha clasped his hands around her. Fear began to work its way into her veins and she felt her muscles go slack from over exertion. Just then Inuyasha's mouth caressed her ear again bringing a new bought of fear pumping through her already slack limbs.

"Inuyasha please stop!" Kagome whimpered out as she body gave way to the exhaustion. Inuyasha instantly let go, his actions driven by the fact that his mate was in pain.

"Kagome? What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked. He sat up and moved her so she sat facing him between his knees. Kagome's exhausted expression and teary eyes drove him to panic.

At once his hands were on her, checking and re-checking any places she might be injured. His hands ended at her face pulling it up to look at him. Kagome was still trying to catch her breath as he lifted her chin up towards his face.

"Kagome? Tell me where your hurt, please, let me help you." Inuyasha begged scooting even closer to her. At last Kagome began to breath normally though her body still crumpled from her over exertion.

"W-why were you…Why were you doing th-that?" Kagome managed to stutter out, her chin quaking the panic and fatigue. She twisted her head away from him and planted her gaze on the ground. Inuyasha pulled away suddenly, confused by her words.

"Doing what?" he asked turning her face towards him. Inuyasha wasn't sure what she was talking about and he didn't like her to be this close to crying without a reason and a way to stop her tears.

"Th-that…hugging me and then…you touched, I-I mean it was…" Kagome said keeping her eyes down. She couldn't help but feel like she was in the wrong when he gave her that innocent and concerned expression.

"Hugged you?" Inuyasha asked. He was beyond confusion now, "But didn't you just say that you loved me?"

Kagome blushed and met his eyes for a second before looking down again in embarrassment. She nodded slowly remembering well her confession.

"So, if you love me and I love you then there should be no problem with us having sex, right?" Inuyasha asked titling his head to the side. At once Kagome's face lit up in a blush she stared at Inuyasha in awe that he could so easily spell it out. 'Wait, he loves me?' Kagome screamed to herself. She looked down focusing on a speck of dust to keep her thoughts together. Her body was now shivering not from the exertion but from the excitement. 'He did say that, right? I'm not just imagining things, right?' she asked herself. Kagome gulped in anxiety and gathered her courage as she lifted her face to look at Inuyasha. He was still sitting there in front of her, head cocked to the side, one eyebrow lifted in confusion and worry.

"D-do you really…I mean you actually said that you love me, right?" Kagome asked. Her mind was torn. His words, if they had been true, were simple elating, they drove her to want to scream from any and all mountain tops that he loved her. Yet, it was still there, that mocking seed of mistrust. 'It is too good, too good to be true. Why would he love you? Why would anyone? You're a skimpy little battered girl with not a single redeeming attribute. So tell me why, why would he love you?' the voice in Kagome's head took on that of her mother's berating tone. She felt her body shrink back in apprehension as she waited for his words.

"Hmm? Yeah, of course I love you; why else would I have marked you?" Inuyasha answered leaning in closer towards her. Kagome sat stark still taking in his words. It wasn't until she had fully let the fact that there was a being in this world who loved her settle that she heard his questions.

"I-I didn't mean to be disrespectful about the mark, really! I guess I just didn't know if the rules of demon mating applied to our situation…" Kagome answered and she reached up to touch the now forever bruised flesh at the base of her neck. Inuyasha flinched slightly as she rubbed his mating mark. He fought to keep himself from wrapping her in his arms again.

"Well, I guess I should have explained it to you better. It's always been common knowledge to me so but I shouldn't have assumed you would know what it meant." Inuyasha explained.

"No! Please don't apologize, I should have asked you about it sooner." Kagome squeaked. She let out a sigh of relief and absently stroked the mark on her neck.

Okay, she was driving him crazy! The situation, his mate sitting between his legs rubbing his making mark while blushing and smiling as she re-declared her love for him. And the effects? Inuyasha was going positively insane trying to keep his hands off her! He didn't even know what had sparked her panic in the first place and now he wanted to continue since they both understood each other's feelings.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked drawing her gaze up from the floor. The second their eyes met Kagome felt like prey. His gaze was dark and full of thoughts she knew should never be said aloud. The golden orbs promised her many things in their devious glinting, but, mostly they promised she wouldn't have to wait long to find out about all his intentions.

Slowly Inuyasha moved closer to her, his warm breath gliding over her face causing a shiver to run down her spine. At once Kagome threw her hands up to land on his chest. And though her strength didn't stop him her worried expression did.

"Inuyasha wait!" Kagome pleaded. Her eyes were wide with fear and Inuyasha hated how she looked at him like that. Anger rolled in his stomach as he thought of her rejecting him after what they had been through. 'Hell, if she thinks I'm stopping!' Inuyasha inwardly threatened her. Suddenly her wrists were in his hands. Inuyasha easily swung her over him and onto the thin bed of cloth beneath him. He let his left hand take over her wrists as his right one slid suggestively down her body, cupping her breast as he went. Inuyasha didn't dare look at Kagome. He knew what her expression would be, fear, fear of him. He tried to tune out her screaming as he began to lift up her dress, his hand just sliding under the hem when she went silent all together.

Inuyasha stopped as well, but he didn't dare meet her eyes. He could feel her shaking as they both stayed still.

"I don't want…don't want…" Kagome whimpered out. Inuyasha could hear the tears in her voice. At once he let go of her wrists and pulled himself off of her. He sat, his back to her, as she slowly sat up.

"I-I'm sorry. I guess I thought…I'm sorry…" Inuyasha mumbled. He didn't want her to reject him, but forcing her had felt even worse. Hid whole body seemed to chide him for having hurt her. He lowered his head in defeat and let the self-hatred wash over him. Suddenly he felt a feather light touch on his back. It grew until he could feel Kagome's body pressed up against him. Her arms shook as they wrapped around his waist.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, turning himself slightly so he could see her. She clung to him faintly shaking as a few tears made their way down her cheeks.

"I-I'm sorry Inuyasha. It's not that…that I don't want to, to do these things with you. Please don't be mad!" Kagome begged her grip tightening around him.

"Then why?" Inuyasha asked. He moved so that she was now hugging his chest instead of his back. Inuyasha gently wrapped his arms around her as well.

"I-I don't want you to turn into a full demon like last time!" Kagome rushed out burying her head into his chest.

"Full demon?" Inuyasha asked. He put a hand on each of her shoulders and pulled her away from him slightly so he could see her face.

"Y-yeah, when your eyes glow red you turn into a full demon, Rei told me about it…didn't you know?" Kagome asked.

"No…I didn't," Inuyasha answered his brow furrowing. Anger swept over his face and he felt is aura fury slide over the room. Kagome shivered from its power before Inuyasha could get his feeling sunder control. "That's why I can't remember anything isn't it?" He asked.

"I-I think so. Rei said that it was bad for you and that you could ruin your body if you kept doing it." Kagome explained.

"Then, you not wanting to have sex was because you didn't want me to transform?" Inuyasha asked.

"Y-yes, of course!" Kagome answered rather loudly. She instantly blushed at her rather insistent response before looking down. Suddenly Kagome felt his lips at her ear again, his tongue running its way from her ear to her neck. She shivered trying to pull away.

"Inuyasha? Why are you?" Kagome attempted to ask before his lips crashed into hers. The kiss was demanding and hard, something Kagome was not ready for. Inuyasha forced her mouth open and began to claim it as his own. He finally pulled away leaving them both panting before he lightly pushed her back down under him.

"Why? You even have to ask why? It's because I'm going to mark you again," Inuyasha whispered into her ear, letting his hands run over her body. "I'll make you mine over and over until you can't even tell who you are anymore." He promised biting at her ear forcing a shrill moan to erupt from Kagome's lips. The deadly promise hung in the air as Inuyasha began to work his way down her neck, leaving marks any and everywhere he could. Kagome felt her body melt under him, but her concern brought her back from the pleasure.

"B-but what if y-you change?" Kagome managed to gasp out just as he was beginning to lift up her dress. Inuyasha didn't pause from his assault on her and instead merely moved his mouth back up to her ear.

"I won't, I'll be damned if I let my other self have you tonight!" with that Inuyasha pulled her dress up to her chest before forcing her arms up to slip the fabric off completely. Kagome felt the air hit her skin, but she hardly had time to adjust before his body was on hers again.

"You're mine! I promise I won't change tonight, please, let me have you…" Inuyasha begged as he buried his head into her hair. Kagome lay there under him feeling his breath on her neck. Slowly she lifted her arms up and let her hands run over his hair. Inuyasha pulled back slightly to see her face. She wore a small smile and a bright scarlet blush on her cheeks. Her hands delved into his hair again, the feeling of her fingers on him sending trills down his spine. Her motion was sudden and left him breathless as she curled herself into his body and buried her head in the crook of his neck.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked his voice heavy with his want for her.

"I-I love you Inuyasha." She whispered before kissing the base of his neck, mirroring his mark on her.

Inuyasha was a man unleashed. His hands flew to her sides setting her back down on the bed before he kissed her. His lips parted hers with ease and soon Kagome's tongue was trying to mimic his own movements. Inuyasha growled as she grew more daring, even going so far as to nibble at his lip. But her actions were short lived for soon his hands found her breasts. Kagome's head tilted back as Inuyasha ran his hands over her chest.

"Inuyasha!" she moaned out, her voice almost begging him. Inuyasha complied moving his head down to trace his tongue over breasts. He felt her twist and turn as he moved his mouth over her.

"Hey, hey, Kagome," Inuyasha panted out his hand slowly sliding down her stomach, "tell me it feels good, tell me you love me."

As soon as he finished those words Kagome felt his hand delve between her legs. At once she tried to close them in embarrassment. But, he held them open with his own legs, as he moved his hand over her again. Kagome tried to stop his hand with her own but she quickly found her writs pinned above her head by his other hand. She could feel his aura coating the room once more, rushing waves of desire that crashed into her as he moved.

Inuyasha moved his mouth to her ear once more. "Say it, say it feels good, say you love me." He almost ordered. At first Kagome was scared that he was going to change, that his demanding words were a sign of his transformation. But as he chanted the words again they sounded more and more like a plea. Kagome felt her body go ridged as his finger delved inside her.

It came out in a rush, the words that Inuyasha needed to hear and Kagome longed to say, "I-I love you Inuyasha!" she stuttered out before another moan could take over her voice.

"I love you too." With that Inuyasha released her wrists and used his free hand to slide his pants off. Kagome heard the rustling fabric and looked down. Her face immediately turned bright red as she saw all of Inuyasha. She looked away instantly both ashamed and amazed, and ashamed for being amazed.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, "It's okay to, right? You won't hate it, right?" He looked down at her; a want she had never known existed flashing in his eyes. Kagome felt him pull his finger out of her and steady himself on top of her. She remembered their first time, so rough and jagged she had felt as though her body had been torn in two. And while she didn't want to experience that again the pleading in Inuyasha's eyes gave her no choice but to lean forward and kiss him.

The pressure brought a strangled moan from Kagome's lips as Inuyasha slid into her. It was different than their first time, so much different in fact that she wasn't even sure he was doing it right. Kagome let her eyes open slightly to peek down before she immediately looked away very sure they were indeed doing the same thing.

"Does it hurt?" Inuyasha asked his breath already haggard from the feeling of her around him.

"N-no, it doesn't hurt…" Kagome said squinting her eyes as all of him entered her. Inuyasha didn't move for a few seconds before he started to pull out of her only to push himself back in. Kagome could feel him moving but it wasn't uncomfortable in the least. She was embarrassed to admit it but it felt almost right to have him with her like this.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha groaned out. She looked up at him as he let out a low growl before kissing her. His lips jammed into hers and forced her mouth to comply with his before he pulled away suddenly whispering, "I'm sorry."

His movement was rough and fast as he slammed himself into her. At once Kagome was left breathless. Her body was moving on its own trying to match Inuyasha's impossible rhythm. The pleasure shot through her and made her toes curl and her fingers grip his arms until her knuckles turned white.

"In-Inuyasha!" she shouted feeling him twist her hips slightly as he began to move faster.

"Say it again, say my name." Inuyasha whispered his eyes clouded over with lust. Kagome had no mind to make out what he was saying; only that it was Inuyasha saying it.

"Inuyasha! S-something's…Ah! No! Please!" Kagome panted out as Inuyasha shifted her once again bringing a whole new wave of pleasure to crashing over her. "I-it feels…Inuyasha!" she screamed as he bent low to lick her mating mark. Kagome could swear the mark had made her neck more sensitive, for as Inuyasha licked at it she felt her body almost curl in on itself and a nerve frying jolt rush through her.

…

She was standing on a hill, no not a hill, a mountain. The sky stretched out above and below her in a vast expanse. Her body flowed in the air as if it could be taken away by a gust of wind. She was suddenly scared, scared of the wind's mighty gust, scared of being blowing away.

Then she felt it, soft at first, then more firmly; a hand on her face, gently rubbing her cheek and a voice calling her name. The voice drew her down from the mountain's windswept top to a warm place where the touch was even more present and the words sweeter than candy. The voice told her many things, many wonderful heart-felt things. It talked of love and a future; it calmed her to no end. Suddenly the hand on her face grew rougher, almost jagged against her skin. Fear crept into her mind as the voice became more and more frantic; shouting her name in time with the hand's now none to gentle movements.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha's voice rang loud and clear in her head. His panic drove her from her dream and into reality. Her eyes creaked open to a dark room with a faint flickering light in the corner of her vision.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, his tone still worried, "Are you okay? Please answer me!" At that Kagome opened her eyes fully. Inuyasha was leaning over her his hand on her cheek with his thumb rubbing tiny worry filled circles over her skin.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked still unsure of her whereabouts. In a flash Inuyasha had her pulled into his chest, his arms wrapping themselves around her tiny body.

"Thank goodness you're awake I was afraid I had really hurt you." Inuyasha explained letting her lay back down in the bed. He shuffled about bringing a wet washcloth to her forehead and pulling the blankets up over her. Kagome glanced down and saw that her clothes were on, but a bit ragged around the collar. 'What happened?' Kagome asked herself as Inuyasha moved to get the bucket of drinking water and the ladle. 'Inuyasha and I were…' she trailed off suddenly remembering all too well what they had been doing.

"Inuyasha, what…what did I?" Kagome tried to ask, not sure what she should and shouldn't be confused about. He turned and lifted her slightly and brought the ladle of water to her lips. To Kagome's surprise she was parched. The water sloshing down her throat brought a feeling of relief she didn't know she needed.

Inuyasha let her drink her fill before he put the ladle back and began to wet her washcloth again, keeping his eyes away from hers.

"Inuyasha? Are you okay?" Kagome asked concern ebbing into her voice. Had she done something wrong?

"I'm fine, Kagome, don't worry. Just get some rest." Inuyasha said as he moved away from her and into the corner where he pulled an apple out from one of the barrels. He proceeded to sit, his back towards her, and peel the apple slowly.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked again. When he didn't answer she could feel the worry bubbling up inside her. 'What did I do wrong? I know I'm not good at...sex…but what did I do wrong? Was I not supposed to make so much noise?' Kagome asked herself fretting over the situation. 'Should I have touched him more? No…no…it had to be my injuries. They must have put him off, made him not want to look at me. I mean the last time I remember I had a black eye and bruises all over my body, it's no wonder, it's no wonder at all…' she trailed off bringing her hands up to her face, feeling where the skin seemed to swell.

"I…I'm sorry Inuyasha…I really am sorry." Kagome whispered as she rolled over so she wouldn't have to face him. At once Inuyasha was at her side, the apple still in his grasp.

"Why are you apologizing?" he asked a demanding tone in his voice. Kagome looked over her shoulder in fear at him. She didn't want to face him now, not when she was still so…ugly.

"Really I'm sorry, I'll try to keep you from having to see me like this again, really I will. So please, don't hate me, please." Kagome managed to whisper out. Suddenly all of her mother's insults spilled forth from her mind. Kagome flinched at their memories and prayed Inuyasha wouldn't echo them.

His arms were around her in a flash bringing her onto his lap. The washcloth and apple both fell to the floor as he let his forehead lay on her head.

"You really do confound me, did you know that?" Inuyasha said his voice carrying a sorrowful aftertaste. Kagome tried to turn to face him but quickly stopped once she remembered her own appearance.

"I-I don't understand, I don't know." Kagome said letting her body drop against his.

"You should be mad with me. You should be hitting me and scorning me and telling me over and over what a worthless being I am." Inuyasha confessed into her hair.

"What?" Kagome asked, her own voice harsh. Her fears were forgotten as she turned to look him in the eye. But, she found her waist to be less than compliant and instead she fell on her side almost hitting her head on the floor. Inuyasha's hands caught her and brought her back into his arms. He helped her twist herself to face him.

"I'm sorry I must have moved too suddenly…" Kagome said trying to figure out why her body would betray her so. She tried to move her waist again but found that it was almost powerless and even ached a little.

"Inuyasha, I think I might have hurt myself." Kagome said still staring at her hips.

"No, I hurt you." He said, looking to the side to avoid her gaze.

"What?" she asked drawing her head nearer to his as though their misunderstanding could be solved within the physical space.

"You were right. I shouldn't have taken you last night." Inuyasha answered still avoiding her eyes.

"I was right?" Kagome asked letting their earlier conversations filter through her mind, "Oh no! You didn't transform did you! Are you hurt anywhere? No one tired to hurt you, right?" Kagome rushed out worry coating each word. Inuyasha finally looked at her, but his expression was one of outright confusion.

"What? No, I didn't transform." He answered.

"But, then why was I right?" she asked scooting closer. Inuyasha pushed himself away in response.

"You were right in that I shouldn't have had sex with you. Kagome, I hurt you." He confessed. She looked down for a moment running the night's events over, and getting a few chills doing so. But, she couldn't think of a single instance where he had hurt her, except before but it didn't seem as thought he was talking about then.

"I still don't understand." She said trying to crane her neck so he would be forced to look at her. Inuyasha didn't move away but he refused to meet her eyes.

"Last night I know I hurt you, don't try to deny it. When I was about to finish," Inuyasha explained receiving a very scarlet blush from Kagome, "you suddenly screamed and then blacked out. I know it was my fault, it was because I came in you, wasn't it?"

Well there could not have been a tomato in the world that could have matched Kagome's present color. Her whole body radiated the embarrassment she felt not only when he explained his theory but also the fact that she was going to have to explain to him why he was wrong. She let her head drop, very sure that she couldn't say this while looking at him.

"N-no, that's not it…I mean you're wrong about th-the 'came' thing. I didn't scream or…or black out because you did that." She managed to explain before her face reached an even deeper shade of red. Kagome felt Inuyasha turn his head towards her.

"What do you mean? I came in you and then you blacked out." Inuyasha explained. "I- I've never come in anyone before so that has to be it."

Kagome sighed and steadied herself. "No, I'm only going to say this once so please listen." She felt Inuyasha nod as he leaned closer to her.

"I-I came too that's why I blacked out!" she said in a rush. The room went silent at which point Kagome began repeating the phrase, 'kill me now!' in her head.

"So you…and that's why..." Inuyasha finally said. Kagome dared a peek up at his face only to be caught in his arms and forced into a hug that had their eyes meeting. Inuyasha had the goofiest grin spread across his face as he looked at her.

"It must have felt pretty good then, huh?" he teased. Kagome felt herself being torn. On the one hand Inuyasha wasn't mad with her and he was smiling and laughing. On the other hand he was laughing at her. 'How can you want to hug and hit someone at the same time?' she briefly asked herself. Upon hearing no answer she gave in and let her arms wrap around him as well.

Inuyasha was content, and not to mention oozing with pride! He had made his mate so intoxicated with their lovemaking that she had passed out due to sheer pleasure. He could feel his chest swell with the pride as he hugged her closer loving the feel of her tiny hands trying to wrap around his back.

Kagome was happy. It was a lovely feeling, she decided. 'But Rei really was right.' She thought. Kagome rewound the last few minutes in her head. She had had to go through all of those nonsensical feelings just to get to where she was now. 'But, it feels better this way, like I earned it.' She conceded.

It was sudden and left her gasping slightly. Inuyasha tensed and pulled her up, forcing her behind him. Kagome understood immediately, someone had come back.

…..

Author's note: I am extremely sorry for the long interval in between these chapters. In an effort to win you all back I tired to write twice as much. I hope it works. Thank you.