InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strength of Bond ❯ New Moon ( Chapter 19 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: My friend has decided that my story, as a play on words, should be called “Strength of Bondage.” >.<;; However amusing that is, I'll have to decide if I'll do one of those S&M or not. As you all know, April fools day is today, and thus it was a difficult choice whether or not to play a vicious prank on my adoring fans. You be the judge on which choice I made and if there was a rather cruel prank, how bad was it, and what exactly was the prank? Lol. I'll let you know in chapter 20 if there was a prank in here or not.

Warnings: hmmm… for once I can't say, that would be cheating, but in the words of my favorite Mazoku, Xellos, “Sore wa himitsu desu.”

Chapter 19

Kagome skipped alongside the sidewalk, ignoring the rushing crowd on all sides as she made her way to the train station. The Saturday half-day of school was finally over and she could just about scream for joy of the weekend. Of course, she failed to remind herself that in an hour or two her teacher would come to her apartment to teach her and Inuyasha more about soul bonds. For now she was free to think that a bright weekend was stretched out before her.

A semi-human looking Inuyasha, followed closely behind. “How long does this spell last, again?” he asked.

She turned to look over her shoulder and shrugged. “The duration depends on the strength and training of the spell caster. Furthermore, the more practice, the easier it is to cast. It also takes less energy with more practice.”

Inuyasha sighed as he flexed his claws and watched the illusion of human hands complete the motion. “I still can't believe Kaede-babaa used me as a test subject. How the hell is that fair trade for my attitude last time?”

“Be thankful she only had them use illusion spells on you. Imagine if she wanted to practice purification spells on you? I wonder if that's painful,” she murmured the last as an after thought. She shook her head and a small smile found its way upon her lips. “Think of it this way, ko-inu, you don't have a dress on anymore.” She shuffled along, the smile growing on her face at the expected growl.

Today, each child in the class had a go at `turning' the poor hanyou into a human with a basic illusion spell. At times he had been dressed as a variety of different creatures. He once had purple skin with yellow hair and his clothes were that of a pregnant woman. Another time he looked mostly human but with a lizard tail and his dog ears still showed. He even once ended up looking like an elderly man, but the enlarged fangs and claws did not complement the image. Usually most of the spells from the girls lasted barely five minutes to which laughter would streak around the room and the girl caster would be blushing quite profusely. Finally, Kagome was given a chance and, for now, Inuyasha was still stuck in that illusion. Surprisingly, he looked very similar to his natural human form, except for a few differences. He had long black hair like his human form, but his eyes remained their usual amber, though the pupil less slitted. Human ears and human hands completed the ensemble. Too bad he still maintained his fangs, or he could easily pass as a human. “I am not a puppy!”

She smiled wider and turned back to him. “Of course not.” The words, however, seemed to hold little meaning, as if she wasn't really saying them, just miming along to prevent an argument in a rather public place. Instead, she grasped his hand tightly in her own and changed the subject, “Kaede-sensei said that your human night is coming soon. You told me that you turn human once a month, but you still haven't told me when. When is it?” Without so much as waiting for an answer she finished with, “I can't wait to see you.”

He glanced down at her, his eyes narrowed and a suspicious look crossed his face. “Why? I look almost like this, a baka ningen.”

Kagome glanced upward and caught the strange look upon his face. Was he angry about her questions? She rolled her eyes at the thought. Of course. She should have realized that he would be mad about turning into a human. She pushed her thoughts aside from becoming any darker than they seemed to be headed, and reached her hand up to touch an ear on top of his head. “You may look it, but I'll pass judgment when I get to touch your other ears.” With that, she broke away and sauntered off with a giggle.

He growled at the tease. How the hell had he not seen that one coming? Stupid ears. What was her fascination with his ears anyway? He rubbed a hand on the touched ear to remove the tingling her caress had given him. He would get her back for that move. When he noticed her gaining too much ground, he gave chase. After all, it's the challenge that made the reward that much more… rewarding and… satisfying.

~~~-~~~

“I think that's enough for today,” Kaede said as she rose from the floor of the tatami room. Currently, Kagome was seated, cradled within Inuyasha's legs and arms, upon the floor in front of her bonded. Their eyes were closed as they hovered in a state of semi-deep meditation. For the last two hours, she had guided the pair in how to probe their powers and mingle them together. It was on a wholly spiritual and non-physical realm, that it was easy for them to become way too distracted in each other. When the two were unresponsive to her summons, still too lost in their own world created of their own device, she sighed and departed from the room.

Silence filled the room for a few more minutes, the mixing red and blue of their auras becoming more purple than the two separate colors. “Ne, Inuyasha. Stop that,” Kagome giggled in a breathless whisper as she shifted further into the embrace, her face crinkled in amusement.

“Iie,” his voice was dark in a deliciously husky tone.

Soon loud feminine laughter filled the room, but just as suddenly as it appeared it was swallowed by a telling silence. Several more minutes passed, when the pair finally drifted from the room. They poked, prodded, elbowed, and pushed in a somewhat friendly camaraderie, and still ignored the rest of the world. Sango, Miroku, and Kaede were located in the living room, and each had a look of amusement toward the pair.

“Gomen ne, Kaede-sensei. I guess we got carried away,” Kagome murmured.

Knowing looks exchanged between the other three occupants, while Inuyasha just scoffed and glared at a wall. “It's quite all right. Most bonded tend to enjoy and get a bit carried away the first time they exchange and examine each other's aura and powers,” Kaede replied. “Well I should leave you before sunset. Tonight's the new moon and an old lady such as myself, should not be out and about after dark. Oyasumi and Sayonara, mina.”

Sango lead Kaede to the door, while Miroku turned his face back to the television. Kagome turned away from her bonded to ask about the show he was watching. It was several minutes later when she suddenly felt an unwelcomed panic forming inside of her. She forced herself to focus upon the feeling as she had been earlier taught, to find that the feelings were not her own. She turned to find her bonded gone from the room, but the panic and fear that welled inside her grew worse by each passing second. She, too, turned and fled the room and raced off to find her bonded. “Inuyasha?!”

The feelings grew stronger as she traveled deeper into their home. She stopped in front of one of the rooms and attempted to turn the handle. The door to their bedroom was locked and he was clearly inside. Why did he have to finally install the lock today of all days? “Inuyasha?!” Silence. “Inuyasha?!” she called louder.

“I heard you the first time, konoama! Go away!”

“Nani?! Don't call me that!” she snapped back instantly. She clapped her hands over her mouth. That was not the way to get him to open the door. Gathering her anger under control she called back in a softer tone, “Inuyasha? Daijoubu desu ka?”

“I said, `Go away,' konoama!” he growled.

She growled back. “Taishou, Inuyasha! You better open this door… or else!”

“Or else what?!”

“I'll subdue you till your body becomes a permanent fixture in the ground!”

“Sumimasen, Kagome-chan?”

She whirled around to see Sango and Miroku standing in the hall with worried looks. She smiled falsely. “Ah, it's okay, Sango-chan, Miroku-san. Don't look so worried. Inuyasha's just had a rough day. No need to get worried or involved. I… uh… will take care of this.”

The other two stood there, unsure before they nodded and departed back down the hall to the living room. She turned back to the door, when the other two had turned the volume up of the television to drown out her and her bonded's voices. “Inuyasha,” she hissed back at the door. “If being an oriental rug doesn't bother you, then you can forget about us ever sharing a-”

The door slipped opened and the surprised miko was yanked into the room, the door locked behind her. It took her a moment to get her bearings. The room was completely dark, the curtains drawn over the window. She could barely see anything and her eyes were having a difficult time adjusting to the dimness. “Inuyasha?”

“What?”

“I can't see. Could you please turn on the light?”

“Iie.”

“Why not?”

“I don't want it on.”

“If you won't turn it on-”

“Chikushou! Fine!” He flipped on the switch.

Her eyes closed, momentarily blinded by the light. She peaked through her lashes slowly, then blinked rapidly before she eventually could see clearly and without spots in her eyes. She focused upon the hanyou as he stalked around the room in a nervous motion. “What's wrong?”

“It's the new moon. Kami, how could I forget,” grumbled the clearly distressed boy.

“And that means what to me?”

He glared at her hard, as if she was the cause of all his problems. “It's my human night.”

“Oh… Oh?” she said, dawning on the truth of that statement. “Your human night?!”

“Aa.”

She paused digesting the statement and then she realized that he had locked her out of the room without telling her why. Her anger returned full force. “With the door locked, I wouldn't have know… And I'm willing to bet that you weren't going to tell me at all, were you?! I thought we got past this, Inuyasha! I trust you with my fears and weakness, heck even my very life! Am I not good enough to hear all of yours?! You would actually keep such a thing from me, wouldn't you?! Your wife?! Your MATE?!” she screamed.

The slumped shoulders, flopped ears, and down cast eyes were heart wrenching. He really hadn't been planning to tell her. Her heart sank, crumbled by the lack of faith he had in her. Was she really just that, worthless? Her thoughts broke off in a tremble when she noticed something she hadn't before. Her mate was pacing, so she the subtleness of the movement she finally caught had alluded her till now. He was shivering, a gentle shake of his whole body that cause a slight tremble to his body with each half-formed step. Something was seriously wrong with that. He wasn't supposed to be shaking. He was supposed to be the strong one. He always said he was the strong one and she had never even thought that wasn't the truth. She reached for him, but he snarled and hit her hands away.

“I wasn't going to do that,” he murmured, and turned his back to her to shut her out. “I just…” he trailed off, and ran a claw through his hair in frustration.

“Come here, Inuyasha.”

He turned around to see find her sitting upon their bed, motioning him to her. He followed unconsciously. Carefully she drew him to her, her aura wrapping around him to sooth his frayed nerves. Before he knew it, his body was curled upon the bed, his head resting in her lap. She brushed his hair with her fingers, and massaging the scalp softly. One hand reached for one of his white ears, and ever so gently, rubbed them. The trembles ceased after several long moments, but she just continued her soothing caresses.

“I… kuso… this isn't easy for me.” A warmth seeped into his body, a comfort he had always sought, but never found till now. Soon the whole story spilled from his lips: the times he was hurt, how weak he felt, the loneliness, and the overwhelming helpless situations he had found himself in on his human night. She spoke none, just offered her his presence and the soothing aura to wrap around him, to protect him, to ease his pain.

When silence, once again, permeated the room, she witnessed his human transformation. His glowing white hair darkened to an inky midnight black, in streaks like a skunk would have. The most startling was his ears morphing and sliding down from the top of his head to form human ones on the side. Long, pointed claws shorted and dulled into rough human hands, and they reflexively gripped her inner thigh near his head. When the transformation finished, the hanyou turned human was shaking again.

She tentatively touched his head again, afraid she might cause his pain. She rejoiced inwardly when his hair felt no different than before. It was still the same soft texture, the same length, even the same style. More assured with his body easing with her touch and the familiarity she knew of his normal hanyou body, she began to caress his head head again. She tangled her fingers into the lush thick black strands and removed the knots in his hair, occasionally scrapping her fingernails upon his scalp.

He relaxed more, a soft moan of satisfaction escaping from his lips. His head buried itself further into her lap, happily accepting any all contact he could from her. He wished more than ever to be hanyou and to be able to smell his mate more extensively, but her ministrations were enough to sustain him for now. How was it that someone could be this calming to his senses? Even his mother, the short time he was able to spend with her before her death, had never had such an affect upon him. He never wanted it to end.

She sighed inwardly as she massaged a human ear harder now that he seemed to be enjoying her touch. Soon she felt the tension ease completely from his body. The painful panic inside was now gone, replaced by her warmth and his child-like emotions curling into her. She smiled and leaned back against the pillows.

A knock on the door shattered the peace and Inuyasha was gone from the room in a flash. She glared at the door with the utmost hatred. Why couldn't those two mind their own business and leave them alone. She had finally gotten him to trust her, to left her protect him, shelter him. They just had to ruin it, didn't they? With a disgruntled sigh, she rose from the bed, and answered the door.

Sango stood in the doorway with a tray of food. “Sumimasen. I thought… you both would like some… dinner.”

Kagome's dark look faltered and she reluctantly let it go in favor of her friend's kindness. “Arigato, Sango-chan.” She reached out and took the tray. “Ne, Sango-chan?”

“Hai, Kagome-chan?”

“Ano… could you and Miroku-san not… uh… bother us the rest of the night?” She leaned over and whispered. “Inuyasha's having a difficult time with some things that have been bothering him. I was just getting to pry further when you knocked. Anyway, any interruptions seem to make him unsettled and clammed up again. So-”

“No need to go further. I understand. We, Miroku and I, have all had such moments. I'll make sure to hit houshi-sama when he gets the wrong impression.” She bowed and walked away.

Kagome smiled and thanked the girl again before she closed and locked the door. She returned to the bed with the tray of food. “Inuyasha, gohan. Sango-chan brought you ramen.” Nothing. She sighed and walked over to the closet. “Inuyasha?” Still nothing. “Do you think the subduing spell works as well when you're human?”

Movement in the corner of his clothes, gave him away, and she pounced. With the weak light she could see his shining dark colored eyes fixed upon her. “You know, playing games is all fun sometimes, but I think at the moment we should eat some dinner.” She leaned in and nuzzled her nose with his in an Eskimo kiss. Slowly, she drew away from him.

His hands shot out and pulled her back to him. In a rather clumsy move for him, his mouth sought hers. It was awkward at first, both a bit too blind to follow each other. The awkward position put strain on them both, and he shifted his body. When she collapsed upon him, her form completely entrapped by his own, he was finally able to take control of the kiss. It was less strange now, and their heads and noses stopped bumping, as she drew her body against him harder.

A break of air, and she was back again for more with a soft whimper of surrender. His hands shifted and pulled her closer to him. He grunted in pain when a particularly sharp pointed shoe jabbed his leg. He shifted again, and one of his arms hit the wall. He cursed softly.

She laughed and pulled back. “I think closets weren't made for this type of activity.” She moved to get out, but his arms stayed her.

“Not yet.”

She smiled and leaned down against him. No matter how uncomfortable the whole thing was for her and him, she was thoroughly happy to be there with him. Snuggled into his chest, they relaxed into the small space. After a moment, and the slightly antsy movements of the human boy beneath, she pulled away. “Come on, Inuyasha. Let's go eat some food.”

She knocked her head against his clothes, and giggled as her hair whipped into her face. She fell over one of his legs and finally was out of the side of the closet and into the walkway. “Ah-hah! I'm free!” She beckoned her hand out toward the still hidden boy, and slowly a hand reached out and grasped her own. For the first time she could finally see what color his dark eyes were. They were a brilliant black-purple with soft swirls of gold lining the edges of the iris. Breathtaking to behold, and for a moment she forgot how to breath. Nevertheless, she held her comments to herself about how beautiful they were, feeling that he was still not quite ready to accept that sort of compliment about his `evil human' self.

She drew him to the bed and handed him a cup of ramen. She took a seat upon the bed and pulled the other ramen cup to her. She wasn't really hungry, and surprisingly the hanyou didn't seem to be either. To bring some familiarity back, she dug into the pasta with her ohashi.

“You haven't said anything about how I look. Is it so bad that you can't?” he asked quietly, staring at his ramen.

She paused in mid-bite. “I thought you didn't want me to say anything.”

He gave a weak incoherent mumble.

She placed her cup down and slid over to him. She pulled the ramen from his hands and placed it beside her own. She then took his hands into her own. “So much do I want to say that this is just more than a bit ridiculous, but I won't. You told earlier what your life was like on nights like this. I can't say that I know what its like. In fact, I have no idea how to help you and tell you everything is all right. You've been hurt… a lot. I wish…” she trailed off, her head bowed and played with his hand. “I wish so much that I could take away the pain that has scarred you. I just don't know how. I don't know what to say to you that will not make you angry, sad, or happy. I really want to say the right thing-”

One of his hands raised from her own and brushed against the wetness of the cheek. His face was close to hers, eyes soft as he brushed stray tears from her cheek. “You're right. I guess I would be biased no matter what you would say. Still… I value your opinion.”

She lifted her eyes to lock with his and a few more tears leaked out at his last statement. “You can be really sweet sometimes, you know?” She laughed weakly and rubbed her eyes, brushing his own from her face. “All right. You want to know what I think. I'll say this once and only once so pay attention… and don't you dare take my opinions to one extreme or another because they are not. I do not care what you look like. You are Inuyasha and you are handsome both on the inside and outside no matter if you are human or hanyou.” She kissed his nose. “True I love your hanyou ears a lot more…”

Laughter came from him this time. “It's all about the ears, isn't?” She smiled then, and he was blown back by how stunning it really was. He leaned in an spoke a soft whisper, his breath brushing against her lips with each word. “Well, I guess I love your smile best.” Eyes closed, he pressed his lips against hers and teased her own softly.

She smiled into his mouth, and captured the gentle flesh between her teeth. She tugged softly to drag him into a more satisfying kiss. When he responded with equal fevour, her eyes finally closed and yielded to his possessive nature.

He drew back and nipped her nose, completely proud of himself and the flush he had brought upon her checks. “Now, I do believe there was ramen in here for dinner?”

She laughed as she opened her eyes and reached out to grab the abandoned ramen cups. He inhaled his instantly, and then was trying to steal hers. She growled at him to back off, but he ignored her and used his fingers to stead some of the noodles. She elbowed him in retaliation. He, in turn, licked her neck and then while distracted by that stole more of the noodles. “Inuyasha! Those were mine. Give them back!”

He snickered and slipped the noodles into his mouth. A smug look on his face was wiped off as she pulled his mouth to hers. She licked his lips and maneuvered his mouth open with her tongue. Too surprised at the action he didn't realize till too late that she had pulled back with the noodles in her mouth that he had rightfully stolen. “Oi! That's cheating!”

She snorted. “No it's not. They were mine first.”

He reached over and stole the ramen cup.

“Hey! Give that back!”

He hopped off the bed dodged her feeble attempts to get it back as he finished the rest of her ramen. “Hah. All gone… and all mine!”

“Jerk! That was mine!” She jumped at him, hanging off his back, her arms wrapped around his neck from behind.

He choked. He tossed the empty Styrofoam and chopsticks a way. Then using his body he flipped her over his back to land face up on the bed, winded. She looked rather bewildered at how that had happened. “I may be human, but I'm still a whole lot stronger than you and most regular humans,” he stated, as if sensing her question about her disorientation.

He leaned over her head and then, to her surprise, stalked down her body, his face heading for her feet. “Uh, Inuyasha? What are you doing?”

When his wait settled upon her belly, he felt her freeze. He smirked. “Well, you know when a mate attacks their mate, they have to be punished right?”

Kagome swallowed hard. “P-punished?”

He grinned and turned his head slightly around to look down at her surprised face. If he had fangs, he would have looked purely devilish. “Yeah. But don't worry. I won't go to harshly on you. I did steal your meal, after all.” His hands slide down the inner thigh of both legs as he said this.

“Why do I get punished when you're the one that stole my food?”

His hands trailed back up and the end of her sentence was more of a squeak than a real word. “Because I'm the dominate mate and you are not.”

“That's a stupid reason.”

“Yeah it is,” he agreed, his fingers drawing closer to her center.

“Then why?”

“Because I'm stronger than you, and I can.” He rotated his body a bit, his upper half leaning over hers. “Until you have the upper hand, koishii, I'll be the one doing the punishments.” His mouth danced over hers and then touched it as a hand touched the material over her core.

“Not fair,” her murmured out in a moan.

He smiled and kissed her. He had finally eased his barriers down to her. He was still unsure of himself, but he wasn't unsure of her. The new thread from before had finally solidified as his mouth plundered her own. The untrusting hanyou had finally learned to trust another person.

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Translation and Pronunciation Guide:

Mazoku- (mah-zoh-coo) Monster.

Xellos- (zel-lohs) No meaning… just an interesting made up name from Slayers Next and Slayers Try.

Sore wa himitsu desu- (soh-reh wah he-me-sue deh-s) That's a secret.

Ningen- (knee-gehn) Human.

Oyasumi (oh-yah-sue-me) Goodnight (slang).

Mina- (me-nah) All, everything, everyone.

Sumimasen- (sue-me-mah-sehn) Excuse me.

Chikushou- (chee-coo-show) Damn it.

Kuso- (coo-soh) Shit, crap.

Ano- (ah-noh) Well, why, ah.

Ohashi- (oh-hah-she) Chopsticks.