Inuyasha does not belong to me, he is copyrighted to Rumiko Takahashi, his original creator. I hope that you enjoy this chapter—just as a warning it may be the last unless I get enough suggestions to continue one last chapter. ^_^ I think it’s done, but unless you guys think you can have a reasonable thing for another chapter…. I do have an idea, but I want your opinions as well. You all have been great with supporting me so far with my writing *huggles all*

Summer’s End

Chapter Seven

By: Lazuli

lazulidreamer@yahoo.com

            Delicious smells wafted out from the kitchen and Kagome edged closer to it, eyes intent on the figure moving around the stove. He was humming something under his breath and she smiled at the happy look on his face. She had told him that she wanted him to make her something special. The look on his face as he asked him was priceless, but seeing the enjoyment he was getting out of it now was even more so. She didn’t think that it would mean so much to him-but they had warmed up so much towards each other. They hadn’t gone over anymore ‘memories’ since recalling their first meeting, but she had told him other things about herself and her old life.

            “I know you’re out there, Kagome. Why don’t you come in here and tell me how this tastes?” Kagome jumped in the air at the unexpected sound and made a face before walking in.             “Well, since you asked…” She grinned and leapt in the window, startling him as she landed on the tiled floor. He raised an eyebrow at her dramatic appearance and then handed her a bowl of something. She took in cautiously and sniffed. It smelled like spices that she didn’t know of… something fruity…

            He looked amused at her analysis of the food and shook his head. “Well, are you going to eat it? It’s not going to bite you.” He teased. He was already eating his own sample and watching her expectantly. “It’s not too spicy or anything…. I know your senses are more sensitive than mine.”

            Eyes widening in surprise, she took a delicate bite of the meal. He remembered. I didn’t expect him…I mean…She looked up at him as she smiled. “It’s good… but how did you know?” Her voice was questioning as she handed him back the now empty dish. That’s not something I told him.

            He shook his head and went back to turning over the vegetables that were frying in the pan. “You have enhanced senses-your nose and eyes-so I thought that your tongue would be, too.” He turned off the stove with a quick snap and smiled at her. “It’s ready if you want to eat it.”

            She nodded and tried to hide her disappointment as she took the bowl of fluffy white rice from him and starting pouring the meat and vegetables over it. When she finally had enough to satisfy her appetite she relinquished the pan over to him with a grin. She was already perched in the chair, eating happily away at the concoction that he called ‘stir fry.’

**

            Inuyasha was perched up in the high branches of tree beside Kagome, looking down at the temple with half open eyes. “This is comfortable.” He murmured. And it was… the sunlight fell through the network of branches, creating soft patterns on the ground, and there was a peacefulness that seemed to settle around the both of them. Kagome’s eyebrow rose as she gave him an amused look.

            “You see now why I’m up here all the time?” She asked. She looked completely at home in the leafy branches and he smiled at the contented expression on her face. It was like a cat in a sunbeam. He almost expected her to start purring.

            He nodded lazily and leaned back against the strong trunk, the wind through the branches lulling him to sleep. Wake up… it would be a bad thing if you fell asleep and fell out of the tree. It’s a long way down, and you wouldn’t survive a fall like that. His inner voice spoke reasonably, and he reluctantly forced his eyes open. He nearly fell when two silver-blue eyes stared into his own. “Gah!” He clutched at the branch to regain his balance and the expression on Kagome’s face lightened into considerable amusement.

            “Are you ready to come down? You’re a human-you’ll be stiff if you stay up here much longer.” He made a face and nodded.

            “But I like it up here.” He pouted. She rolled her eyes at his antics and tugged on his hair.

            “Come on, Inuyasha-“

Before he could register her move, they were down on the ground again; Kagome’s arms still around him and they were pressed against each other. He stared into her eyes in shock, the blue and silver meeting his with an intensity that called to him. Without even thinking about the possible consequences, he leaned forward a few inches to kiss her.

            Her lips were soft…wonderfully soft and warm. His arms crept around her body and he pulled her closer, gently nibbling on her lips, feeling a type of desperation rising up inside of him and he tried to squash it. However, it would not be suppressed entirely, and the depth of the kiss increased. Some part of his mind wondered vaguely at why she hadn’t pushed him away…

            Indeed, it was the opposite of what he thought her reaction would be. Revulsion and anger he would have expected.. but acceptance and returned desire was not something that he had in mind. Her arms tightened around him, claws piercing gently into his back, sending pinpricks of pleasure up his spine. All that mattered was her--in his arms--

"And just what do you think you are doing?" Inuyasha teased as Kagome lay in his arms, silver hair flowing over the both of them. She had appeared suddenly while he was out in the woods and tackled him to the ground.

            "Sleeping." Her reply was calm. "Be quiet and just relax with me." She nuzzled him gently, something that she rarely did. It meant that she really was at ease with him. He smiled at the trust that she gave him, and tentatively held her closer to him, afraid that any gesture on his part would make her run. Her response was the opposite--she actually snuggled closer to him. He turned his face to stare into hers, eyes half open in drowsiness. She was so close...so beautiful...

            "You smell good." Her unexpected murmur caught him off guard. She nuzzled him again, and he flushed slightly from the intimate contact. She leaned over him, silver hair creating a curtain between them. His eyes didn't give away any emotion as he stared up at her, so she had no warning before he covered her lips with his in a sweet kiss.

            Her first reaction was shock and disbelief that he would actually kiss her. The second reaction was 'It's about time.' She had been waiting for this... for him to hold her like this and kiss her. They were so close--she could finally taste his scent again, something that she never thought she would be able to do again. She was lost in the sensations, the feelings of happiness that ran through her with his gentle touch.

Kagome pushed him away in shock at the contact, eyes widening almost painfully. "You... you... you kissed me." She said disbelievingly. "I can't believe you kissed me." Her hands went up to her lips as Inuyasha blushed.

            "I didn't think it was that bad." He mumbled. She giggled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. He blinked at her in surprise. He expected her to kill him, not get close to him.

            "I liked it very much." She whispered, only a few breaths away from his lips again. "I wanted to kiss you, though. Don't take the lead all the time." She teased. He didn't have any time to react before she pushed him back down to the ground, her kisses making him lose all train of thought and reason. The only thing was Kagome.

            Inuyasha finally managed to pull away from Kagome, his eyes tender as he looked down at her flushed face. He had never gotten so close with someone before—and the sensation was more than he ever would have imagined. It felt perfectly right, as if by that simple act he was completing a part of himself that was unfinished.

Hand rising up to brush over his cheek, Kagome gave him a small smile before nuzzling him gently. “That was wonderful.” She murmured. “Can we do it again?” Her eyes were half shut, and he could feel the vibrations from the low purr her body was emitting. She was happy. He grinned and kissed her lightly on the lips again.

            “As many times as you want?” He asked quietly. “Gods, Kagome… I never felt anything like that before…” He closed his as his body remembered the sensation of how it felt to have her so close to him—lips covering hers, her body willingly pushing against him and trying to meld with him.

            He blinked and shook his head. He had a strange feeling that it was not just the memory of this kiss he was remembering. Overlaid on his mind was a different image, of forest sounds surrounding him, and he was staring into a pair of blue-ish silver eyes that weren’t filled with the overwhelming sadness that had been hidden in the eyes of the Kagome he knew.

            Those eyes were now filled with concern as they peered into his. “Inuyasha? Are you okay?” She teasingly nipped at his skin. He looked spaced out, his eyes staring into hers, but distant as if he was seeing something else. It clicked. “What are you remembering?” She asked softly.

            “You.” His voice was equally soft. “The first time I kissed you…” He tentatively nuzzled her, mostly acting out of instinct formed by the new memories that were given to him. She leaned into the touch and her breath came out softly.

            “That is a beautiful memory to have.” She was serious for a few seconds before a mischievous grin lit up her face. “It was sweet for a few seconds until I pushed you to the ground and had my way with you.”

            He blinked in surprise and wrinkled his nose. “Oh, don’t pull that on me. That didn’t happen until the second time we met in the woods. I believe I tackled you.” He was trying to look superior, but a grin kept on tugging at the corner of his lips.

            Laughing aloud, she shook her head. “Uh-uh. You better get those memories straightened out. I threw you to the ground and pinned you. I wish you still had the claws marks… I could prove it to you.” She looked thoughtful. “Or we could re-enact it. I could give you the scars all over again.”

            “That won’t be necessary.” He winced. Memory may not have too much sensation in it, but he could picture at how much claws piercing into his skin would hurt. He held her hands gently in his and squeezed. “Do you want to stay out here or go inside?” He shivered slightly. “It’s a little chilly.”

            “It’s not chilly at all.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “You just need to develop thicker skin.” She leaned close to him, her voice teasing and had an almost seductive tone to it. “I could make you stronger.”

            Inuyasha’s face flamed up and he looked down at the ground, up at the trees—anywhere that wasn’t meeting her smirking face. It was obvious that she was trying to hold in her outright laughter at the situation.

            “I… I never thought I’d see you so shy.” She giggled and hugged him lightly. “I just want to be in your arms.” She whispered. “Is that too much to ask?” She snuggled closer to him and pushed him firmly to the ground in a sitting position before arranging herself quite happily in his lap. “Like this.”

            His expression softened completely as he pulled her closer, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I like this.” The wind swirled around them, twirling leaves as the sun set, turning the sky colors of amber and violet, clouds melding together to form a pattern. He was happy… completely happy for the first time in his life.

***

            To be continued. ^_^  ßif it needs continuing. I hope that you guys are enjoying this. If you think that it needs more please tell me and offer suggestions. ^_^