Inuyasha looked like he was about to say something else. But Shin gnawing on his wrist drew his attention away.
“Hey, knock it off. You’d draw blood if you bit a human like that.”
Shin desisted, though Kagome suspected it was more from the rumble underscoring Inuyasha’s voice than from the words themselves. Planting his little claws on Inuyasha’s chest, Shin stared up at him, green-eyed and unblinking. Inuyasha cocked his head to one side. In the quiet of the hut, with the wind and rain beyond dampened, Kagome thought she heard, or perhaps felt, a sort of primordial stirring in the air, gruff and faint at the edges of her perception.
“The big white dog was mean and scary, huh?” Kagome tensed, but Inuyasha just chuckled. “You stood your ground though, didn’t you, little guy?”
Shin preened, smiling toothily. Inuyasha glanced sidelong to Kagome, and she knew he was only narrating this exchange out loud for her benefit.
Despite her grief and dread, she couldn’t help but be fascinated by this. “You two can talk?”
“Not really,” Inuyasha said, shrugging. “Beast-speak isn’t so much about making sounds. There’s a lot more to it than that. Shin’s just a baby, so he can’t say much yet, but because we’re kin, we have more of an understanding.” His silver ears bent. “It’s hard to explain in human terms…”
“No,” Kagome said, “I think I understand. It’s like…shared sympathy.”
Inuyasha looked down at Shin. “Yeah,” he said with warmth. “That.”
Kagome watched this paternal exchange with a heavy heart. Then she blinked, and Shin’s eyes were closed. A second later he was making his snuffling baby snores.
“Heh, out like a light,” Inuyasha said, grinning.
He settled Shin into his crib and then turned to Kagome. Just as she began to shiver, he said—
“You’d better take off those damp clothes.”
“Yeah.”
Kagome walked across the hut. She mounted the tatami platform. Slowly she began to strip off her haori and hakama in front of the wardrobe. Before the fine hairs at her nape could even prickle, she felt Inuyasha’s presence dark and dense behind her. His claws pressed to her waist. His fanged mouth fell to her throat.
“I love you so much.”
Kagome couldn’t breathe from the grief and shame that threatened to choke her. There was no room even for the thought of resistance as he fastened his mouth to her neck and pulled her clothes the rest of the way off her. He bent her naked to the bed. He fell on top of her and lanced into her between the helpless splay of her thighs. She gasped like she was dying.
“I needed this,” he panted as he thrust. “Fuck, Kagome. I needed this so much…”
As he continued to pant his love for her, Kagome’s eyes glazed over. She clutched to his shoulders, pushing him away from her even as she held him fast. In the morbid haze of her mind, she saw another, felt another. Her nails dug into flesh. Her teeth drew blood. She came sobbing, as he emptied into her. He bent his mouth to hers.
Hoarse with the tears he couldn’t shed, he whispered into her ear, “I’ve missed you, too.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Poor Inuyasha! The shame she’s feeling is even worse from the emotion he’s showing. I hate that we aren’t seeing anything from Sesshoumaru’s side, but I love the slow burn of Kagome feeling trapped and suffocated. Give us more of this, and I’m sure we’ll see her caving in on herself. She has nothing else until Inuyasha and she start to get on each other’s nerves again. I can’t wait for the next bit!
So glad you’re enjoying the slow burn, Tsuyoku! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the scene <3
Omggggg so intenseeee
OH MY GOSH!!! I’m in torment …. on the edge of my seat!!!! I can’t stand it!!!! Your writing is so addictive. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I think Shin will give away something and Inuyasha will question Kagome and she’ll cave out of guilt. Will Rin return for a visit? Will Sango admit something is going on? What is Sesshomaru thinking about all of this? Where’s his mom?!?! So many loose ends 😭😭😭
Aww thank you so much, Britt! So glad you’re enjoying the suspense! Love hearing your theories & questions!! <3
Thank you, mim!!! <3
Okay, Kagome is sharing two brothers. One because she is too afraid to speak the truth and the other because he is socially inept…what a triangle. I tell you Inuyasha really seems like he has secrets too…I believe he has at least once comforted Sango in the bed. If Sesshoumaru ever finds out he will tell Kagome and I am thinking maybe Kagome won’t look so good to him anymore because he’s not going to hurt Inuyasha so badly. This is mixed up and I don’t think much of Kagome for doing this to Shin and confusing the pup! Thanks for the update I can’t wait for the next update.
Yep Shin is for sure the one innocent victim in all this ;_;
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Redwolf! So glad you enjoyed the update & are looking forward to the next…! <3
We are treading very dangerous waters here people! I’m deadass terrified with each addition to the story 😭😭
I reaaaally wanna know *how* Inuyasha’s going to find out. There’s so many possibilities—Shin’s beast speech, Sesshoumaru himself, and even Kagome altho I doubt she’s going to say much now that Sess left her. 😩
“I’m deadass terrified with each addition to the story ” – hahaha yeah I feel ya! Storm’s a brewin 😬
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts & reactions, bella! Love hearing your take <3
What an impossible situation this is.
I adore your narrative crafting–even if I’m starting to experience vicarious anxiety and guilt from this story.
That said, I’m still suspicious regarding the nature of Inuyasha and Sango’s relationship when I think back to all of the little questionable inferences that seem to hint at something decidedly not-just-friends with these two. However, these questions are so subtle that they could easily be dismissed as red herrings, too.
In an earlier chapter, Inuyasha holds Sango up as a paragon of womanly and wifely virtue compared to Kagome, and that really rankles since it means he’s been considering and comparing the two in that regard because, at best, he’s dissatisfied with Kagome and, at worst, he desires Sango.
And since Kagome is understandably distracted with her own guilt and emotional turmoil, she’s likely not as conscious of Inuyasha’s own questionable behaviour that would normally raise alarm bells. Kagome’s an unreliable narrator in that regard.
Where and how has Inuyasha been spending his own absences? And why didn’t he attend Miroku’s funeral?
Why is Sango so resistant to relocating to the Taijya village with Kohaku (when that should realistically make more sense than staying in Edo where she and her children are concerned)? And why was she so depressed about her pregnancy and eager to convince Kagome that she conceived just before Miroku died?
So many questions!
Thank you for the update, Char! 💜
“I adore your narrative crafting–even if I’m starting to experience vicarious anxiety and guilt from this story.” – hahah you and me both 😅 but seriously, thank you for the lovely compliment! <3
Love how you lay out all the conflicting dynamics at play! There's certainly a lot to unravel in this tangled mess... thanks for sharing your thoughts on the story & hope you enjoy how things play out!! <3
I’m usually good at guessing what’s going to happen next but I wasn’t expecting that! I’m in utter disbelief. I feel like Kagome is going to end up pregnant again after this one night (obviously it’s sesshomaru baby again) but that’s when she’s going to spill everything because she’s going to refuse to go through that whole ordeal again.
I also think Sango and Inuyasha already have been intimate. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a demon pack thing. Like it’s considered normal to share yourself within the pack? But there’s certain rules? Cause Inuyasha knows something up but isn’t saying anything and usually he just flys off the hinges. Maybe it’s pack dynamics keeping him quiet? I just can’t see him being that oblivious and acting like he doesn’t care.
It’s just a theory though. After this last installment I’m thrown for a loop. You have a knack for leaving your fans in suspense! I’ll be waiting sitting on the edge of my seat for the next update! Keep up the wonderful work!
Thank you so much, Mi! Appreciate the compliments on my writing & so glad you’re enjoying the suspense in this story!! <3
Inuyasha does tend to be a hothead XD Love hearing your thoughts on the character dynamics & the potential fallout from this scene! Thanks so much for sharing & hope you continue to enjoy the ride <3
Ugh! I’m glad she’s feeling super guilty
Hahaha yeah it really is the least she could do XD
Thanks for sharing, Kathy!! <3
I think Inu is just relieved to have confirmation that he and Shin are kin. So he’s pretending not to see Kagome’s glaringly obvious misery huhu.
Shinnnnn is just so babyyy 😭💕💕 He’s so proud of showing how he stood up to his scary chichi and protected his mama. He’s been having an awesome time so far in the haunted winter wonderland, I hope he doesn’t lose those good vibes.
“He’s so proud of showing how he stood up to his scary chichi and protected his mama.” – yepp, he’s a good boy 🐕 <3
Thanks for sharing, hanayome! Hope you enjoy the next part!! <3
omg every line is so suspenseful 🤣 I dread scrolling down because I can feel the jumpscare lurking around the corner. But not knowing WHEN is the most agonizing part of it aaaaaaaahhhh
It seems like Kagome is punishing herself here, feeling like she’s the only one who should be experiencing all this guilt and self-loathing and sorrow. Punishing herself for what happened with Sesshoumaru, for hurting Inuyasha, and she knows that delaying it is worsening the inevitable so she’s punishing herself for that too. It’s a vicious state to be stuck in 😢😢
The underlying horror in her situation makes it truly feel like a demonic marriage now🫠 These grasping, needy dogs only know how to take and take from her.
“I dread scrolling down because I can feel the jumpscare lurking around the corner. But not knowing WHEN is the most agonizing part of it aaaaaaaahhhh” – ahaha I love it! Music to a writer’s ears 😁
Yepp Kagome is in the thick of it here… 🙁 “underlying horror” is a great way to put it! Thanks so much for sharing, oskorreia!! <3
😭😭 but i love how this highlights the complete dissonance in inuyasha and kagome’s intimacy compared to sesshoumaru and kagome’s kindred spirits. they have their own shared language too.
Love this observation!! Thanks so much for sharing, rehizakki! Hope you enjoy the next part <3
Things are getting murky and dangerous 🫣 One good thing to come of all this is that at least Kohaku escaped the death flag. PHEW 😮💨
Yep that’s something! Thanks for sharing, Kova <3
PAIN 😭
Kagome is just stuck. If she can’t muster the courage then unfortunately I think her hand will be forced, which is the worst outcome for someone in her situation. TAKE CHARGE BEFORE YOUR OPTIONS ARE TAKEN FROM YOU, GIRL 💪
Yeah she’s certainly in a pickle….
Thanks for sharing, friend! <3
It is SO suspicious to me that Inuyasha hasn’t mentioned her ‘I am Guilty’ demeanour. She was a fumbly little liar before and I refuse to believe she has that good of a poker face after what she just went through. To anyone else she must look like the living personification of the 😟💔 emoji rn.
Also, an interesting tiny detail I noticed > Shin’s baby fangs couldn’t pierce Inuyasha’s demon skin but Kagome’s teeth drew blood. Is it her reiki? Or is it because of the mark? 🤔
” Shin’s baby fangs couldn’t pierce Inuyasha’s demon skin but Kagome’s teeth drew blood. ” – oh yeah, in my mind she was biting into her own lip/cheek and drawing her own blood, but it’s certainly up to interpretation 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the scene! <3
this reads as a r*pe scene, so gross of Inuyasha not to give her a chance to consent, couples that are into free use will have the conversation about it before getting into that kink, I’m sure Kagome and Inuyasha haven’t had a conversation like that, yeah yeah the times are different, regardless, it’s gross, and it makes me sad for Sesshomaru and Kagome, and really upset with Inuyasha in this fic. Being married doesn’t make you entitled to your spouse’s body, enthusiastic consent is still needed, otherwise it’s coercion at best and imo that’s still r*pe.