Inuyami took Todd's hand and pressed it to her cheek smiling fondly at him. She felt like she was a child again, like a princess in a fairy tail being swept up by her prince or knight. Inside her heart was racing as she took another step into Todd, her breasts pressing up against his chest. The feeling of his body against hers gave her goose bumps, but she liked it. Her eyes jumped from his eyes to his lips and back as she leaned in and kissed him again.

Kissing the top of her head, Inokumaru's heart wished as strongly as Gemini's for her words to be true. He didn't want to answer her, he knew that Naraku would either harm her or him if they were to get into anything to serious.

"Gemini, someday... I'll be free to give you my heart, but I don't have one to give. Someday I'll be free, I'll have it back and I want to give it to you." He looked down into her red eyes, his chest throbbed as the heart that beat in his ached for freedome.

Todd smiled into the kiss and kissed Inuyami back with a gentle intensity that he hadn't known he possessed.he felt like he had been missing something,and now that she was here,he was whole again.

Gemini's eyes welled up with emotion too intense to name."Inokumaru...i rpomise you,i will set you free,no matter what the cost.someday,i'll make sure that you never have to serve anyone else ever again.i vow this on my blood as the last kitsune noble,and on my heart,which is now yours to keep." she said.

((Inuyami: ))

Standing infront of Todd, Inuyami suddenly took notice of an energy signature that had somehow been invisable before. Unknown to Inuyami, the emotional flare in Inokumaru's body had caused his energy to spike.

"I... I gotta go... back to my home." Inuyami said, her heart began to race in her chest. Nomally she wouldn't worry to much about the presence of her brother but she didn't want to think what would happen if he should attack while Todd was around. "You can come with me if you want. I just have to go, now."

Inokumaru looked into the eyes of Gemini and melted with her words. Using the knuckle of his index finger, Inokumaru lifted her head a bit as he leaned down and gently kissed Gemini on the lips.

Todd nodded."I will come with you." he said.he was confused by her sudden anxiousness,but it was obvious to him that she was upset,and he would not leave her at a time like that.

Gemini was surprised by the kiss,but quickly melted into it,enjoying it very much.it was the first time anyone had ever kissed her-she didn't count her nasty cousin- and she was surprised to find that it was really quite pleasent.

Inokumaru held Gemini for a moment after he kissed her, but the serenity he felt with her in his arms didn't last long. His target was moving again, only this time further away and soon her energy signature dissapeared all together.

"Gemini, it's getting late. Is there a home I can walk you to? You need rest." Inokumaru said ignoring the fact that he, himself, had not slept for nearly a week and a half now.

"Sorry about the sudden need to leave the village." Inuyami said as she closed the door to her home behind Todd. "I'll explain things in the morning, but right now I'm getting tired. You're welcome to stay here, though there is only the one bed. The couch is comfy but dusty if I may entreat you."

Gemini got a sad, distant sort of look in her eyes."no.no home, no house.I had thought...well, I usually just make camp somewhere.you...you're not leaving me, are you?" She asked.at her feet, Miko made a tiny whining sound.

Todd shrugged."you don't have to explain if you don't want to.everyone has secrets, right?" He said agreeably.looking around the living room, he shrugged."I'm fine on the floor." He said.
((I don't think they had couches or beds back then.they slept on straw pallets, from what I remember.))

"If you want me to stay, all you have to do is ask."Inokumaru told her as he ran his hand down he cheek looking into her sorrow filled eyes. He didn't want to see that look in her. No matter what consiquenses he'd have to face, he wanted to spend the time he had with this girl.

"Thank you for understanding." Inuyami smiled at Todd and sat down in the straw of her bed looking at her feet. The light of a candle dances as if dimly filled the one room hut. Inuyami laid down and curled up facing Todd. "Good night." She whispered finding it hard to close her eyes. She wished she could just stare at this amazing man all night but she knew she needed rest.


( XD you're right! dur! haha momentary laps of timeline stupidity!)

((Lol it's ok, I didn't remember until I was about to post and I was like "wait a second..." lol))
Gemini nodded."I do.I want you to stay.I know it's selfish of me,but I don't want you to go yet." She said."I don't want to be away from you ever.but for now, I'll be content with just staying near you tonight." She added quietly.

Todd smiled at her from the floor."I'm a pretty understanding person.I'll understand anytime you need me to." He said, only half joking.he layed down on the floor and stared at the ceiling, imagining it was her face he was staring at."good night."

It was pointless for Inokumaru to tell her that indeed he would stay. He knew that she knew that he wasn't going to leave her alone. He knelt down and began to make a circle of rocks and started a fire to keep them warm. He wasn't sure how she planed on sleeping, weather she prefered the trees to the ground, but at least they'd have a fire for the night.

(can't post for yami yet but she's gonna have a nightmare Todd can wake her up from. she'll be crying and emotional and they can have a tender moment))

((Okie dokie.))
Gemini went about making a nest for herself and Miko in the tall grass by the side of the road, so that they would be comfortable and unseen."should I make a nest for you, too? Or do you just sleep on the ground?" She asked kindly.

Inokumaru sat down next to Gemini and looked up at the sky. Thing had finally grown quiet as the festival came to a end. The stars were extreamly bright above them and he enjoyed sharing the view with the kitsune.

"I'll just lay back when I'm ready to fall asleep." Inokumaru told Gemini, looking at her now seeing her as more beautiful then the stars he'd just viewed.

Gemini looked at him for a second, then smiled."ok, if you say so." She answered, curling up in her tidy little nest.Miko cuddled up to her and yawned cutely."good night, Inokumaru-San.please get some rest.you deserve it." She said.

"As do you." Inokumaru smiled as he closed his eyes and felt sleep claim him. He'd faught it for so long, it was definately time to get some R and R. As night crept on, things were quiet through out the woods. Even Naraku had decentcy enough to not meddle with Inokumaru's affairs. Until morning, at least, the two would not have to deal with him.

Inuyami's dreams haunted her all night. She whimpered and tossed in her bed as night frights took her mind and tormented her. Being this close to her brother, the man who was literally hunting her like an animal, made her skin crawl dispite the barrior. Before the night was even half though she'd given her self a panic attack and woken up gasping for air.

"T...Todd." Inuyami begged in a whispering voice just loud enough for his sensitive fox ears to hear. "Are you awake?" She sat up in her bed and look at his body with pleeding, tear filled eyes.

Todd woke to Inuyami calling his name.immediately, he sat up and was at her side."what's wrong, what is it? I'm here, love, you're ok." He reassured her, placing a gentle hand on her cheek.he caught her gaze and held it, conveying with his eyes that she was safe with him there.

The next morning, just before dawn, Gemini woke up from a half remembered nightmare.it was the same one every night, but she still wasn't used to it.fire...pain...bright...cousin...fear...firefirefir e RUN!! she shook her head, clearing the images."Miko, I've got to get over that fire.I'll never get better if I don't move on." She said.Miko yawned.

"Just a bad dream... W..Will you lay here with me until dawn? I don't want to feel alone anymore... especially tonight." Inuyami told Todd, neglecting to mention the reason why she was so unsettled. She laid back down, leaving room in the bed for him to lay by her side.

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Inokumaru woke up hearing Miko's small noises in responce to Gemini's converstaion with him. He sat up and watched them interact for a moment before he greated them for the day.

"Good morning Princess." Inokumaru said softly brushing hair from Gemini's from her shoulder.

Gemini:your turn dear

((Oh,whoops! Sorry!))
Todd, blushing slightly, layed down next to Inuyami and rested his arm across her midriff to comfort her."s-sorry...is this ok?" He asked, not sure how familiar he could be with her.

Gemini looked up and smiled at Inokumaru, though the smile didn't quite touch her eyes.it made her feel better to see him."good morning, love.did you sleep well?" She asked.

"Mmmhmm." Inuyami whispered as she layed her hands over his arm and snuggled under Todd's chin. "Thank you Todd-chan." Her heart raced for a few moments more but settled as she fell back asleep. The peace of having him laying with her helped her sleep threw the night. The next morning, she woke up before Todd, but laid in his arms happily until he woke.

---------------------

Inokumaru nodded to the girl as he stood up and stretched the sleep from his bones. He offered his hand to Gemini to help her up from the grass nest she'd slept in.

"Are you hungry? Breakfast is my specialty." Inokumaru told the kitsune princess.

when Todd woke up, the first thing he was aware of was the closeness of another person.then the memories of the previous day came rushing back and he blushed.only after that did he realize that Inuyami was awake.he yawned."good morning.did you have any more nightmares?" He asked.

Gemini took Inokumaru's hand and allowed him to pull her up.immediately her stomach growled loudly, making her blush and laugh."I guess I'm hungry, then." She said brightly."what can you make?" She asked.Miko jumped up onto her shoulder and she petted him."Miko's hungry too." Miko barked, a tiny sound that was more of a squeak, and Gemini laughed again.

((gemini dear, i haven't forgotten this thread! I'm just out of time and running late for work. I promise to post uber uber soon though)

((No problem, take your time! :) ))

Inuyami sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She shook her head no and looked into Todd's eyes.

"Once I had you here beside me to protect me, I knew I was safe." She smiled and leaned into his gently.

"Anything you two would like. Is there anything in particular that you're craving?" Inokumaru asked Gemini and Miko.

Todd smiled."glad to be of service." He said, blushing a little.he never realized how shy he was until a pretty girl smiled at him.

Gemini's stomach growled loud."I like bacon and eggs.always good." She said hungrily.Miko squeaked his approval."and Miko agrees." Gemini laughed.

((Idk if they had bacon back then...))

"Bacon and eggs it is!" Inokumaru said as he began to look around. There where plenty of eggs to be found amoung the bird nests in the forest, but the bacon would take a bit of skill. Though the wild boars around the parts where large and plentiful, they were also strong fighters and didn't go down without a fight. After about an hour, Inokumaru had gathered enough eggs and killed a small wild pig. He skinned and cooked it, laying other meat out to dry for jerky. "I hope it is to you liking." He told Miko and Gemini as he offered them their meals.

Inuyami stood up from the bed and stretched for a long moment. She turned around and looked at Todd who's cheeks where reddened by whatever thoughts had been going threw his mind.

"So what should we do today?" Inuyami asked him, obviously attaching herself to Todd.