luxken27 | Holiday Spice | Memento Mori: Epilogue

Link to MM.org
Link to FF.net (clean version)

Pairing: Inuyasha/Kagome
Rating: X (MM.org) / M (FF.net) for citrus
Inspiration: "Crush" (C) 1998 Dave Matthews Band
Based upon: the universe of Memento Mori

NOTE: I make very liberal edits with my lemons when it comes to FF.net (read: any sort of explicit material is cut). I don't want to take any chances.

When I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for the

inuyashaxkagome Advent Calendar, I couldn't resist the idea of revisiting this universe. In fact, deciding to have one more episode helped me finish the sequel oneshot. I really wanted to 'balance' out the series with another lemon, but part of what was holding me back was the idea of trying to do a lemony oneshot sequel; in my mind, it just didn't fit. It was more important to explore the themes around the end of one relationship and the beginning of another, which I hopefully did rather well in the sequel piece.

So, leaving the citrus for this snappy little epilogue solved quite a few of my problems :)

I knew I wanted to include a few things here (besides the obvious holiday theme). The first idea, which was ultimately the most important, was the serenade at the end. That little bit was actually taken from personal experience, one of my very happiest romantic memories :)

The other was the idea of Kagome's underwear being crimson-colored. LOL, I'm not sure why, but it was a detail that insisted on being added. I think it has something to do with crimson being a shade of red, the color of desire, and the idea of pious little Kagome being so blatant about something so sexual was hard to resist. (Inuyasha ultimately agreed with me.)

This was a very interesting experience, as my second little bit of fully-formed citrus to be foisted upon the world. I've written a few drabbles here at LJ, but nothing quite so explicit as this. It was kinda intimidating, truth be told. I know porn is a big, big part of fandom, but it's not something I'm necessarily interested in - I'm more for exploring the emotional backdops of the characters, trying to figure out what makes them tick, or how they would react to this or that situation. I'm lucky enough to have found an audience that appreciates the fics that result from this fascination :) but, as always, I'm looking for ways to expand my skills as a writer.

Amazingly enough, deciding to write the actual lemon scene from Inuyasha's point of view made things SO MUCH easier. His 'style' was looser, more contemporary in my head, and he was much freer of himself in this universe - sort of an anything goes kinda guy. He is also far more secure in his sexuality, and more likely to take the lead in a really intimate situation.

Plus, it made for nice symmetry: the first (in the original oneshot) was from Kagome's point of view, so we already kinda knew her thoughts on the situation. Also, the oneshots were primarily from her point of view, while the 'extra' interlude was from Inuyasha's. So kill me - I like things to match up, LOL.

I had serious reservations about posting this as part of the Memento Mori story, but I liked the lemon scene so much I thought it deserved its originally intended place :) I'm really rather amazed I like it as much as I do; it's hard to deal with sensual imagery and thoughts and emotions instead of technical details. I can only hope it will not be sporked into oblivion *crosses fingers*

Some of the imagery is reminiscent of the manga - like the opening lines, reflective of the almost kiss in Chapter 494. There's also this idea [final panel], mentioning in passing, but definitely a result of rewatching this particular episode of the anime :) ETA: OMG, how could I forget the one time they were actually (almost) naked together? Yes, I keep getting an image of this at the end :)

Once again, I turned to ol' faithful in the music department - Dave Matthews Band. This time I had songs from the third major release, Before These Crowded Streets on tap - mainly "Crush" and "Pig". The first is among my all-time favorite DMB songs, if only for its audacity at having a bass guitar solo at its open. Here are some relevant passages of lyrics:

Lovely lady / I am at your feet / God I want you so badly / I wonder this / Could tomorrow be / So wondrous as you there sleeping

Lovely lady I will treat you sweetly / Adore you / I mean / You crush me / It's times like these / When my faith I feel / And I know / How I love you /

It's alive right now / Deep and sweet within / Pouring through our veins / Intoxicate moving wine to tears / Drinking it deep / Then an evening spent dancing / It's you and me / This love will open our world / From the dark side we can see a glow of something bright / There's much more than we see here

Just love will open our eyes / Just love will put the hope in our minds

Happy holidays, everyone! :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nice conclusion to Memento Mori. It shows just how much they mean to each other even though they have been apart for three months. I read the story on mediaminer so that I could read the entire lemon the way you intended it to read. The lemon showed a lot of feeling between the two of them. It was nice to see the touching from the time they reached the door and continued into the next morning. I loved the idea that he had written her a song. The bra and panties and sacred jewel were nice touches which she donned just for him.It will sad to see this universe end because it has given your readers so much pleasure in exploring their relationship.

Thank you so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it and thought it a proper conclusion :)

The idea of constant touching is another one of my personal quirks - I know if I was in that situation, I'd never let the boyf go, hehe. Plus, sometimes you just need that physical contact to reinforce the bond.

As I said before, the song...*sigh* There's no higher honor, in my humble opinion, than having a song written in your honor. I have so much respect for musically-inclined people, who have opportunities to create such beautiful, visceral pieces of work.

It will sad to see this universe end because it has given your readers so much pleasure in exploring their relationship.

*blush* Well, thank you! It's been quite the journey, from opening 250-word drabble to now. And it will be there for all to enjoy until MM explodes, LOL.

I really enjoyed it - and you entertwined their feelings so much into the piece that it didn't seem like a lemon. It was emotional as it was erotic. It worked very well with the previous parts of the story, and I am sad to see it come to an end (though I know too well that you must end things when you must).

Lovely work and great addition to the Advent calendar.

you entertwined their feelings so much into the piece that it didn't seem like a lemon

An interesting observation. I tend to think of anything that has explicit sexual content as a lemon, whether it is straight-up porn, or has a more erotica feel to it. This understanding may have something to do with why I don't read/write a lot of lemony stuff. Hell, when I started writing again I never thought I'd go much further than Chapter 19 :P

It was emotional as it was erotic.

Thanks! :) Again - just personal opinion here - but I think it's better if there's something beyond the mere physical act. Even reading "professional" stuff, I enjoy a story much more if it engages all of my senses.

I am sad to see it come to an end

Most of the people who have left me reviews, have left something to this effect. I'm kinda surprised, I guess, but that's writers' perspective for you.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the comments!!

Well, I left a comment on MM but I just wanted to put it here, too. I think you did a great job with this. The lemon was well done and not raunchy at all. Instead, it really showed the love between them. I hate that this is over *sigh* but nothing can last forever! Happy Holidays!

Thanks for the comments - in both places! :)

To me, the difficulty in writing pieces with a sexual focus is getting the language just right. I was reading a thread @ Dokuga about how different people approach lemon-writing, and it was very interesting. It made me realize that I'm much more sensitive to the language I use when I'm writing about intimacy - or at least, I'm much more conscious of it. I don't know, maybe because its not my usual subject matter *shrug*

See how meta I can get LOL?

I hate that this is over *sigh* but nothing can last forever!

I don't know where else it could go, honestly. We have to leave some things up to our imaginations, yes? :)

I'll have to go look at the thread at Dokuga. I can write porny smut but I would like some practice with more sensitive love. Sex can so easily turned into raunchy if one is not careful.
As for our imagination, it is the best thing sometimes!

Well, it was basically a really nice version of the "LOL virgins can't write believable smut" sort of thing that circulates among most fic-writing boards :P but Dokuga looks way, way down on negativity so there was some useful stuff thrown in as well. Here's the thread: http://dokuga.com/forum?func=view&catid=9&id=10247

But, when I think about writing something explicit, I'm very much aware of my language use, trying to have subtle cues of 'what's to come' sorta thing - using a lot of suggestive words and description. I think it can sound awkward, but then *shrug* I also think way, way too hard about my writing sometimes LOL.

Holiday Spice | Memento Mori: Epilogue

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