Note: Thanks to DaddysSpecialRequest for the quick and lovely beta.

Chapter 1: My Mate

"SIT!"

Inuyasha crashed into the ground, by the fire. The flames flickered on his tangled white hair. Miroku looked up from the other side of the fire at Kagome.

"What was that for?"

"He wouldn't stop twitching. He's been like that for the past three days. What is wrong with you?"

Inuyasha flicked a white furred ear, distractedly. His voice strained and tired. "You… can't… wouldn't understand. I- I- I'm trying to fight something you can't help with. I- I can't explain it to you."

"Why?" Kagome asked, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged it off and stood up, looking even more distant that usual. "Because you are a human and this, this is a demon situation."

"But Inuyasha if you tell us then maybe we can help." Miroku replied softly.

Finally unable to keep silent from his position next to the fire, Shippou spoke up. "You can't! Yasha is coming of age. That's his demon heritage, he's becoming an adult."

Sango frowned. "I see… then it's his first cycle," She sighed. "Kagome, we can't help him. It is demon related. When a demon comes of age, reaching their maturity, they have what we call cycles.

"These are mating cycles. His demon blood will choose the best possible mate for him. Do not make a mistake to think that taking a mate is like an animal. It is not so… unsophisticated as that. Demons do not just have relationships with just anyone. Their blood chooses the best mate, the demon or human to satisfy all the needs of a particular demon.

"That means his blood will choose the best person to care for him and for him to care for, the best person to teach him and learn from him, the best person to help him and be helped by him. This is a great chance and opportunity for him, Kagome. It is unlikely that his first cycle will bring him his lifemate but it is possible. In that case, it would be the demon or human he will stay with for the rest of his or their life.

"Sesshomaru was born of a cycle, his mother was not the Inutaichou's life mate. Inuyasha was born of his father's lifemate, and his father chose to defend his mother until their deaths. So as you see, it is not a choice, it is as the blood wills. It is not guided by the choices of the person, which means… that Inuyasha's mate for this cycle might not be you, no matter how Inuyasha feels about you."

"No…" Kagome cried appalled.

"Yes, and lately he's been nervous and agitated, so he feels the Call. Inuyasha you must follow it." Sango smiled encouragingly.

"I CAN'T!" Inuyasha screamed.

"So you know who is your partner this cycle?" Sango asked quietly.

"Yes," Inuyasha nodded, sinking to his haunches. "This cycle and every cycle. If I go to him, I will join him… permanently.

"Then you need to go to him, Inuyasha!" Shippou yelled. "My father said that we must follow the Mate's Call, otherwise the pain!"

"I! CAN'T!" Inuyasha screamed again, "First, because it isn't Kagome and I can't… hurt her like that. Second, if you knew who it was, you would hate me."

Miroku raised on eyebrow, "Unless it is Naraku, you shouldn't worry about that and if it is Naraku, then we know you didn't choose him."

"It is not Naraku. That vile spider half breed is not worthy of joining with a member of the Inu clan." Sesshomaru entered the camp, kneeling beside Inuyasha. One hand on his brother's neck "You are such a foolish cub, but it is partially my fault, in my arrogance I did not teach you however, do you remember what I told you the last time I saw you? That this would not end, that you have to come to me for relief and instead I find you here, half dead from denying what you are."

Inuyahsa lowered his head, his voice scratchy, "And what am I?"

"My mate."