They met on a relatively normal day, under relatively normal circumstances. It was the last day of the first day of school for students all over the Osaka area. Sunny, with a nice breeze. It was warm enough to wear shorts or a skirt comfortably.

Maybe the factor that caused them to meet was a random act of chance, or perhaps just a coincidence. Or maybe it was due to an unwritten rule saying that certain things have to happen to ensure the future. Who knows?

Students were filing out of the high school; excited that the weekend was finally upon them. A relatively normal girl who had just completed her first week of high school was smoothing out her green skirt. When she looked up, she saw another relatively normal looking boy who was obviously complaining about something to a mutual friend.

She rolled her eyes and walked over to the two of them. "Inuyasha, what are you complaining about now," she chided to the silver haired boy.

"I ain't complaining about anything wench," he said crossing his arms.

Another boy with dark hair and short pony tail leaned his head in front of Inuyasha's. "He forgot to put sunblock on his ears and now has sunburn," he said grinning.

Kagome shook her head. "Inuyasha, I feel that this first week of school is going to be the start of a wonderful friendship."

"Keh."

Kagome looked at her cell phone to check the time. "Well, I gotta go meet Souta. I'll see you at your house tonight. Is your dad still taking all of us to the movies?

"Yeah," Inuyasha replied still pouting.

"Okay, well I'll be there a little early. See ya, guys!" she waved and then ran off.

After a couple of hours Kagome's mother dropped her off at a huge mansion. "Wow," her mother said. "To think this is three houses away from the shrine and we never noticed." She turned to her daughter and smiled. "I'm glad you made some new friends so quickly Kagome. Now, you're still staying at your friends Sango's house right?"

"Yes, mama. I already wrote her parents number in your address book," Kagome said.

"Okay, well we'll be an hour away if you need anything," she kissed her on her forehead. "Love you sweetie, have fun."

Kagome smiled. "Thanks mama, bye love you."

Kagome merrily walked up to the door and knocked. When the door opened she had to admit that she was mildly freaked out. For the door opened but she saw no one there. She looked around and behind her and contemplated on just walking in."

"That's crazy Kagome," she chided herself. "That's how stupid girls get killed so quickly in the horror movies. Waltzing into a house where the door magically opens."

"Stupid human girl," a high nasally voice said angrily. "You are not wanted here. Leave!"

"Huh," Kagome said with a confused expression wondering where the voice came from. She looked around and then looked down. "Oh." She scrunched up her face and wondered what she was looking at. "Uhm, I'm Inuyasha's friend; I was invited."

"Humph, even Inuyasha wouldn't bring something so ugly home," he said.

"Ugly," Kagome said not registering the insult. "What do you mean I'm ugly you butt faced imp!" she shouted once it sunk in.

Jaken slicked his imaginary hair back. "For your information ugly stupid human girl, I am quite attractive. Now leave ugly stupid human girl who is also stinky!"

"Ha," she shouted, leaning over with her hands on her hips. "Well this ugly, stupid human girl who is also stinky is about to shove her foot right up your…"

"Can it, imp," Inuyasha came by with his hands in his pockets. He kicked Jaken and sent him flying into a wall. "Sorry Kags; next time just kick the damn thing. It shuts him up pretty fast."

"Oh thanks." She said shyly. "So uh, this is your house huh," she asked and Inuyasha nodded. "It's nice," she said taking in her surroundings. She noticed that it looked even bigger in the inside but "homey" at the same time.

"Thanks," he muttered. "My old man wants to say hi; he's in his study."

"Okay, sounds good."

They walked upstairs to his father's study and went inside. Kagome nervously twiddled with her fingers and looked at her feet. She wasn't even aware of anyone that was in the room. When they got closer to his desk, Kagome stopped and bowed out of respect. "Thank you for taking us to the movies Mr. Takahashi. It's nice to meet you. And your house is really beautiful… and clean," she said quickly and nervously.

"Call me Touga," he exclaimed happily, standing up.

Before she knew Kagome was wrapped around the arms of Inuyasha's father in an incredibly tight squeeze. "Can't… breathe…" she struggled to get out.

Touga laughed but let go; holding her at arm's length. "It's a proud day when a man's son brings a girl home for the first time. And such a pretty one!"

Kagome stared at him in sheer bewilderment.

A man scoffed from behind Touga, grabbing Kagomes attention. She thought that he was the most attractive man she's ever seen. His hair and eye color somewhat resembled Inuyasha's. However, he had a blue crescent moon on his forehead and two purplish stripes under both eyes. He also seemed taller.

'Inuyasha definitely got the short end of the stick,' she thought to herself.

"I recall better looking centipede demons," he said aloof. "We still have business proposals to look over father; lets' move this along."

Kagome quickly blinked her eyes a couple of times.

"Oh Sesshoumaru, be nice," Touga said disappointed. "She's Inuyasha's new play friend."

"Another weak human added to the family, exciting," he said bored.

Kagome's nervousness quickly vanished and was replaced with growing anger. Sesshoumaru noticed this and looked up to raise a questioning brow at her. "Mind your own business asshole!"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "Inuyasha tell your whore to watch who she speaks to," he said without breaking eye contact with Kagome.

"Inuyasha," she bitterly. "Tell this idiot that he must be confusing me with one of his boyfriends!"

Touga and Inuyasha both exchanged looks and decided that their bickering was too fun to end.

Sesshoumaru scoffed. "I wouldn't be surprised if I got more offers than you."

"I bet you would like that."

Kagome noticed his straight emotionless expression. 'Whatever tough guy,' she said to herself.

Sesshoumaru wondered if she had a death wish. Or maybe perhaps she was mentally incapable of judging situations and the consequences of her foolish actions. Either way, he was considering on simply killing her and then using his influence to even more simply cover it up. 'Waste of time," he told himself.

"If I wanted to, I could easily kill you," he threatened in a lower more dangerous voice.

Kagome's eyes widened but not in fear to Sesshoumaru's surprise; but in shock and slight anger. "You're like what in your twenties? And you're here threatening the life of a 15 year old high school student who came here because her friends' dad offered to drive us to the movies? Ooooh you're tough all right," she mocked. "I hope you're proud."

The girls indifference to his strength and power is something he has never experienced. Most people knew to fear and respect him. The fact that she didn't made him want to kill her even more. However, killing the first female friend of the half breed would not bode well with their father. And quite frankly, that was one headache he did not want. So, he rolled his eyes in her direction and then went back to looking through a file.

Touga smirked at his son. 'The pups finally met his match,' he said to himself.


Kagome stood in front of her bedroom mirror looking determined. "Kagome," she said pointing at her reflection. "You are a strong woman. No, YOU are a strong woman who is also one of the strongest miko's known to man. In fact you are so strong and so beautiful that you can do anything! You got it together and now you know what you got to do! So, get out there, walk that street, and do it!"

Kagome huffed and turned to leave the room. She could be seen with a determined look on her face, huffing down the sidewalk. When she reached her desired address, she knocked on the door and waited while aggressively tapping her foot.

"What a completely unwanted unpleasant surprise," a man said curtly.

Kagome narrowed her eyes. "Nice to see you to Sesshoumaru," she said pushing pass him; inviting herself in. She went ahead and sat in chair in the living area. She noticed that Sesshoumaru had followed her. She thought back to when she first met him and how Inuyasha boasted on how 'bad ass' she was. It wasn't until Sango told her who he was that she realized that he really could've killed her. From then on there were only a few words exchanged between the two of them before he left.

"Is Touga or your mother here by any chance," she asked.

"They went to look at churches for the ceremony," he replied.

"Ceremony," she said in disbelief.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. "Of course, miko. There's to be the wedding and then the mating ritual I suppose." He moved to sit on the couch and started to look through a newspaper.

"Well fortunately for both of us; I've decided that I cannot mate or marry or even have much of anything to do with you," she said. "No offense."

"None taken," he said turning the page. "However, you do not have a choice."

"I can't become your mate Sesshoumaru," she said.

Sesshoumaru quickly glanced over at her. "Why is that?"

It was silent for a moment. "I don't love you. I barely like you."

He almost laughed – almost. "It seems you are in a much better position than myself. I don't like a single thing about you."

"And here I was trying to be polite," she muttered. "Stupid cynical jack asshole."

Sesshoumaru put his paper down, sat back and observed the miko in front of him. Saying that there wasn't a single thing he liked about her – was a lie. In truth there was one thing that he found that he liked about her. He found that he liked how she grew over the years. Before her hair was a wild uncouth mess, she was awkward, and all in all she was a child. Now however, her body had definitely grown into a woman's body, her hair is still wavy but much more tamed. Her eyes stayed the same though. Still big and blue.

"You look exactly the same," Kagome said thoughtfully. "Arrogant".

"Miko, learn to speak to those who are superior to you with respect. Otherwise, you might find yourself," he paused. "Dead."

Kagome cocked her head to the side. "Who do you think you are exactly."

"Obviously someone who is superior to you."

"Well thankfully, I don't belong to you. So one, you can't tell me what to do. Two, if anything you are beneath me you panther lover. And three, please – and I do mean please – go jump off a bridge, land in front of a semi-truck, get bugs a bird shit all over your pristine and superior self and then go deep into the crevices of hell and never come back."

Kagome nearly fell off her chair and kicked her own ass but for the smallest piece of a second she could have sworn to see Sesshoumaru smile.

Sesshoumaru stood up. "The day I am beneath you is the day I truly become a 'panther lover', which will never happen," he said walking over to Kagome. "I do thank you for realizing that I am superior to you and asking me so respectfully to basically die by painting a completely useless but colorful description," he said grabbing Kagomes wrist and pulling her up. "And in regards to your first and perhaps most useless point," he slipped a diamond ring on her ring finger. "You'll soon find that telling you what to do will be all too easy."

Kagome looked at the ring in horror. It was really happening. No one was going to stop it. No one was going to object. But she was not going to cry and she was definitely not going to feel sorry for herself. At least not in front of anybody. So, she smirked.

"How sweet," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "I didn't know you cared about me so much as to buy me such an expensive, big, beautiful diamond engagement ring darling."

"You were worth it," he said standoffish. "After all, you'll be at my beck and call anytime I need a heartless unattached rut, you will be the one to carry, care, and raise my heir who you have no real authority over, and all the while I have every right to take on a mistress, fall in love and abandon you but you have to spend forever and eternity faithful and loyal to me," he emotionlessly mocked. "Sweetheart."

Kagome was at a loss for words. She felt her heart clench tightly in her chest because she knew that he was right. That could very well happen and there was nothing she could do about it. She could kill them – or more like attempt to – but that would only damage the unstable trust between demons and humans. As hard as she tried she couldn't help the single tear that fell.

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome's reaction. He didn't quite know why but he regretted it as soon as he saw her expression. And although he would never admit it, he liked her better loud and obnoxious as opposed to silent and crying.

"But then again," Sesshoumaru said semi-arrogantly. "Only a blind fool would lay with you and your disgusting human body more than absolutely needed, you would have to be the one to look over the pups studies, and since I am the great, honor-bound Sesshoumaru, I would never do something so honor less as taking a mistress while already mated."

"Thanks," Kagome said with a faint smile. "Asshole."