Disclaimer: InuYasha and all other related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi-san. Standard disclaimer applies.

Chapter 30: Mine

"But Aiko, you're only fifteen!" Mai scolded, waving a finger at the inu hanyou. Ren looked astonished.

"Hey, Aiko, can I ask you something?" She asked meekly.

"What's up?"

"How was he?"

"REN!" Aiko yelled, blushing furiously and scrunching a throw pillow to her chest.

"Oi, Aiko, where are you!" Junsei's voice rang through the halls.

"We're in the Living Room!" Aiko shouted back. She could hear him shuffling around, probably relieving himself of his shoes and coat, before stepping onto the hardwood floor and jauntily making his way towards them.

"We?" He inquired, peeking into the room, grinning when he saw Mai and Ren sitting cross-legged on the floor. "Oh, hey you guys."
"Don't 'Oh, hey you guys' me! YOU MATED AIKO! She's fifteen, Junsei! What will the kids at school say?"
"They won't notice, they're noses can't pick up the scent, remember?"

"I'm not talking about the human ones, baka; it's the youkai I'm worried about."

"This isn't just a one-time thing, Mai. The youkai understand what mating is, Mr. Sekigawa made sure of that." The group shuddered "Not really something I want to go through again. The point is they'll know we're mated, but they won't tease."

"I hope you're right…"

-----((The next day, at school))-----

"Hey Aiko!" One guy hailed, making a thrusting motion with his hips. "How 'bout it?"

"Screw off Yukio."
"Ok, will you help me?"

"NO!" Aiko snarled as she stormed towards her locker.

"Hey, look, it's Aiko." One girl whispered.

"What's up with her scent?"

"Haven't you heard, she mated Junsei Mouko."
"

"Oh, shut up!"

Mika stormed down the opposite side of the hall, right past Aiko, and promptly slapped Yukio across the face.

"That's my sister you're gesturing towards, asshole. And how is it any of your business what she did and didn't do, huh?" She growled, rounding on the cowering rabbit she-youkai.

"Let's go, Rini…"
"Yeah, Mika's bitchy today."

The girls left quickly, twittering about the latest gossip, which was primarily about Aiko and Junsei.

"God damned, stinking, no good, nosy bunch of IDIOTS!" Mika yelled, making the entire hall silent.

"Aiko, Mika, what's going on now." Shippou droned, shoving his way towards them through the crowd.

"Shippou-oniisan, this is too much, can you please help?"

"Now what?"

"They think I'm some kind of…. some kind of slut." Aiko said angrily, her youki rolling off her in waves.
"They better not. Where's you're mate, anyways?" Shippou said, changing the subject. He needs to calm her down.

"He had to stay late in a class."

"Catching up on work?"

"That's what I'm assuming."
"I wish it were that simple." Junsei piped up, Causing Aiko to jump. "My, aren't we a little jumpy today."

"Sorry, it's just all these idiots. They're teasing me, and it's really starting to grate my nerves." Aiko said, rubbing her hands up and down her forearms. "So, if you weren't catching up on work, what were you doing?"

"Ms. Yukitora asked me is the rumours were true. About us being mated, I mean. When I told her they were she went into this huge lecture about teen pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Disease's."
"Uh…" Aiko stuttered, blushing.

"Oi, Junsei, I hear you got laid! So, who's the unlucky broad?"

"Hey, that's my mate you're talking about, asshole."

"So you're mated? Ouch, man, poor you…"
"Oh, fuck off."

"How many times have you been teased?"

"Only twice, actually, but it's you I'm worried about."

"One too many times to count, I'm afraid. This is so stupid; I can't believe they're treating me like this."

"Yeah, you deserve better."
"Hey Aiko, if he can have you, why can't I?" Ryo sneered, advancing upon her. Junsei growled protectively. All the youkai in hallway took a collective intake of breath.

"Stupid ningen, what does he think he's doing?"
"Doesn't he know the youkai law about mating?"
"Why would he? He's a ningen."
"This will be interesting."

"Uh huh."

"Ryo, how many times do I have to try before I can get this through your thick scull? I. Don't. Like. You. Now. Get. The. Hell. Away." Aiko said slowly, in an exasperated tone. The surrounding youkai laughed.

"Well, I like you, and you're coming with me!" Ryo said, grabbing her arm and pulling. The youkai gasped, their eyes swivelling over to a seething Junsei.

"Oh my god, I think he's going to go berserk."

"Or transform…"

"He looks like he's going to kill him…"

Junsei let out a roar and stomped towards Ryo. Swiping at his hands, Junsei slashed them with his claws, drawing blood.

"Ow, what the fuck, man! It's my turn now!" Ryo hissed in pain.

"You keep your filthy hands off my mate, you bastard." Junsei snarled; his tone feral.

"Junsei, koibito, stop it. I'm fine."
"He. Touched. You." Junsei seethed, cracking his knuckles in an obvious manner.

"Please Junsei. Just leave it. He doesn't know any better."

"But he should!"
"Ugh, fine. Take it outside, if you must."
"But Aiko, he'll kill him! Don't you get it?"

"Uh huh, just like he could have killed my dad when he was proving his worth."

"But that's different!"

"How?"

"You intervened!" Aiko stopped short and looked at her sister. That's right. They both would have been killed if I hadn't set up that barrier.

"I'll teach you not to mess with another guy's mate!" Junsei howled. Extending his claws, Junsei was about to swipe, but instead was surrounded by a pink barrier, which slowly eased him away from his prey, and set him down lightly on the floor. Stepping into her bubble, Aiko slowly walked towards her mate and wrapped her arms around his waist, letting her aura sooth his flaring youki until he started purring contently.

"Wow, did you see how she calmed him down?"

"Yeah, I know, that's amazing!"

"She must be a really powerful Miko."

"Well, her mum IS Kagome Higurashi."
"Really?"

"How d'you think she got the name, baka."

"Then her dad's…?"
"Yup."
"Oh shit. If he finds out what we've been saying to her…"

"Okay, break it up!" Shippou hollered, Moving to the inside of the circle and breaking the masses "You've had you're show, go on, leave!" He sighed when no one budged. "I'll get her dad to go after you. He's my dad too, ya' know." That got them moving. Shippou smirked.

"Wow, Aiko, looks like you inherited Okaasan's Miko powers." Shippou chuckled. "She'll be thrilled."
"You are SO not telling them what happened today."
"Sure I am. The old man hasn't had any action in his life since his battle with Junsei."

"Shippou, if you tell them, I swear I'll tell Momma about the time you and Rikka…"
"OK, Ok, I won't tell!"

"I love having leverage against my siblings." Aiko chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." Shippou pouted, crossing his arms and going into the classic 'InuYasha pose.'

"You've been hanging out with Papa WAY too much." Aiko laughed harder. Eeping softly, Aiko's eyes widened when Junsei suddenly whirled around and thrust his nose into her hair.

"Mine." he ground out throatily.

"Yes, koishii, I'm yours. It's okay; the stupid ningen won't hurt us anymore. He learned his lesson." Aiko murmured soothingly. Junsei started purring again and Aiko kissed him lovingly on the chin. "Come on, Mika and I promised to watch the twins for Momma. Let's go home."

"Alright, let's go. Hey, Aiko?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Mine."

A/N: Guess what? I have really good news! After I revamp the rest of the story, I've decided to continue writing it! That's right, so, hopefully, Chapter 31 will come out soon! (Maybe I'll pick up where I left off when I god rid of "Finding my Heart") which means that our sexy Akira, (for those who remember him) will be coming back! Yay! I'm really excited by this revelation, and I hope that I can get my reviewers back.

Speaking of reviewers ::scowls:: I posted a new story "A Surprising Turn of Events" which no one has reviewed. There have, however been eighteen hits, since my last count. This makes me incredibly sad. I know that I haven't posted in a while and I know this is some form of punishment, but come on!

Lots of Love (And puppy dog eyes,)

Harusaki Taisho