A/N: Warning - another crackfic!

Marks

Kagome was sitting beside Inuyasha, happily reading her book and leaning against the hanyou. She pretended not to notice the glances her friends were sending her and Inuyasha.

The past month had been eventful. They had fought Naraku before he went into hiding again, they had collected some more jewel shards, they had a huge quarrel which ended in her going home and an irate hanyou following her. Nothing new. But this time Inuyasha had managed to keep her in the past, mostly because he had not shut his mouth in time and had confessed his feelings to her. Kagome had sat him twice before registering that and confessing her own love towards the stubborn boy.

Now they were enjoying this new stage of their relationship, no more denials and less misunderstandings. That doesn't mean they weren't bickering and they were very usually very shy around others, but their closest friends were seeing more and more gestures of affection between them those past few weeks.

Now they were staring at Kagome's neck and Inuyasha's cheeks.

"Keh," said Kagome's leaning surface, making her grin.

Suddenly Inuyasha tensed and Kagome looked up to find a familiar figure clad in white standing nearby. Sesshomaru approached the little camp calmly and didn't look away from his younger brother and his girlfriend.

"This one sees that you finally embraced your youkai heritage," said the daiyoukai. "This one must confess he was rather surprised you lacked the sign of your bloodline, but is pleased that you became strong enough to carry it. Still, you are no match to this one."

"Feh, you're just jealous I got so strong since i met Kagome," Inuyasha grinned and wrapped an arm around the said girl.

"This one won't take the bait, little brother. Is unbecoming for individuals of our stature to bicker."

"Oh, don't say this, lord Sesshomaru," Kagome giggled. "We bicker all the time."

"That's true," Sango smiled. The daiyoukai wasn't impressed.

"Your activities are of no concern to this one. When your pack is close to the Western Palace consider meeting me, little brother. Your rise in power won't be overlooked any day longer," with those words the daiyoukai walked away.

Did he just invite us to his palace?" asked stunned Miroku.

"Wow. Just... Wow," uttered Shippou, who had been hiding behind Sango and Kirara all the time.

"Feh. I feel almost guilty," murmured Inuyasha, but Kagome stroked the purple mark on his cheek.

"It's just a mark. If some decide to act more civil around you because of it I'm even happier that I made you have it," the miko said. "You grew so much stronger, you earned them."

"That's true," Sango gave a nod. "They would appear by themselves sooner or later, with your youki level..."

Inuyasha leaned in Kagome's touch, not arguing with his friends. It was so shocking to see that his brother, of all people, could act pretty civil around him. He even acknowledged his strength and his relationship with Kagome. Not mentioning the invitation to the West.

The group resumed their peaceful resting, talking lazily and enjoying the warmth of the afternoon. They knew soon Inuyasha was going to drag them down the road again. The marks were a recent thing and the rest of the gang still didn't ask about them more than the duo had told them after coming back from Kagome's time a couple of days prior.

They were collecting their things, packing for the second part of a long day of marching, when a different youkai came up to them. His approach was announced by Inuyasha's growl and Kagome's gasp. And the next second Kouga was standing by the miko, holding her hands.

"Hi there, Kagome!" he exclaimed. "How is my woman?"

Kagome froze, her smile a bit too wide to look natural. Inuyasha, instead of jumping in between them and barking at the intruder, walked up behind the miko and moved the collar of her blouse to reveal her left collar bone. Kagome blushed, but did nothing to stop him.

Kouga's eyes widened when he saw three little black paw marks, each with a kanji inside it.

"She's not your woman, wolf," said Inuyasha and let go of the fabric, covering back his name. He smirked and then pulled Kagome's hands out of Kouga's limp fingers.

"I'm sorry, Kouga, but I never said I was yours," said the miko, giving him an apologetic smile. "But I'll be always your friend."

"Uh... You let him mark you?" Kagome nodded. "Uh... Just... If he mistreats you just let me know, Kagome, and I'll kick his ass for ya."

"That won't be necessary, but thanks," Kagome gently stepped on Inuyasha's bare foot to silence his growl. Kouga looked at the couple for a moment and ran away without another word.

"Well, that was something new," said Sango.

"But I don't understand," Shippou jumped to Kagome's shoulder to sniff her neck. "Kagome doesn't smell like a mated female."

"Keh, that's because we didn't mate yet," Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest while Kagome blushed.

"So how come she already has your mark? Kagome?" Sango inquired, looking at her friends in confusion.

"It's.. It's the magic of tattoo," Kagome uttered from behind her hands which she used to cover her face.

"Yeah!" Inuyasha grinned. "We lost a bet to her crazy friends and had to get the tattoo things. Kagome said she always liked my youkai markings, so I got them..."

"And." Kagome decided to embarrass the hanyou for a change. "Inuyasha said the dog paws would look cute on me, so I went with doggie paws."

To her surprise Inuyasha didn't look embarrassed, despite the fact their friends were nodding and smirking at the explanation of the markings they had.

"Keh! Our mating will happen sooner or later anyway," the hanyou smirked. It took him a moment to notice Sango's furious blush, Shippou's stunned expression and Miroku's wide lecherous grin. He didn't dare to peer behind Kagome's hands to check out her reaction. "Uh..."