Stretching her arms above her head, Sango looked around the hut in a half-awake manner. The instant she laid eyes on a sleeping silver haired hanyou, she was wide awake though. Standing, she walked toward him and saw a sleeping Kagome against his back. By Kagome's head was Shippo sleeping in a ball. They almost look like a family of clan-orientated youkai… Sango thought as she walked toward them. Smiling at the small family, she stepped on a creaky floor beam and froze. Inu-Yasha's ears twitched and he was instantly sitting up. Sango cursed under her breath as the kawaii picture was gone. Inu-Yasha looked at her and growled softly.

"Was she whimpering last night?" Sango asked before he could say anything. His response was a nod. "Because she was lonely ne?" Sango got another nod. Biting her lip, Sango nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

"How?" Inu-Yasha snapped.

"I think her mind has been changed….I think she thinks like a youkai now…a pack based youkai, such as an inu or wolf……" She said her voice dropping near the end. Instantly the demon's words came back full bore onto Inu-Yasha.

"Do you want her to underssstand everything? I can do it….I will…"

Inu-Yasha spun around and looked at a sleeping Kagome.

"That would explain her growling….and whimpering…" He said softly more to himself then Sango as he brushed hair out of Kagome's face. Looking over his shoulder, he looked at Sango.

"Right?" he asked as Kagome sighed softly and rolled over so that she was facing Inu-Yasha. Opening her eyes, she smiled at him until her eyes saw Sango. Glaring, Kagome stood up in one swift motion before she stormed out of the hut. On her way out, she made sure to more then lightly brush into Sango. Once outside, she run her hand through her hair and walked off into the woods.

Sango took a step back as Kagome pretty much shoved her with her shoulder. Looking at Inu-Yasha she blinked.

"What was that Inu-Yasha?" She asked. Inu-Yasha shrugged his shoulders as he stood to go follow Kagome. The whole time his demon blood screamed at him. Alpha female upset must calm. Alpha female upset must calm. Walking around, his nose twitched as he picked up Kagome's scent. After a minute he froze. That smell….Kagome was in heat. And if Sango was right…Growling, he ran to find her. If she is thinking like a youkai and in heat then she will look for a mate and if Kouga……no…Kagome… After a few minutes he found her. In the hot springs. Sliding to a stop, he spun around. Taking deep breath he tried to control his demonic blood.

I saw NOTHING. Nothing at all. He thought. Alpha female in heat must claim. His blood replied. No. Claim. No! Standing with his back to Kagome, Inu-Yasha became lost in his internal battle.

Looking up from her spot, Kagome smiled when she saw Inu-Yasha and with a quick glance around, she noticed that they were alone. Stand quietly out of the water, Kagome walked toward Inu-Yasha's tense body. Her mind had one train of thought - Mate with Alpha male. Standing behind him, she ran a hand through his hair softly. He winced and spun around. The instant he did, his face went red as he looked away.

"I…I didn't…I didn't see anything…" he mumbled as he tensed more. Kagome smiled softly as her mind screamed for her to mate with him. Leaning forward she kissed the corner of his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck. Inu-Yasha instantly flushed as he pushed Kagome away.

"Kagome. Stop it" Kagome blinked and looked at him. Rejection? No! Her mind screamed as she narrowed her eyes, grabbing him by his collar, Kagome pulled him close and kissed him passionately. Inu-Yasha pushed her away again.

"Kagome. Stop it. You….your naked…in heat…..please….stop it. Get dressed." He said as he tried to stop himself from jumping her right then and there. Kagome just stood there, pain and rejection filling her eyes. With a soft growl of annoyance, she turned and started to get dressed. She thought he had rejected her? Shit!

"No. Kagome I don't mean to reject you. Just right now………" Inu-Yasha's nose twitched. That smell…Kouga… Looking to the North, Inu-Yasha cursed under his breath as his rival male appeared at the clearing. Instantly the male was in front of Kagome and took her hands in his.

"Kagome. I have come to claim you as my mate." He said with a toothy smile.

"No!" Inu-Yasha yelled as he ripped Kagome from Kouga's hands. Kagome looked at him and blinked. "Go away wolf breath." Inu-Yasha spat. "We don't have time for your stupid games." Cause Kagome isn't thinking straight right now. He added in his mind.

"Shut up mutt face." Kouga said as he glared at him and reached for Kagome's hands again. But instead of the normal blush response from Kagome, a soft growl was admitted. Kouga took a step back and blinked.

"Kagome?" He glared at Inu-Yasha. "What have you done to my woman mutt?"

"I haven't done anything and she isn't your woman!" Inu-Yasha tightened his grip around Kagome. Then a glaring contest stared up with Inu-Yasha being the loser due to Kagome. Blinking he looked down as he felt her bury her face in his neck and relax.

"HA! See that Ka……gome?" Kouga stopped as he saw the way Kagome was standing. "Kagome?" He stepped toward her. A soft whimper was heard as she clung tighter to Inu-Yasha. Both males blinked. She was acting as if…

"You are courting her?" Kouga's eyes narrowed. "How can you be courting her? She bares no mark." Inu-Yasha blinked. Courting? I am courting her? Umm…

"In human manners Kouga. Go away." Inu-Yasha snapped out a lie. A simple white lie to make Kouga leave so Kagome is safe… Kouga growled.

"I won't give up on her..." And with that he was gone. Kagome looked at Inu-Yasha and kissed him passionately, her mind reeling. He is courting me. Courting leads to mating with alpha male. Inu-Yasha' grabbed Kagome and pushed her away.

"Kagome stop it. You aren't yourself." Inu-Yasha said as he held her away from him. Kagome blinked and stood there. Inu-Yasha relaxed and let her go her after a few seconds. Sighing, Inu-Yasha looked away.

"We should head…." His sentence was cut off by Kagome's slap and her soft growl. Looking at her, Inu-Yasha froze in seeing the look in her eyes. Anger, hurt, pain. He had caused that?

"Kagome…" Reaching for her, he missed her as she stormed off to the village. Inu-Yasha just stood in his spot. Kagome had acted as if…..Mate! His demonic blood sang. Inu-Yasha shook his head. No…she didn't want to be his mate…it was the stupid mind thing again...she wasn't herself. Turning, he headed back to the village.

Once Inu-Yasha had reached the village, he also met his welcoming committee. The kistune and the monk neither of which looked happy.

"What?"

"What did you do to Lady Kagome?"Miroku asked.

"What?"

"Kagome! She ran into the village sobbing and instantly threw herself into Sango. What you do to her you big bully?"

"Keh! None of your business." Inu-yasha said as he hit Shippo on the head.

"KAGOME!" Shippo instantly cried as he ran toward Keade's hut. "Inu-Yasha hit me again!" Once he was about five feet from the door, Kagome appeared in the doorway, kneeling down with arms open to hold the kistune child. Inu-Yasha's eyes couldn't leave her face. It was red and puffy from crying already. What did I do? He thought as he watched her pick up Shippo and nuzzle his neck softly. Standing, Kagome disappeared into the hut with Shippo.

"What did you say to her Inu-Yasha?" the monk pressed.

"Keh." Was Inu-Yasha's response as he jumped into a tree and watched the hut. Miroku shrugged and walked off to find some maidens to flirt with.

Inside the hut, Kagome was nuzzling Shippo softly as tears streamed from her eyes. Sango watched her not sure what to do. Even with her knowledge of demonic interactions, she was out of ideas now. Youkai generally hated crying.

"Kagome-chan…what's wrong?" Sango tried again and got the same response. A small shake of the head. Shippo cuddled closer to Kagome in a comforting way and Kagome held him tighter. Sango sighed as she looked outside the hut. Crying after being alone with Inu-Yasha…what does that mean? Youkai terms Sango! THINK! She yelled at herself in her head. Biting her lip she looked at Kagome. In Youkai terms Inu-Yasha would be………umm……THINK Sango! Alpha male. That's it. So Inu would be alpha males and of course Kagome is the Alpha female since she was the first female in the group so… Sango blinked and smiled at Kagome softly.

"Kagome-chan. Does Inu-Yasha not want to mate with you?" She asked. Kagome nodded softly as she stroked Shippo's hair. Sango nodded in return as she stood up. That is strange but maybe he thinks with Kagome like this it isn't really her in control…

"I'll be back in a minute Kagome-chan." With that, Sango walked outside with Kirara following and headed toward Inu-Yasha.

"You won't mate with her?" Sango said as she leaned against the tree. Inu-Yasha looked down at the slayer and blinked.

"What?"

"Kagome. She is upset because you won't mate with her right?" Inu-Yasha growled under his breath and looked away.

"Keh."

"Or is there something more?" Inu-Yasha crossed his arms as he tried to ignore the slayer. Sango only smiled more. "I am right, aren't I? Now that she is thinking like a youkai, she wants to mate with you and you won't because it's not her?" Jumping out of the tree, Inu-Yasha landed in front of Sango.

"It's not that easy slayer." He spat.

"Then please, enlighten me."

"She's in heat. She is ready to jump any male…" He looked away as his voice dropped.

"Like you?"

"Like Kouga."

"Oh. So you're just protecting her from making a mistake that she would regret? Or something you would regret?"

"Keh." Inu-Yasha started to walk away. Sango reached out and grabbed his arm.

"You think she would regret becoming your mate. Even though you know that Youkai chose one to be their mate and they rarely give up until they are theirs…" Inu-Yasha ripped his hand out of her grip and glared at Sango.

"Like Kouga." He spat. Sango blinked and glared back.

"Are you THAT dense? You don't see that every time you say she is nothing more then a jewel collector it hurts her? Or how every time you run off to Kikkyo she wants to cry? You don't see how she loves you, do you?" Inu-Yasha turned away and started to walk again. Sango grabbed his arm again, knowing she would regret it.

Inside the hut, Kagome heard some talking and her name. Standing with Shippo in her arms still, she walked to the doorway and froze. Instantly Kagome's eyes widen and then narrowed dangerously. Sango was holding onto Inu-Yasha…her mate. Sango…rival… Her mind screamed as she growled as she walked outside slowly. Putting Shippo down, she walked towards them. Claim alpha male as mate. Give rival warning. Claim. Warn. Claim. Warn. She stopped in front of Inu-Yasha. Sango blinked and let go of Inu-Yasha's hand.

"Kagome…" He blinked and took a step back. Kagome's glare hardened as she stepped toward him. Claim. Kagome threw herself at Inu-Yasha. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him passionately, but at the same time there was something behind it. Warn. Kagome smiled as she let go of him. He hadn't fought her that time. He hadn't kissed back but he hadn't pushed her away. She would be his soon. Walking around him, she growled at Sango. The female just blinked in confusion.

"Inu-Yasha….what's going on..?" Sango muttered softly. She dared to speak her mate's name! And act as if she was to be his mate. Rival wants mate. Defeat rival. Kagome growled and threw a punch at Sango. Sango dodged it with surprise written all across her face.

"Kagome-c..chan…" Sango said as she dodged another punch. Rival trying to be friend. Rival used me for information about mate! Rival must die… Kagome narrowed her eyed and went to attack Sango again.