They were to be Mated

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters.

Last Time:

"Ah, thought so." Kagome paused, "I ha—have surrogate parents and a brother. He wa—is younger, but for some reason teasing him or embarrassing him in front of girls just amused me to no end."

"Hn."

"You know, I don't think you do that often enough to Dog-ears, does that mean you guys need to spend so 'quality' time together?"

"Not anymore than we don't need." A silence seemed to form after Sesshomaru's answer. He was a bit surprised by the silence, considering the girl had been talking non-stop so far.

Kagome sighed. Wow she was immensely bored. When were they going to reach Kikyo and Dog-Ears? "Taisho..."

"Hn."

Kagome bit her lip nervously, "...are we there yet?"

Are we there yet?

Chapter 8: Chosen

'Finally.' Thought Sesshomaru as they had reached Kikyo's village. He had been subjected to constant babble and the every five minute interval of "are we there yet." He was up to his neck in gratitude when he saw Inuyasha's disturbingly red hakama.

"I don't get why you don't have a tail or Ears. Sure, Dog-ears may be a hanyou but I know for sure you're a full. Since you are missing such cute aspects of those ears and tail, I think it means you got the shorter end of the deal—"

"We are here." Sesshomaru said cutting her off mid-babble. No, he definitely did not want those things on his head.

"—you should really talk to—umm…what?" Kagome stopped, looking slightly confused.

'Dear gods, help me,' Sesshomaru mentally prayed before repeating, "We are here. Inuyasha should be around the shrine."

"Oh." Kagome paused as if finally taking in the information and heaved a sigh of relief, "Oh thank god, a proper outlet."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened the smallest of a fraction, 'that had all been intentional?!' He was this close, the two centimetre distance from his index finger and thumb, in wringing her neck! It was so on.

"DOG-EARS!" Kagome called out sweetly. Sesshomaru mentally cringed trying to figure out exactly how she was planning on amusing herself with Inuyasha.

A very startled Inuyasha looked at the running Kagome in an odd sense of fear. Then glancing up to see Sesshomaru seemed to slightly intensify his need to run. "Uh… yo?"

"We're here." She sang out, stretching the word here to sound like hhheeerrreee.

For some reason, Sesshomaru felt interested in what exactly she was going to do. After all, she had tortured him for far too long, and the very least she could do was target his brother for him. This would definitely amuse him.

She skipped over to him in such a merry way; you would think that flowers would start springing up wherever she walked. As she reached him, she gave him little time to react as she jumped into his arms, and cried out, "Oh my dear friend I have missed you ever so much!"

Inuyasha seemed to have frozen with the expression of a dying fish plastered on his face.

Kikyo walked onto a scene she would have never expected.

Though she did not want to admit but she had always dreamt of seeing Inuyasha's chest, but never in such a manner. She wasn't quite sure if she should laugh like no tomorrow or just well stand there looking stupid.

It was a very hard decision.

See, she normally didn't laugh like a maniac on drugs. In fact she rarely smiled. Her face was just not built that way. But to remain simply stoic during this was… well it didn't seem to do justice to what she believed would be the only time of this… event.

So, after thinking for another second, she made her way towards her favourite hanyou. She closed her eyes briefly as her eyes trailed slowly over his chest. She hadn't expected it to be that built. She cleared her throat as Inuyasha looked at her.

He seemed to be stuck in his position, but still tried to move around to talk to her, "Kikyo! Look I can explain—"

Kikyo shook her head and raised a hand to silence him, "It's alright I understand perfectly."

"Y-you do?"

"Of course I do." She paused and couldn't help it. She needed to say it, so she did. "I had always assumed you were 'down to earth' Inuyasha, but never quite so literally." As she said it, Inuyasha's face blushed a deep red as he stammered.

Kikyo could no longer hold it in any longer. She tried to cover her giggles with her hand only to cause Inuyasha to struggle in his hold. She soon found herself laughing so hard that she had to lean on a tree.

"Kikyo!" whined out Inuyasha, "Not you too!"

She gasped for air as she clutched her sides. "I-Inuyasha, w-who did this to you?"

Inuyasha mumbled something.

"Sorry, I did not quiet catch that." Kikyo said as she finally was able to calm down, but a large smile was plastered on her face.

"I said that stupid bitch did this to me." He pouted.

"She..." Kikyo blinked twice before another burst of laughter consumed her.

"Are you done?" Inuyasha asked a slight growl escaped his lips.

Kikyo cleared her throat, but looked beyond Inuyasha to see Kagome holding a finger too her lips. She winked and Kikyo understood perfectly.

"What?" he asked a little put out.

Kikyo crouched down, so she was now eye level with the hanyou whose body was partially buried in the earth so his chest was exposed. "Inuyasha what did she do?"

"Shecameuptomesmilingthanfreakingusedherstupidpowertotestherfreakingpowers!" Inuyasha let out in one breath.

"You do realise that I am a miko but not a decipher of codes." Kikyo said patiently, with a small smile.

He let out a deep sigh, as his face blushed slightly, "She caught me by surprise and tried out something she was taught by her teachers."

"Hmm, was it a physical thing or a..." Kikyo glanced up to see the advancing Kagome with a sack of something. "...magical thing?"

Inuyasha furrowed his brows, trying to remember what had happened. "I'm gonna say that it was magical or a mixture of the both."

"Do you think she magically bound you to the ground or magically pushed you into it?"

"I—" before Inuyasha could finish what he was saying something think and disgusting coloured plopped onto his shoulder. "What the fu—" Soon he found his chest covered in a thick mud. He glared up to see mischievous sapphire eyes, "What the hell are you doing?!"

Kikyo's eyes widened and soon she found herself on her butt, laughing her head off.

Kagome grinned like a cat that had just eaten a canary.

Sesshomaru seemed to have a slight smirk drawn on his face, though his eyes were still impassive.

Kikyo seemed to be humming softly while she twirled an arrow in her fingers.

Inuyasha growled. He was in the river to clean all the mud Kagome had so elegantly thrown on him. It was terrible! First the stupid girl had come to him saying she missed him, and then without a second thought lightly touched his shoulder while saying something, causing him to be drilled into the ground. His arms had been beside his body, embedded in the ground.

She had seemed genuinely surprised, then laughed her head off that Inuyasha was sure—he had greatly wished—that she would die laughing. Unfortunately, she hadn't. His brother seemed to find the whole situation terribly amusing and actually smirked widely. He also made no move to actually help him out of his bind.

Kagome wanted to try another thing, so she slipped the top part of his hakama off his shoulders exposing him upped body completely, and then she had merrily skipped away.

But oh no, that wasn't embarrassing enough, Kikyo just had to walk into the scene. Inuyasha had watched as she had been completely shocked at his state, but even she couldn't help but crack up in his situation. She was supposed to be his best friend. But nooo, she had even conspired against him and had helped spread the guck Kagome had thrown on him.

He did kind of like the feel of her hands on his chest, though he had greatly prayed that the ground would open up and eat him whole. Life was just cruel.

Now he was in river, the freezing cold river, as he tried to wash everything away. He was trying to do everything in demon speed, so that he could get out fast. As he finished, he stepped out of the river only to slip on some mud at the bank, falling back first into the river.

"Fuck!" he yelped, as he was dunked into the river. He shut his eyes and counted to ten slowly. "One." He said as he got up.

A strong breeze blew his way, causing him to shiver. 'Two.'

He glanced over to his... friends. 'Three.'

Kagome-bitch was laughing, not even attempting to hide her amusement. 'Four.'

Kikyo had looked away, trying to control her laughter. 'Five.'

And Sesshomaru... he was watching, just smirking widely. 'Six.'

He finally stepped out of the water, pulled on his hakama in record time. 'Seven.'

He stood up straighter; he was going to be dignified and elegant. 'Eight.'

All of a sudden, he noticed a strange peel in front of his feet. He did not recognize the peel. 'Nine.'

He decided to ignore it taking another step, not realizing his foot slipped on the peel causing his to fall head first into the ground. This time he lost it, cursing really, really loudly.

Yeah, life. So very cruel.

Kagome just laughed harder, "Oh god, how did he fall for something like that?"

Kikyo tried to control her laughter, "I think it something to do with not thinking properly."

"Really? Does he even know how?"

Kikyo almost snorted a very un-dignified sound—that was very much foreign from her, "Do not be so mean Kagome-san."

Kagome finally calmed down, but a large grin did not leave her face. "I have got to say, he makes this all the more interesting."

"Exactly how did you imbed him into the ground?"

Kagome waved her hand dismissively, "Oh you know a simple sitting technique."

Kikyo raised an eyebrow at that, "You sat him?"

Sesshomaru spoke after a very long time of silence, "You bound him."

Kagome blinked, having forgotten Sesshomaru had been there. She then cocked her head to the right as if thinking deeply, "Well... it was passed down to me. Apparently, all demons are associated with animals. I think it's about the lesser demons being animals, or something like that."

Sesshomaru and Kikyo nodded their head, already having heard this.

"So, it's only natural that they would react in the same way as animals—well to some extent."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened by the slightest fraction. He had never made that connection before. Their home had always housed dogs, and the way they obeyed only meant. "No." Sesshomaru said firmly.

Kagome smiled innocently, "No... what?"

"You are not allowed to do such things to demons." Sesshomaru said shaking his head.

"And why is that Great Lord Taisho?"

"To live in harmony, mikos and demons do not cross the thin boundary. We do not mistreat you, and you are not to mistreat us."

Kagome sighed, "Fine, I won't do any of that. I actually hadn't thought it would work." She then looked up at him making firm eye contact. "However, I will not hesitate to do so if I feel mistreated or disrespected."

He did not want to allow that, but his morals told him to agree. "Fine." He said albeit unwillingly.

She grinned widely, "Excellent." She stood up and starting to leave. "You do realize that being Dog-Ears brother, you also will be affected by my s-i-t. You'll probably react differently, but I suppose that's an experiment for another time." She glanced back and gave him a saucy wink before asking Kikyo to accompany her to the shrine.

Sesshomaru watched slightly stunned by her action more so than her words. He watched as they walked away laughing about something to do with Inuyasha's face matching his clothes in color.

Things had definitely taken a turn.

Inuyasha huffed as he came to where he was standing, "That bitch is annoying as hell! I'm gonna kill her!"

Sesshomaru glanced over to where Inuyasha was standing, he sighed. "You should know better."

"She's a human with too much free time!"

"And yet she was able to surprise a hanyou."

"I—she—she's stupid!" Inuyasha said lamely. Realising what he said and not wanting to be made fun he quickly said, "And you like her!"

Sesshomaru snorted a sound Inuyasha would have never expected from his older brother. "I merely find the girl unexpectedly interesting. Now, what are you planning on doing?"

"Obviously, taking my revenge on the wench!"

"Immaturity is not becoming."

"Kikyo I'm telling you the guy is completely clueless." Kagome said as they neared the Shrine. "Look, he's the type of guy that needs to be hit in the face with a shoe before he realises you're asking for his attention."

Kikyo grimaced, "But—"

"Did you not see what he did what that peel?"

"He's just—"

"Dense, clueless, and very thick?" Kagome supplied.

"I do not think that he is... he is merely..." Kikyo ostruggled trying to explain what Inuyasha was.

"He's a boy. And just to tell you, they're all the same." Kagome sighed, "Anyway what's so special about your shrine?"

"It homes the Shiko no Tama."

"Oh... I didn't know it was real. It's always been a myth to me."

Kikyo smiled, "Not many people know of its existence. Only that it will seek the most powerful miko in a dream and ask for their protection."

"It called for you?"

Kikyo nodded with a sad smile, "It did. It is my honor and duty to protect the jewel with my life."

Kagome stayed silent. She made her way slowly to the shrine. "Midoriko sure was an idiot." She mumbled. "You know I've heard a legend about it."

"That is probably the one on how it came to be."

"No." Kagome said shaking her head, "It was the story of how it was destroyed." Noting the confused look on Kikyo's face, Kagome continued. "Apparently, the most powerful miko made a wish, sending it back to where it truly belonged."

"I have never heard of anything like that before."

"I know." Kagome paused, "It might be a made up thing or maybe a prophecy."

Kikyo nodded her head thoughtfully, "Is that so?" She opened the door to the shrine but bumped into something causing her to step back into Kagome. Kagome quickly helped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. Kikyo's eyes widened. "It is not letting me in." She said in a perplexed gasp.

"What?"

"I-I... let us go back. Maybe Taisho-san knows why." Kikyo said.

"You know what Nii-san?" Inuyasha said conversationally. Not that he had a lot of conversations with his older brother, but he did have his moments. And for some reason this was one of those moments.

Sesshomaru merely flicked his eyes over to Inuyasha. "Hn."

"Well, whenever that girl is around something is always bound to go wrong."

"…"

"No really, first she's attacked, then almost dies, yells at you for being—uh... but why the hell does push me into a hole and now this?" Inuyasha ranted fairly calmly.

"…"

"But what I don't understand is: why the hell am I her freaking target?"

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah… I know I'm not the smartest guy around, but hell either she had practise or she hates me. I haven't done anything to the little witch!"

'Except call her derogatory names. Really, Inuyasha must you dig yourself a grave?' Thought Sesshomaru as he watched for the girl to come.

"Yeah I can tell Kikyo like her, but she's supposed to be my best friend! Why does Kikyo like her?"

'Maybe because she gives her attention, while you dismiss all her feeling towards you.' Though he wasn't quite sure why he was waiting for the girls. Maybe they—well the Higurashi would provide some more entertainment?

"D-do you think that wench is interested in Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked with wide eyes. "Fuck man, that's no good. Kikyo can't be interested in her! She always wanted a family and kids! She can't have kids with a—"

Sesshomaru sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, inspecting their ends, "Inuyasha." He hated split ends and was quite caring of his hair.

"She can't have Kikyo! She's my best friend."

This was getting annoying to Sesshomaru so he finally said, "You are jealous of the miko becoming friends with the Higurashi?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. It took him a few seconds to close his mouth and open it again to say, "I'm not jealous."

Sesshomaru barely resisted the urge to rolls his eyes. "Then why must you feel threatened if the miko has become friends with the Higurashi?"

"I'm not threatened."

"I believe it is only her sister and you that she can claim some sort of relationship with."

"I know that." Inuyasha sighed as he swept a hand through his hair, getting it caught in a knot. This caused Sesshomaru to smirk lightly. Frustrated he pulled his hand out, "I-I just… I don't know okay. It's fucking me up. That's all I freaking know."

Sesshomaru was never up to giving advice, especially to his younger brother...unless of course the advice would somehow teach him something in a humiliating way. Unfortunately he did not want to see a Taisho in such a pathetic condition. He offered a piece of rare advice, "Sometimes, forgetting one's pride is the key to a woman's heart."

Inuyasha's eyes widened and his voice rose slightly, "Are you crazy?!" Sesshomaru merely raised his eyebrow at his tone. Inuyasha sputtered out, "N-not that you're c-crazy or anything." He sighed heavily. "I don't want the key to her damn heart. I want to see her happy, but fuck... I want to be the one making her happy."

Sesshomaru had a very, very strong urge to call him whipped. He didn't know how he resisted it. Maybe it was because all of a sudden the girls had appeared and began to walk towards them.

"Hey guys, do you think you can help us with the shrine? There seems to be something wrong with the entrance." Kagome explained as they stopped a few feet away.

Kikyo nodded, "It seems that it is blocking our entry." She seemed confused as her forehead crinkled slightly.

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha shared a brief look. This was very important. The Taisho clan had vowed to make sure the stone was kept safe and out of dangerous hands. They both nodded and quickly followed the girls to the shrine site.

Kagome stood in front of the shrine with the door wide open. Inside you could see the stone shining in the dark room. "It just won't let us enter."

To demonstrate, Kikyo tried to pass her hand through only to have it rebound. "See. It does not make any sense."

Kagome nodded and continued to stand in front of the entry as if guarding it.

Sesshomaru racked through his memory of shields and boundaries trying to figure out a way of what and why it was blocked. "Has anyone been here?"

"No. Kikyo even set up some sensory parchment to see if anyone would drop by." Inuyasha spoke explaining, "The only one who has been in the shrine has only been Kikyo." He looked towards her for confirmation. She nodded her head.

Sesshomaru moved towards it, trying to see if it would accept his entry. He moved his right hand forward, knowing full well that the pure magic was going to burn him. His long, elegant finger dipped into the field, causing Kikyo and Inuyasha to hold their breath.

His forehead, 'this was not supposed to happen.' He continued to move his hand through the field.

"STOP!" shrieked Kagome. Sesshomaru's hand stilled as his eyes fell to the girl. He was taken back to see her panting hard, clutching her right hand in pain while in crouching position. Her voice cracked, "...Stop it..." Her eyes held the tears back, her normal sapphire blue a dark navy laced with agony.

His eyes widened and his heart... his heart clenched painfully. Within a blink he was by her crouching form inspecting her hand. She didn't fight him taking her hand. In fact, he was a little surprised to note that she felt relief.

He couldn't hold back the furrow of his eyebrows or the concern that ripped through him. He looked back and noticed that the same finger of his that was going through the field was slightly burned. The flesh was bristled and cracked, bleeding profusely.

They were the same signs of a demon touching a pure magic field.

'Were these the repercussions of sharing his blood with her?'

He looked back at his finger. It was still the same. His skin was still the same healthy colour and texture. He swallowed thickly. 'Why?' He didn't know. Strong emotions were coursing through his body. His youkai was almost howling within him.

He barely pained mind to Inuyasha and Kikyo. To him, he only saw the tortured skin of the girl. He felt the need to reassure her that everything would be alright. He need to tell her that the finger wouldn't mare her in any way.

He warped his other hand around the girl's finger. He felt it burned slightly to his flesh but didn't let go as he noticed the immediate relief that flew into the girl. Her body relaxed under his touch, her breathing evened and she took a slowly long breath.

"I... Thank you." She said softly. He looked towards her face to see her bright blue eyes that were no longer full of pain, but had almost regained their normal sapphire color.

He seemed to release a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He nodded, he then helped her stand, though he was unsure whether or not to let go of her hand.

"Are you alright Kagome?" Kikyo asked, as she moved closer to Kagome. Kagome smiled as if she hadn't just experienced an agonizing pain.

Sesshomaru looked away from Kagome to see the miko's face etched in deep concern, while Inuyasha's eyes were narrowed as if trying to process everything and coming up with reasons. Inuyasha was actually fairly intelligent when he put his mind to it.

His eyes darted, meeting with Sesshomaru, asking if it really was a purifying burn. Sesshomaru inclined his head slightly. Inuyasha nodded and continued to think through the possibilities.

"Don't worry Kikyo. Nothing's wrong." She looked towards the entrance. "You know... I think I get what's happening here."

Everyone's eyes snapped his right, where Kagome stood. "You do?" asked Inuyasha slowly.

"I think I do." Kagome said, "It's like this. I think that somehow what Taisho should have felt was transferred to me. Maybe because of the blood he gave me to heal me... at least that was what I thought until I realised something. The jewel, it's calling me to come to it."

They regarded her carefully. Sesshomaru pulled her hand up, causing her to shift her attention to their hands. He slowly parted his fingers from her small hand, both curious to see what would be revealed. Sesshomaru removed his hand to see that both their hands were the same. There wasn't even a slightest indication to the burn.

"What do you mean it was calling you?" Inuyasha asked.

She swallowed. "I'm not sure. All I know that it's pulling me towards it and it's telling me that it can only be me." She licked her lips slowly. "I think that's why I was burned when Taisho was supposed to be. It was warning me. Telling me that it can't be anyone else but me."

"Then why didn't it affect you with me?" Kikyo asked softly.

"I...I think because you're not connected to me." She shook her head, "I think that his blood," She gestured towards Sesshomaru, "has something to do with it."

"Go through it." Sesshomaru finally spoke. Kagome looked up and met her nervous eyes with Sesshomaru's calm eyes. They seemed to reassure her of something.

Kagome nodded and made her way to the shield. She smiled back at everyone as if reassuring them. Sesshomaru was conflicted. He wanted her to go through, and yet he didn't. He didn't know of how he would react if she got hurt again.

She stepped inside, causing a pink glow to flow through the shrine. She released a breath when nothing stung her. She reached towards the jewel, and a blinding light came through, successfully blinding the three waiting tensely outside.

Chosen

Questions and Answers:

1. Are Naraku, Kagura, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kouga and other main characters in this?

Yes, not sure, no, no, yes, yes and will decide along with the story.

2. Length?

Long. Let me tell you, I've already thought up the basic plot and outline of the story. I want to include a few characters and a few scenes. To do that, I'm assuming that the story will go to thirty or maybe fifty? I love to write, but wow... that would be rather long.

3. Rating?

Yeah, I'm not sure if you noticed... but Inuyasha swears a lot! Should I change the rating to M?

4. Lemon, lime or citrus?

Okay, I can add a few scenes that I've already though up. But really, I don't need to in order to help along with the story by just implying. But in all honesty I want you guys to decide, we'll have a vote open until Chapter 10. I will go through with whatever you guys vote.