Torn between two brothers.

Kagome's face brightened as she looked upon the familiar village. "Finally!" she squealed as she hurried down the trail into Kaede's hut. The old woman heard her exclamation and peeked her head outside. "Kagome...I have not seen you in so long!" she responded smiling at the girl as she ran up to greet her. "Kagome," Kaede began as she noticed the young girl’s attire, "what are you wearing?" Kagome simply rolled her eyes, "Its a long story!" she moaned as she caught her breath next to the old woman.

Just then a small kit poked it head out of the hut as well, sniffing at the air, "Kagome! " Shippo shrieked bounding into her arms. "We missed you."

Kagome smiled, "I missed you too!"

The kitsune sniffed again and ruffled his fur when he saw an approaching Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru bound together at the wrist. "What are they doing?....Together?"

Kagome sighed and smiled at Miroku and Sango as they too came out to greet her. "That too is a long story. " she grumbled.

Kaede smiled "Come inside then and tell us. I have tea warming and a fresh set of clothes."

Kagome followed happily into the hut where after drinking tea and changing into a fresh set of clothes she went over last weeks events.


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Kaede nodded sagely, " I see, " she started as she let the shock slide off her face. "I have not heard of any spell that would do such a thing, and most mikos would only be able to control something this powerful for maybe a day. I do not believe it is a spell but the fact that only demons seem to be affect does puzzle me."

Miroku chimed in offering advice. "Have you noticed any strange markings upon your body that might give us some sort of clue as to how this could have possibly occurred?"

Both Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru shook their heads making Kagome blush.

"Its seems, " Kagome began "to have something to do with my scent...but I don't smell anything."

Kaede rubbed at the back of her neck, "Only Youkai are affected, but no marks...doesn't make any sense."

"Why are markings so important?" Kagome asked inquisitively.

"There aome ome lesser youkai who's soul purpose is to propagate the species. Youkai being self destructive by nature would seemingly never choose a mate if such creatures did not exist." Kaede continued, " These creatures are usually attracted by the scent of a female who reaches maturity and enhance her scent to attract a male, however, they only are attracted to the scent of strong female youkai, not hs, as, at least as far as I know. Youkai mating instincts are a complicated matter." Kaede walked around the girl sitting on the floor searching her body for some sort of clue. "I would say that we are lucky in at least this," she sighed as she did not anything unusual on the girls body "These types of enhancements have no real cure, since the youkai themselves are mysterious creatures."

Kagome sighed heavily, "Thank the gods for that then." she huffed as she brought an arm around to rub at the back of her neck as Kaede had. Her neck was sore with tension considering she hadn’t been able to relax for the past few days.

Suddenly, she stopped, her face growing pale a sick expression upon her face.

"Kagome-chan...are you all right?" Sango questioned.

Kagome looked up to Kaede who suddenly was at attention. "I'm not sure ......Kaede...would you come look at this?" The old woman walked ove Kag Kagome and knelt down behind her pulling her hair aside. Slowly she pa the the hair at the base of the young girl's skull to reveal a small purple mark that appeared to be at least a week old. "Oh dear...."Kaede remarked.

"What is it?" Kagome huffed fearing the worst.

"You are marked child." Kaede answered dropping the hair back against the girls back, giving her a long thoful ful look.

Kagome bit her lip, "What can I do?"

Kaede spoke slowly "Unfortunately, there is not much that we can do. The bite only enhances your scent it is not an aphrodisiac," poinpointed to Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru, "and if these two have all ready chosen you as their mate ....seemingly at the same time...then there is no way to change that."

Kagome huffed, "oh gods..." and covered her face with her hand.

Inu Yasha, Sesshoumaru, Miroku, Sango, and the kit left Kaede to comfort the distraught girl.

As the two dog demons exited the structure Kagome could hear them mumbling back and forth again, 'No doubt ready to kill each other.' she thought.

"What do I do now?" Whispered Kagome into the old woman's shoulder.

(WARNING:: I intended to end this fic with a bang **pun intended**)