Soul Mates and Toy Dolls by MushaiyaRyu

Oneshot.

This fic is partially credited to Youkai Yume for her suberb artwork. The picture that this fic was modeled after can be seen in the fanart section of the site. Enjoy!

"Kagome."

"Okaa-san!"

"Kagome-chan!"

"Kagome-sama!"

"Kagome-neechan!"

"BITCH!" I sighed and shook her head, showering her night dark tresses into the air. Snow fell into my sweatshirt hood and melted. I turned to the newly livened Kikyo and smiled. I received one in return and a nod. Rounding on Inuyasha, I began to scold him.

"I wasn't exactly expecting a warm welcome from you, Inuyasha, but please tone down the words?" I reprimanded lightly, setting down her heavy bags. Shippou leapt forward and wrapped himself around my neck.

"What're all these things, Okaa-san?" the small youkai inquired, sniffing at the miko's neck. I giggled and swiped at the kitsune good-naturedly.

"I went to a magic shop the other day, and the old shop owner went crazy when I walked in!"

~*Flashback*~

"Child! You are a miko, exposed to many demons, correct?" The old woman cried out, waddling over and seizing Kagome's hands to trace her palm lines. Despite her obvious confusion, Kagome decided to answer the lady's questions.

"Yes, I am, but how did you know?" The woman waved the question off with a skeletal hand and proceeded to drag the disgruntled miko into the back storage room.

"There is no time, Lady. I must give you these, and you will distribute them to your friends in the past! You must change the mishaps that are destined to happen!" she admonished in her scratchy Scottish voice. Kagome followed, albeit awkwardly.

Arriving in the back room, the aged woman began to rummage through many opaque boxes. Finally finding the ones she wanted, she handed the miko six boxes, each one twelve inches tall and seven inches wide. Kagome was, in short, buried beneath them.

"Miko-sama. These are powerful dolls called 'Soul Mates.' Give these to each of the adults in your group. Keep the doll's identity secret from the opposite sex, and open the boxes with your fellow women. At midnight, share your papers aloud with your companions then reveal your doll after all has been read. Now go," Wasting no time, Kagome gathered up her boxes and left quickly.

~*End Flashback*~

"Strange, ne?" I asked, looking around at her group. My half-breed companion muttered his traditional, "Feh," and walked forward to sniff at the boxes. Kikyo cocked her head and smiled slightly.

"It would be wonderful to learn of our soul mates, wouldn't it?" Sango inquired dreamily. I chuckled and glared at Mirouku, who was edging steadily closer towards the taijiya.

"It would be in your best interest to stay away from Sango-chan, Houshi," the previously deceased miko lectured pointedly, raising an eyebrow at the monk's innocent face.

"This Sesshoumaru is interested." Everyone turned to the approaching Demon Lord. My breath hitched when I saw him. His shining white hair made even the most recent snowfall seem drab. His golden eyes shamed the bright sun.

"What?" Inuyasha demanded, straightening up from his intense scrutiny of the Soul Mate boxes. Sesshoumaru glared at my hanyou companion and turned his cold gaze to the boxes.

"This Sesshoumaru has been... curious as to whom he is destined to mate. I will accept one of your gifts, miko." His emotionless tone, I'm sure, bellied the real curiosity that lay beneath. I smiled brightly and nodded.

"Like I said before, all adults here receive one. Though I can't say anything for Inuyasha," the hanyou perked up, "because Shippou is more mature than he is..."

"What the HELL do you mean by that?" He snapped. Kikyo quickly subdued him.

"Inuyasha! Down, boy!" The half-breed slammed into his old friend the ground, his hindquarters in the air and his arms spread wide. I burst out laughing, as well as my other friends. Sesshoumaru settled for merely raising an eyebrow and a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"Kagome-neechan. Why is your name on this one?" Rin inquired, pointing to a box with a cherry blossom print. I shrugged and picked it up, looking at it from all perspectives.

"I think they all have prints that are somehow related to our personalities. From what I'm told by certain hanyous and demons," I stared pointedly at Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, "I smell like sakura blossoms and jasmine. I'll hand them out." Inuyasha blushed full out red. From either embarrassment or anger, I did not know. Sesshoumaru turned his face away, though I was certain that there was a light pink staining his cheeks.

"This one is Inuyasha's." I handed the hanyou a Shikon no Tama and cat printed box. The cat looked oddly like Buyo. He flushed red and looked at me incredulously.

"I hate cats!" He all but screamed at me. My eyes widened and a large sweat drop formed behind my head. Sango burst out laughing, using Hiraikatsu to hold her up. Sesshoumaru snickered.

"I believe that you cuddled with a fire cat when you were young," he stated, his eyes sparkling. Inuyasha glared at him. I sighed, managing to get my laughter under control. I handed Mirouku his, which was decorated with prayer beads. Passing Sango hers, which was printed with an assortment of weapons and fire cats, I came upon Kikyo's.

"Here, Kikyo. This one is yours," I said cheerily. Her box was adorned with bright paintings of ki balls and arrows. Finally coming upon Sesshoumaru's, I handed it to him with a bow. He inclined his head in return and traced the beautiful white dog and crescent moon on the navy blue box.

"Let's open them!" Inuyasha began to tear open the box. I began to panic.

"Inuyasha! Down!" Kikyo bellowed, sending Inuyasha to the ground again. "Kagome said that we could not open them until nightfall. I believe that the men should open theirs with each other. Us girls shall keeps ours from those ravenous males we call friends." Night fell pretty fast after that. Crickets chirped while Shippou laughed.

Sango and I giggled.

Waving to the boys, I dragged Kikyo and Sango towards the hot springs, where I knew that we would not be bothered.

**Back With The Boys**

Mirouku and I looked at each other. Then together we looked to Sesshoumaru. He shrugged regally and turned toward where we had made up camp. My brother's kimono was so white that I though someone dumped mud all over the snow. Grudgingly I followed him, Mirouku close behind.

Arriving at camp, I proceeded to tear into the box. Out tumbled a plush figure of Kikyo and a small piece of paper.

"Yes! I've got Kikyo! What's this, though?" I made a snatch for the paper, but my older brother took it right out of the air.

"'It is true that your first love is your soul mate. However, beware of an early death that could easily be prevented by lack of violence.'" He read aloud, staring past the paper at me. I bristled and tore the paper away.

"You don't have a fucking right to read what I got!" I barked. Sesshoumaru made no reply, only watched as Mirouku began to open his own. He pulled out a Sango plushie and smiled a lecherous grin that gave me the chills.

"It says, 'To love a taijiya is to love a life of travel. You are destined for many children, long life, and great love.' I'm gifted, and you aren't Inuyasha!" Mirouku taunted. I growled and would have jumped him if Sesshoumaru hadn't caught me by the seat of my pants.

"Put me down, you bastard!" I snapped. He promptly dropped me. Standing up and dusting myself off, I pointed an accusing finger at him. "I never said to drop me!"

"You said to put you down. You never said how gently," Sesshoumaru pointed out indifferently. I grumbled under my breath but sat back down. Mirouku and I stared at Sesshoumaru, who was steadily tracing the crescent moon on the box.

"Well?" I demanded. Sesshoumaru looked up and hooked his claw into the paper and dragged it upward...

~~Back With The Girls~~

"Alright. Sango first." I stated, plopping down on a flat rock with my box. Kikyo snickered and sat behind me, leaning against my back with a sigh.

"Inuyasha's annoying sometimes..." I heard her mutter under her breath. I smiled and sighed as well.

Kikyo being alive again was something I could handle. Inuyasha had certainly been at the least tolerable with the priestess in the group now. Sango and Shippou had taken to her quite well.

As for myself, I was quite happy. Kikyo being alive meant that I would no longer have to compete with a dead woman to gain Inuyasha's love. Then again, I didn't really care for Inuyasha as a lover anymore. I had another silver haired, golden eyed demon in mind...

"Me? Why me?" Sango asked frantically, her face resembling a tomato. I laughed while Kikyo chuckled behind me.

"I, we, want to see if our suspicions are true.

Now, open it!" I exclaimed happily, earning poke in the ribs from Kikyo. I giggled. Kikyo was like an older sister to me, now that our feud over Inuyasha was over. We were almost inseparable.

"What are you talking about?" Sango demanded, a suspicious gleam in her mahogany eyes. Kikyo waved her hand in dismissal.

"JUST OPEN IT!" I cried. Sango glared at me the submitted. Taking the printed-paper carefully, she stripped down the box until she stared into the face of a Mirouku look-alike. She shrieked in delight, causing both Kikyo and I to topple into the hot spring.

"KAMI, Sango-chan! You didn't need to be that enthusiastic! Look at me. It'll take an hour to dry this outfit out, and it's winter!" Kikyo groaned, standing up in her miko garb. I surfaced and grumbled about wearing tight jeans foolishly.

"Speak for yourself. Luckily, I have a few heavy blankets to keep us warm," I sighed in relief and almost choked when Kikyo jumped on me.

"Thank goodness, Kagome! You're always prepared for anything!" She murmured in my ear and kissed my cheek. I blushed and shrugged.

"Sure, onee-chan."

"Alright, Kikyo. You open yours," Sango ordered, pointing at the box left on the rock. Sighing in relief, both Kikyo and I thanked the entity that caused us to put down the boxes. Climbing out of the hot spring, Kikyo practically shredded the paper and bear hugged her Inuyasha plushie.

"Yay!" She giggled, swinging around with the plushie in the air. I smiled sadly, still hurting from Inuyasha's betrayals. Kikyo stopped, sensing my depressed aura.

"I'm so sorry, Kagome... I... I forgot," She finished, her head bowed in shame. I shook my head and threw water droplets into the frigid air as I climbed out of the hot spring.

"No, Kikyo. It's not your fault. I'm over him, but not the hurt her put me through," I whispered. Sango sighed and patted my wet back.

"Come on, Kagome. Just open your box."

"Oh! I forgot!" I scrambled clumsily out of the hot spring and picked up the box. I shivered in anticipation as I listened to Kikyo and Sango egg me on. I began to strip the paper off, and I gasped.

**Back With The Boys**

Sesshoumaru stopped for a moment and smirked. I growled then saw him inhale deeply. A contented sigh came from his lips. I sniffed as well and was shocked to find the scent of jasmine and sakura blossoms.

"That... that smells like--"

"Kagome..." Sesshoumaru pulled out the Kagome doll and held it gently, as if in shock. I blacked out, Mirouku laughter the last thing I heard.

I was amazed to find the miko mine. I ran my claws through her miniature's silky raven locks and fingered the scarlet necktie affectionately. The monk was speaking, but I did not hear him. I picked up the slip of paper and looked it over.

"'To love a miko is to love life itself. You are destined for great power and a life full of love, pups, and prosperity,'" I read aloud. The monk ceased his babbling and smiled. Bringing the doll close to my chest, I silently gave thanks to the Kami above.

"My Kagome..." I whispered.

~~Back With The Girls~~

"Sesshoumaru!" I pulled the plushie out of the box and smashed it into my chest, squealing with joy.

Over the time that the Demon Lord had joined our group, I steadily grew feelings for the emotionless youkai. In fact, his emotions existed perfectly well. I assisted him to release them.

Everything about the plushie was identical to the actual demon lord. The silver hair was just as silky, and the golden eyes just as bright. I giggled and hugged it tighter, caressing its cheeks and tracing its demon markings.

"Kagome... You're destined to be with Sesshoumaru?" Sango inquired lightly, smiling slightly. I nodded, love radiating in my aura and eyes. I lightly rubbed the tail that was draped ceremoniously over Sesshoumaru mini's right shoulder.

"Congrats! We all finally have the men of our dreams. Now, can we GO now?" Kikyo exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with amusement and her face flush from the cold. I laughed and nodded. We stood up and walked away, holding the tiny slips of paper that came with the boxes.

When we arrived at camp, we were sure to have them boys close their eyes. Hurriedly stuffing the plushies into our blouses, Sango, Kikyo and I sat across from the men besides the fire.

"Alright. We'll read our paper slips first," Mirouku announced and rolled up his sleeves humorously. Sango and Kikyo giggled as I snickered. Inuyasha sent the Houshi a nasty look.

"Here we are. 'To love a taijiya,'" Sango gasped, "'is to love a life of travel. You are destined for many children, long life, and great love.'" Mirouku smiled smugly and sat back. Sango was bright red. Inuyasha rustled around and extracted his paper.

"Mine says, 'It is true that your first love is your soul mate. However, beware of an early death that could easily be prevented by lack of violence...'" Kikyo flushed in anger.

"I always knew that one day you would go crazy! I'm glad Kagome gave me that necklace!" she bit out. I laughed as Inuyasha shrunk back. I then quieted when I realized that Sesshoumaru was next to read. I swallowed hard and waited. My heartbeat sped up and pounded in my chest.

"'To love a miko,'" I sucked in my breath, "'is to love life itself. You are destined for great power and a life full of pups, love, and prosperity.'" He stared at me, his face stoic but his eyes warm. I blushed and looked at Sango.

"I... I guess it's my turn, ne?" Sango stammered, giggling nervously as Mirouku eyed her lovingly. Kikyo snickered and buried her face in my arm to stifle the laughter. I was almost there myself.

"Okay. 'A Houshi is in your life, but he shall become a far more loving person as time progresses. Give him a chance, and don't...beat him...as much?'" she stuttered. Mirouku raised an eyebrow as Inuyasha howled with laughter. We then all heard a deep sound and turned to Sesshoumaru. He chuckled. Sango fainted. Mirouku rushed to assist her. The Demon Lord shrugged, still snickering.

"I believe that it is your turn, Kikyo," He stated coldly as if nothing had occurred. The older priestess blushed and fingered her paper.

"It says, 'Your first love shall bring you much joy. Be sure to keep him down and in line.'" Inuyasha slammed into the ground, and a string of curses and other colorful adjectives issued from his mouth. My jaw hung in my lap whereas Sesshoumaru was just shaking his head in mock shame.

"Kagome. This Sesshoumaru wishes to hear your own." His tone of voice was soft and silky and racked shivers up my spine. I nodded numbly and fumbled with the slip of paper.

"R-right! Here we go. 'A great youkai stands beneath the moon, silent and deadly. He is destined to be yours, forever loving you with his golden eyes and silver touches. Love, prosperity, and pups are in your future...'" I trailed off, my hand shaking.

"It's time to... to reveal our dolls," I faltered in my words and turned to Kikyo. She shrugged and pulled out her Inuyasha plushie. The others did likewise, matching another character of the group. I hesitated then extracted the Sesshoumaru miniature. I saw his eyes widen, and I almost fainted when he displayed his doll of myself.

"Kagome..." Everyone else was in a different dimension. I fell towards Sesshoumaru, love radiating in my heart. He embraced me and pressed his lips to mine. I reveled in the kiss and timidly returned it. Funny, how a few dolls can change lifetimes...