If You're Not The One

The rest of the week flew by for Kagome. It had been a good week, but she had to tell Kouga that she would not be available for the weekend. Surprisingly, he seemed ok with it and asked if he could take her to dinner on Thursday night and then they could talk. So, after she agreed, she had the unpleasant task of informing Sesshomaru of her date. He was not very happy.

“There is no reason for you to be with him without an escort. Inform Makasuno that you will have dinner here.” Sesshomaru demanded, his displeasure obvious.

Kagome shook her head. “Listen, I am going to be with you at your club all weekend and he only wants to see me for dinner. Give it a rest, already. I know that you can’t stand Kouga, and the feeling is pretty much mutual. However, if he can accept me being around you, please try and do the same whenever I go out with him. I agreed to live at your home, but I never agreed for you to lord over me.” She said as she straightened her blouse.

Whatever Sesshomaru was going to say next was forgotten as Jaken entered his study and informed them that Kouga had arrived. Kagome grinned and flashed Sesshomaru a warning look before exiting the study to greet her date. Sesshomaru gritted his teeth and got up. He walked out of the study and approached the laughing couple. He glared at Makasuno before saying, “Have her back here at a decent hour. We are leaving for the club in the morning and I want her to be well rested.”

Kouga rolled his eyes and then narrowed them. He did not like what he was seeing. Sesshomaru was staring at Kagome with great interest and didn’t bother to conceal it. Huffing, Kouga took Kagome’s hand and led her to the door.

“Don’t wait up for us, Takashiro. We all know how you get when you haven’t gotten enough sleep.” Kouga sneered, his blue eyes flashing in anger.

Sesshomaru glared at the man before him and then looked down at Kagome’s happy face. He held back his biting words to Makasuno and instead said, “I will see you when you get home. Try and have a good time, though I know that it will be difficult especially with who your date is.”

Kouga fought the urge to flip the bastard off. However, Kagome’s tugging on his arm reminded him that he needed to keep his cool and instead shot Sesshomaru a look that promised certain pain the next time they were alone.

After they left, Sesshomaru chuckled and went back into his study. He picked up the phone and dialed the club. He wanted to check and see if the accommodations were taken care of. Normally, he would have done things a bit differently, but seeing as how he intended on having Kagome for himself, he saw no reason not to continue with his current plans.

When assured that everything was taken care of, Sesshomaru hung up and allowed a satisfied smirk to cross his handsome features. By the time he got done with her, Kagome would never want to look at Makasuno again.

Sesshomaru called for Jaken and when the small man was before him, Sesshomaru ordered for him to begin packing Kagome’s clothing. The man bowed and quickly departed to do what was ordered, but a thought came to Sesshomaru’s mind and he stood up and walked up the stairs and into Kagome’s room. The old man was muttering some kind of nonsense and did not see Sesshomaru behind him until he cleared his throat. Jaken jumped and quickly apologized, but was ignored as Sesshomaru began to paw through Kagome’s clothing.

Shaking his head, a sly smile played on his lips. It looked as though Kagome would get a taste of how generous he could be to a woman he wanted. She needed new clothing and he would see to it that she had the appropriate attire for this occasion. He strolled over to her dresser and opened the top drawer. He reached in a pulled out a pair of soft lacy panties.

Jaken watched with wide eyes as his employer stared at the frilly piece of material in his hand before shaking his head. The younger man quickly placed the garment back into the drawer and said, “Tomorrow we will be stopping off to do some shopping before we go to the club, so there is really no need to pack those things. You are excused, Jaken. I will have her pack her own lingerie.”

Jaken nodded and quickly scurried from the room. He had never seen his boss this intent about a woman, not even that wretched Kikyo. For the first time in a very long time, Sesshomaru-Sama looked, well, happy.

Sesshomaru waited until Jaken was gone before reaching back into the drawer and grasping the panties that he had been holding. Without another thought, Sesshomaru stuffed it into his pocket and closed the drawer. He strolled out of Kagome’s room and headed back downstairs to wait for Kagome’s return. It would be Makasuno’s head should they return late.
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Kagome laughed. She could not help it as Kouga told her stories about his cousins and niece. Instead of going to a restaurant, Kouga asked if she would mind going back to his home for some home cooking. When she agreed, Kouga warned her that his little niece was famous for burning things, but that he would make it up to her.

When they got to his home, Kouga quickly walked around to her side and opened the door. He helped Kagome out of the car and led her to his front door. Before he could even touch the doorknob, the door swung open and Ginta glared at him.

“You have got to tell Rin that she is not allowed to cook anymore. You should see the shit that she is cooking. Kouga, I think that she is trying to kill us off and collect on the life insurance.” He said, his voice wavering.

Kouga cocked an eyebrow and shook his head. He turned to Kagome and said, “Kagome, this is my cousin and assistant, Ginta. The guy with the Mohawk coming up behind him is his brother and my other cousin, Hakkaku. He is in charge of security. Rin is my niece and is the daughter of our little sister, but she passed away a few years ago.” He explained.

Kagome smiled and said hello to the two young men who were looking her up and down. They looked at each other and then nodded at Kouga. Obviously, they approved of their friend’s choice in women.

Kouga led Kagome into the house, and they were both assaulted with the smell of burning meat. Kouga rushed forward and found his niece talking on the telephone, doing her homework, and trying to make dinner. He walked around, snapped off the stove, grabbed the phone from her and said, “I’m sorry, but Rin can’t talk anymore. She is on cleanup duty and until she cleans my kitchen, she won’t be available to talk about who has the cutest backside or which girl is the biggest bitch. Goodnight.”

He hung up the phone and glared at his niece, who was glaring back at him. “For your information, Uncle Kouga, I was not talking about who has the cutest butt. After all, all my friends say that particular honor goes to you, so what’s the point. Anyways, Nina called Tea, who called Yuki, who said that Hana said that I was supposedly going out with this guy named Kageromaru. That is a lie. I don’t have any interest in that freak.” Rin said, her bottom lip poking out.

Kouga felt his mind grow hazy as he listened to his niece’s chatter. Finally, he shook his head and said, “You were not paying attention to what you were doing and because of it, dinner is burnt, so now what are we going to do for dinner. You are the one who insisted that I bring Kagome over for dinner.”

Rin gasped and turned to look at Kagome. She quickly walked over to Kagome and began to circle her, ignoring her uncle’s groan. Finally, she snapped her head up and narrowed her eyes.

“You’re right, Uncle Kouga. She is very pretty. I can see why you are always talking about her.” She said, her face breaking into a smile.

Ginta and Hakkaku laughed and only laughed harder when Kouga glared at them. Finally, Kouga said, “Rin, Ginta and Hakkaku would love to taste some of your fine cuisine. Serve them up and Kagome and I will worry about ourselves. Bon appetite, boys.”

Kagome laughed as both young men sported horrified looks and felt Kouga grab her arm. He walked her down the hall and into the entertainment room. Closing the door behind them, Kouga could no longer resist and pulled Kagome into his arms before claiming her lips with his.

As they kissed, Kouga’s mind grew hazy with need and he felt his cock stiffen. When Kagome broke the kiss, Kouga was grateful. Had he continued to kiss her, he would have lowered her to the floor and would not have stopped until she screamed his name after he delivered to her an orgasm that she would not soon forget.

Kagome was confused. She had been kissing Kouga, but her mind flashed back to the kiss that Sesshomaru had given to her. She quickly broke the kiss and blushed. She had felt Kouga’s excitement through their clothing and knew that he needed some distance to calm himself.

Kouga took in a couple of deep breaths. Damn, she tasted good. He grinned at the flustered young woman and said, “Kagome, I apologize. I did not mean to act so bold, it is just that I will not be able to see you over the weekend, and I don’t want you to forget about me.”

Kagome blushed. “Oh, I couldn’t forget about you if I tried, Kouga.” She replied, giggling.

Kouga shook his head and took off his coat and tie. He sighed and said, “Well, what are we going to do for dinner? I could let us both take a risk and eat what Rin cooked, unless you have a better idea.”

Kagome thought about it. “Well, I really don’t want to go out to one of those stuffy restaurants, at least not tonight. How about we order pizza?” She asked.

Kouga’s eyes lit up. Now that sounded like a good idea. Nodding, he strolled over to the phone and picked it up. He rolled his eyes and said, “Rin, get off the damn phone, now.”

Kagome laughed, her mind reminding her of when her mother used to say those exact words to her when she needed to make a call. When Kouga picked the phone back up, he grinned and then dialed the number to a pizza place. He ordered two large pizzas, one for them and another for Rin, Ginta, and Hakkaku. He hung up and asked, “So, do you want to watch a movie? I have a huge selection. Go and pick one out and while we wait for the pizza, we can talk.”

Kagome nodded and walked over to the wall that held the movies. She found a comedy that she had wanted to see and she pulled it out of its place. She turned and walked back over to Kouga and grinned.

“This one.” She said, handing him the movie. Kouga nodded and set it down beside him. He patted the seat next to him and watched as Kagome settled herself next to him. He cleared his throat and asked, “How do you like living with Sesshomaru?”

Kagome shrugged. “It’s ok, I suppose. But, he is acting pretty strange. Anytime I mention you, his eyebrow twitches a bit. Sometimes, he acts like he is jealous, but other times, he acts like he can’t stand me.” She replied.

Kouga lowered his head a bit and then said, “Kagome, have you spoken to Sesshomaru about the sleeping arrangements at the club? Even though it makes me ill to think it, I do believe that Sesshomaru is beginning to have feelings for you and may use this weekend as a way to act on those feelings. Promise me that you won’t allow him to pressure you into anything that you are uncomfortable with, especially if he wants to do anything of a sexual nature with you.”

Kagome stared at Kouga for a minute and saw that he was actually worried. She grinned and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

“Why, Kouga. Are you trying to say that you think that Sesshomaru will attempt to seduce me into bed?” She teased.

Kouga leaned into her kiss, but then said, “Kagome, I really care a lot about you, and I don’t want to see you tricked into something that you will regret. I am going to be honest when I say that I want you to be my girl, but I also know that you are still hurting, so I am not going to push you into any situations or a relationship that you are not ready for, but just because I feel that way, doesn’t mean that Sesshomaru will feel the same. I know how Sesshomaru is, and I have seen and heard about how he used to be before he got with Kikyo. I will not stand by and watch as he takes you and uses you for his own sick little game.”

Kagome sighed and took Kouga’s face in her hands. She made him look at her and then placed her forehead against his. She gave him a soft smile and then replied, “Kouga, you don’t have to worry about me and Sesshomaru doing anything that would compromise my principles. I am going to tell you something, and since we are speaking frankly, I am going to be brutally honest with you. Inu Yasha and I had been together for a very long time, but we have never been intimate. I suppose that is the reason why Kikyo seduced him so easily, but I refuse to have sex with anyone until I feel that I am ready, and I honestly don’t think I will be ready until my wedding night. I have seen my girlfriends go off and sleep with every man they can get their hands on, and now all they have to show for it are broken homes and children who see their fathers on the weekends. I want, no, I need something that I know is solid. Until then, I won’t be intimate with anyone, Sesshomaru included.”

For several minutes they sat in silence. Kouga soaked up Kagome’s words and promised himself that he would be the man who gave her that commitment. Kagome allowed herself to revel in the fact that someone cared so much about her that he was willing to humiliate himself and tell her how he felt. However, Kagome still had some very mixed feelings about Sesshomaru. The kiss that he had given to her had been something that she was finding hard not to forget and to be honest, she really didn’t want to forget it.

Their peace was broken when the doorbell rang. Kouga hopped up and went to answer the door, but had to pry Rin away from the delivery boy who she obviously found to be very cute.

After he paid, Kouga yelled for Ginta and Hakkaku and gave them their pizza and told them to share with Rin. They thanked Kouga and headed back to the kitchen to help Rin with her mess. Kouga carried the pizza into the entertainment room and then went to get plates and sodas for him and Kagome. When he saw that the mess had doubled, he glared at his niece and shook his head before telling her that she had until the movie was over to have it clean or else she would be spending the weekend at home. After hearing about how unfair and cruel he was being, he shrugged and told her to get over it.

He walked back to the entertainment room to find Kagome setting up the movie. She had taken her heels off and was now glaring at the remote control. Upon hearing him enter the room, she whirled around and held the remote out to him.

“Here, I will set us up if you take care of the movie. This remote hates me.” She said, disgust clear in her voice.

Kouga laughed and nodded. While he got the movie to play, Kagome filled their plates with pizza and grinned as she sat down. Soon, both were engrossed in the movie and oblivious to everything else.
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Kikyo groaned and stared at the ceiling. She wanted to scream at Inu Yasha for disrespecting her in such a way. It was cruel. It was heartless. It was downright mean as hell and she wasn’t going to take it anymore.

She got up and stomped out of her room. She walked into the living room and stood in front of her husband, her hands upon her hips.

“What you did to me today was horrendous. Do you realize that I am now the laughing stock of our friends?” She asked, a scowl crossing her pretty features.

Inu Yasha shrugged. “I really would not worry about today. You have been a laughing stock since that incident with Naraku was spread all over the news. Today was nothing compared to that.” He said, his face stony and hard.

Kikyo’s mouth dropped open. She glared at her husband and said, “Canceling my credit cards was low. You had no reason to do that. And, to top it all off, I was informed in front of several people that my card had been canceled. Damn it, Inu Yasha. I was humiliated.” She said, shaking her head.

“Actually, my dear, I had every right to cancel them. We can no longer afford such luxuries and I refuse to spend beyond our means. I no longer have a company. Your ex and Hojo made sure of that. Now, quit your bitching and sit down. I can’t see through you and that giant caboose that you call an ass.” He snapped, his golden eyes hardening at his wife.

“I DO NOT HAVE A BIG ASS!” She screeched, stomping her foot and breaking her heel in the process. “Damn it, see what you made me do, you insufferable asshole.”

Inu Yasha shrugged and stared at the television. When Kikyo saw that she would no longer get a response from him, she stormed back to their bedroom and slammed the door shut.

So, Sesshomaru was responsible for her current situation, was he? Well, she would need to have a talk with him. Yanking off her shoes, Kikyo quickly changed into an outfit that she knew Sesshomaru loved and then pulled on a pair of pumps. Finally, she pulled her hair loose and grabbed her purse. It was time to go and break a heart. She was going to seduce Sesshomaru into coming back to her. Fuck Inu Yasha. Kagome could have him back.

She opened the bedroom door and walked towards the door. She heard Inu Yasha ask where she was going and she snapped, “Why?”

Inu Yasha allowed a cruel smirk to cross his lips and he said, “Oh, I just wanted to know which street corner you be will occupying tonight so that if I need you, I can find you.”

Kikyo hissed at her husband and opened the door. She walked through it and then slammed it as hard as she could. That fucker dared to insult her even though he was the one who had just been proven to be a loser by having his company swept out from underneath him.

She got into her car and never noticed that her husband was at the window, phone in his hand and a mischievous grin upon his face. Kikyo was about to get a very nasty surprise when she got home.
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Sesshomaru finished up several documents that he had been working on and occasionally stopped to do his favorite pastime: Think about Kagome.

He had to wonder if Makasuno was keeping his hands to himself and if she was having a good time. However, he wanted that good time to be with her clothing on and her feet firmly upon the ground. Should he find out otherwise, he would have to consider giving his attorney a call because he would probably be arrested for murder.

He knew that Kagome had never been with a man. It was obvious in the way she had reacted the night he had kissed her. Her shyness had enchanted him and he found that he was excited with the prospect of teaching her the ways of physical love. He could just imagine the way his name would slip past her luscious lips as he brought her to completion. This was what he had been missing with Kikyo. Kikyo was nothing, if not easy, but Kagome was the exact opposite. She had stepped back from him and denied her excitement for him, something that no woman before her had done, and to him, she was the ultimate challenge. Kikyo, however, on their first date, had offered to pleasure him and he was never one to deny himself pleasure. It was after that date, he had decided that Kikyo was pretty enough to be on his arm and the fact that she was so eager to please him made her presence tolerable. However, that changed that day he came home to find her in his brother’s arms and in his bed. Had it not been for Kikyo jumping between them, he would have beaten his brother to a bloody pulp. But, instead, he threw Kikyo out and told her never to darken his doorstep again.

When a knock was heard on his study door, he called for the person to enter, thinking it was Jaken, but found that he was now staring at Kikyo, a seductive smile plastered upon her lips. Now, he could say that his bad night had just gotten worse.

“Good evening, my love.” She said, quietly closing the door behind her.
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Ginta and Hakkaku wrestled around on the floor, their hands and feet were all over the place. Kagome and Kouga were curled up on the couch, watching both men as they fought for the last piece of pizza. It was obvious that out of all the males, Kouga was the strongest, but he good-naturedly told his cousins that the one who pinned the other, got the last slice.

Both males had waited for Kagome to tell them to go, and now they were involved in a match that was quickly causing both males to lose their breath. Just as they began to slow down, Rin came skipping into the room and eyed the slice of pizza. Without a word, she grabbed it and began to munch on it, causing both males to stop and stare at her. She grinned and blew both of them a kiss before turning to Kagome.

“Umm, how good are you at cooking?” Rin asked, shyly. She hated to interrupt her uncle’s date, but she was in desperate need of help.

Kagome cocked an eyebrow and said, “I am pretty good. Why?”

“Well, I take home economics and for a grade, we have to make something and bring it in tomorrow. That was why I was cooking earlier, and I wanted to try it out on other people before I served it to my friends.” Rin explained.

“Oh, so we were to be your guinea pigs so you didn’t give your friends food poisoning. How considerate.” Kouga mumbled.

Rin grinned and nodded. “Yep. But, as you saw earlier, I failed miserably. I even tried to feed that stuff to the dog, but he sniffed it and began to bark at it before running off with his tail between his legs. I still can’t get him go come out of his doghouse. So, I thought that perhaps I could make cookies, but this time, I thought that I would ask for help. Since you are a girl, I was wondering if you would help me.” She said, her eyes wide and hopeful.

Kagome smiled and asked, “What kind are you wanting to make?”

“I was thinking about chocolate chip. But, I need for one of the guys to go and get the stuff. Do you know what kind of stuff we will need?” Rin asked.

Kagome nodded. She glanced over at Kouga, who was smiling at her. She gave him a hopeful grin and then asked, “I don’t suppose you want to run Rin and me to the store, do you?”

Kouga let out a tortured sigh. “Alright, but as payment, I want the first cookie and a kiss.” He said.

Rin nodded. “Fine. You can have that cookie and here.” She said as she leaned over and pecked her uncle on the cheek. “There. Now you have been paid.”

Kagome laughed out loud at Kouga’s expression and stood up. She grabbed her heels and purse. Together, she and Rin walked out of the entertainment room and went to the front door.

Kouga shook his head. Rin was not the one he wanted a kiss from. Ginta and Hakkaku grinned at each other and then Ginta said, “She is a very special girl. You really picked yourself a good one this time, Kouga.”

Kouga nodded and heard Rin yell at him to hurry up. He grabbed his keys and followed the women outside.

Soon, the trio returned and the girls went into the kitchen. Kagome instructed Rin to get out some bowls and pans. Soon, they had the batter mixed and ready to spoon onto the pans. Kouga had taken a seat on one of the stools and watched with wide eyes as the woman he had fallen in love with interacted with his niece. It had been so long since Rin liked a girl he was dating, and now, she seemed to really take to Kagome. It was as if they were all a family.

Rin kept sneaking little glances at her uncle and Kagome. It was clear that they liked each other, but it seemed that her uncle’s feelings were a bit deeper than Kagome’s. She had heard Ginta and Hakkaku talking and knew that Kagome had been hurt really badly by the idiot that she was supposed to marry and was now shy with relationships. However, if there was anyone to ease her out of her shell, it would be her uncle and the way he was staring at Kagome, Rin knew that it would be only a matter of time until her uncle began talking marriage to Kagome. He had even mentioned to Ginta that he had seen a ring that would be perfect on Kagome’s finger.

When Kagome announced that the first batch was done, Rin eased the pan out of the oven and placed the other pan in. Kagome scooped out the cookies onto a cooling rack and grinned at Kouga.

“You can have your cookie in a minute, but let it cool. Even tough guys like you can get burned.” She said, her eyes twinkling.

Kouga smirked. “Tell me about it.” He said. After a few minutes, he saw Kagome take the first cookie that she scooped out and walked around the island to him. She smiled and said, “Here you go. Here is the second part of your payment.”

Kouga smiled and took the cookie, but also wrapped his arm around Kagome’s waist and said, “Actually, you still owe me a kiss. Rin’s was nice, but I would prefer yours.”

Kagome grinned and felt his lips gently stroke hers. Suddenly, Rin said, “Will you two knock it off? I swear, I am going to lose my dinner.”

Kagome giggled as Kouga sighed. “Remind me to do that to you when you go on your first date.” He said, his tone teasing.

Rin stared at him with a horrified expression, but then looked at the door when Ginta came sailing through.

“Kouga, you have got to come and check this shit out. There is a girl on the tube that can bend all the way back and lick her own calves. It is pretty weird.” He said, his face twisting in disgust.

Kouga got up and shuffled out of the room, interested in seeing what his cousin was talking about.

Rin grinned and shook her head. She glanced over at Kagome and said, “My uncle really likes you. He was pretty angry when that other man carried you out of here. Was that your boyfriend?”

Kagome laughed. “No. My boss. He is kind of watching out for my best interests. It was because of his brother that I happened to be in his employ.” She explained, while scooping out another batch of cookies.

“Oh. That’s cool. He is pretty handsome. I wish that when I get older I attract a guy as handsome as he is. Does his brother look anything like him?” Rin asked.

Kagome thought about it for a moment and then said, “Their hair and eyes are the same color, but everything else is totally different. Sesshomaru-Sama is much more mature and in control, where Inu Yasha is the exact opposite. I am pretty sure that the boys in your school act really stupid and immature, right? Well, Inu Yasha is pretty much on their level”

Rin giggled, but then sobered quickly. “I have never seen Uncle Kouga so happy. He comes home in such a great mood and every time he talks to you, he acts like a lovesick puppy. Do you like my uncle, Kagome?” She asked. She studied the older woman and grinned when Kagome blushed.

“Kouga is unlike any other man I have ever met. He is passionate, loving, strong, and unpredictable. I suppose he can be a bit immature, but at times, it is pretty cute. So, yes…I do like your uncle.” Kagome said, her grin spreading as she talked.

Rin smiled. “Good. I’m glad. Well, this is the last batch. Do you want a bag of cookies to take home?” She asked. When Kagome nodded, Rin got a baggie out and filled it. She handed it to Kagome and grinned. “Tell your Sesshomaru-Sama that I helped make those.” She said, her face dreamy.

Kagome nodded and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Rin to happily mutter that now her weekend was open for business.

Kagome found Kouga with his cousins and she smiled. They were now watching some sports program and she cleared her throat. When Kouga looked up, he held his hand out to her, and she stepped forward, placed her bag of cookies on top of her purse, and took the hand that was offered to her. He pulled her into his lap and snuggled her against his chest. Soon, Kagome was engrossed in the program and sighed when she felt Kouga’s talented hands rub soothing circles on her back.

Kouga noticed that his cousins kept glancing at him and Kagome. Every now and then, they would nudge each other and then nodded over at the couple. Kouga tried not to grin, but this felt good. Because of this night, he felt that he could make it through the weekend, just as long as she called him every so often from the club. He was quickly becoming addicted to her being near him, and he was finding it hard to let her go.

After about an hour, Kouga looked at the clock and noticed that it was past ten. He nudged Kagome and whispered that he needed to get her back to Sesshomaru. Nodding, she slipped out of his lap and stood up, wishing Ginta and Hakkaku a good night. Kouga stood up and stretched before following Kagome out of the entertainment room.

They walked outside and he opened the door to his car. Once she was inside, Kouga shut her door and walked to his side and got in. Soon, they were on their way back to Sesshomaru’s home.

As he drove, Kouga took Kagome’s hand in his and gave it a kiss. “I really had a great time tonight, Kagome. I can’t wait until you get back.” He said, his fingers lacing with hers.

Kagome nodded. “I had a blast. Your family is hilarious and your niece is such a sweetheart. She loves you a lot.” She said.

Kouga grinned. “Yeah, after her mother died, Rin came to us and refused to talk. It took a while, but we got her to open back up. Sometimes, she still has nightmares about what happened, but those nightmares are slowly fading, thank Kami.” He replied.

“May I ask what happened to her mother?” Kagome asked, wincing at how nosey she sounded. But, Kouga appeared thoughtful and then said, “Rin and her mother did not live with Rin’s father. He was an awful man who thought my sister looked better with bruises all over her body. One night, they got into an argument and he decided to beat my sister and choked her until she stopped breathing. He did not know that Rin saw the entire thing. Rin’s last words that night were to the emergency operator, and she told the woman that her daddy had hurt her mommy’s neck. When the police brought her to my door, Rin was shaking and pale. I tried to get her to tell me what happened, but she would burst into tears and hide her face. For a while, one of us had to sit up with her all night long until she felt safe enough to fall asleep on her own. Her father was charged with murder and was sent to prison for a very long time. He should be thankful that I didn’t get my hands on him or else he would not have to worry about being in jail.”

Kagome shook her head. “Well, she seems very well adjusted. You have done a very good job with her.” She said, her mouth forming into a smile.

Kouga glanced at Kagome and replied, “Yeah, we are a close family. When one of us gets hurt, the others circle around and protect the injured member. We are vicious when an outsider comes in and starts trouble. Unfortunately, many of my previous girlfriends did not like the fact that I am committed to my family and they decided that they would rather have a man who was more focused on them.”

Kagome shook her head. “Well, then it’s their loss. From what I saw, any woman would be lucky to join up with your family.” She said.

Kouga laughed and gave her hand a squeeze. That was exactly what he wanted to hear. Yep, she would fit right in with him and his family.

As they pulled into Sesshomaru’s driveway, Kagome’s face turned pale and she shook her head. “Uh oh.” She muttered. When Kouga looked over at her, she pointed at the car on the side of the driveway and said, “That is Kikyo’s car. I remember seeing it a couple of times when she and Inu Yasha were fooling around.”

Kouga gritted his teeth and quickly parked. He and Kagome got out of the car and he instantly took her hand in his. Together, they walked to the house, and Kagome opened the door to hear Kikyo yelling at the top of her lungs.
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Kikyo gave Sesshomaru a smoldering look before she threw her purse down in a chair.

“Well, are you going to offer a lady a drink?” She asked, her eyelashes batting at him. Sesshomaru sighed and said, “I would, but Kagome is not here at the moment. Why are you here, Kikyo?”

Kikyo scowled at the mention of Kagome’s name. She rolled her eyes. “What in the hell is so special about that little bitch? Is it because she is a virgin? Does the thought of popping her cherry excite you, Sesshomaru? Let me tell you this, I am pretty sure that Kouga Makasuno has already had that particular honor, so you might as well give it up.” She said, crossing her arms across her chest.

Sesshomaru stood up. He slowly walked around his desk and glared at the woman before him. “Unlike you, Kikyo, Kagome does not need to spread her legs to get noticed. She is a creature who is able to enchant anyone she comes in contact with simply by being herself. Never once has Kagome put on some act that was meant to impress a bunch of snot-nosed fools.” He replied, his eyes narrowing.

Kikyo snorted. “Right. If she is so great, why isn’t she married, yet? I mean, if she has all of these adoring people after her, why is she still single?” She asked, her eyes rolling.

Sesshomaru shook his head. “Because, unlike you, Kagome doesn’t need a man’s help to make it in this world. Now, if you would be so kind as to get the hell out of my home, I need to get ready for bed.” He said.

Kikyo smiled seductively. “Do you remember how I used to help you get ready for bed? How long, Sesshomaru, has it been since you have had a good fuck? I bet that I can help you on your way to heaven.” She said, her hands going to the buttons on her dress.

Sesshomaru watched as Kikyo unbuttoned her dress and allowed it to fall to the ground. He narrowed his eyes as the female before him reached behind her and unsnapped her bra, letting that slide down her arms and onto the floor.

“Would you like to see more, Sess? I will gladly show you.” She said, her fingers playing on the edge of her panties.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. “Seeing as how my tiny dick did not please you the last time we were together, I am not interested in disappointing you again. Get your clothing on and get out of my home.” He ordered.

Kikyo glared at him. “I was only joking when I told Inu Yasha that. Besides, we both know differently. Come on, Sess. For old times sake. Why don’t you let me make you feel good.” She said in a soft voice.

Kikyo walked over to her ex lover and placed her hand upon his chest. She leaned up on her tiptoes and slowly brought her lips closer to his, but before they touched, she was pushed back and fell onto her bottom.

“Thank you, Kikyo. That made me feel good. Now, you have one minute to dress and get out of my home before I throw you out myself.” Sesshomaru said, his hands clenched into fists.

Kikyo quickly stood up and grabbed her bra. She put it on and then grabbed her dress. She glared at Sesshomaru as she hurriedly buttoned the dress up and then pointed at him.

“YOU ARE A WORTHLESS PIECE OF TRASH, SESSHOMARU TAKASHIRO. YOU WERE A WASTE OF MY TIME AND THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU IS YOUR MONEY. NO WOMAN WILL EVER WANT YOU FOR ANY OTHER REASON EXECPT FOR THAT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I THINK…” Kikyo screamed, but was interrupted when Kagome said, “I think that you had better leave before I decide to pay you back for everything that you have done to me, you little slut.”

Kikyo turned and stared at Kagome, who was standing in the doorway with a very good-looking man behind her. Kikyo narrowed her eyes and got a good look at Kouga Makasuno. He was gorgeous. She brought her attention back to Kagome when Kagome began to close in on her.

“What are you doing here, Kikyo? Inu Yasha too afraid to stick his dick inside something that has obviously been occupied by many other men, so you decide to try your hand with Sesshomaru-Sama once again? Let me tell you something, he would not stoop so low. Get out of here, now.” Kagome said, her eyes flashing.

Kikyo chuckled. “You can’t do shit to me, bitch. I would love to see you try.” She sneered, but was quickly silenced when Kagome’s hand snaked out and smacked Kikyo across the face with as much force as possible. Kikyo fell to the ground and grabbed her cheek. She looked up to see Kouga holding Kagome around her waist and glare down at her.

“Damn, Takashiro. I thought Kagura was bad, but this bitch is even worse. Why in the hell did you ever get with her?” He asked, his blue eyes narrowing in disgust.

Sesshomaru did not answer. Instead, he reached down and yanked Kikyo up off the floor and hauled her out of the study. He marched her into the hall and to the front door. After he opened it, he threw her outside.

“If you come back to my home, Kikyo, I will have you arrested. You will not approach me again.” He said, his golden eyes hard and cold.

Kikyo slowly got up. The throbbing in her cheek seemed to intensify, and she gulped as Kagome drew near. Sesshomaru held out his arm to prevent Kagome from going near the woman, but Kagome had other plans.

Kikyo had forgotten her purse, and Kagome threw it at her. “Here, I wouldn’t want you to have to come back and claim that you forgot something.” She sneered.

Kikyo picked up her purse and pointed a finger at Sesshomaru. “You will regret this, Sesshomaru. I hope that the next woman you are with, takes you for everything you have.” She said before turning and stomping away.

Sesshomaru felt his body grow cold, but then felt Kagome’s hand pat his arm. He glanced down to see her smile up at him and then heard her say, “Don’t worry. No one could be as bad as she is. With my help, you won’t be stuck with some gold digger, I promise.”

Sesshomaru wanted to smile at her statement. How could he tell her that she was the woman that he wanted? He sighed and closed the door, turning to find himself staring into a pair of blue eyes.

“Kagome, I would like to speak with Sesshomaru for a moment. Could you give us a minute? I promise that I will say good night before I leave.” Kouga said, his smile brightening his face.

Kagome nodded. “Fine. I am going to go and get ready for bed. Just come up before you leave.” She said as she turned to walk up the stairs.

When it was just the two of them, Kouga glared at Sesshomaru. “Listen, asshole. You and I both know that you are attracted to Kagome. Don’t fucking try anything. She isn’t ready to be fucking anyone right now and I won’t let you guilt her into it. If I find out that you have managed to con your way into her panties, I will personally see to it that your life is nothing but a living hell.” He said.

Sesshomaru shrugged. “You have no say in who she sleeps with. However, I will agree that she is not ready for a sexual relationship, that doesn’t mean that she isn’t ready for a relationship. However, I don’t need to guilt women to take their clothing off for me, that happens naturally. Enjoy yourself while you can, Makasuno, your time with Kagome is limited.” He said as he brushed past the angry man to go to the stairs.

“Come. You promised to tell her good night so do not keep her waiting. This will be the last time that you are allowed near her room.” Sesshomaru said, leading the way to Kagome’s door.

Knocking, Sesshomaru waited for Kagome to tell him to enter and then he slowly opened the door. The men found Kagome sitting on her bed, eating a cookie. She grinned at them and asked, “Do you guys want a cookie?”

Kouga chuckled and brushed past Sesshomaru. He took a cookie and popped it into his mouth. Anything his woman made, he would gladly eat, and thankfully, she had told Rin the truth. She was a pretty good cook.

Sesshomaru watched as Kouga pulled Kagome off of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. He turned his head towards Sesshomaru and asked, “Do you mind? I would like to say goodbye in private.”

Gritting his teeth, Sesshomaru turned and walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Kouga pulled back a bit and looked down at the woman in his arms. She was in a white sleeping gown and had pulled her hair back. The gown itself was silky and showed off her cleavage perfectly. He leaned down and kissed her neck before allowing his lips to travel up to hers. The kiss was slow and gentle. He would not rush her. He had plenty of time, despite what Takashiro said. When he broke the kiss, he pulled out his wallet and handed Kagome a card.

“This is the number to my office. I will be working there on Saturday and should you need me for anything, you call. Oh, remember what we were talking about earlier, well, should you start to feel uncomfortable, call me and I will come and pick you up. And, I expect a call when you get back. It is going to kill me not to see your sweet face, but if you call, that should sustain me until the next time we see each other.” He said, his lips tickling her ear.

Kagome giggled and nodded. She felt him kiss the top of her head and then pull back. “Ok, well…I had better get back home. Rin should have finished cleaning the kitchen and gone to bed and the other two numbskulls should also be in bed. Remember what I said, you can call whenever you want.” Kouga said as he released her from his arms.

Kagome grinned up at Kouga and nodded again. She watched as he waved at her before leaving her room. She sighed and sat back down on the bed.

It wasn’t too long before Sesshomaru stood at her door and knocked to enter. Since the door was still open, Kagome simply smiled and nodded. He walked over to her bed and said, “Makasuno has left. You need to go to bed, Kagome. We have a long day ahead of us.”

Kagome cocked her head, and then her eyes widened. “Oh, I totally forgot about packing.” She said, jumping up and heading for her closet. Sesshomaru grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her back. She stumbled a bit, but was caught by Sesshomaru, who held her to his chest.

When Kagome tried to move, his hold tightened slightly and she gave up. It was just too late to argue with him.

“You do not need to pack clothing, Kagome. Before we go to the club, we are going shopping so you will have the appropriate clothing to wear. Pack only your lingerie, unless you want new undergarments to go with your new outfits.” He said, smirking when Kagome stiffened in his hold.

Kagome scowled and then turned to glare at him. “How am I supposed to pack anything if you won’t let go?” She asked.

He would have chuckled, but he did not want to seem amused. He was still cautious about his decision and wanted to keep the upper hand. However, he did let her go and watched as she walked over to the drawer that held her undergarments. She opened the drawer and began to pull out various items, but then she stopped and a puzzled look crossed her face.

Sesshomaru studied her for a moment before asking, “What is the matter, Kagome?”

Kagome looked at him and then said, “This is going to sound stupid, but my favorite pair of panties are missing. They were in there this afternoon, I know, I put them there. I wonder what happened to them.”

Sesshomaru shook his head. “It is not important. Panties are panties. Just pick some and put it in your bag.” He instructed, his face not showing any emotion.

Kagome shook her head and mumbled something that he could not hear. He turned around and quickly walked to his room. Once he was safely inside, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the missing panties.

With a smirk, he lifted the flimsy material to his nose and took in a deep breath. He closed his eyes and for the hundredth time that day, he scolded himself on getting too attached, especially so quickly. However, he simply could not stop himself from falling and now here he was and he was out of control.

He placed the panties into his dresser drawer and then stripped himself of his clothing. He quickly showered and soon found himself in his bed, his eyes closed, and his mind wandering. He could not wait for the morning.
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Kikyo hated to be humiliated. Her cheek was throbbing and she cursed Kagome for delivering the undeserved blow. She looked down at her dress and was horrified to see stains upon it. Shaking her head, she mentally cursed Sesshomaru for throwing her to the ground and now she would have to throw the dress away. Once anything of hers got stained, she would not wear it again. After all, she had an image to maintain.

She pulled into her driveway and groaned when she saw Inu Yasha sitting on the front porch. He had a beer in his hand and a large folder in the other. He waited as Kikyo cut off her engine and he stood up.

Smirking, Inu Yasha made his way over to her car, placed the folder on the hood of her car, and waited for her to get out. “What in the hell do you want?” She hissed, her eyes narrowing.

“How are you doing, my love? Did you have a bad night? Did Onigumo refuse you and that is why you are home so early?” He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kikyo glared at her husband. “For your information, I did not go see Naraku. Now, get the fuck out of my way. I am tired and want to go to bed.” She said, brushing past him.

However, when she got to the door, she found it locked. She whirled around and said, “Oh, real mature. Did you forget that I have a key to the house?”

Kikyo placed her key into the lock and tried to turn the key, but it would not budge. She yanked the key out of the lock and glared at Inu Yasha when he started to laugh.

“Gee, Kikyo. You seem to be having some trouble. Let me help you out. Your key will not work. I had the locks changed.” He said, his eyes lighting up in amusement.

“And why would you do that? This is my home too.” She said, trying to remain calm.

Inu Yasha shook his head. “Not anymore. You see, I found several things out about you, Kikyo, and none of them were flattering. I know that it was Naraku whose car almost hit you and I know that he took you to his home and fucked the hell out of you. You also went to his home the night you left a note for me saying that you were going with a friend for a drink, but that friend turned out to be Naraku. So, I have decided that I have played the fool long enough and I am tired of you. We are through, Kikyo. You may come by tomorrow to get your belongings, but for tonight, you will leave my property. You have no rights to this home seeing as how I owned it before we married. And, Myoga wanted me to remind you about that agreement that you signed before we married. If we divorce do to an infidelity on your part, you get nothing. He told me to tell you that from now on, read what you are signing.” He sneered, his golden eyes narrowing at his now ex.

Kikyo’s face went ashen. She shook her head and said, “No. That can’t be. It isn’t fair.”

Inu Yasha shrugged. “All I ever wanted was a wife and kids. You promised to give that to me and all you have done is given me a headache. I don’t want you anymore, Kikyo. Oh, and if you want to know how I found out about what you have been up to, I hired a private investigator who snapped some very interesting pictures of you, pictures that I intend to pull out during our divorce. Once everyone gets a look at these, your case will not even turn a single head. By the way, Naraku says hi, and that he wants his wallet back. A whore and a thief. Two great words to describe you, bitch.” He spat, his hand digging into his pocket for his house key. “Get off of my property, you piece of trash.”

Kikyo staggered back as though she had been slapped. She shivered at the hateful words that spewed from her husband’s mouth and watched as he opened the door and stepped inside. She turned to look at her car and saw that he had left the folder on her hood. She picked the folder up and began to look through it, her eyes watering as she gazed upon pictures of herself, Naraku, and Muso. She then saw the premarital agreement that she signed and she skimmed the agreement, her jaw dropping as she came to a highlighted portion. She read that if she was ever caught having an affair, she would be in violation of the agreement and would not be eligible for any spousal benefits should there be a divorce, meaning that he did not have to pay her a single fucking dime.

She got into her car and started the engine. She smirked and drove to the nearest bank, her debit card ready to use. However, when she inserted it into the teller and entered her pin, the teller told her that her card was not valid and that she would have to contact her bank during business hours. Kikyo stared at the ATM machine for several minutes and then tried to get her card back, but the machine had confiscated it. She heard a man yell at her to hurry up and she whirled around and glared at the offender, who in turn flipped her off.

She quickly ran to her car and got in. She felt the familiar pang of emptiness and she shook her head. She drove around for almost three hours until she finally stopped in a park and cut her engine. She sighed and locked her doors. That night, she would have to sleep in her car and in the morning, she would call Kaguya and tell her what happened. Inu Yasha would not get away with this.
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Morning came pretty quickly and Kagome found that she was almost overwhelmed. Jaken had come into her room, screeching at her to hurry and get ready. Groaning, Kagome got up and stumbled into the bathroom to take a shower.

When she was finally dressed, she walked downstairs and found Sesshomaru waiting on her. His golden eyes swept over her body and he nodded his approval at her attire. He told her to eat her breakfast quickly so that they could get to the store and then hurry to the club. Kagome nodded and ate her breakfast in record time, leaving Sesshomaru to wonder if she even bothered to chew.

Finally, they were in his car and on their way to the store that Sesshomaru wanted to go to. Kagome sighed and knew that she would probably make a serious dent in her bank account at the store that he was taking her to, but it would be worth it to have some fun with Yumi.

Sesshomaru pulled into a parking place and got out. Kagome opened her door and yelped when he took a hold of her arm. He wrapped her arm over his and led her into the store, a superior smirk crossing his face when a salesman suddenly approached them. The young man was very timid and asked if he could be of any help.

Sesshomaru gently pushed Kagome forward and said, “We need clothing for this young lady. We are going to be staying at The Royal West country club and she needs attire that will fit in there. Money is no object, and I expect perfection.”

The young man gulped and nodded. He guided Kagome away from Sesshomaru and saw the tall man sit down in a chair. He quickly took Kagome’s measurements and then brought out several different outfits for her to choose from.

Sesshomaru stood up and walked over to Kagome’s side. He nodded at several different dresses and finally pointed to one in particular.

“I would like to see her try that dress on.” He said, his tone leaving no room for arguments.

“Of course. This way, miss.” The young man said. Kagome followed the man to a dressing room and was joined by two women. They helped Kagome undress and then helped her into the dress that Sesshomaru had selected. They stepped away and allowed Kagome to emerge from the dressing room.

Sesshomaru pulled the young man aside and told him that he wanted Kagome fitted with shoes and accessories. He then told the young man that he wanted Kagome to have new lingerie and negligees to sleep in. The young man nodded and said, “Your wife is a beautiful woman, Mr. Takashiro. I promise that we will make sure that everything we find for her is up to your standards.”

Sesshomaru simply nodded, not caring to correct the young man on his assumption that Kagome was his wife. She was his. It was that simple. She was his as he was hers. He would not back down from what belonged to him.

When Kagome stepped out, Sesshomaru’s normally cold eyes softened as he stared at Kagome. Her dress was ivory colored and though it showed off her curves, it was very feminine and did not show too much skin. It looked as though it was made for her.

Nodding his approval, he said, “Yes. That dress is perfect. You will wear that one to the club.”

Kagome sighed and looked down at herself. The dress was pure silk and was very soft. She prayed that she did not get it dirty. Soon, the young man was back and he had several more dresses, blouses, and slacks for her to try on. Kagome blushed when he placed several bra and panty sets into her arms and asked her to pick out the ones that she liked. Finally, Kagome was dressed in the first dress with a pair of matching high heels. She stepped out and was led to a chair. One of the women quickly pulled her hair up and off of her neck. By the time she was done, Kagome looked like a totally different woman.

Sesshomaru told the young man to ring up the total for Kagome’s new wardrobe and did not blink an eye when given the total. Instead, he reached for his wallet and pulled out his credit card.

When Kagome joined him, he could hardly keep his eyes off of her and made the decision to stop at a jewelry store. A set of pearls would go nicely with her dress. While they waited, a loud voice broke the peacefulness of the store, causing Kagome and Sesshomaru to turn and look at the source.

Kikyo stood at a counter and was yelling at the clerk. She grabbed the card from the girl’s hand and said, “Don’t give me that bullshit about the card being cancelled. I am Kikyo Takashiro. My husband is Inu Yasha Takashiro and this card should not be canceled, now make it work or get somebody who knows what they are doing and have them do it. I need a new dress.”

Kagome wrinkled her nose at the display. Sesshomaru glanced down and then wrapped his arm around Kagome’s waist. He pulled her to his side, not caring if she was uncomfortable, and watched as the girl tried to run the card through again. However, the result was the same, causing Kikyo to curse at the girl and told her to call her manager.

The young man coughed a bit and caught Sesshomaru’s attention. He smiled and handed the card back to Sesshomaru. “Here you go, Mr. Takashiro. All I need from you is a signature and you are all set to go.” He said, his eyes shining.

Sesshomaru nodded and quickly signed his name on the credit card slip. He told the young man that they would need assistance with their purchases, and the young man nodded and called to a couple of the ladies who had helped Kagome.

They gathered the bags and Sesshomaru quickly wrapped Kagome’s arm around his once again and led her to the exit, hoping not to catch Kikyo’s eye, but luck was not with him and she called out, “Well, well. Sesshomaru and Kagome. What a nice surprise.”

Kikyo glared at her former lover and then looked at Kagome, who was glaring at her. Kikyo’s eyes widened when she saw Kagome’s dress. She had been begging Inu Yasha for that particular dress for almost a month and he had told her that it was too expensive, and now that same dress was being worn by Kagome.

“So, is she your new flavor? What happened to that Kouga guy, Kagome? Did you realize that Sesshomaru had more money and went after him instead?” She asked, her voice dripping with venom.

Kagome was about to snap at Kikyo, but Sesshomaru cut in and said, “Kagome is accompanying me to The Royal West and needed some new clothing, something that you seem to be in dire need of, Kikyo. What happened? Did my little brother run out of money to give you?”

Kikyo’s jaw hardened and she hissed, “No, he did not. And it is none of your business.” She could not believe her ears. Sesshomaru was taking that little bitch to his club, somewhere that he had refused to take her. He had told her that he was not interested in taking her to his club. She had always assumed that it was because he did not want people to talk about their relationship, but now, she could tell that her assumption was incorrect.

Sesshomaru nodded in agreement. “You are right. It is none of my business. Come, Kagome. We have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment, and I am sure that Kikyo doesn’t need anymore witnesses to her vile public behavior.” He said as he led Kagome from the store.

Kagome smirked. She loved the look of shock that crossed Kikyo’s face. It was nice to see the bitch speechless for once.

After her purchases were packed into her luggage, thanks to the sales ladies, Sesshomaru tipped the young man and the young ladies well and told them that their manager would be getting a call from him to praise him on his employees. The young man waved at Kagome and wished them a good weekend.

After they pulled back on the street, Kagome looked over at Sesshomaru and said, “Thank you very much. I would not have known how to dress at your club.”

Sesshomaru tilted his head and said, “You and Yumi will have a good time. Anything you want, you may place it on my expense account. You need not ask my permission for anything. You will be on my arm during social gatherings and I ask that you do not run off. I use these times to make new business acquaintances and having a woman as charming as yourself on my arm will be good for my image.”

Kagome nodded. If that was all he wanted, then she could do that. After all, he did just buy her a new wardrobe.

When he stopped at a jewelry store, he cut off the engine and looked over at Kagome. He saw her reach for the door and told her to stay where she was. He got out and went to her door, and opened it for her. Who would have guessed that Sesshomaru Takashiro could be such a gentleman?

They spent nearly half an hour in the store, and then came out with a couple more bags. Kagome looked dazed, but now had a delicate string of pearls adorning her neck and a pair of pearl earrings to match. Sesshomaru chuckled and mentally told himself that Kagome had better get used to this. He was a man who liked to spoil his woman, and he now considered her to be his woman, even if she was not aware of it. But, he still needed to get Makasuno out of the way, and he knew that Kagome had a tender spot in her heart for him, so hurting him was not an option. He would just deal with Makasuno when they got back from the club.

Once inside the car, Sesshomaru started the engine and took off. As he glanced over at Kagome, he smirked and knew that they would be the talk of the club. He could not wait to see the look on Hojo’s face when he announced his intentions of making Kagome his. He was sure that the young man would probably kneel over from shock. Kagome was the first woman that he ever considered taking as his own.

As he drove, his mind wandered about what the weekend had in store for him and Kagome. He could not wait to see her reaction to the sleeping arrangements.
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Kikyo watched with envious eyes as Sesshomaru led Kagome out of the store. It was clear to her now more than ever that Sesshomaru had eyes for the frosty little bitch. It simply was not fair. Kagome did not deserve a man like Sesshomaru. She would never know what to do with so much money. She could almost bet that Kagome had blushed as Sesshomaru paid for her clothing.

“They certainly are a handsome couple. Their marriage is one to be envied.” A woman said to her friend as they walked by.

Kikyo huffed in anger. “They are not married.” She said through clenched teeth. The young man who had helped Sesshomaru stopped in his tracks and cocked his head to the side.

“Really? When I told him that his wife was beautiful, he did not correct me, so I assumed that they were married. He certainly acts like they are. Not too many men would spend that kind of money on a girlfriend.” He said.

Kikyo’s face grew red as she tried hard not to explode, but a tap on her shoulder brought her attention back to her situation.

“I am sorry, Mrs. Takashiro, but I have called the credit card company and this card has been cancelled. Do you perhaps have another card you would like to try?” The manager asked, his amusement barely concealed. He knew Kikyo and did not like her at all. She was nothing but a spoiled pain in the ass.

Kikyo glared at the man and then shook her head. With as much dignity as she could muster, she held her head up high and walked out of the store. She made her way to her car and stopped when she noticed that she had a large dent in the back of her car and a taillight was broken. She looked around frantically and then rushed to the car to see if the offender left a note on her car, but she found nothing. She gave a huge sigh and got in her car. She started the engine and decided to head for the house. She and Inu Yasha needed to have a long talk.
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Kagome stared in awe at the beautiful sight before her. Sesshomaru’s club was much prettier than she had imagined. As they drove, Kagome looked around and marveled at all of the pretty flowers and well manicured shrubbery. When a large house appeared, Sesshomaru cleared his throat.

“I should go ahead and warn you. The rooms were all booked, but I managed to secure us a room. However, we will need to discuss how we will work the sleeping arrangements.” He said, trying his damnedest not to smirk.

Kagome glanced at him nervously. She took in a deep breath and whispered, “Ok.” Oh, yeah. Kouga was not going to like this one bit.

Sesshomaru nodded. “There is only one bed. I am not the sort of man to let a woman sleep on the floor, but I am also not partial to sleeping on the floor either, so I have a suggestion. Both of us are adults and are mature. We will share the bed and make the best of this situation.” He said as he glanced over at her.

Kagome slowly nodded. Ok, she could handle this. Yep, she, Kagome Higurashi could handle anything.

When Sesshomaru parked the car, a young man opened his door and said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Takashiro. We hope you and your lovely wife enjoy your stay.”

Kagome’s mouth dropped open. His wife? Where? Her door opened and Sesshomaru helped Kagome out of the car. He nodded at the young man when told that he would bring their luggage up to their room.

Sesshomaru led Kagome into the large house, and took note that she was stunned over being called his wife. He was greatly amused. Most women would have squealed and gone along with it, but Kagome was at a loss for words, something that was becoming normal for her.

They approached a large desk and the young woman looked up. “Good afternoon and welcome to The Royal West. Do you have a reservation?” She asked.

Sesshomaru nodded. “Sesshomaru Takashiro.” He replied, his hand letting go of Kagome’s upper arm to snake around her waist. Kagome glance down and then took in a deep breath. See, she was handling it.

“Ah, yes. You are in suite 405. The honeymoon suite. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Takashiro.” The young lady said, her face blushing an attractive pink.

Kagome’s mouth flopped open and felt Sesshomaru cuddle her close. He thanked the young lady and accepted the key before hurrying Kagome to the elevator. Once inside, Kagome asked, “Why is everyone under the impression that you and I are married? We only work together, so won’t that cause people to talk?”

Sesshomaru shrugged. “Let them think whatever they want. Actually, it is a pretty good idea that they believe us to be husband and wife. I will not be approached by silly women who want my money, and you will not be hit on by obnoxious men who want to get you into their bed. So, it all works out.” He said, his face its normal mask of indifference.

Kagome shook her head and felt the elevator stop. Sesshomaru led her out and down the hall to a door. He unlocked the door and opened it. Pushing Kagome inside, he closed the door behind him and looked around, nodding in satisfaction. This room would do perfectly.

Kagome stared at the bed and wanted to groan. Nope, she was not going to be able to handle this at all. The damn bed was covered in silk and rose petals, clearly meant for a real married couple. She looked behind her and found Sesshomaru to be staring at her. She quickly looked back at the bed and closed her eyes. This was going to be some weekend.