At What Price

SUMMARY: “Your silence must mean something,” He chuckled “else you would have said something by now. I can only take that as you like that idea Kagome.”

Author's Note: here is the latest chp of the continuing saga. Enjoy. Thanks to all the faithful reviewers. This is for you guys. *Hugs and Kisses* Until then. Disclaimer you say. Try chp 1.

CHAPTER 34: GETTING THE BEST OF HER
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Victory Way Plaza Mall…

After a really quick stop, at an overly persistent Sesshoumaru’s insistence, the pair went to Fredrick’s of Hollywood to purchase Kagome a new top to replace the one Sesshoumaru ruined. It was quite a sight to see really, a male figure dragging a very hesitant woman into the well known lingerie store. One would have thought, it would be the other way around, or, at the very least, both couples would have enjoyed shopping there. But, not Kagome, she was a little uncomfortable at the thought of Sesshoumaru picking out lingerie and other various items of clothes for her. Kagome swore Sesshoumaru had a cocky smile on his face when he picked out a sheer night gown.
However, much to her blatant disapproval, the sale assistant and Sesshoumaru ransacked the story picking out, about two thousand dollars worth of clothing.

“I will not!” Kagome wailed.

“You will,” he countered, “unless you want me to help you!”

“Arrrr! Sesshoumaru I don’t want try….” Kagome whined pitifully, her face now an interesting shade scarlet.

Sesshoumaru pushed Kagome inside the dressing room, decorated an interesting shade of red and gold. He could hear laughing in the distances as other patrons watched with interest at their lovers spat, which was rather one sided. Sesshoumaru almost laughed at that thought. ‘Lover’s spat! Hardly, it’s more like my business partner is mortified at the thought of this Sesshoumaru knowing what unmentionables she will be wearing.’ (:: notice that last phrase::)

He glanced at his watch impatiently. ‘Confound that woman! She’s been in there for ten minutes already.’ Sesshoumaru was fighting the urge to start pacing the floor. “Kagome, let me see.”

“Uh-uh.” Kagome refused.

“Kagome!” Sesshoumaru warned. He was thoroughly enjoying the situation, to be honest. Sesshoumaru reached for the handle on the dressing room door and opened it.

Kagome squealed in horror. ‘Damn those cheap magnetic door latches!!!! Why can’t they have metal locks instead of magnets on the doors? Why?’ She whirled around to see Sesshoumaru’s frame fill the space, of the now opened dressing room, much to Kagome’s displeasure. She turned her back to him but soon realized that there was a huge mirror now in front of her, and that it was giving him more of a view than Kagome had intended. ‘Curses!!!’

“Your fears are really unnecessary, Kagome. What did you think I was going to do?” Sesshoumaru questioned. “Have my way with you here in the dressing room?”

Kagome didn’t answer, but glared darts right at his heart via the mirror.

“Your silence must mean something,” He chuckled. “Or, else you would have said something by now. I can only take that as you like that idea Kagome.”

Kagome turned around and placed her hand on her hips. She wanted to throttle the arrogant dog youkai.

Sesshoumaru couldn’t help himself Kagome was so easy to tease. Sesshoumaru stepped inside the dressing room and pulled the door shut behind him. He was going to take great pleasure in pushing Kagome to her limit.

“What the hell do you think your doing?” Kagome whispered heatedly, as she retreated to the farthest corner in the enclosed area. “This is a ladies dressing room, and you are definitely not female!!!”

“How good of you to notice that my dear.” Sesshoumaru said, cocking an eyebrow up at her statement. He brought his hand up and rested it against the column of Kagome’s throat. Sesshoumaru could feel her pulse quicken underneath his finger tips. Toying with her, he dragged his hand down to the valley between her breasts. Sesshoumaru’s golden eyes never left Kagome’s. “Why Kagome, I do believe that you are turning a darker red than that shirt you’re wearing right now.” When he saw her mouth open Sesshoumaru took a step back and shut the door. His entertainment was going to cost him, but he was getting the best of her.

Thirty minutes later they emerged with four bags in their arms, and Kagome wearing a blush colored blouse. It was an asymmetrical top that was short on the left side then lengthened on the right at an angle. The one sleeve was a thin spaghetti strap, while the other was fashioned similar to triangular shape of sheer material.

At the Party….

By the time they had arrived at the party, Kagome’s temper had diffused slightly because now she had something else to worry about. They walked in together, side by side, brushing against each other. The party was alive and kickin’ at Fox Fire. Mass amounts of employees from Inu-Research Inc were there at the club drinking, dancing, and talking about who knows what. The scene was one of joyous victory.

Sesshoumaru took Kagome’s arm and lead her threw the throngs of people. Kagome was trying to not blush at the thought of being arm in arm with him. It was a novel situation, but it didn’t last long. As they were making there way to a table near the dance floor they ran into Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru automatically tightened his hold on Kagome while she strived to get away from him.

Inuyasha was shocked for a moment at the sight before him. Sesshoumaru had his bloody hand all over Kagome. But the worst part was that she didn’t seem to mind. “Get your hands off her Sesshoumaru!” He snarled at his brother while cracking his knuckles.

“Stop it Inuyasha! Your brother graciously brought me here to the party when I was at his office.” Kagome gently scolded him, as she gave up on trying to get away from Sesshoumaru’s vice like grip. “He is my…,” she stuttered. “He is … Sesshoumaru courteously offered to accompany me here to the club. Do you have a problem with that?” Kagome was frantically trying to divert a potential fight.

Kikyou snaked her way up behind Inuyasha. She watched with half interest, as her lifeless eyes survived the situation. “Inuyasha,” Kikyou purred. “why worry about the company your secretary keeps. As I remember, you said, Sesshoumaru was engaged. Surely your gay brother wouldn’t lower his standard to even consider having a tryst with her.” Kikyou sneered a vicious smile at the pair. “It’s not his style.” Kikyou’s eyes narrowed as she insulted the both of them.

Kagome tensed at her words. ‘Why I ought to…’

“Inuyasha, your bitch will lose her tongue if she continues to defame myself and Kagome. Or, do you not stick up for your friends any more?” Sesshoumaru challenged him.

*Howling….*
“Kagome! My woman! You look beautiful.” Kouga ran over to her side, totally unaware of the circumstances he just interrupted.

Kagome turned to look at the wolf-youkai yelling at her. “Hello Kouga.” She mimicked a cheery tone, and watched as he grabbed her hand and placed a wet kiss on it.

“Kagome, we had several request for you to sing tonight. Plus, Shippou and I are going to do open mike night for the party. There is a list going around…” Kouga explained. “We want you to go first.”

Kikyou heard the dirty wolf youkai ask Kagome to sing again. ‘She will not insult me again. Not if I have anything to say about it!’ Kikyou smiled saucily. ‘I’ll just have to out do her. I will make sure that I sing a song that adds insult to her injury. Payback is a bitch Kagome, and my revenge will be sweet,’ Kikyou laughed to herself.

“…so if you would just sign up on here under these names and then write the title of what song you wish to sing. Then I will announce you before you get up sing.” Kouga was going to hand Kagome the sign up sheet, but it was ferociously ripped out of his hands by a over zealous Kikyou.

“That is a wonderful idea. I believe I shall sing and grace everyone with my talent.” She wrote her name on the list with the intended song she was going to sing.

Inuyasha immediately protested. “Honey,” he whined, “is that such a good idea? I mean…”

“IT IS!!!” Kikyou snapped, “I wish to sing so, I will! Do you have a problem with that, yashie?” She had that deceptive look to her.

’No, but my employees will once you open your mouth. Your singing will insight a riot.’ “No, Kiki sweets.” Inuyasha flinched at the look she gave him. He was worried about the booing that was going to happen when Kikyou’s not- so- angelic voice started to ring out.

Kikyou shoved the list back at Kouga and waved tootles, with Inuyasha in tow.

“Damn, that is one evil itch-” Kouga muttered darkly. “Well, Kagome are you going to sing?”

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru for some moral support. He gave her a nod and a silent command to go ‘kick her ass.'

“Give-er-here, Kouga.” Kagome signed her name under Kikyou’s and smiled at the song she was going to sing. Kikyou was going to sing ‘The Boy Is Mine,’ by Brandy and Monica. ‘So,’ Kagome mused, ‘she thinks she wonder woman. Hehehehe!’

She and Sesshoumaru finally sat down near the corner of a secluded area that out looked the dance floor. Kagome sat next to him, but was lost in another world. Visions of the past came to her. The scenes played out in her thoughts in slow motion, kissing him, dancing with him, sleeping with him… ‘Oh, sleeping with him,’ Kags blushed. They didn’t do anything, but just sleep. However, there was something about waking up next to him every morning. ‘What are you thinking Kags?’

Sesshoumaru didn’t like being ignored, so he picked Kagome up out of the chair she was sitting in and pulled her to him. Sesshoumaru thought that she would have protested, but was happy when she didn’t. The shadows of the club gave a romantic allure that hid the couple.

Kagome laid her head down in the crook of Sesshoumaru’s neck. Her even warm breaths stroked the Taiyoukai’s flawless skin at the base of his neck. It felt comfortable to be in Sesshoumaru’s arms. Kagome listened as others sang there songs on stage, however; Sesshoumaru tried to tune out those human’s infernal racket. He was trying to focus more on woman whose breath heated his skin.

On the far side of the club stood a seething wavy brown hair man, no, hanyou. His crimson eyes narrowed at the vision before him. His hand held a puppet fashioned in a crude style of a woman’s body. All he needed was a strand of her silkened locks, and then she would be under his control.

*howling sound*
”Ladies and gules, next, we have Inuyasha Masarau’s wench, Kikyou, up to start of the event. So, lets big her a loud howl of disapproval…” Kouga was trying to irritate Kikyou with his words as pay back for being a real bitch. It nearly cost him his tail. Literally.

Kikyou, in a vain attempt for vengeance, tried to purify Kouga’s tail, but alas, he was too quick. She only managed to singe the end of his tail.

Inuyasha just laughed at Kouga when he raced of stage. Kouga shot Inuyasha a pissed look that he shook off. “That’s what you get you wimpy wolf boy for insult my woman!”

“Shut up, dog-turd.” Kouga dismissed that ass and went back on stage to start Kikyou’s music. It was a decision he would soon regret.

As soon as the music started, Kikyou opened her mouth to sing. What followed was the most horrific sound on the face the earth. It was unbelievable that something so ear piercing came out of one so pretty.

Sesshoumaru almost whimpered in pain. This woman’s sing was sheer torture. ‘Didn’t she know she was embarrassing herself?’ Sesshoumaru looked out over the crowd and saw some looks of disapproval. ‘Apparently not,’ he frowned. ‘Kikyou’s image of self must be too big for her to notice people are wincing and shaking their heads in disapproval.’

Kagome had gotten up off Sesshoumaru’s lap to get ready for her performance. She left behind a scowling Sesshoumaru at the table, as she made her way back stage and waited patiently. Kagome saw Inuyasha off in the distance with his ear flattened against his head. A chill took over her body as she waited in the darkened wing off the stage. ‘Must be air condition,’ she told herself. Kagome comb her hand through her hair in a nervous gesture trying to calm herself. A strand of raven hair fell from her slim fingers onto the floor.

Inuyasha turned away from the stage when Kikyou’s voice hit a high falsetto that would shatter glass, and his ear drums. Inuyasha cringed, and then saw Kagome behind him. He watched her shivered and rubbed her arms in attempt to ward off the cold. ‘Cold? It’s hot in here!’ Inuyasha headed for her.

Kagome moved her right hand through her bangs. Not realizing she was showing her bruised forehead with that action. Kagome saw him coming her way and instantly the cold let her. “Hum? Hi.” Kagome shoved her left hand into her slacks to conceal the engagement ring.

“Kagome, why are you really here with Sesshoum…” Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed as he focused in on her forehead. “What the hell happened to your head?!” Inuyasha yanked her hand away from her face, so he could get a good look at her abused forehead.

“Oh, well I fell down when I was walking.” She didn’t completely lie to him, but left out the darker parts of the story. Kagome wasn’t sure she was suppose to tell him the truth. Well, the entire truth. What could Inuyasha do? She wasn’t even sure who was after her. ‘It’s probably nothing. Don worry about it.’

Inuyasha could tell she was lying. Kagome wasn’t looking him in the face. Inuyasha was going to find that bastard Sesshoumaru and rip him to shreds. ‘I bet he did this to Kagome.’ Inuyasha took in a deep breath and notice that Kagome reeked of his half brother. ‘What the fuck did he do to her? Maul her?’

Kikyou’s song ended and Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha scrutinizing watch. “I’ll talk to you later.” Kagome made a mad dash for the stage which Kikyou was now exiting.

“Beat that!” Kikyou said triumphantly, walking off the stage in a haughty air.

“I don’t want to beat that. I just want to forget it.” Kagome mumbled so low that Kikyou didn’t hear her.