Updated: Currently not updated and may not flow with the beginning chapters. This chapter and the latter will be rewritten shortly. Please read at your own risk.

Chapter: 9 (I said What?)

Last time: She fell against the cushions, closing her eyes. God what was wrong with her. How could she do that to Sango? For the love of god her problems were not Sango's fault. She had not deserved that verbal lashing. Tears ran down her cheeks. How the hell was she going to fix this? She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face into her folded arms. How was she going to get back her best friend? A sob wracked her body. Yes tonight she would wallow in her pity, this time though she wasn't sure if it was from the pain of the past or from hurting her best friend. Both sucked like hell.

On with the show


Kagome crept slowly down the stairs making her way toward the kitchen where her mother would be just like every morning of the week. Her tiptoeing feet stopped at the doorframe and silently spied her mother moving throughout the kitchen, humming softly as she made breakfast for her children and grandchild. Kagome contained a giggle that wanted to emerge. She loved seeing her mother so happy, there were times when she could see how much her mother missed her father and it made Kagome's heart even heavier. These moments when her mother's joy was so evident were the moments Kagome would cherish.

A giggle came from the table drawing her attention away from her content mother and towards her energetic son. Malakai sat in his chair munching happily on some eggs and leftover sausage from last night's dinner, his little head would bob up and down and he would occasionally look over at her mother and babble something her way. Her mother would just smile and nod her head to him and reply with an "oh yeah or oh really". She must have said the right things because Malakai would smile broadly and forge on with eating his first meal of the day.

A smile played on her lips as she watched the two people she cared about. She loved them so much and wouldn't know what to do if something should ever happen to them. They meant the world to her and she would do anything just to see them both smile. Yes she would do anything just to see this. Her mother's soft voice cut into her musing, causing her to jump in surprise "Kagome dear are you coming in to eat or are you going to stand there until you need to go to school?". Kagome looked up to see the back of her mother's raven head; she hadn't even turned around when she had spoken to her. She was in awe. Seriously how the hell did she do that? How did she know that she was there? Man she was so going to have to figure that out so she can do that to Malakai when he's older. Yes that would come in handy.

Kagome made her way into the kitchen and toward the rectangular table, where she sat next her son. Malakai smiled brightly at her and waved a sausage in his chubby hand. "Mama!"

Her hand reached out and ruffled his black locks as she flashed him a warm grin. "Hey little man, How's breakfast?"

He shoved his remaining sausage in his mouth and continued to talk "Mmmm…wood." She forced her smile away as she spoke softly to him "Remember mouth full no talk." Raven hair bounced as he shook his head giving her his sorry eyes. She smiled at him to let him know he was not in trouble nor was she upset. Malakai brightened up quickly at the sight of it and shoved some of his eggs in his mouth.

Kagome laughed out loud at the adorable sight as she dished out her own portion of breakfast. Her son was too cute at times. Gods he would break some hearts when he got older just like his father. Like father, like son. She sighed, he had only met Sesshoumaru once and still he somehow ended up with his mannerisms. He was so much like him that at times it hurt to think about it, it was hard not to cry like a blubbering fool. Kagome shook her head of the sad thoughts that she was starting to tread. She would not go down that road while she was with her family, they did not need to see her sad. Her heartbreak she kept for when she was in her room alone where no one could see her sorrowful tears. She glanced over at her mother who was finishing up the last of the breakfast. Where her mother couldn't see her tears, she had enough sadness to endure she did not need hers.

Kagome once again shook her head and changed her line of thinking; it was neither the time nor the place. Her blue eyes trailed to the empty seat in front of her. Where was her brother? That kid never missed breakfast. He was like a bottomless pit that could not fill up. Souta never missed an opportunity to eat food. Hmm…Where could he be? She turned to her mother who was getting herself situated at the table. Kagome took a drink from her juice then asked her questioning thoughts. "Mama, Where's Souta?"

Her mother looked up from pouring herself some tea. "Oh he had early practice this morning so he grabbed his breakfast before he left. There is a big game this weekend so they will be practicing all week."

Well that answered that. Souta would surely be hungrier then he usually was this week. They would have to make another run to the grocery store "We will have to go and see him play to see if all that hard work has paid off."

"He would like that very much, I'm sure." Her mother smiled before she took a bite of her breakfast.

Kagome sipped from her juice once more "Sorry about last night I wasn't feeling good so I went to bed early. I never got a chance to ask you how Aunt Kimiko is doing."

"Kimiko is doing well. Your cousin Gin was accepted into the university." Her smile broadened "he is very excited and cannot wait to start his medical education."

"He wants to be a doctor, right?"

Her mother nodded swiftly "Yes he wants to be pediatrician. Gin has always loved children even when he was a small child so his decision does not surprise me. He had gotten quite a kick out of Malakai this weekend. They both had a wonderful time."

"I'm glad mama but you know you didn't need to take him with you. He could have stayed here with me." She didn't want her mother to feel as if she has to watch Malakai all the time or did she want her to think that she was dumping him on her just to hang out with her friends.

Her mother's eyes melted to warm chocolate "I know that dear but I really do not mind. It was only the weekend and he is my only grandchild after all. I like spending time with him. I wished that my mother could have been there for me as I am for you. You are young with a heavy burden on your shoulders sometimes you need time to yourself especially with certain issues arising."

Kagome felt the tears fill her eyes but they did not fall "Oh mama thank you for being here for me, I will never be able to express how much this all means to me. I love you so much."

"I know how much this means to you sweetheart and I love you too. You really shouldn't worry about me, Okay? If I do not want to take Malakai I will tell you."

Kagome's raven head shook in understanding "Okay but promise me that if you feel like I am taking advantage of the situation you will tell me then place your foot so far up my butt to get your point across."

Her mother laughed out loud "I promise I will if it should ever come to that."

They laughed a little bit more then continued to eat their breakfast in relative silence.


Kagome took a breath of cool autumn air as she closed the front door behind her. The whole time she was in the house she purposely chose not to think about the events that had happened last night but now that she was no longer in the dwelling her mind finally wandered to her best friend. Sadly Sango had not called last night nor would she come to get her for school this morning. She knew what she had said to Sango had hurt her though that had not been her intention. Hell that was a lie. Sango had pushed where she shouldn't have and Kagome had lashed out. Old wounds were open, leaving Sesshoumaru a very touchy subject, too touchy at times.

Kagome let out a ragged sigh 'My life is falling apart and now I'm fighting with my best friend. Life is great, just great.' She headed down the path that led to the shrine steps. She would walk today. Yes walking would take her longer to get to school but maybe that's what she needed, some fresh air to clear her thoughts. For one single moment to stop thinking of him; the stress of it all was getting to her, he was getting to her.

Kagome touched her lips, her finger tips skimming slowly over the fleshy appendages. The way he had kissed her the night before was nothing like the one he given her the last time. That kiss had been demanding, trying to make a point. No the one the night before had been passionate so full of feeling. She had been putty in his hands. Kagome had wanted him right then and there. Argh damn it! She wanted him, all of him. What the hell was wrong with her? Personally she believed it was a hormonal imbalance of some kind, maybe from having a child. That happens doesn't it though she doesn't want to hurt Malakai, no there was no urge to hurt her child just her baby's daddy. Hmmm… was that normal? So deep in her thoughts she never saw the figure waiting for her on the boulevard. The voice of black velvet sprung out of nowhere "Need a ride?" She almost fell down the last couple steps, her hand clutching a hold of her heart. "Sesshoumaru," She snapped nastily at the unconcerned demon. "Do not do that again!"

Sesshoumaru shifted his weight on the hood of his car, raising his brow at her threatening tone "Do you need a ride or not?'

Her glare told him she was still mad, "No thank you. I have a ride." She was lying of course and he knew this not because he could smell deceit, no, he had seen her friend drive passed him without her in the car. Apparently they were on the outs.

"You have no ride. You and I both know this." He walked to the passenger side door and opened it "Get in." His golden pools bore into hers before he stepped away from the door and sauntered to the other side.

Kagome continued to glare at the dog demons back "No...Thank...You." She gritted out through clenched teeth. Was he that thick headed? Seriously, what was wrong with this man? Was he not listening to the words coming out of her mouth? Had he been in some type of accident that she was not aware of? Had that impaired his mind? She stolen a glance as he walked around the car; He didn't look impaired to her though she could be wrong it wouldn't have been the first time.

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. Should she get in? No, it was probably not a good idea. She had wanted to walk so she did not have to think about him, to get in a car and have him there would be the opposite effect. So no she wouldn't get into the car with him. Nope not a chance not one bit.

The inuyoukai didn't even look at her as he slid into the driver's side "Now." He hid the smirk that wanted to surface as she jumped out of her reverie and quickly got in. Sesshoumaru quickly shifted into drive and pulled away from the curb before she could change her mind.

Kagome let out a groan as the car pulled away from the side street. What the hell had she been thinking? Her mind was a whirlwind of chaos. Too many thoughts raged war inside her head. Why did she get into his car in the first place? Why was he there anyway? Thoughts of what Sango had said flittered into the soundless questioning 'I'm really sorry for what he did but people make mistakes. Hell Kagome from what you've been telling me, he's been trying that's more than I can say for you'

'he's been trying…' The young priestess watched calm demon out of the corner of her eye. Was that why he was there waiting outside, was he really trying? Kagome couldn't believe that, wouldn't believe that. Trying... now, Why?

'Maybe he's sorry.'

Hot damn, there was that voice again butting into her private thoughts 'Sorry, yeah right.' The sarcasm was like heavy cream on her tongue.

The voice replied rather assuredly 'Why can't he be sorry for what he did? Like Sango said people make mistakes. Hell chickadee he has regrets.'

She eyed him again. Regrets? Is this thing on something? 'He has regrets?' Her doubt was clear as glass.

'Yes. You saw how he reacted to finding out he had a son. He had been angry, there was no way he had known about him. '

That annoying voice did make some sense but Kagome still refused to accept what was being said to her. 'He had to have known. We didn't use protection at all that night, we'd been so caught up in each other to realize. Oh he had known or at least thought I could have been.'

'Maybe you're right, maybe he did think you may have been pregnant and it had been wrong of him not to per sue the matter with you but what he did or didn't do back then is not important as what he is doing now. He wants to know Malakai, Let him do so. Stop being a selfish bitch and put away your hurt feelings. They are not fair to your son.'

Kagome didn't say a word, what could she say, the damned thing was right. She was being a selfish bitch to her best friend, to her son, to... Sesshoumaru. The latter was hard to swallow but it was true.

The voice sighed at the absolute silence 'Its food for thought.' and it left her with her troubling thoughts. It always left her with troubling thoughts that damn conscious of hers.

Sesshoumaru watched the little miko out of the corner of his eye as she struggled with herself about something. 'What could she be thinking about?' He hadn't the foggiest idea what went on in the wench's mind nor did he want to. She was like a kaleidoscope, her emotions changed with each turn. This was something Sesshoumaru was not use to. Emotions were a rather difficult subject.

The stillness between them thickened as they drove down the street. Minute after minute ticked by neither wanting to break the tension that was ensuing inside the cab, Finally the inuyoukai couldn't take it, the ringing silence was starting to get on his nerves. "Why did Taijiya not give you a ride?"

Kagome didn't look up at him but her voice echoed with the remorse that she felt. "We had a fight last night. I said some things that I should not have said. It was stupid of me."

"What was it that you fought about?" He was genuinely curious as to why they would fight. Kagome was not the type to fight with her best friend. No, she only fought with himself and of course the half-breed. Apparently Dog demons were the only ones to get under the skin of the passive miko.

"I really don't want to talk about it." Even though the question was one that was reasonable she couldn't help but stiffen when he asked it. Oh she wasn't going to discuss this, not here, not now, not with him. It was so out of the question.

Sesshoumaru knew the instant that she stiffened that it had something to do with their situation. "Was it about… us?"

Kagome snorted and turned to stare out the window "Not everything is about you Sesshoumaru."

He didn't take his eyes off of the road as he fought with his anger. The little miko was avoiding his question and it was making him a tad bit frustrated. "I did not ask if it was about me. I ask if it was about us. There is a clear difference."

She whipped around, her eyes burning with red flames. "There's no us." Us? What the hell was a matter with him? Us? He was really losing mind.

The dog demon caught her heated glare "That is where you are wrong, our son makes us an us. Soon you'll need to come to terms with that. He is my child as much as he is yours."

The heat began to subside, and her hard stare softening. She knew he was right just like Sango and that damned conscience of hers. A sigh escaped passed her moist lips. Maybe one visit, that wouldn't hurt, just once would be okay. It would take just one time for him to realize that raising a child was hard as hell. Let's see if he wants to stick around and be the father he claims to be after that. Kagome couldn't stop the words that flooded out of her mouth. "Would you like to come over and see Malakai?" Shit what did she just do? Her hand swept through her hair. God what had she been thinking? Why did she say it? She knew when it came out of her mouth that she could not take it back. Her sapphire eyes dropped his "That is you can come over after school if you want." Please say no. PLEASE say no.

He grew quite his golden eyes straying from the road to glare at her. "No."

Kagome sighed in relief and rested her head back against the seat. Thank you, thank you!

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat getting her attention back on him "I wish to see him now."

Her eyes snapped open and she jumped forward in her seat "What? No it's either after school or not at all."

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white "If we agree to that you will change her mind by the end of the school day."

Kagome wanted to deny it but she knew that what he said was true. If they waited for the end of the day she would change her mind and chicken out. Hell she would probably go to the nurse's office and fake being sick so she could just go home. "No I will not." Liar, liar pants on fire

His gold eyes dug into hers "Yes you will."

She wanted to disagree but the chill from his expression stopped her in her tracks. There would be no point to argue it would do no good. She gave up the fight "Fine I would okay. Are you happy now? You win." Her voice cracked and she found her hands very interesting. "It seems I have no choice." Well yes she had, had a choice and that was not to open her large mouth but that was too late now. The deed was done and there was no going back. Sesshoumaru would not let her even if she wanted too. Well here she goes into one frying pan and into another.


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What was she doing? Why was she doing this? Was she so incredibly stupid? Yes, yes she was. She was stupid but also stubborn, at time childish and quite bitchy. Kagome shook her billowing hair and decided that she simply had too much pride for one person that had to be what it was. Goddamn it, she didn't want to be the one to give in first. She did not want to reward the jackass for being irresponsible and a complete asshole. Right now all she wanted to do was stomp her feet and maybe push him down the shrine steps. Yeah that would solve her problem. Okay it wouldn't really but a girl could fantasize. A very scary and freaky fantasy but a fantasy none the less. Shit she was twisted and maybe a little out of her mind.


*Wow it's been a really long time since I've updated. Sorry about the wait folks :( i never meant to take this long to update this story. I'm not sure when chapter ten will be; it is a WIP so it may be a couple of weeks before it comes out. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. Please keep them coming! Until next time ~ Mistress West