la, and then there was one more chapter and you loved it. YAY!

this chapter is a lot of fun. Cro reappears for the sake of getting Aki in trouble, and we all know that never happens. (SARCASM) I'm afraid Sesshoumaru's mythical insecurity makes an appearance despite all Rumiko Takahashi's protestations to the contrary. And we speak of a different Gang boss who has a mysterious understanding of Sesshy boy. Teehee.

And as much as you think I'm giving things away, I'm not. So Nyah! And the remaining chapter count is down to one. My exam is in a little over a week. Crunch time. oh shoot me now!

Tattletale Central

Aki stared out over the darkened water of the bay. The wind bathed her face in the spray kicked up by the waves and she smiled. Sesshoumaru had been warily eyeing everything that moved and several things that didn't so she brought him to the park next to the water. He probably needed the break from her reality anyway.

Currently his back was to the water and the view of the city on the other side. Sesshoumaru was studying the trees and the hard pathway material under his feet. He didn't like how the lights lit up the trees, but at least it wasn't as bright and crowded as the rest of the city seemed to be.

The smell of pollution wasn't as strong here with the trees attempting to clean it out and Aki's power constantly trying to purify it. He could smell her here. The salty breeze carried her scent to him, strengthening it, helping it stand out a little.

"Feel better?" she asked him gently. He turned and blinked at her leaning against the rail. "If it were my choice I wouldn't have just thrown you into the big city for your first experience of the 21st century. Believe it or not, there are a lot of places left that aren't so crammed full of people."

"Are there?" Sesshoumaru couldn't help asking with the city looming across the water.

Aki smiled warmly, "Of course there are. I have a house out in the country back in the states. It's miles away from anyone else, surrounded by waving tall grass and giant shade trees. I even have my own pond. I had it built after everything went to hell."

"Why are you not there now?" he asked in curiosity.

"I couldn't stand the looks of pity I got every time I went to town," she answered softly before turning to stare out over the water again. "So I decided to move somewhere as different from home as possible. Some place easy to get lost in."

"You wanted to get lost?" he inquired, his voice incredulous.

"No, I wanted others to have trouble finding me," she shrugged. "After my family died, the news spread like wild fire around the world. I was hounded day and night by people trying to get to the 'truth' so long as it either painted me in a bad light or made me seem absolutely pitiful. Complete strangers who thought they knew the whole story would come up to me and either spit at me from the belief that I was the root of all evil or they would stare at me the way people stare at slow moving funeral processions." She sighed and gave him a glimpse of the look in her eyes. "It was uncomfortable and only served to constantly remind me of why my life had changed so much."

Sesshoumaru brushed her hair back in a silent offer of comfort. "You said the whole world knew of you, do they not know of you here?"

"Nobody has really made the connection. The Japanese version of the story made me sound like a platinum blonde ten-year-old waif, despite the pictures printed with it. It makes hiding a lot easier as I'm obviously more than ten years old and definitely don't have platinum blonde hair."

"Does that mean you are a waif then?"

Aki chuckled, "Only if twenty year olds with two luxurious residences can be considered such." She took a deep breath of the sea air. "I love the salty smell."

"Do you often come here?"

"No, I normally don't have time, but you looked like you could use a break," she shrugged.

"Well, look who it is," a voice called from the trees. "Didn't think you'd be wandering around the city after all that I hear happened today."

"I'm not wandering, I'm quite obviously standing in one place," Aki declared blandly. "Besides, I thought your turf was blocks away from here, Cro."

"Normally it is, but Raven got us in trouble yesterday and the boss moved us," he grumbled. "I see you managed to find her without any trouble," Cro addressed Sesshoumaru.

The taiyoukai nodded dismissively.

"So that's how you got back last night," Aki snapped her fingers. "Loki asked me about that."

"You didn't tell her?" Cro gasped.

"Other stuff happened today, we've been busy," she declared with a shrug.

"Yeah, the whole city has been humming about Tuck's desperate dash this morning," Cro informed her. "When someone that important tries to bend the rules people take notice. When the boss heard, she made sure we covered this part of the city pretty thick. She was certain you'd try to sneak off without a proper escort for you and your company."

"I did not sneak off and I'm certain Sesshoumaru and I can handle the short walk home from here." Aki scoffed in irritation.

"Uh-huh, and that's why you're standing in the park at night when you know the area is full of rapists and muggers after dark," Cro pointed out. "And after a collapse too."

Sesshoumaru glared questioningly at her. Were there really dangers in the park at night?

Aki quickly looked away from his searching eyes. "Shut up Cro!" she paused to suck down more of the salty air before changing the subject. "Where's Raven?"

"Oh, he's on special assignment for getting us in trouble," Cro answered. "See he stupidly harassed your guest last night and told the boss about it," he continued. "Apparently the boss is a great deal more familiar with Mr. Tall-and-silent here. She was rather upset to hear about what went on."

"I hope it's nothing too dreadful," Aki smiled. "Sesshoumaru probably asked for it."

Sesshoumaru growled in protest. He wasn't going to argue outright in front of this bastard. He could wait until he got Aki back to her apartment, then he would scold her soundly for leading them into this dangerous place. It didn't matter that she had intended to sooth his nerves, her safety was more important.

"You're both still coming to the museum with us tomorrow, right?" Aki demanded. "We need the chaperones or we won't be allowed to take the kids."

Cro raised his hands up defensively. "We'll be there, we're still going. Even if you stayed home, we'd make sure those kids got to go."

"I'm going," Aki declared stoutly.

"But after today you really should rest. The kids'll under-"

"I'm going, Cro!" she growled. "I could be dead and buried and I would still claw my way to the surface to go. Those kids deserve no less."

"I think the kids would be scarred for life if you showed up dead," Cro commented. "So we really should get you home and out of the park."

"What is it today? Was it marked on the calendar to smother Aki today?" she moaned petulantly. "We're fine Cro. Go find Raven to push around, he apparently likes it."

"The boss's instructions were quite specific. You are to be escorted home the moment we come across you stalling," Cro replied evenly.

"I'm not stalling," Aki protested. "We just took a detour."

Cro rolled his eyes, "Whatever can we just get a move on?"

Aki turned to huff at him and found herself kicking and flailing against the air before settling in surprise against Sesshoumaru's chest. "Would you put me down?" she hollered at him.

Sesshoumaru gave her a stern look before turning to Cro.

"Right," Cro grinned. "It's this way then."

Not five minutes later it started to rain and Sesshoumaru glared down at Aki. "Don't look at me like that," she growled. "There's too much crap in the air for me to predict the weather here."

"It was in the weather forecast," Cro informed her.

"I'm sorry," Aki grouched. "When did I have time to watch the news or listen to the radio?" She shifted in Sesshoumaru's arms. "And I might remind you that while I can speak your language rather well I'm no expert."

"Meaning?" Cro asked.

"Meaning I don't exactly understand all of the Meteorology terms in my own language let alone in Japanese!"

"You know the word for rain," Cro insisted.

"Have you forgotten how many different words there are for the different kinds of rain?" Aki asked blandly.

"You have a point," Cro grumbled and changed the subject. "We're going to be soaked by the time you get to your apartment."

"I'll live," Aki muttered.

"You might, but I won't if Mouse finds out I didn't escort you into your building and see to it personally that you take a warm bath and go straight to bed after the day you've had." Cro said quietly. "But I figure, your companion will see to it that you do what you're supposed to," he smirked. "I mean, as much as I would have loved to see you all wet and soapy and despite the fact you are the only woman I'd ever consider going straight for, I would rather not try to force you to take care of yourself."

"That does it! I'm investing in an attack dog who will kill on command!" Aki yelled in frustrated annoyance.

"Any dog worth his salt will push you around and make you take care of yourself," Cro asserted. "Not unlike a certain friend of yours. Speaking of which, where is Fred?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," Aki shook her head. "I haven't seen him since I snuck through the barrier erected to hold me captive. He should have found his way free by now though."

Sesshoumaru growled in remembrance of Aki's latest disappearing act. "Tama is holding him ransom until we all return," he informed them icily. "She is determined to have a few words with you."

"Again?" Aki huffed and crossed her arms. "Is it going to be another lecture about the behavior of so-called mates? Because if it is, I don't have to put up with it!"

"What?" Cro interrupted. "Since when were you mated?"

"Since fate decided to royally screw with my life again," Aki answered. "It's all fixed now though. Apparently fate didn't run the idea through all the proper channels before taking action and my freedom won out. Ouch!" she glared up at Sesshoumaru and rubbed her arm.

"What's wrong?" Cro asked in amusement.

"I seem to have pinched my arm on something," Aki answer dryly. "Maybe I should walk on my own so I'm not inclined to do it agai-" her sentence ended in a yelp when Sesshoumaru abruptly dropped her a couple inches before catching her again.

"That'd be a 'no'" Cro grunted. "You'd probably try to run anyway."

"I would not," Aki denied with exasperation. Just how juvenile did he think she was? "I'm not allowed to run in the city. I try not to promote chaos, no matter how irresponsible you may think me."

"That's not what I meant," the gang member started.

"Change the subject Cro, if you know what's good for you," she ordered flatly.

"Right," Cro muttered softly. "The twins have decided they'll meet you at the museum tomorrow. They figure the less time you have to run around talking to a bunch of people the better, especially after they heard about today."

"They're worse than my little brother was whenever I had a cold," Aki sighed. "How the hell do they expect us to get anything done at the museum with a bunch of kids?"

"I don't know," Cro shrugged. "I imagine they don't really care either. And don't expect those kids tomorrow will let you get away with your regular antics. They've probably heard about today as well. They quite like you alive and healthy, they will do what they can to keep you that way."

"Will this stream of mother hens never stop!" Aki groaned.

"It's your own fault for being so wonderful to them. You shouldn't be so nice to people if you don't want them to care about you," Cro smiled.

"I'm not nice, just polite," she pouted.

"And kind and considerate and compassionate and concerned about your fellow people," Cro pointed out. "You are everything in this world that is good and those kids don't get much of that, most of us don't. You were doomed from the start.

"Hah!" Aki laughed. "I have bad parts too, nobody's perfect!"

"Well, that's true. You're too independent, self-destructive, intractable, stubborn, and you are entirely too wealthy for your own good," Cro agreed.

"You forgot troublesome, annoying, emotionally closed off and entirely too demanding," Aki reached out to poke the male in the arm.

"I'll grant you the first two but not the last two," Cro murmured over Sesshoumaru's low growl. The inu youkai didn't much care for the conversation.

"I'm losing my edge, I'll have to work on it," Aki muttered grimly.

"All right then," Cro smirked. "Here we are. Now remember take a warm bath and go straight to bed."

"Gee, mom, are you going to make sure I brush my teeth too?" Aki grumbled as she finally managed to get Sesshoumaru to put her down.

"Aw, I don't think you need me to do that, darling. You're a big girl now after all," Cro replied mockingly. "Besides, this new babysitter appears rather militant in expression so mommy's will shall be done."

"You're a jerk!" Aki called after him. "See you tomorrow!"

Aki squelched up the stairs to her apartment ahead of Sesshoumaru and he didn't miss it when she started to shiver in the climate-controlled atmosphere of her apartment. She headed straight for the bathroom to get a towel and turned to head back into her room only to find the doorway blocked.

He glared at her significantly before turning his stare to the tub meaningfully.

Aki glared at him and at the tub petulantly. What was she a kid? She had only intended to get a change of clothes, was that so terrible? The towel was to save her carpet a little excess moisture, but she knew him well enough to realize there wasn't a chance she was getting out that door without another trip to Mouse's office. Her life just sucked!

Sesshoumaru was prepared for a battle to get her into the tub, one he was certain to enjoy. After all, it was an excuse to touch her and see her undressed, which was more action from her than he was likely to get for a while. He was also convinced he could ensure that she enjoyed it as well.

Of course, that was if she attempted to fight her way past him, which she wasn't going to do. And apparently she wasn't going to fight over getting undressed and into the tub either as she lifted the hem of her soggy shirt and pitched it at him before turning on the tap. The dripping material slapped him rather coldly in the face before Aki shoved him out of the room with the closing door.

Sesshoumaru didn't get to see squat let alone touch anything. He would've stood there pouting if his own soaking wet clothes hadn't started to get on his nerves. He changed out of his borrowed clothing and into part of his traditional robes. He was getting rather tired of this place so full of dangers he didn't understand and couldn't fight.

Which reminded him, Aki still needed to be chastised for endangering herself by leading them to the park. Sesshoumaru's eyes hardened with purpose. He may not currently be her mate, but he was almost certain to be someday and he really wanted her to live that long.

The inu youkai barged right into the bathroom without knocking only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of the tub. Instead of seeing all of Aki in her wet, naked glory he saw a white fluffy substance that floated on the surface of the water and blocked the view up to her neck.

"What is it now?" Aki demanded with annoyance.

"What is that?" Sesshoumaru asked as he knelt down to study the foam. He picked some up in his hand and rubbed it between his fingers.

"They're bath bubbles," Aki answered while making doubly sure to pile the suds up high around her chest. She'd known there would be no peace for her bath while Sesshoumaru was in the house and planned accordingly. Besides, she deserved bubbles after the last month!

"Are they safe?" he asked seriously.

"I don't know. WE like to test them on small children to see if they bite before letting strong adult females use them," Aki declared sarcastically. Sesshoumaru flicked some bubbles at her in response. "It's just soap silly. I'm not that self-destructive."

"How am I supposed to know if it is harmless or not? Everything here seems to have its dangers, even peaceful stretches of trees," Sesshoumaru said bitingly.

Aki blinked at him before smiling down at her bubbles. "Everything has its dangers in your world too Sesshoumaru, you're just used to them as I am used to mine. The only thing you can do is accept the risk and keep moving because avoiding it is impossible and can only frighten you. It's pointless to worry about it all the time." She played with the bubbles a little. "Besides, I happen to know that park hasn't had a mugging attempt in six months and the last rapist was dismembered two months before that. Cro's boss is very particular about the parks on her turf. Cro was just teasing."

"It didn't sound that way," Sesshoumaru muttered. He trailed his fingers through the bubbles along the side of the tub getting his hand a little wet. The taiyoukai rested his forearm on the side watching the water drip back into the tub.

Aki yawned tiredly and leaned her head back against the wall allowing her eyes to slide closed momentarily. Despite her multiple attempts to assure everyone that she was fine; the partial demon was terribly exhausted. Today had been a red-letter day for her.

Everything had seemed to happen so quickly she felt as if she had aged a thousand years since she woke up that morning. And Aki still couldn't figure out why she had made that promise to the youkai lord. Well she couldn't take it back now, there was no chance Sesshoumaru would let her.

Aki jerked her eyes open when she felt the brush of Sesshoumaru's fingertips on her cheek. His golden eyes were studying her face in concern and some other veiled emotion. She blinked dazedly at him before dropping her eyes to the water that was now partially cleared of bubbles.

Aki quirked an eyebrow at that, she hadn't thought Sesshoumaru was prone to being so ridiculously devious. He'd noticed dripping water on the bubbles slowly dissolved them and meticulously cleared away as much of the foam as he could without her being the wiser.

That could only mean one thing. It was time to get out.

Aki sighed and pulled the plug with her feet before rising out of the last layer of bubbles, opening her towel in the process in order to adequately block Sesshoumaru's view. Just because she was naked didn't mean she would let him get a peep show.

She had to chuckle silently at the look on Sesshoumaru's face when he realized he wasn't going to glimpse anything good. He really was incorrigible. She supposed it was somewhat flattering that the usually stoic youkai was so hungry for just a peek at her, but somehow, the compliment seemed a little more like a nuisance at the moment, especially since she couldn't even get him to back up a step to let her brush by him and into her bedroom to get dressed. In fact, if he were any closer to her, she would be wearing a Sesshoumaru suit.

"Would you back off, please?" Aki asked in exasperation. "Some breathing room would be most appreciated.

"You appear to be breathing just fine," Sesshoumaru replied evenly all the while studying her closely to make absolutely certain she truly was breathing all right.

"Back off!" Aki growled and firmly shoved him back the required step to allow her freedom to escape the bathroom.

Sesshoumaru let out a growl of his own when he trailed her into the bedroom and found her heading away from the bed. "To bed," he ordered and caught her up in his arms before throwing her on the lush bed coverings.

"They're called pajamas, you jerk! Clothes to wear when you're sleeping," Aki yelled. "Now I am going to put on some pajamas and you are going to stop being so freaking literal!"

"You don't need them," Sesshoumaru declared slightly upset at being called a jerk and still hopeful of glimpsing some of Aki's more interesting anatomy.

"I am going to-"

Sesshoumaru cut her off by scooping her into his arms and settling on the plush surface of the mattress.

"You're annoying," Aki whined.

"Go to sleep," Sesshoumaru ordered.

"I will not, the bed's getting all wet," Aki declared. "It wouldn't be if I were wearing my pajamas."

"You exaggerate, go to sleep," he replied. He was comfortable and not in the mood to move around.

"I don't think so," Aki muttered mutinously and squirmed out of his grasp leaving the towel behind as sacrifice for her escape. "I'm going to wear my clothes! Otherwise I'll be cold and damp, completely undoing the work of my warm bath that you insisted I take," she ranted while slipping into her preferred sleeping apparel. "Seriously, why is it so difficult to let me put on clothes?"

"Why do you insist on wasting the time on something completely unneeded?" Sesshoumaru growled. "Are you afraid I would take advantage of your uncovered stat?"

"That's not it," Aki answered. "Loki sometimes comes in early to get some work done to be absolutely certain I know he isn't completely slacking off when I'm not here. I normally don't even know he's here until a few hours later when I manage to wake up. I'm so exhausted here I sleep through everything."

"What does that have to do with your pajamas?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

Aki quirked an eyebrow at him. "That's the only bathroom in the apartment," she nodded at the small room. "Suppose Loki needs to use it before I wake up, I'd rather he use it than make a mess somewhere else, and that requires he walk through my room. That's why I don't sleep nude as you suggested. There's no guarantee that I wouldn't have accidentally exposed myself, and I'd rather not give you an excuse to beat up my researcher over something I can prevent. Besides, I like my pajamas and don't get many chances to wear them."

Aki disappeared into the bathroom to finish drying her hair. A noise started up that drew him to the door worried. She was waving a strange shaped thing at her hair that was making all the noise.

"What is that?" Sesshoumaru demanded after she had turned the item off.

"A hair dryer," Aki replied absently while reaching for her hairbrush. "It blows hot air to speed dry hair or other items."

Aki turned to him and gently pushed him out the door before finally climbing into bed. "There, now I'm in bed. Are you happy now?"

Sesshoumaru pounced, holding her tight against his front as he lay down beside her. "I am content," he declared and nuzzled her hair as her scent relaxed him. "I will be happy the day you allow me to mark you again."

"Well good, that'll give you something to dream about," Aki yawned hugely.

"This Sesshoumaru has had many things to dream about lately," he pulled her just a little closer. "You have made it so."

"Apparently I fill the dreams of many different people these days, but you're the only one I've given license to dream about me," she half-smiled.

"Who are these low lives that dream of you without license," he demanded in mock surprise.

"I'm not going to name names, but you could possibly guess a few," Aki chuckled mildly.

"Too bad for them you onlyhave time to dream of me," Sesshoumaru declared smugly.

Aki couldn't help but laugh at that. "I don't know about that, but I'm glad you do," she yawned again.

"I do, now start dreaming," he ordered her.

Aki fell asleep with a smile on her face that reflected in his eyes until they finally closed as well.