Sesshomaru waited in his car patiently as he looked at the building called Naruto's.The name kept repeating in his mind. It had sounded familiar, but why? He took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke out of his car window as he scouted the area nonchalantly. A few thugs stared back at him wondering if he was a Cop. He scowled slightly at them but they continued to stare in a testing manner. Sesshomaru flicked his cigarette and got out of his recently waxed white Mustang. He pressed away a wrinkle on his designer jeans and walked tall toward the tall red brick building. Standing 4 stories high, the bar was on the first floor, where thugs and dames hooking would hang out. The second, was Naruto, himself's office. The third and fourth were rumored to be rooms for the dames to do their 'job'.

A woman with a short red dress clinging onto her volumonous figure shot Sesshomaru a lustful grin.

"Hey there, sexy...for 75 a pop, I'll have you on your knees begging..." she pursed her lips as she grabbed her breasts and massaged them in a 'teasing' motion.

"I wish to speak to Naruto.." Sesshomaru said flatly as he avoided her and stared at the building entrance. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. The woman who was once teasing, left towards a thug's side and linked her arm around him.

"Who wants to know?" said a guy.

"Are you Naruto?" Sesshomaru looked to his side without moving his head.

The thug scoffed and cackled to the rest of his friends. " No.."

"Then it is none of your concern." Sesshomaru darted his eyes back to the entrance and took a step forward. Every thug dug in their pockets holding their guns but not drawing it out.

"Whoa whoa..." said one guy. " Where you think you goin'?" he said in a very deep voice. His hand pressed against Sesshomaru's beige fleece.

Sesshomaru looked down slowly and lifted his gaze up with a scowl. He raised his head up high with his jaw tightened and looked at a camera that was over the door. Within a second, his hand grasped the thugs neck. His thumb pressed heavily on the guy's adam's apple. Crushing it very slowly, he looked at the camera with a smirk. The thug choked and looked at his friends who drew out their guns. People walking down the streets, started to scream and head for cover.

"Let him go, or I'll scatta ya brains 'cross the wall!" yelled another thug.

Sesshomaru did not comply. He continued to stare at the camera with a stern and impervious glare.

One thug, pressing his earpiece against his ear, nodded and ordered a guy to open the door. Sesshomaru released the thug and walked in gracefully.

"Who tha fuck does he think he is! Why didn't you blow his brains?" the thug exclaimed as he coughed.

"Boss said to let him in, don't get mad at us.." said the other as he put his gun back into his jacket pocket. The others did the same.

Sesshomaru walked in and observed the place in one glance. Corrupted cops sitting at the bar as they watched the strippers dance around the poles, thugs playing poker while the prostitutes were performing oral sex from underneath the tables. A tall wide-framed guy nodded towards Sesshomaru and lead him down a dark hallway that lead to an elevator.

As they reached the elevator doors, it opened. The wide-framed guy pressed the 2nd floor button and allowed Sesshomaru to go the rest of the way alone.

The elevator door opened once it reached the floor and Sesshomaru was greeted by two men that stood sentry at each side.

"Lord Sesshomaru.." he heard his name. He followed the voice to an old man sitting at a desk smoking a cigar. " What an honor..."

"Naruto, is it?" Sesshomaru interrupted as he walked towards his desk. No one was allowed more than 3 feet away from the desk and Sesshomaru crossed the line. The guards drew their guns but Naruto raised his hand for them to stand at ease.

"Please, Sit. I have heard much about you.."

" I came merely to tell you to stay away from Kikyo Higurashi." Sesshomaru demanded as he sat down. He knew they didn't know Kagome so it was pointless to say stay away from her.

"Ah, your temerity amazes me. I do admire your audacity, Lord Sesshomaru..but you are out of line."

" Do not waste my time with your farcical threats, Mr. Naruto. I do not repeat myself. Your men made the mistake of attacking someone who was not their target."

" Mistakes happen..." Naruto smiled.

"Not to me. " Sesshomaru said sternly.

" Hmm.." Naruto chuckled. " Your arrogance lives up to its reputation, I see. Kikyo Higurashi should not be any of your concern. That deceitful conniver owes me dearly and has cost me a lot of money..."

"and how much is this supposed amount?" Sesshomaru eyed a guard that annoyingly hovered over him.

"No, no..my lord, I do not want your money. I'm afraid Kikyo's life is more valuable than any amount you and your fortunate family can give. I have no quarrels with you, please do not give me any reason. You are one of the few I respect."

"Spare me the extraneous cajolery. I find my request to be quite pelucid." Sesshomaru stood up from the chair and turned toward the elevator.

" Is that any way to treat a client, my lord?" Naruto raised his voice with an exasperated sigh.

Sesshomaru stopped and frowned. Client? He thought. Of course, now he remembered why the name had sounded familiar. Naruto had one of the largest accounts in his company.The elevator doors opened and Sesshomaru raised his head in a grin.

" I hope we do not meet again, Mr. Naruto. For your sake." And with that, he left.

One of the guards gruffed towards Mr. Naruto's side. " Boss, how you gonna let him talk you like that!"he harrumphed. " I could of tooken pretty boy out with one feed!" he cocked his gun back and looked at the elevator door.

"Don't be foolish, Jinengi. Do you have any idea who he is?" Naruto put his cigar out on the ashtray and stood up." No, you will be careful. Follow him...and make sure..he doesn't know that."

Kagome sighed while she stared at Kirara chew on the aglets of her shoelaces. She tapped Kirara on the head and looked around the room. She shouldn't be scared to go out. So they made a mistake and thought she was Kikyo. She decided to go out and take her chances. She wasn't going to be afraid for the rest of her life. She looked at the top of her dresser and frowned at the disposable camera sitting there. Since she had time, she should develop it and while she was out, she should probably go find her stupid sister and talk to her. Her heart began to race at the thought of speaking with Kikyo again. It's been months since she has even seen her. What was she to say, ' Hey! How's it going, Sis. Last time I saw you, you were lying down on the bed getting fucked by my boyfriend. She grimaced at the thought and walked towards her dresser and picked up the camera. She threw herself on the bed trying to debate whether she should go or not. No, she told herself, there should be no debate. Kirara, climbed the blanket that hung off the bed and walked towards Kagome, sniffing her ear.

"Kirara.." Kagome giggled. " Stop that..." she rubbed her head and looked at the camera. Kirara began to sniff the camera too. " You are soo nosy..." Kagome chuckled and began to wipe the camera. It remained in her purse for a few days and was stained by her makeup that let loose in her bag. As she continued to wipe, Kirara kept trying to sniff the camera.

"Kirara!" Kagome growled in agitation from the curious kitten. At that same time, Kagome ran her finger over the flash button and the camera went off, blinding both Kagome and the kitten.

Kagome blinked a few times to try to rid the flash blots in her eyes and looked at the kitten who seemed to be doing the same. " You see, " Kagome laughed. " Curiousity killed the cat. " she shook her head. " I thought I finished the last picture..." she questioned with a frown as she looked at the camera and pressed the button again. This time, it didn't click.

" I guess that was the real last picture.." Kagome said to Kirara.

She sighed as she went to her closet and took out a black knitted sweater. She put on the comfortable fabric that clinged to her slender torso and fished out a pair of denim jeans afterwards. She slipped them on as she went to grab her black boots from the bottom of the bed where Kirara was chewing on again!

She tapped the kitten one more time on the head as she sat on the bed and put on her boots. Her cellphone rang and she gasped startledly and went to answer it.

" Yeah?" Kagome said out of breath.

" Hey, I'm close to your house...let's get something to eat..." her friend said on the other line.

" Yeah, I was just about to go out, I'll meet you downstairs, Sango.."Kagome hung up and grabbed her bookbag and the disposable camera. Kirara spat a little meow and Kagome looked back. " Sorry, baby..I got to go out..come on, I'll put some cartoons for you to watch while I'm out.." she picked up the kitten and brought her to the living room.She turned on the television and tuned to a cartoon channel and kissed the kitten goodbye. She left out the door and ran down the stairs to meet Sango.

Sango stared at her friend with a cocked brow and her arms crossed as she galloped towards her.

"Hey!" Kagome panted. " What's up?"

"Did you run or something?" Sango looked at her in disbelief.

" Yeah, come on, let's take your car.." Kagome said as she got in.

" Good idea," Sango grimaced at Kagome's piece of crap car. The thing was just begging for it to become scrap metal.

"Where were you planning to go, anyway?"

"Ummm...I have to develop my pictures, umm, find Kikyo to talk to her about something..."

"Whoa..whoa.. You're going to talk to the bitch?" Sango looked at her with her eyes wide.

" Yeah..." Kagome mumbled as she put on her seatbelt. " There are some things we need to speak about.."

"You sure it's a good idea?" Sango started the car and began to drive off.

" Yeah...it's kind of important." Kagome side glanced at her and looked out her window.

Moments later, They arrived at the photo department of some pharmacy off the highway.

"Why did we come here, Kagome? There is one like..by your house.." Sango scoffed as she looked around.

"No...I didn't want to go to that one..." Kagome smiled at the girl she gave her camera too.

" Ok, it will be ready in an hour, Miss. Would you like double prints?"the girl asked in a honey tone.

"Um..." Kagome thought for a moment. Would she need double prints? Perhaps Sesshomaru would want copies? They already decided that they wouldn't give it to the paparrazzi as promised.Should she get double prints, the thought bothered her.

"Um...we have a special today..get double prints, you get this free key chain" the girl dangled the chain in front of her.It was a key chain with the store logo on it. Very cheesy and plain.

That was it. She had to get it now. Come on, how can you turn down free things? Kagome couldn't understand how some people were able to. " Yeah, ok!" Kagome said excitedly as she signed the envelope the film went into and gave the girl back her pen.

" Ok, let's go now.." Kagome said as she turned around.

"You do know you got jipped, right? I mean, did you look at it? That thing should be free." Sango shook her head at her stupid friend.

Kagome smiled and felt a sharp pain on her shoulder. She spat a little moan and grasped it and tugged her collar to see what it was. The mark on her shoulder turned into a lighter shade. Kagome frowned and rubbed the mark as she continued to walk.

"What's the matter?" Sango looked at her friend in concern.

"Uh..um..nothing, hey, is there a bookstore or library around here?" Kagome said as she got into the car.

Sango nodded and opened her car door. " There is a Barnes and Nobles a few blocks down.."

"That's fine, let's go there.." Kagome nodded.

" What the fuck I look like, your chauffer?" Sango scoffed.

" Shut up and drive!" Kagome teased. "Now!"

"Bitch..." Sango chuckled lowly.

Within two minutes, Kagome was inside the bookstore. Sango waited outside in the car saying she was allergic to bookstores. Something about it reminding her of school and tragic moments. It was better for Kagome though, because the book she was looking for, she didn't want Sango knowing why her sudden interest in it. She followed the directions the information clerk gave her to the section she needed to find her book in. She looked for the book and smiled on how easy it was to spot it. " Mating Rituals for Demons". She opened the book and began to skim through the pages. It was a pretty thick book. She went back to the front page and read the contents and went to the page she was looking for. She began to read to herself:

'Demons, when mating, are very territorial. Think of dogs and how they mark their territory to make other dogs aware to stay away.'

Kagome laughed at the dog analogy. She cleared her throat and went back to reading.

' During the sexual encounter, the demon or demoness,will lose complete rationality once their instincts kick in. Enraged with the lust and love they have for their mate, their fangs will extend by a few inches during their sexual climate and within that time,they will pierce their lover. Demons don't just mark anyone. Although, they can be premiscuous as humans. Once they know the person they are with is for them, they will immediatly claim them. Once marked, the markee will probably feel a bit weak, lose appetite, and feel extremely fatigued.The mark, throughtout its stages, will burn or feel like a bruise, but in time, it will become light and almost not visible. Other demons will be able to sense the mark, but while it is fresh. After the scent leaves the body, they can only tell by seeing the mark.This being so, a demon would most likely repeat this action throughout the tryst or continuation of the relationship until their parting. Marking, doesn't necessarily mean you belong to them. Come on, this is the 21st century BUT, It might be hard for you to commence a relationship with a new demon mate, they strictly respect the ritual and believe once marked, that person is your soulmate.'

Kagome gasped and looked up from the book. Soulmate? She didn't want to hear more and placed it back on the shelf.

She exited the bookstore in a daze and walked towards the car. She got in and began to bite her lip in thought.

"Did you buy anything?" Sango looked at her. " You took a while, what were you looking for?"

"Um...this book on arts and craft..I was...thinking of...making a scrapbook.." Kagome lied. " Um...come on, it's almost 4, which means Kikyo should be bartending right about now."

"What about the pictures?" Sango reminded her.

" They said it would be an hour,but I usually wait longer because sometimes they aren't ready and I hate waiting around. We can come back after I finish speaking with Kikyo."

"Ok..." Sango said in an unsure tone.

Sesshomaru got out of his car as he parked in front of his apartment and looked behind him. Kagome's car was still there so she was still home. He walked down the path to the entrance as if he were a model on the runway. An old lady looking out from the first floor window smirked at him.She had rollers in her hair, her lids were shimmered with blue eyeshadow and had cherry red lipstick that smeared across her cheek. Mascara leaked underneath her eyes. He ignored her and walked into the building.

A black car passed the building and slowed down at the entrance.

" Yeah, boss, we followed him to some apartment building. Don't know what a person like him is doin' here, should I go inside?" muttered a guy to his cellphone.

" No, you will not. Write down the address and come back, Monten. I need for you and Jinenji to run an errand at the pier.."said the boss on the other line.

"Sure thing, Boss.." Monten nodded.

Sesshomaru stopped at the door and stared at it with a concerned frown. The door was slightly open. He pushed it open and walked in without faltering and looked around the apartment. No sign of forced entry or furniture being disturb. Aside from Kagome's messiness, everything seemed fine. Where was she? From the way she was last night, it didn't seem like she'd ever go out.

He went into Kagome's room, she wasn't in there. The bathroom door was already open so he knew she wasn't in there either. He met eyes with Kirara, who was laying on the sofa. She squinted her eyes at him sleepily and looked back at the television.

He huffed as he went to the phone and dialed Kagome's cellphone.

After a few rings, she answered.

"Hey.." she said cheerfully.

"Where are you?" Sesshomaru went to the point. "Is everything all right?"

"I'm with Sango, Everything's fine, why?" Kagome asked baffledly.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes in annoyance but at the same time relief. " You left the door open, that is a careless habit!" his voice went higher. Kagome's eyes widened as she heard him.

" Look, I'm sorry!" she whined. " Sango came by to pick me up, I had errands to do, I didn't want to stay home by myself! Besides, when did you become my keeper?" she spat.

Sesshomaru stood quiet on the phone and tightened his jaw. His chest deflated and inflated with each hard breath he took. How he wanted to just shake her for being so dumb.

"Oh my god...were you worried about me?" Kagome teased and with that, she was left with a dial tone.

"What was that about?" Sango held the steering wheel as she drove down the streets.

" I forgot to lock the door..." Kagome ooped.

" Kagome, you can't keep doing that, you don't live in the best neighborhood, you know?" Sango turned down the corner.

" I know, I know. I just keep forgetting.." Kagome rolled her eyes not wanting to hear it.

" Well, why was he asking who you were with? You guys sound like you go out.." Sango spat with a frown.

Kagome ignored her friend and couldn't help smiling. He was worried about her. She blushed and then remembered what she read. Could it be true? Did Sesshomaru mark her because he felt like she was the one? No, that couldn't be true because if she were, he wouldn't go saying it was a mistake. She groaned to herself on how she actually enjoyed being intimate with him so much and it would never happen again. How she loved his warm body over hers and how he tried to growl inaudibly when they were making love but her hearing caught it, how he touched her. How could something that feels so good and so right be a mistake? She decided to shrug it off and not hold onto things that were done with. Her thoughts were interrupted when Sango stopped and parked in front of the bar that Kikyo worked in.

"You want me to come with you?" Sango asked.

"No, it's kind of...personal. I'll tell you one day but right now isn't good." Kagome opened her car door.

"Alright..." Sango said unsurely.

Kikyo bowed her head as she wiped the rim of a wine glass with a towel. The past few weeks have been hectic. She's been doing doubles left and right trying to come up with enough money to leave. As horrible as it sounds, Inuyasha was her way out before he went in debt. Ever since the scandal, he hasn't been doing so well in the music world.You couldn't turn on the television without hearing about the scandal on broadway and the debate on Inuyasha's sexual lifestyle. Fans were returning his cd's and would bash his name around. He barely went out without his bodyguards anymore due to upset and hostile fans.

How messed up everything became. She was beginning to wonder if it was Karma taking its toll. In the beginning, she and Inuyasha both related to each others problems, not being good enough in the eyes of their parents and peers. When she dated Sesshomaru, he barely paid any mind to her. She hardly saw him at weeks at a time and when they had seen each other, he barely even touched her. How can Karma be so cruel to her, it wasn't her fault. Sesshomaru made her do the things she did. He pushed her to cheat on him. Anything to get a rise out of him, any anger or emotion at all instead of the not impressed, impervious expression he always had on his face. She looked up and gasped as she saw Kagome walked towards her.

"What are you doing here?" Kikyo said in a snappy yet somber tone.

" It's a public place, for one and I need to speak to you about something, what the hell is going on with you and this person called 'Naruto'." Kagome went straight to the point as she sat on the bar stool and ignored the nasty perverted looks from the men around the bar.

" None of your business. " Kikyo went to walk away but Kagome grabbed her arm.

" It is my business. Someone attacked me last night thinking I was you!" Kagome's voice broke but then cleared her throat.

For a moment, Kikyo had a look of concern and shook her head. She got herself into a big mess.

She closed her eyes and gestured for Kagome to follow her. Kagome hesitated at first but followed her to the back of the bar. Kikyo pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag as she opened the backdoor to the alley.

"Kikyo, I don't have all day..." Kagome tapped her foot and leaned on the wall of the doorframe.

" Naruto is an underground launderer and does occasional weapons trade.." Kikyo started, her eyes filling with tears.

" Yeah, so...what does that have to do with you?"

" I did some..things for him. He'd sell me to some higher clients in order to get better bargains for the shipments he'd order.."

Kagome's eyes opened wider as she stared at her sister in disbelief.

Kikyo took Kagome's silence as a sign to continue.

" A few months ago, right before school finished, he had me do a drop off by the pier, 70 kilos of pure uncut Cocaine, all I had to do was drop it off and get the money, but the fucking bastard and his thugs jumped me for the merchandise and split. Anyway, I begged Naruto to give me a chance to pay him back, so he gave me 2 months to come up with 250 grand. I actually owed a lot more, but he said to pay him 100 grand and...perform..services for ...f..free.." Kikyo choked trying to hold back her tears.

Kagome glared at her trying to hold in her anger. No, she was not going to feel sorry for her. She was the stupid one who had to go get herself into crap like this.

" as for the money?" Kagome asked tightening her jaw.

" I kept trying to save but it was soo hard. I eventually lost my apartment"

" That's why you live with Inuyasha..." Kagome muttered.

"How do you know that?" Kikyo asked in a whisper, her face almost looking embarrassed.

Kagome gasped forgetting that no one other than the people at the office knew she and Sesshomaru lived together and that he was the one to tell her about Kikyo living with Inuyasha.

" Um..word gets around, continue.."

" Well, I also had to sell my car just to get at least near a quarter of a million and lets not forget you stole from me, so it made it a lot harder!" Kikyo took another pull.

" Don't try to deflect your problems on me! I'll pay you the 3 grand back but just keep your problems away from me!" Kagome shouted in anger. " You are really something, you know? Always blaming people for your problems and actions! You know, I always knew you were shady and always stealing your friend's boyfriends but I thought for some reason, you wouldn't do that to me! How could you go and ruin my life, Kikyo, why? What did I do to you!" Kagome cried.

" What did you do to me?" Kikyo asked in shock of a stupid question. " Oh, right, because you are miss perfect Kagome, always getting good grades and miss responsibilty. All innocent and fragile.." Kikyo mocked. " Always getting the attention from everyone. I could never have anyone or anything without you taking it away from me!"

"What? Who did I take away from you? Huh? Tell me! Did you forget you took Inuyasha?"

"Kikyo!" yelled a guy in an apron in anger. " You got a crowd by the bar that needs some service!"

" I'm coming!" Kikyo shouted and looked back at Kagome. " Don't come back here. I don't want to see you."

Kagome walked in and scoffed. " Count on it! The feeling's mutual!" and with that, she stormed out of the bar.

Sango looked up at her fuming friend as she got into the car and refrained from making any comment.

"So..." Sango said.

" Let's go get the pictures.." Kagome growled.

" Right..." Sango nodded and raised her brows as she put the gear in drive and drove off.

A girl in her teens yawned as she stared at the machine printing pictures. Her job was so boring, she thought. Another girl, was leaning against the counter holding a mirror and applying lipstick.

" Hey, Tika, do you think the rumors are true, that Inuyasha is gay?" said the girl sitting down as she stared at the printer.

"Who knows, Kani, it seems these days, everyone is gay.." Tika shrugged.

"The news said that he wasn't the one that caused the fire on Broadyway or went into that gay club.." whispered Kani.

" Kani, get it right. It was a drag club, not gay." corrected Tika as she rolled her eyes.

" Same thing, isn't it?" Kani naivily asked.

" No, shithead. Being a drag doesn't necessarily mean you're gay, it just means you like to dress in woman's clothing..." Tika scoffed.

"Man, this job is so boring! Nothing ever happens. It seems all people take pictures of these days are of their cat's birthdays and kid's communions. If I had money, I'd so bail!" Kani sighed and slouched.

"Me too..." Tika agreed. " We need to find a way to make some money or something so I can move out of my parent's house!"

"Aw shit!" Kani shot up and cursed under her breath.

" What?" Tika looked back from her compact mirror at her friend.

"This girl's pictures, they're messed up, they are all coming out black!" Kani cursed as she hit the machine.

"Wait, " Tika said as she squinted to get a better look. The printer stopped and she pulled out the pictures that kept coming out." no, look, see, some are coming out, where are the negatives?" she turned back to look for them.

" Here..." Kani pulled them out of the printer and they both held it up to the light to see it. " Shit, the film must have been corroded to begin with. Only 3 came out out of 24..."Kani began to look through the pictures. Each that she flipped to were black except for the last three. One picture of half of a girl's face and what looked to be a kitten. The other was of a girl and a really hot guy and the last was of a guy with a hat with girl's dancing around him.

" Those are some ugly chicks.." Tika laughed. "But that guy is super hot!" she bit her lip.

"Tika..." Kani said slowly and looked up. " Why does this look familiar?" she held up the picture with the girls dancing around the guy.

Tika opened her eyes and snatched the pictures. " Hmm, those girls are actually guys...wait, Oh my god, Kani!"

" Uh huh!" Kani jumped and squealed.

" You know what this means? Oh my god! This is our meal ticket out of our parent's home. Quick, that girl should be back, make a copy of this picture." Tika handed her the picture of Sesshomaru and the drag queens."..the other ones don't matter. I'm going to make a call." she said as she pulled out her cellphone and dialed information. " Yes, the daily news please.."

Kagome looked at the pictures and groaned as she flipped through them.

"We're like super sorry, Miss..but the camera you used was probably faulty, they probably kept it in a high temperatured room." said the girl.

Sango patted Kagome on the back as she looked at the pictures. Her mouth dropped when she saw one of Kagome and Sesshomaru.

" They're like..free, if you want. You can even keep the doubles..."the girl smiled.

"Gee, thanks..." Kagome sighed. "This sucks..oh well, I guess these 3 aren't bad..."

"When did you get a cat?" Sango frowned as she grabbed the pictures from Kagome's hand.

" Oh..a couple of days ago. Her name is Kirara.. Shit, today is not my day, man!" Kagome spat as they walked out of the store.

"What's this about?" Sango asked as she held up the picture of she and Sesshomaru.

" Oh, we were trying to finish the film. " Kagome answered her question as she looked at her watch. "It's getting late, I have to get home.."

"Let's pick up some food first, I'm hungry again.." Sango rubbed her stomach.

"Damn..." Kagome smirked and shook her head. " You've been eating a lot, I'm surprised you aren't fat.."

"Gee, thanks.." Sango sarcastically grinned.

Sesshomaru looked at the clock and stared back at the television. It was nearly 8 o'clock. What was taking her so long to get home. As on cue, the door opened and Kagome came in with a grin.

"Hey!" she said as she closed the door and locked it. Now she remembers. She sprinted towards the couch and sat next to Sesshomaru. "Where'd you go today?" she asked as she removed her jacket.

" I..had some errands to do.." he cleared his throat as he scooted away from her. Kagome noticed it and a saddened expression took over her face.

" Oh, um, ok. Well I developed the pictures but only like..3 came out. I got doubles incase you wanted one.."

Sesshomaru stared at the television without acknowledging her.

" I also talked to Kikyo today.." Kagome side glanced him.

He shot his gaze at her with a look of concern. "and?"

Kagome tried to gulp down the jealousy she felt when she got his attention with Kikyo's name.

"She told me the whole thing with Naruto. It's pretty big. She owes him a quarter of a million dollars.."

"Is that so?" Sesshomaru said in a soft tone and squinted his eyes at the television.

"Yeah..." Kagome said as she didn't know what else to say and got up to go to her room and change. She left her bag and the pictures on the couch by him.

He shot a side glance at the pictures and looked back at the television. He looked back at the pictures and scoffed as he grabbed them and began to look through them.He cocked a brow at the picture of Kirara and Kagome and frowned when he saw the picture of him with his head down while the men in drag danced around him, the next picture was of him and Kagome. His face went soft but tightened as he looked up and saw Kagome staring at him. He cleared his throat and set the pictures back down.

Kagome mentally laughed and stared at him with a teasing smirk.

" You're so funny, you know that?" she went to sit by him.

"How so?" his face remained stern.

"because you are so full of it..." Kagome continued to shoot her teasing smirk. " You like to act like you don't care..but you do."

" I haven't the slightest what you're on about.." Sesshomaru scowled as he changed the channel.

" Uh huh..." she sucked her teeth. " It's like how."she paused. ".you call me and wonder where I am because you were worried, right?.. and how you showed no interest in the pictures but when no one is looking, you are filled with curiousity and just have to see them..."

Sesshomaru glared at her and shook his head. " You think what you want..."

Kagome frowned at him and shook her head in annoyance. She was growing tired of his 'I'm too cool to care' act. She wondered what it would take for him to lose his coolness.

" So, be honest, were you worried?" Kagome asked.

Sesshomaru stood silent and sighed. " Yes, you didn't lock the door, we have valuable things here that could have been stolen.."

"Is that what you were worried about?" Kagome dropped her mouth disbelievingly at him.

Sesshomaru smirked slightly. " Of course, what other means should I be worried about?" he glanced at the fuming girl.

Kagome scoffed.

Sesshomaru snuck a glance at her and set his gaze on her lips and looked away.

" You were attacked last night, how do you expect me to be when I come home and your car is downstairs and the door is left open?" he said seriously.

Kagome looked at him surprisingly not expecting him to say that. She bowed her head and blushed as she let her hair fall to her face.

" Oh, well..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." she looked up at him somberly but squinted her eyes at him in question. There were so many questions she had wanted to ask him but she didn't see him answering her. The whole question about the mark was burning a hole through her mind. She decided to leave it alone for now, she will ask him later. She was very bored and decided to make a little scrapbook. She saw a girl on tv do it and wanted to do it too since she had nothing else to do. She got up and grabbed her things off the couch.

" I'll be in my room.." she told him.

"Alright.." he said in a low tone as he watched her enter her room and frowned. He could tell she wanted to ask him something by the way she kept leering at him in squints. He ignored it and went into his room to workout. Eventually, he knew, they had to speak about what was going on with them two. Although they said they would forget about it, he knew that there still was no closure in the matter and part of him, wanted to keep it that way.