AN: Apologies for the wait. Thank you so much to each and every one who has reviewed this story thus far. I had been struggling with the last few chapters and this one as well. I decided to not post it until I deemed it acceptable. Well, what do you know, my favorite parts from this chapter came only days ago! And that spark fueled me into finishing this chapter and getting work done on the next few! Feels great to have my muse back! So please review! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did when I was rereading it for the final draft. Please excuse any spelling/grammar errors and let me know what you think!

Some time had passed since Sesshomaru left for home. Kenichi had indeed calmed down by the time Sesshomaru called him from the airport and spoke with him. Kenichi had been depressed during the first week but after that he was back to normal. It also helped cheer him up when Sango came back from her stay with Miroku. Kagome made sure that Kenichi spoke with Sesshomaru at least three times a day and she would text him constantly on Kenichi's behalf. The night of Sango's return, she and Kagome had a sit down after Kenichi went to sleep.

They were seated on opposite sides of the living room couch each holding a glass of red wine; the television was on quietly for background noise.

"So," Sango started, "how did it go with Sesshomaru?"

Kagome tilted her head, going over the events. "It was alright." Then her eyes lit up. "Oh my gosh, I'll be right back."

Before Sango could respond, Kagome had ran out of the room and before she could figure out what just happened, Kagome was already back; a wide grin on her face.

"Look at this." Kagome held something shiny out, handing it to her friend.

"Wow," Sango took the bracelet and carefully examined it.

"It's real too!" She added excitedly.

"No way," Sango said in a hushed whisper. "This must have cost a fortune!"

"I know!" she squeaked.

"So what does Koga think of your gift?" Sango asked, handing the jewelry to her friend, a sly smile was on her face. She had a suspicion he wouldn't be as happy as the girls.

"Ah," Kagome shifted her eyes, "he doesn't know about it."

Sango laughed.

"Well what am I supposed to tell him?" Kagome wanted to defend herself. "Hey babe," she mocked with a hand in the air. "My baby's father just got me this really expensive bracelet, which you probably couldn't afford. It didn't mean anything special, I mean, its nice right? No, I won't wear it on our dates." She ended her show with a pointed look. "Cause that conversation would end well." She frowned; it was just a bribe, a beautiful, expensive bribe that their child helped pick.

"Hm." Sango pointed her lips. "Well if you gave it to me I'm sure Miroku wouldn't mind!"

They shared a laugh at the joke. It was funny because it was true. Miroku would probably ask for whoever got it for her to get him something too.

"So," Sango sipped on her wine. "Why is Sesshomaru buying you jewelry?"

Kagome rolled her eyes, thinking about his initial motives. "He said something really bad to Koga and threw me under the bus. Then the next time I saw him he gave it to me."

"Don't let him buy you off." Sango eyed the bracelet; it had been set on the coffee table. "Well, it is really nice. Maybe just this one time."

"He better not act up like that again anyways," Kagome added. "Now Koga's upset with me."

Sango waited, eyeing her friend, knowing she would continue.

"He knows Sesshomaru has been giving me money for everything and he wants it to stop. So now I have to figure out how to make Sesshomaru and Koga happy. I'm sure he'd leave me if I started dancing again, but I don't know what to do. That industry makes such great money…" Kagome trailed off, racking her brains for ideas.

"I have an idea," Sango said.

"What?" Kagome tilted her head; Sango always had the best ideas.

"Well, why don't you waitress at the club?" She offered. "Or better yet, bartend somewhere!"

"That's a great idea Sango!" Kagome's head nodded in agreement. "I don't think I would be a good bartender but I could talk to my old manager and see if he'd hire me as a waitress part time. We always had a bunch of waitresses in a night and some of them rarely worked. I bet I could make good money from that."

"Exactly." Sango smiled, always happy to help her best friend. "So," she made an uncomfortable expression. "I kind of wanted to talk to you about something…"

The look Kagome received made her nervous. "What?" She took a gulp of her wine, in case she would need it. Sango was always super chipper, so she was anxious about what the woman would say.

"Miroku and I were discussing the idea of me moving in with him. I could get a job at a gym out there, and I only need to take four more classes to graduate. They're all offered online, and if I do two classes next semester and the same in the spring I could start wedding planning for next year."

"That sounds like a great plan."

"Thanks," a small blush covered the woman's cheeks. "I'm just concerned about you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, I mean, we've lived together for so long. Since your mom kicked you out and we were at my parent's house, to our first ghetto apartment," she smiled at the memory, "to moving in here. If I leave then you'd have to do it all on your own. And I've always had your back; I don't want to make things harder for you, Kagome."

"Sango." Kagome placed a hand on her friends shoulder as heart swelled at her friend's thoughtful concerns. "You're my best friend. I want what's best for you just like how you want what's best for me. You've been there for me through so much and I don't want to be the reason that you can't live your happily ever after with Miroku."

"But what are you going to do? With the money you were getting from Sesshomaru you could afford this place but no-" She was cut off.

"Stop." Kagome held her hand up. "Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl and I'll figure something out. Maybe Koga can move in; his lease expires in two months." She smiled wistfully at the thought of her and Koga taking the next step into their relationship. "The plan you and Miroku have is great, and if you try to give it up for me I'm going to kick you out of here myself, okay?"

Sango reacted by reaching forward and hugging her best friend. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kagome squeezed her friend back before they broke apart. Kagome grabbed the wine bottle off the coffee table and refilled her glass as well as Sango's. "This is to you and Miroku, and me and Kenichi. To all of us moving towards the next chapter of our lives." Kagome would never let Sango know just how worried she was about Sango leaving. Her friend's happiness would not be sacrificed just for Kagome's life to be a bit easier.

"To us." Sango's lips turned upward as she clinked her glass against Kagome's.

"It's great to have you back, Reina."

"Thanks, Leah." Kagome smiled at her old friend in the mirror while she tightened the strings of her corset. "It's definitely going to be an adjustment. I've never waitressed before." She had decided to use her old stage name, for safety reasons since her reputation among customers was that of a dancer. She didn't need them trying to contact her in real life for a private show, or worse.

"Why aren't you dancing?"

"My son's father guilt tripped me into quitting; he's been giving me more than enough money to pay my bills without working. But my newish boyfriend found out that I was using Sesshomaru's money to pay for everything and got upset, which I get. If I were a guy I'd feel pretty upset about someone else taking care of my girlfriend. Anyways, I decided that I'd get a job that made good money to support myself again which would make Koga happy, but I wouldn't dance to keep things good between Sesshomaru and I."

Leah put down her powder brush and turned to look at her friend and not Kagome's reflection. She frowned. "That's really complicated."

Kagome raised her eyebrows; her lips were in a half smirk. "I know, right?" Kagome took a deep breath and quickly touched up her hair before she grabbed her serving tray. "I'll see you out there," she called out as she left the dressing room.

…

A couple hours later during a slow period, Kagome excused herself and stepped out onto the club's patio. She pulled her phone out and called Sesshomaru.

He picked up after two rings.

"Hello?"

"Sesshomaru, it's me," she said. Yes, he had caller ID but Kenichi often took his mother's phone to call him.

"Hn."

"I was just calling to tell you that Sango was going to be babysitting tonight, so call her when you want to talk to Kenichi."

She heard him huff in indignation before speaking. "On another date?"

"No." Kagome rolled her eyes. "I'm working."

"Working?" There was a slight pause. "I was unaware you had been looking for a job." The tone of his voice indicated his curiosity.

"I need to provide for myself and Kenichi," she explained.

"Is the money I send insufficient?" They had gone over her expenses before; he did not understand why she took up work, unless she was bored.

"No, Sesshomaru, it's more than enough. But that's Kenichi's money, not mine. I want to be the one paying my bills, not you." She neglected to mention that Sango was moving out and she'd have to save up. She was still being truthful though, a bank account had been set up for all of the money Sesshomaru sent to be kept. That money would be used for their son, and only him; Kagome would carry her own weight. Especially after learning just how upset Koga felt over her assistance from Sesshomaru.

"I understand," he said honestly. "Where are you working at this hour? I planned to call soon, knowing Kenichi's bedtime was approaching."

"The Jewel," she answered, nervously, "but it's waitressing! I'm not dancing."

A scoff was heard. "You expect me to believe that? Isn't that was every stripper says, that she is a waitress?" It was partially true, many women had admitted to that before. Kagome couldn't even take much offense from his question; she knew plenty of girls who claimed to be a waitress, bartender, or door girl just as an excuse to their loved ones.

"I'm not lying, Sesshomaru. You don't have a reason to not trust me; I've never lied to you before."

"True, but you did omit the truth of Kenichi's paternity for a few years."

"Right." Kagome smirked, pained by his words. "It's always going to come down to that, huh?" It hurt that he still blamed her for everything in the past. She did what she could, focused on raising her son. "I'm sorry," she sneered. "I was so distracted taking care of my premature baby that I didn't get to spend the time and money it would take to hunt you down."

"Kagome, stop." Sesshomaru heard her voice break a few times and knew he'd gone too far. He did not want to apologize, a part of him would always be hurt over the time he lost, but he did not want to continue to rub it in her face. There was nothing they could do to change the past. "If you say you are a waitress then I shall take your word on it, for now. Though, I'd appreciate if you could send me something to prove that you indeed wait tables, for my peace of mind."

"For your peace of mind?"

"Yes, I would like to know that you are holding up your end to our agreement."

"Fine Sesshomaru," she sighed in defeat. "I'll figure out something to send that proves I'm telling the truth." On her first payday, she'd send him a picture of the check.

"Alright. I will call Kenichi before it gets too late." Sesshomaru knew that Sango usually kept the child physically active, and he'd be on his way to bed soon.

He hung up the phone before she said bye. Kagome rolled her eyes as she locked the screen and put the phone down on the tray. 'Hasn't he ever heard of phone etiquette?'

She walked back into the club and frowned at the lack of customers. "It's dead in here!" she complained, out loud; the music volume stopped anyone from hearing her.

She was thankful that the few people there were being good tippers.

After some time passed, Kagome was sitting at the bar bored. She had been texting to pass the time but Sango had gone to sleep. She spoke with Sesshomaru to confirm that he talked to Kenichi, but that was the extent of their conversation. She had also been texting Koga throughout the night but his texts were becoming more random as the night got later; his last text revealed that he was in bed half asleep. She was also idly chatting with the bartender and a couple dancers seated next to her. Anything to make the time go by faster.

She found herself distracted when she happened to glance at her reflection in a mirror.

She looked acceptable in the dressing room with the blindingly bright lighting, and she looked amazing in the dimmed atmosphere. . She was wearing a black and red corset with a very short skirt, a red garter, and a pair of boots layered inside with thigh-high fishnet-stockings and then a black pair of socks that peeked a few inches above the rims of her boots while still allowing the fishnets to be seen.

She laughed, thinking to herself, 'I look like a sexy pirate!'

An idea formed into her mind as she turned to one of the women before her. Her boyfriend had been so considerate to stay up late to entertain her throughout her boredom, so she wanted to repay him; give him something nice to think about as he fell asleep.

"Hey Leah," she said loudly, pulling her friends attention over the loud the music. "Can you take a few pictures of me? I look better than usual and I want to send something to my boyfriend."

"Yeah, sure." The dancer agreed, especially since she had nothing better to do.

The women simultaneously got off the bar stools and started walking to an area notorious for the ladies taking their raunchy photos for their significant others. The lighting was perfect and they ornate club décor surely helped add to the background.

Leah was a great armature photographer. She directed Kagome with poses and took the pictures with the best angles and lighting. She wanted her friend to like the pictures. Too often, people take pictures for others that look terrible. That's not doing them a favor at all.

"Okay," Leah finally said. "I think we got some really good ones." She walked over to Kagome and dropped down on the couch beside her. They looked over the pictures together. Some of them had to be deleted but there were more good than bad.

"This is great; Koga's going to love these!" She felt her confidence boost tenfold by the sexy shots she'd taken. "Thank you so much." She gave her friend a genuine smile that was reciprocated.

"No problem." The scantily clad woman moved to stand up. "I'm gonna go outside; I need a cigarette. I'll be back." She would have offered for Kagome to join, but she knew that her coworker did not smoke.

Kagome nodded, noticing a group of men walking in. She quickly selected and then sent her pictures before putting her phone away.

'Finally,' she thought. 'Time to make some money.'

Sesshomaru let out a sigh as he exited his bathroom. He'd just taken a hot shower to help loosen his tense muscles. Inuyasha had given him a run for his money today. He was proud of the kid for doing so well, but Sesshomaru would do anything to make sure that his little brother would always be number two to him.

A vibration drew his attention to the nightstand as he dressed himself. When he had put on his pajama pants and shirt, he sat down on the bed and reached for his phone. Leaning back, he unlocked the screen to see an overview of his notifications.

A text from Inuyasha, one text from Sara, and three from Kagome. He frowned and tapped on Kagome's name first, wondering what she said that took up three texts. For a split second he hoped that there was not an emergency.

He opened their conversation and noticed that they were all picture messages. The images began to download and when they completed his eyes widened.

First thing he saw was Kagome Higurashi. She was scantily dressed in something that should be for the bedroom only. The vixen was leaning back against a large armoire, showing off the curves of her body while looking away wistfully. The lighting made her skin glow and the beautiful environment around her only complemented her.

The next one had Kagome lying on a leather couch. She had her head against the armrest and her back was slightly arched. Her right arm was leaning against the sofa and her left arm bent so that she could so seductively place the tip of her thumb against her bottom lip. Her right leg was bent while her left leg had been stretched out. Her body was positioned to send a message. That message said, take me.

The last picture was of Kagome sitting backwards on the leather couch. Her body was facing away from the camera. She had her knees bent beneath her, feet dangling off the edge, and her bottom was poking out. The skirt had hiked up her waist a bit, to reveal red panties; the position accentuated the curves of her round bottom and made the lips of her feminine parts easy to distinguish. Her hands gripped the back of the couch and her head was craned back a bit, mouth open, slightly agape. Sesshomaru could visualize himself walking up behind her, where she was perfectly posed for one of his favorite sex positions. All he would have to do was slide those sexy panties to the side. Or even better, slide them down just beneath her treasure for a tantalizing view, before he shoved himself in of her.

He closed his eyes and swallowed the increasing saliva in his mouth as he imagined what it would be like. Blurred images of the past came floating into his mind. His blood started to rush into his private appendage, bringing his rod to life.

Why did she send him these pictures? Was she trying to torture him? What hot blooded man wouldn't get excited from seeing such images? How was he supposed to respond?

He was unsure of what to say but slowly typed out a message, trying to summarize his thoughts and feelings on their co-parenting relationship, and the unspoken sexual tension that had been reciprocating between them.

Your boyfriend won't like the results if you continue to taunt me…

He sent the text and then reread it. He hoped she would take his message seriously. They were both independent from each other relationship wise. She had her boyfriend and he had his lady friends; but he knew that, at least, her body was attracted to his and he knew that his body was more than attracted to hers.

He glanced up at the naughty photos and debated if he should delete them or not. Whether she sent them on accident, on purpose, or wanted to change her mind after reading his text, he would keep them. He smirked; half tempted to use one of the pictures as her contact photo. The only reason he held back was in case someone saw the picture while she was calling.

He ran his eyes over her likeness, the primitive part of him longing for self satisfaction and release. But he was better than masturbating to a woman's picture. He was Sesshomaru Takahashi, and he'd find a real woman when he needed pleasure, not these two dimensional images; no matter how sexy the woman in the photo was.

She unknowingly held a power over him; he would never let anyone know that. It wouldn't take much for the woman to seduce him. They may not have been the best of friends but it was apparent that his other head was all about Kagome. If she used that advantage wisely, she could have him wrapped around her finger. That was unacceptable. He was slightly perturbed as to why his body seemed so responsive to her. With steel resolve, he backed out of their conversation to read the other two texts. Hopefully they would divert his thoughts away from the temptress and his hard on would go away.

Inuyasha's face from his contact photo was an instant, and welcome, distraction. His message was just taunting about, eventually, Sesshomaru's ass getting handed to him.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and smirked at his brother's text. That day would never come as long as he was alive and breathing.

The message from Sara was the girl begging to come over; she had only seen him once since his return to town and it upset her greatly. He was unable to help the situation. Obligated to train vigorously for his upcoming match, he would be damned if he let his flavor of the month distract him.

Then again, she would prove great relief for some of his sexual frustrations from his other distraction.

Kagome was walking through the hall of her apartment as she lifted her phone to check the time.

It was very late, or very early, depending on how one looked at it.

The young mother groaned, knowing she would still be waking up whenever Kenichi decided to rise.

She quietly entered her bedroom and changed into some comfier clothes. When she was feeling more relaxed, she checked on the sleeping child, kissing his forehead softly. Her eyes gazed over him, full of love. He was the sun to her world and everything she did was to make their lives better.

She froze as he moved in his sleep. Her eyes were wide, she didn't even breathe.

He violently flipped his body onto the other side before scratching his head and grumbling in his sleep. It was cute, but scary; heaven forbid he woke up and caught her awake. She'd end up staying up all night with him. At least when Sango moved out and Koga moves in, Kenichi could have Sango's old room. Koga would obviously sleep with her. Kenichi would love to have his own room. He did not know of Sango's imminent departure, but he'd be more than thrilled when Sango gifts him with her former room.

A few moments passed as Kagome waited to make sure that her son did not wake. She quietly moved into her soft bed and crawled underneath the covers.

Once comfortable, in a supine position, she stretched, and then reached over towards the nightstand to grab her phone. She remembered receiving a text from Sesshomaru earlier at work. She was unable to open it because one, it became busy, and two, she doubted that the text was anything urgent and important enough to check while customers kept her busy. She was in no rush to answer because she figured he'd have been asleep hours ago, even with the time difference.

Kagome was a little disheartened that Koga did not respond to her message but gave him the benefit of the doubt. They're conversation ended a good half hour before she sent the pictures, he must have fallen asleep.

The phone hovered above her face at arm's length as she unlocked the screen and navigated towards her unread message.

She gasped loudly and accidently let go of her phone, dropping it on her nose. The collision echoed in within her head.

"Ah!" She sat straight up and covered her nose with her fingers. Her eyes had instantly watered and a tear escaped. She glared daggers at the small but hard device. Then she glanced over to the small child on the other side of the room; she hoped her outburst didn't wake him.

After a few moments, the pain in her nose subsided. That was the great thing about noses, they could be so sensitive, but the pain doesn't last long. She was also confident that the toddler was deep asleep and her brain began to focus on the initial problem at hand.

Sesshomaru's text message.

'Oh no,' she frowned, the reality of the situation really beginning to dawn on her. Not only did she accidently send dirty pictures to her child's father; he liked them! She would not have exactly agreed with his claim of her taunting him. Though she did remember the way his eyes lingered on her form at the beach, and how her presence in his bedroom dressed scantily clad had affected him. Now she sent him pictures of her in some of the most provocative poses a woman could do. Though unintentional, one could say she was inadvertently teasing him.

'Koga wouldn't like the results… and what would-' her mouth dropped open as she realized what the results would be. 'he would…' her face heated up, the dark room hiding the redness.

'Wait, I can't think like that!' she mentally scolded herself. 'The only guy I should want- no, I do want touching me is Koga.' She nodded, as if concurring with her inner voice. She was not that type of girl. Never one to cheat, if a relationship lasted long enough for the opportunity that is. Koga actually was her first real relationship… ever. She was stuck on Inuyasha for so many years, then she was pregnant, then she was a struggling single mom. She may have dated but her time with Koga was a first in many aspects. She enjoyed being a girlfriend, being his girlfriend. She took pride in saying that Koga was her man. Kagome wanted to be the best girlfriend she could be.

She decided that she would not respond to Sesshomaru's text. The text that was daring her to take it a step further, into the unknown and forbidden. If he brought it up again, she would apologize profusely and ask that the whole thing be forgotten, explaining that she accidently sent it to him instead of Koga. Both men were the last ones to text her before she sent the pictures, she should have been more careful of which contact her thumb selected.

'Whatever inappropriate feelings I keep having towards Sesshomaru, it needs to stop.' Her left hand was balled into a fist against her chest and her right hand sliced through the air, as if magically stopping it. 'I'm with Koga and he is good to me. I am going to lock those feelings up and put them away for good.'

AN: Review. Also, there wont be as long between updates anymore. I have written outlines for the next few chapters. That will help speed things up.