A/N

-trumpets sounding- Chapter 21 is here!

LMAO

Enjoy and Review?

-puppy eyes-

~Smo

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. …. But they are really fun to play with, and I hope that every one tries to take them, torture and abuse them, manipulate them, and make them suffer at least once. . MAKE THEM YOUR SLAVES

Chapter 21

Kagome shrugged as she set down the tea. There was a knock at the door, and now that it was only her and the two servants, she was the main housekeeper. She grumbled something inaudible under her breath as she began to walk over to that door.

She was actually happy that Miroku had invited Sango to his country home for the summer. Miroku had been kind enough to invite Kagome along, but she couldn't leave. What if Shippo came to the doorstop one of these days? What if something happened and she needed to be here? Kagome couldn't resist.

She let out a sigh before her fingers wrapped around the door and she pulled it open. That sigh turned into a fearful gasp as Naraku welcomed himself inside, brushing past her as if he had entered his own home and she was nothing but his servant.

"Lo-Lord Naraku," Kagome greeted, trying to hide the disgust and fear from her voice. This man shouldn't be here; Kagome never wanted to see his face again. "What do you want?" She asked.

Kagome inwardly smacked herself. That sounded rude, and Kagome didn't want to be rude to the man that could kick her out of the house she lived in. She had yet to get herself out of the house debt, or the debt her father owed to Naraku.

"I want you, Kagome," Naraku stated bluntly. Kagome blinked at him, unsure of what to do. Maybe she hadn't heard it right. "It is either you or the money," Naraku mumbled, turning around to meet her.

Kagome was still clinging to the open door. Her heart was racing in her chest. "You overstep your bounds," she growled out, the rage inside her growing as he smirked. "I have paid you back to this day, I still have time!" She argued.

She didn't hear the sound of the motor engine, too focused on the man in front of her. "I will never choose you, for anything!" She exclaimed angrily.

Naraku gave a smile then. It wasn't a deviant smirk. It was a soft smile that made her question who this man suddenly was. "I will make you my wife, Kagome. I will give you and your servants everything, your sister Sango and Miroku will be taken care of. You will never have to worry about any debt," he soothed, nearing her.

Kagome braced herself against the wall, the door slipping from her fingers. It didn't close, however. She looked up, her heart gave a leapt of joy when she connected with eyes of embers.

Inuyasha only met her gaze for a moment before whipping his head to stare at Naraku. "What are you doing here?" He asked briskly. Kagome was sure that Inuyasha could feel the fear coming off of her.

She cleared her throat, snapping out of her frozen state to open the door wider. "Lord Naraku, I will have to decline your proposal and remind you that I will return everything you have given my father," Kagome shook as she spoke the words.

Naraku had just offered her his hand in marriage. The thought shocked and disgusted her at the same time. Unfortunately, she needed money and he had promised to take care of her family, something that was important to her.

Naraku nodded as he walked up to her. He paused, looking out the corner of his eyes down at her. He then smiled. "I will not stop until you accept," Naraku warned. He then smirked, "It would be much better than being Sesshoumaru's mistress."

Kagome's eyes widened. How had Naraku known? Did he really know, or was he bluffing? "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Kagome whispered under her breath, clenching her teeth in anger.

Naraku leaned closer to her, and she heard Inuyasha growl, or was it a snarl? "Lady Kagome," Naraku muttered with a grin, "Sesshoumaru will never marry you. He will tire of you, and when he does, you'll be old and worthless."

Kagome shoved him off, slamming the door as he left. Her whole being shook with the force of her fear and annoyance. She turned sharply on her heel, staring at Inuyasha.

His eyes could see the struggle in hers. He sighed and gave her a soft smile. "Good timing, huh?" He cracked the pathetic joke in a horrible attempt to break the awkward air.

"Why are you here?" Kagome blurted out. She winced, shaking her head and apologizing. "Sorry, I –What can I help you with, Lord Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha leaned against the hallway, before pulling an envelope from his pocket. "My family is hosting a ball. It is in Sesshoumaru's honor because of his new career as the Commissioner of St. Louis," Inuyasha explained. "I am personally inviting you on his behalf. You can bring whoever you want, but I must warn you, Sesshoumaru will not go to his own celebration if he can't have his woman. The man is an idiot."

Kagome pulled the invitation from his grasp. The whitened paper was elegant in texture. The calligraphy professionally done as it personally invited her by name. She was flattered by it.

"I will be there," Kagome cleared her throat. It would be a good time to meet other men, and make sure people still saw her as a member of high society. She could also try to weasel her way into buyers interested in her father's business.

"Does he know about it?" Kagome added. Inuyasha had made it sound as if Sesshoumaru didn't. Surely, Sesshoumaru would know about a ball being held at his own estate, and for him.

"No," Inuyasha returned quickly. He then nodded his head to her and tipped his hat. "I have other invitations to drop off though, you need a ride somewhere?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome's thought for a moment, and gave a nod. She did need a ride. She had been planning to visit Sesshoumaru at the office and figure out what he found out at the abandoned farm and at Naraku's.

She had to admit that part of her had wanted to follow Sesshoumaru and Kouga when they had gone to the house the next morning. However, she couldn't have forced herself to see Sesshoumaru again. Not after what he had said and done.

Kagome followed Inuyasha out to the car, her fingers fleeing to her lips. She remembered how that kiss had felt, a blush breaking across her cheeks at the memory.

The ride to the office was quick and uneventful. Inuyasha had ridden up front with the driver while Kagome had sat quietly in the back. Her hands crossed in her lap and her bonnet wound tightly around her black hair. The green ribbons cupping down to hang loosely over the lavender dress she wore.

Inuyasha helped her get out, but didn't accompany her up. He did give her enough money to pay for a cab fare before ordering the driver off.

She wandered up the stairs. She had never been in the police quarters before, and when she entered, was shocked at how busy it was. The noise hit her unprepared ears, loud and bustling. Bodies were moving quickly around, bells going off and papers being crumpled.

"Ma'am?" Someone called out to her, "Can I help ya?" He asked stiffly, coming up to her side. He looked younger than she was nothing more than a volunteer.

"I'm looking for Commissioner Taisho?" Kagome asked. The boy looked skeptical instantly before she sighed. "He is working on a case for me…he asked me to come by," she lied.

The boy looked her over once more, shrugged, turned around, and began to lead her towards a staircase. She followed him, but couldn't keep her eyes from straying.

The higher they got, the less noisy it was. By the time they reached the third stairs, Kagome hardly heard anything from the entrance floor.

The boy knocked on the door, and they both heard a rather stiff order to come. Kagome opened the door. The boy was taking too long.

She stared at Sesshoumaru in horror. The bags were heavy under his eyes, which were red from lack of sleep. "My god, did you get one bit of sleep?" She asked, ushering the boy out of the room and closing the door.

She set her bonnet down on the desk and sat in front of him, awaiting the answer. "I had far too much work to do," Sesshoumaru returned. She didn't hear any sound of happiness in his voice.

His desk was littered with papers; some had even fallen to the floor. Now that Kagome looked at them, the papers on the floor were organized. Each pile was surrounded by papers that were somehow linked to that case. "How many cases are you working on?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Too many," Sesshoumaru replied instantly, pulling the glass of brandy to his lips and taking a long swig. He hissed as it singed his throat before turning to look at Kagome. She smelled like his brother. "Where is Inuyasha?" He asked.

Kagome raised an eyebrow at him. Had he been expecting him? "He dropped me off on his way to your home," Kagome answered. "I wanted to ask what you found at the house and what Naraku said…" she whispered.

She stood up. Guilt pulled at her heart. She felt bad for interrupting him in such a state. He looked as if he needed to sleep and eat.

"It was burned to the ground," Sesshoumaru shot out before she could leave. He had been lonely all night, and the guest in front of him was a welcomed surprise.

The scent was keeping him awake, and he didn't want to be alone. You sound pathetic, his demon chimed in.

"Naraku admitted to writing the letter, but he doesn't know where Shippo is," Sesshoumaru added. Kagome hummed, but she looked as if she were struggling. "Why?" He asked.

"He stopped by my home, Inuyasha actually saved me," Kagome explained.

Sesshoumaru growled under his breath. He had explicitly ordered the man to not go near her, and he does the exact opposite. "What did he do?" He demanded to know.

Kagome flushed, and Sesshoumaru felt his heart stop. Naraku, had he taken advantage of her? "H-He proposed to me and said he would give me all the money I needed to take care of my family," Kagome whispered dejectedly. She was almost in a different world than.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in horror, "You are considering it?" He asked. It surprised him; he hadn't thought Kagome to be so gullible.

Kagome flushed. She would never consider such a thing. However, she remembered what he had said. He would marry her, which was one honorable thing. Another sentence came to mind… one that would haunt her. Sesshoumaru would indeed use her until he tired of her. When that day came, he would throw her away, and she would be worthless afterwards. She would be too old to take on a new suitor with no money left from his attentions.

"I would do no such thing," Kagome spoke a few moments later, disgusted that he would even think she would consider it. "Although, he said he would allow me to be your mistress as well…" She watched him for a reaction, and was surprised when his eyes got wider… and redder?

It had to be because of sleep depravation. "That bastard!" Sesshoumaru shouted, causing Kagome to jump. "I warned him not to go near you," he continued, standing up.

Kagome calmed him down, "He is obviously trying to provoke you. I would never marry a foul creature like Naraku."

"Oh? Then why did you think about it?" Sesshoumaru demanded to know. He needed to know if Kagome had any feelings towards the evil monster.

Kagome went silent again. How would she tell him of her worries? Sesshoumaru had no room for sympathy. He didn't care what happened after he was done with her. She scoffed, turning her head away.

He was near her in a few seconds, and she was shocked at the speed. "What is it?" He asked

Kagome saw his hand begin to move towards her. Her memory flashed to the room, of him cupping her head as he kissed her.

She jumped out of her chair and backed away. She would be useless after he was done with her. Kagome didn't want to be the spinster or the old hag that roamed the park. She wanted to be able to take care of her family, to enjoy her life with a man she loved.

"He said you would be dishonorable!" She exclaimed. "You would tire of me, and throw me away! I-I can't go through with that! I'll be useless then!"

Kagome wasn't prepared for the sudden feeling of lips that pressed against her owns after that. She wasn't prepared for the fingers that tangled in her hair or the hand that wrapped gently around her neck to crane her head up to meet his.

She wasn't prepared for the passion that she felt in the kiss. Her eyes widened, but she only saw his face in front of her. His eyes were closed, but she could see a sense of contentment in his expression.

Slowly, her eyes closed. Her lips moved against his. Her hands wrapped around him, tugging him closer by his shoulders. His tongue swept against her bottom lip and she welcomed him inside by parting her own lips.

He groaned aloud, and the sound made her shudder. "S-Sesshoumaru," she whispered as her head began to grow foggy, and a heated feeling was beginning to pull into her stomach. It was as if the room had soared into the blazing sun.

Sesshoumaru was in heaven. Kagome had actually accepted his kiss. And his name -dear god she had said his name. He moaned, fisting her hair and pulling her closer against him.

He felt the aching member in his pants as it strained for freedom. His inner beast was coiling tightly, waiting to explode and unleash the fury against her.

A whimper echoed in his mind. A sudden beg came shortly afterwards, "I-It's hot…" Kagome's voice whispered.

He opened his eyes. His heart stopped. The face didn't belong to Kagome's anymore, but his ex-his fiancé. He saw the woman look up at him in terror- in horror.

He shoved her away, but Kagome returned. A shocked expression meeting his own look of complete revulsion, "Out… Get out." He choked out.

A sob came from the woman before him, the girl that he wanted all for himself. He couldn't do it to her. He couldn't bear to see Kagome look at him and reject him as his last woman had.

"Y-You are a monster!" Kagome shouted, cried out before bolting out the door.

Sesshoumaru collapsed in defeat in the chair. He pulled a hand over his face, sighing as he did so.

He was a damned monster.