A/N: For the 'Treat' theme on Dokuga's LJ comm - 400 words, no more no less. Originally posted on May 16, 2011.

The 'third man in the ring' is the referee in boxing and MMA.

This story won FIRST PLACE in the IYFG's Action/Adventure category this term! :D As thanks, I'm going to catch up and post two parts for this series *today*. And I hope to have more for you very soon - of a couple different stories!

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Third Man in the Ring

Kagome closed her apartment door and smiled as she dropped her things onto the coffee table and kicked off her shoes. A glance at the clock told her that it was far too late to call Miroku for a check-in or Sango for girlish gossip. Neither one would be very pleased to hear what she had to say anyway. Maybe she would keep this to herself.

A knock stopped her in her tracks, causing her to check the time again. She took a cautious step towards the threshold. "Sesshoumaru?"

"Yeah," came the answering scoff. "You wish."

She rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Koga. What do you want at this hour?"

The wolf flashed her a mocking smile and squeezed past her and into her place. "You didn't answer your phone. I thought I was pretty clear about that."

"I was with Sesshoumaru. I can't answer the phone with him around. I could be several rooms away, and he'd hear every word."

He cocked his head and tapped his neck. "And it'd be rude to walk out on what you two were doing," he said with a grin that reminded her of Miroku. "He wasn't very gentle. Or maybe you like that."

Kagome's hand flew up to cover the small bruise on her throat. "It's none of your business."

"Maybe he's not used to how fragile you humans can be," Koga continued. The smile disappeared in an instant. "And it is my business. My undercover is sleeping with a criminal. Not that it hasn't happened a million times before, but usually, sex is just another weapon that can be used to get information. That's not what's happening here."

"You're judging me for caring about the man that I'm sleeping with? If it's been done a million times before, what do my motivations matter? We have our 'in', after all."

Koga sighed. "You think that I'm a bastard, but I'd rather not see a good cop ruin her career for a fling that can't go anywhere. One day, he's going to get arrested, and you're probably going to be the one that does it."

"I've gotten this speech before," she said, turning away.

"Right. But you love him now, don't you?" He shrugged. "I can't take you off the case. We can't waste this chance. So, do you?"

Kagome met his stern gaze, and she knew she couldn't lie. "Yes."

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