I have decided to promote myself as an author. I'm not really sure if anything will come of it, but I am currently writing a book on top of writing my fanfictions. I have a Facebook page set up right now. If you follow this page, you will be able to receive previews for next week's chapters, and then every chapter after that. I will also have a question-and-answer post occasionally. As long as it does not contain a spoiler, I will personally answer any questions you have. I would also hold polls on which story idea I work with next and the pairing. Basically, it would be a way to get everyone more involved. With that being said, if you wish to go and check out my Facebook page, go to PatriciaCMathena and look it up. Right now there is nothing there, but once I start getting followers, I will become more active. I hope you all enjoy this update.

Chapter 42

Naraku chuckled, his fingers tapping his face as his hand propped up his chin. He was leaning on his desk, propped on an elbow as he watched Touga and Kagome fall right into his plans. Kanna kept the mirror perfectly still, and when Touga roared out his completion, Naraku's grin widened sadistically.

Everything was going according to plan. Soon enough he would have Kagome in his grasp. He only needed to be a bit more patient. He had been after the woman for some time now, and he wasn't about to let her go. Especially to the dog.

"What exactly did the tea do?" Kagura was scowling in disgust as she looked at the mirror. She didn't particularly enjoy looking in at others, but for some unknown reason, Naraku had watched the entire thing unfold. "What about Rin? She drank the tea too."

"You really wish to know?" Naraku laughed darkly, not taking his eyes off of the screen as Touga and Kagome finished up. He cocked his head to the side, thinking over what he planned once more, that wicked smile still on his face.

"I wouldn't have asked otherwise." She fanned herself, rolling her eyes as she leaned back on the couch. She was ready for this to be over with. She didn't particularly care for Kagome, would rather have her dead, if she was being honest. However, killing the women was impossible with Naraku still fawning all over her.

"It's simple really. It was a specially made tea, one I had constructed. You see, it is a fertility tea. It makes any who drink it fertile enough that one good round in the bed will be enough to successfully breed. I believe they are on round three now?" He chuckled once more, watching as Touga and Kagome started over.

"I thought you wanted her for yourself?" Kikyou was angry. She was staying silent in the corner, but now that she knew what was happening, she felt betrayed. "I wanted Touga, and now I'm going to have to deal with another brat?"

Naraku narrowed his eyes at her, causing her to flinch back. When she was warned, he looked back to the mirror now wanting to miss Touga breeding Kagome unknowingly. "Touga's greatest fear is of Kagome becoming pregnant. He does not want any more children."

"You have flaws in your plan." Kagura crossed her legs, sitting elegantly on the couch. "He will smell her fertility. It is likely that he will take precautions once he realizes she is fertile. Not to mention, what makes you think this will bring her to your side? Wouldn't it just bring them closer together?"

"None of you are known for your brains." Naraku scoffed, eyes glancing over Kagura. "At least one of you have looks." It was left unsaid that he literally just called Kikyou worthless. No brain and no looks. She pouted in the corner, not saying any else. Naraku was silent for a moment and then spoke. "The tea muddles the scent of Kagome's fertility. It will be enough that it sends Touga into a frenzy, however, he will not be able to distinguish more than a sweeter scent coming from her. At most, he will think she changed shampoos."

He leaned back in his chair, still watching as his plans unfolded. "As far as their relationship goes, it will not survive. Touga does not want children, while Kagome loves them. When they discover her pregnancy a few weeks from now, he will not react kindly. She will leave, and then I will swoop in and comfort her. Her attentions will turn to me instead."

"And you will just raise his kid?" Kagura laughed, unable to see Naraku being fatherly to his own kids, let alone his rivals. She really did wonder about his thought process at times.

"Of course not. I will play the supporting part of stepfather, but unfortunately, Kagome will not make it out of the first trimester. I will take care of that problem by making her barren, unable to have children at all." Naraku scrunched up his face. "Children are not in the cards for us."

"Your sick, you know that?" Kagura shook her head, wondering why she stuck around. She thought about it for a moment, and then remembered it was the sex. She just needed to find someone who was better than Naraku. Still though… "It's just an innocent baby."

"That it may be, but when has that ever stopped me before." He waved a hand at her, watching as Touga once more reached completion. "I will not let his seed taint her womb for long. Only I belong there. For now, he can have his fun, but soon enough, she will be mine." Sighing, he motioned for Kanna to lower her mirror.

"So, Rin will end up pregnant as well?" Kikyou asked, still sitting in the corner. Knowing Naraku's plan, she wasn't as upset anymore. When she finally got Touga, there wouldn't be a little brat hanging around to mess things up.

Naraku shrugged, not really caring. "Possibly. If Sesshomaru did not smell her, or for some unknown reason resisted the temptation, then it is possible she is not pregnant. However, I have no desire to know what happens with them. As long as they stay out of my way, they can do as they please." He looked to Kagura once more. "What of Kouga's body?"

"I left it out where it can be found. I wouldn't be surprised if they had already stumbled across it. I left no trace of you aside from your miasma. They won't know who killed him, just like they haven't been able to pinpoint the Miasma they have found." Kagura stood, bored with this conversation. "May I have some money? I wish to go shopping."

Naraku handed her his card and not watching as she left. Kikyou glance at him, and then she too left. When he was alone, he turned to Kanna, unable to help himself. "Replay everything you showed me. I want to see it again." This time, he didn't fight his arousal as he watched Kagome in the throes of passion. He could pretend it was he that was pleasuring her, and when he pulled out his stiff cock, gripping it, he couldn't wait until he could finally bury himself into Kagome. He would be better than Touga ever was.

Touga panted, once more collapsing over Kagome. All night he had been needy. They would sleep for a few hours, and then he would wake up in pain and aroused once more. The sun had barely risen, and yet he had buried himself in her more than once.

"Perhaps you shouldn't drink that tea anymore." Rolling off of her, he laid there limply, feeling drained. She didn't say anything, humming at him instead. She was just as wore out as he. More so, since she was human, and he was not. He chuckled, patting her thigh, and leaving his hand there possessively. "The smell of that tea is not as strong."

"Thank gods." Kagome groaned. Touga chuckled once more, letting out a fanged yawn. Kagome yawned as well, much louder than he. "InuYasha will be up soon. We should shower and get ready for the day."

"You can stay in bed if you wish. We both know you didn't get much sleep last night." He grinned arrogantly, and she playfully swatted his chest. The last thing he needed was an ego boost. If his head swelled any bogger, it might actually start to match Sesshomaru's.

Touga's phone rang, and he reached over, grabbing it. He answered with a forced hello, not happy to be interrupted this early. Had he not just finished loving his mate, she would have still been asleep. It was a rule not to call him before a certain time.

When he heard what the person said, he was filled with both relief, and worry. Sitting up, he rubbed his face, and then looked to Kagome. "They will be holding an emergency meeting in an hour. That gives us time to shower and dress before the council arrives."

"What happened?" Kagome sat up, watching as Touga stood, picking up their dirty clothes from the night before. He shook his head and looked at her.

"I will tell you, but I would rather do so at the meeting. I do not have any answers to the questions you will undoubtedly have. I ask that you wait until then for your answers." He met her eyes, and she nodded, more worried than anything. She could wait an hour for her answers though.

They showered and dressed quickly, finishing up just in time to meet Sesshomaru outside the meeting room. He looked just as tired as them, and Kagome wondered if he had fallen to the smell of the tea as well. That would make for some interesting girl talk.

Making their way into the room, Kagome stared down the female council member that had been her rival. The member did not meet Kagome's eyes, keeping her head bowed respectfully. Smirking, Touga placed his hand on the small of Kagome's back, pulling out a chair for her.

Once they were all seated, Touga motioned for the council to begin, and it was the female who spoke. "Kouga, the male who informed of us the Lady being a Miko, has been found dead. He was impaled in various places, injected with miasma, and then left to bleed out."

"Who would do such a thing?" Kagome was horrified. She didn't like Kouga, especially after what he had done to her, but she would never wish death on anyone. Especially a death like that. It had to of been agonizing.

"We are unsure." Another member spoke, his voice deep. "This is not the first time this miasma user has struck. They have killed dozens at this point."

Kagome looked to Touga; eyes narrowed in frustration. Touga's eyes widen in response, not wanting Kagome's wrath directed to him. If they weren't discussing a demonic serial killer, it would be amusing to see the big daiyokai a tad bit fearful of his mate. "Why didn't you tell me? People are dying, and I had no idea." She felt bad, guilty even for the deaths of those who had suffered. "I've been sipping tea while there is a killer on the loose. How long had this been going on? Are there any connections between the deaths? Do you-"

"Kagome." Touga placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance. "I can assure you we are taking every precaution to catch this killer."

"As far as your questions." Sesshomaru ran his fingers through his hair, slouching slightly in his exhaustion. "There is no connection. Male or female. Old or young. Demon or human, it matters not. This is been going on for some time now, since before you first met the council."

"While we track down the killer, we are hiding what is happening. If news got out that there was a serial killer who just so happened to be a demon, we don't know what the humans will do." The council member flinched, glancing to his lady as he realized what he said. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I would have suggested the same. It is possible word will get out about the killings. If the wrong person comes across a body first, everyone can know in a matter of hours. I would suggest we claim that a human is killing everyone. Unfortunately, my species would react less if their own kind were doing the killing." Kagome sighed, hating how simple-minded the human race could be at times.

"It's a good idea." Another member agreed, the rest nodding their head. "For now, that is all we have. However, Kouga is the first of a significant standing to be killed. He was the leader of the eastern wolf tribe. His absence will be missed."

"Because of his obsession with Kagome, they abandoned him. It could be possible that because he lost his title, he was targeted." Touga rubbed his eyes. "It is possible this could come back to me. I confronted him about coming after Kagome, left him broken in a shady parking lot."

"If you didn't feel the need to be top dog-"

He placed a finger to Kagome's lips, stopping her mid-sentence. She may have been joking, but her safety was his priority. "That is not the case, and you know it. You are my mate, the lady of demons. It is my duty to protect, and I will do so how I feel fit."

Kagome grabbed his hand, placing his palm against her cheek. "I know. It was a poor joke." After a moment, she turned back to the council. "We need to make sure this doesn't come back on Touga. He may have ruffed Kouga up a bit, but he wouldn't have killed him. If nobody knows about Kouga's death, keep it that way. If it gets out, then we need to come up with a backup plan now that can be implemented immediately."

"We all agree, but what can we do?" Sesshomaru was the one who asked, leaning on his chin on his hand.

Kagome blushed for a moment, a thought coming to mind. "Do we have access to a hacker?" When she received a nod, she sighed. "Kouga took photos of me. Most of the time I didn't know he was doing it. When he told me he was, I asked him to stop. He said he did, but I am not sure. Nothing came of them, but I am sure he still has them. If his death somehow leaks, we say Touga was attempting to purchase the photos from Kouga."

"What kind of photos?" Touga was stiff, already guessing.

"He installed cameras around my dorm room, or he would sneak in when I was unaware or asleep. I was in various stages of dress, doing different kinds of activities. Have your hacker find then, print one set, and give them to Touga for safekeeping. Then delete all files of their existence. That will be our proof." Kagome stood, suddenly uncomfortable. "I will take my leave now." She kissed Touga's cheek as she left, shutting the door softly behind her.

She was glad Kouga was gone, but he had done so much to her. She had actually forgotten about the photos until now. If she had remembered, she would have already asked Touga to take care of the problem. It was good that she forgot though because now they had an alibi if they needed it for Touga.

The man she was thinking about walked out of the room, noticing her leaning against the wall. He held out his hand, and she placed hers in it. Pulling her to him, he bent down, nuzzling her neck comfortingly. "How about we get InuYasha and Souta and take them to the museum. I do believe they would like that."

She leaned up, kissing his lips. "That sounds perfect." A relaxing day to take her mind off of the past.