Sesshoumaru was a figure of power in his public life, just as he was within his personal life for different reasons. Not a celebrity, but a person many spoke of, he led by example, popular within the community he was a part of. He was known most for being ruthless. He didn't care for disrespect or disobedience at all.

So as he bent Kagome over a dark, polished wooden table, he reminded himself of just why he was doing this. She had disrespected him, in front of many who knew just how he treated his 'pets'. Kagome struggled against his hold. She whimpered as he twisted her hands behind her back, but he didn't falter. She had ignored his warning. He gave her multiple chances when she didn't even deserve one. A minor blow to his reputation. Some may speak of him going soft in age, but he knew he wouldn't treat Kagome like the rest. She was different, but even in his world, she was to be punished the same way.

"Sesshoumaru, stop it! People can see!" She whimpered again as he pulled her skirt up, bunching the fabric around her waist.

"That's the point. You'll learn from this." His hand smoothed over the soft skin of her behind. She shivered under his touch, but remained quiet. He couldn't decide if she was frightened or excited, but as soon as he spanked her for the first time, her gasp confirmed her excitement.

"Get off me!" she squealed as he continued to deliver the sharp blows. Suddenly he pulled her shaking body up and positioned himself behind her, facing the audience that had gathered throughout the ordeal. His hand grasped her chin as he made her look towards the crowd.

"Look at them watching you." Kagome continued to struggle against his hold, but still he kept her arms tight against her back. "Interested in why no one is speaking?" He whispered.

"It's from shock. From watching you assault me." Growling, Sesshoumaru tightened his grip, hearing her whimper in slight pain.

"You know that's a lie." Her silence surrounded him as she refused to reply. "Everyone here is just like me." He lowered his head slightly, nestling into her neck, running his nose against the delicate skin.

"I'm in a house full of perverts? Great." Her tone of sarcasm irritated him more than he'd care to admit. Pulling himself from her neck, he closed his free hand over her neck. He felt her swallow in response.

"You see me as a perverse old man? Then tell me, why did you come here? To help?" He let out a small chuckle. "I told you what would happen if you became a brat. You knew exactly what you were walking into and you still came, still acted up." His hand tightened over her throat. "Why?" He pressed, but she avoided the question and continued to misbehave.

"I slapped you for being an ass." Sesshoumaru chuckled as he rested his head against her shoulder.

"You still want to push me?" Keeping his grip on her arms, he released her throat and placed the hand directly on her exposed thigh, inching higher. "I can do much worse than just reveal your panties to everyone here." She shuddered in response to his threat.

"You wouldn't dare." Her head turned, bright blue eyes burning with rage. He met her fire with his own, staring into her eyes as his hand lifted higher, now making the material of her dress bunch at her hip, slightly revealing her underwear as he had done earlier.

"Oh, my! What a treat indeed! My dear friend, your toy wishes to put on a show?" Sesshoumaru snapped his head up to see Naraku standing before him, a grin stretched across his face.

"N-no…" Kagome trembled in front of him. Even if some part of him wanted to embarrass her, teach her a lesson, she wasn't his and even what he had done all far pushed way beyond the line he told himself to never cross.

"She's being punished, Naraku. Having an audience is a reward for her." A knowing look crossed over his friend's face and as Kagome struggled again, he tugged on her hands, demanding she be quiet.

"Oh! I see! Well then, best to keep her wanting. I'd hate to spoil your plans for later." Parting with a wink, Naraku turned towards the crowd and clapped his hands in a dismissive gesture. "You can have your fun soon!" He yelled, and soon he and the crowd disappeared.

Sesshoumaru let his hostage go, leaning against the table as he lifted a hand to rub the side of his face in frustration. Kagome remained still for a few moments before she turned to face him, a shy expression adorning her face.

"Thank you." She spoke with uncertainty. His silence pushed her to continue. "For not doing more…" Lifting his head, Sesshoumaru gazed at the woman before him, still irritated at her behaviour. "Talk!" She demanded.

"For what reason?" He sighed. Wishing to be home, away from the chaos that consumed the night.

"I was apologising!" Her cheeks flushed anew.

"So you should." He crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at the small, enraged woman.

"Asshole!" Faster than he himself could imagine, his hand clasped tightly around her neck, watching as she slightly struggled for air. Pulling her close, his lips brushed against her own, barely touching, as he stared into her eyes. He felt two small hands clutch the fabric of his shirt, bunching the material to his stomach.

"Don't fucking push me right now. For once, behave." Pulling his hand away, Kagome fell back on her heels with a gasp, still clutching onto his shirt to keep her stable. The sharp click of heels on the wooden floors drew his attention. Turning his head to the right, he was met with the furious glare of Kagura.

"How dare you!" She began, causing him to groan in frustration. Something he felt was now a regular occurrence in his daily life. Already, he fought the intense urge to play out every desire he could with the woman clutching onto him. He didn't wish to fight with another woman, for different reasons.

"Kagura." He growled in warning, wishing that this woman would listen and keep her mouth shut. Perhaps he was losing his touch, as this woman also ignored him.

"This is her then? Kagome." If Kagura wasn't so uptight about her image, he could imagine she'd attempt to do much worse than verbally argue. As if he'd ever let Kagome get in harm's way.

"None of your business." Sesshoumaru snapped. Kagome jumped a little, but kept her grip on him. It felt right, like she belonged there.

"I think it is. You called me last night to fuck and then start moaning her name?" He was overwhelmed with sadness before he saw it on her face. Kagome gave him a look he'd never wished to see. She was hurt.

"What?" she choked. Pulling away from him and lifting a hand to cover her mouth. He lowered his head to rub his face again. His body felt so tight, so full of frustration.

"Kagome that's not-"

"Do not deny it!" Kagura screeched, interrupting him as tears pooling in her fiery eyes. "I'm your partner and you do this…"

"Your what?" His head turned back towards Kagome. Her face now a mixture of sadness and anger. He was losing his patience yet again. Neither of these women were listening, and he needed a release that was way overdue.

"She's just a sub. Sometimes we-"

"Just a sub! You're such an ass." Insults were always the final straw for him. Sending a look Kagura knew well, he spoke slowly and clearly. A warning she'd be stupid to ignore.

"Shut your mouth. Before you regret it." Well, he knew she would regret her outburst soon. It was within her nature to regret upsetting her 'owner'. Yet, even with her fire, she knew who he was, how he was to be obeyed. So even as she glared at him with malice, she remained tight-lipped.

Kagome relinquished her hold on him, her face now shielded from his sight as she turned to walk away. He felt cold at the loss, yet his stomach burned in remembrance of her touch. "I'm leaving." Her tone now serious and flat. Sesshoumaru stood, taking a few steps towards her before she added. "Alone."

"I'm taking you home." He stated.

"I don't want to be anywhere near you." Turning to face him, her lips were pressed thin, eyes full of hatred.

"You don't have a choice."

"You said you don't force women." Her mocking tone infuriated him, setting alight the blood that rushed through his veins.

"This concerns your safety."

"Like you care." She scoffed and turned away again. He reached out and grasped her arm.

"I'm driving you home and that's the last we'll speak of it." Pulling her arm out of his grasp, Kagome let out a grunt of frustration and left. Sesshoumaru followed closely behind.

The journey back to Kagome's apartment was silent. Sesshoumaru had thought by now she would talk to him, at least partaking in some small talk. Anything would be welcome. Instead, he had to endure this hell. It was one thing to remain in silence, but to feel the threatening aura that thrashed wildly around Kagome also? He'd choose silence any day.

Sesshoumaru's driver pulled up beside the apartment complex and before he could speak a single word, Kagome had disappeared from his sight. Chasing after her, Sesshoumaru caught Kagome just as she opened the door and forced himself inside the gap, grunting in pain just as she tried to force the door shut, trapping him.

"You aren't coming inside!" Determined to shut him out, she used more force. He expected to feel annoyed, but he felt playful.

"You'd love it if I did." Sesshoumaru grinned, enjoying the image of Kagome's mortified face.

"Don't do that!" She growled, pushing against the door again.

"What?" he asked.

"Be nice and flirt with me so I'll stop hating you." He could feel her weight lift from the door. Sesshoumaru quickly pushed his way past the door and stood beside her, smirking.

"I'm not apologising." He spoke confidently. Sesshoumaru knew he had nothing to hide. Perhaps some things had been lost in translation, but he refused to sleep on an argument, so he had to figure out the reason Kagome was being so cold.

"Of course not." Kagome scoffed before making her way over towards the kitchen. He watched as she leant over a counter, both hands resting against the wooden surface in front of her. Following her path, he now stood behind her, resting both hands on either side of her own, making them look so small and frail in comparison.

"Why do you hate me?" He questioned.

"Where do I start?" Growling out her response, he watched as her shoulders tensed slightly.

"Why?" he questioned again. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he tugged lightly, causing her to turn and face him. Her arms were now crossed tightly over her chest as she narrowed her eyes.

"Because you tried to fuck my best friend? You have a girlfriend? You lied to me." Her lower lip jutted out as she lost the fire within her eyes, now replaced by what he could only describe as childlike anger. It was adorable to him as he leant closer, keeping his firm grip on the counter.

"No." He stated.

"No?" Expression changing again, she now compared to a confused puppy.

"No. I didn't lie."

"You did!" Kagome exclaimed. Poking his chest furiously.

"You will not let me explain?" Lifting a brow as he smirked, Kagome crossed her arms again, frowning at his smile.

"Explain." His smirk widened as Kagome tried to control the conversation. Again, it was adorable.

"I didn't try to sleep with your friend."

"Liar." Her tone again was so cold she didn't believe him. Sesshoumaru would have preferred to not speak on the topic, he knew, in no way did he ever wish to bed Kagome's friend. Clearly, however, she thought otherwise.

"She made a move on me." Kagome suddenly lost her anger, her brows furrowed as she looked away.

"She wouldn't…"

"She did. It's not my place to accuse or potentially damage your friendship, so I said nothing, but if it means risking the friendship you have, I'll tell you the truth. You can't see me as that kind of man." Cupping her hand over her cheek, she lifted her head, returning her gaze to him. Her small hand now encompassed his wrist as she bit her lip.

"Then, that woman… Kagura."

"We aren't together." He answered honestly. They were never a 'thing' and he had told Kagura from the beginning it would never be serious.

"Maybe so… but she liked you, I can tell." Sesshoumaru sighed, shaking his head lightly.

"We just play together." Kagome scrunched her face up. So he quickly added. "Used to."

"You were going to last night..." He drew closer towards her as she spoke, entranced by her eyes.

"That'll stop now." Closer again, her lips now barely touched his own. Any slight movement she made, he could feel it.

"You moaned my name?" She whispered, her lips brushing against his own. They were staring so deeply into each other's eyes. He forgot about anything that wasn't related to her.

"Yes." His voice was rough, scratchy as he spoke.

"Why?" A whisper again.

"It's not clear?" Her eyes sparkled at his question, a small smirk spreading across her lips.

"Not exactly crystal…" she said, and he felt himself smirk in response.

"Such a troublesome woman." Her smile widened as he slid his hand into her hair, his other hand gripping onto her hip. Tightening his hand in her hair, he pulled her head back, enjoying the gasp that escaped her lips. "I want you." His lips brushed against hers, never touching as he spoke.

"I can't be your slave." She gasped.

"I didn't ask for it." The hand he held on her hip slid down to grip onto her behind, earning him another gasp.

"You won't control me." Kagome rested both her hands against his chest, holding onto his shirt.

"I already do." He whispered, and finally, after all his inner torment, he leant forward and kissed her.

HUGE thank you to my Beta Harlee!

Hope you all enjoy!