"What do ya know?  Looks like you've been jilted!"

                                                      -InuYasha

Kagome's alarm clock sounded like an annoying cat that early in the morning.  She was sore all over, but from what, she could not remember.  However, her memory was soon given a reminder when she was fully awakened with a sloppy kiss.

From Sesshomaru.

Naked.

In her bed.

He smiled and stretched and from the feel of it, quite ready to start their "fun" anew.  Kagome could hardly breathe. 

"You and I…"

"Yes," he answered, nuzzling her neck.  She almost giggled, but stopped herself.

"I was a virgin," she stated.

"Yes," he started nibbling.

"How many times…?" Kagome was lightheaded.

"What, for you or for me?"  He was lying on top of her now.  The smile was still there, but there was now a fire in his eyes.  As he began kissing her she pushed up on his chest.

"You have to drive me to school.  Now." 

"No," Sesshomaru growled in annoyance.

"I have to go to school."  He was holding her down with his body and it was starting to have an affect on her.  He kissed her again and Kagome flipped them over so she was on top.  His eyes darkened even more.  But before he could react she jumped off and ran into the bathroom.  Through the locked door she yelled,

"Hurry up, I don't want to be late!"

Kagome made it to school on time.  It was a private, upscale private college—nothing but the best for a senator's daughter, she groaned.  As Kagome rounded the corner of her class an arm snaked out and grabbed her wrist.

"Kouga, I need to go to class."  A boy about her height and short brown hair stood in front of her.  He had a short history of being overprotective about her—believing she was his territory.  At first Kagome was a little flattered by his attentions, but then it just got downright annoying.  In fact, his prolonged holding of her wrist, which had somehow traveled to her shoulder and then to her cheek was something that she didn't need right then.  Breaking away from him quickly, Kagome was pulled back forcefully by her wrist again.

"What is different about you?  What happened?  Something is wrong…" He pulled her even closer, checking for bruises.

When is rain, it pours, Kagome thought.  I never have guys paying attention to me and then InuYasha starts off this chain of events.  How special. She barely completed the reflection before she was ripped from Kouga's arms.

"She's mine!"

Sesshomaru had been parking the car while Kagome ran to class.  He allowed himself extra time to think about what was going on.  The night before had been amazing, wonderful, exciting, and passionate.  But it was too much.  He had a taste of heaven and now his appetite was wet for only her.  Only Kagome. 

But it was wrong. 

The girl was too young-a full seven years-she was under his protection, and he was a professional.  He would never allow emotions—even lust—to interfere. He would just have to control himself around her and perhaps have a little "cold turkey" to the fires of last night. 

But nothing can stoke the coals still cindering in his heart like seeing HIS Kagome in another's arms.  Before he knew it Kagome was in his embrace and he was growling.

Kouga didn't stand a chance.  He turned head over heel at the appearance of Sesshomaru and ran back to his class. 

Sesshomaru turned Kagome in his arms, hoping to get a chance to kiss her beautiful lips again but tears streamed down her face.  Concern washed over his features.

"What's wrong?" he asked.  She showed him her wrists where fresh scratches and bruised began to show.  

"You hurt me…" she was crying outright now.

"Kagome, I…"

"Stay away from me!  You got what you wanted so leave me alone!  This is only a job to you!  You are just like InuYasha…"  She took off—probably to the limo that is usually on stand by for her protection issues. 

Sesshomaru had to stop and slow down.  He could barely contain himself to not run after her.  Before he could completely comprehend what he had done he ran to the car and sped home. 

"If she doesn't want me to touch her then I'll make her come to me, touch me, want me."  He dug the gear into third with conviction.

Kagome indeed went home and she was currently ripping the sheets off her bed.  She stopped when she came to evidence of her virginity.  A small, red sport on her pristine white sheets.  That was how Kagome felt now, surrounded by a sea of infinite white, a red dot all alone in the world. 

Her mother was dead.

Her father was always in D.C.

InuYasha was dead.

And Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru was…Sesshomaru.  Kagome had cared for him since she learned who he really was; a shy, gently, passionate man who is enchanted by books, an avid player of chess and secretly loves Ben and Jerry's Phish Food ice cream.  Kagome remembered watching TV together in the activity room in her wing of the house, wrestling in the gym and swimming in the pool.  Sesshomaru was her closet friend even though through all these activities he kept a professional air and a stoic expression.

Until last night. 

He was annoyingly excellent in every aspect like she imagined.  He showed her pure and raw emotion.  He showed her just what she always wanted.  And he gave her even more.

And now she wanted to give that up.  There were other things more important than a night of supposed nothing.  Kagome was ashamed by her behavior of pure longing and need.  She was shamed she was showed so much emotion around him.

Kagome needed to go to the library.  She needed to think of something else.  Manchester House (Kagome called it this because she thought it outrageously funny to name her house as if in the Victorian ages.  It provided for an interesting made-up story that changed at every telling during boring political parties.  She even was subject to changing the name as she saw fit) held an extensive library, inherited from her mother's line (via a rich uncle who adored anything with two covers and words) There, perhaps, she could learn more about what exactly was going on. 

And it always helps to concentrate on other, well, mysteries.

However, she was greeted with the international man of mystery himself who seemed to have the same idea as she from his comfortable position in the library.  She skirted him and went to work herself. 

Since texts on El Salvador seemed to inevitably find themselves in her library, there was a bounty of information just at Kagome's fingertips.   Picking a few of her favorites off the shelves she began to search through indexes for any mention of her father.  However, she was interrupted. 

"Ambassador White is joyous today as his wife, Esperanza, bears him a beautiful baby girl…beautiful is right…Princess," Sesshomaru whispered seductively.  Having her in that close of a proximity and not being able to touch her was getting to be unbearable.  Ready to read further he paused at some discrepancy…but was cut off by an annoyed Kagome…

"I do believe I wish to read something that may pertain to YOU."  He quirked his eyebrow to allow her to continue:

"Unintelligence: The Plague that Haunts the Best of Us

         In contemplating certain traits in which I would like to find in my mate, I came across a certain, --delicately put--quality, in which I could not tolerate in any circumstance.  Give me an insensitive jerk anytime!  Bring on a lad with a bad temper!  Don't forget to include unattractive in the looks department as well.  Any of these are endurable-but a lack of intelligence—never.  It's horrific.  It's insane.  It's bloody well intolerable. 

         Coming to this conclusion has come from many personal experiences with the intelligent deficient.  Now, I must clarify.  When I use this term I do not in anyway mean the mentally disabled.  I am speaking of those annoyingly smart people who have no common sense or real intelligence.  Intelligence, to me, by definition is: Knowing something, whether from books or other areas, understanding the information, allowing time to process the information, able to make coherent thoughts about the information, able to make coherent thoughts that are not simply a rehash of the teacher's/book's/information source's lecture, and able to apply this newly acquired knowledge to your own life and experiences in a straightforward and un-arrogant manner.  My definition explained, I believe that being unintelligent by no definition means you aren't smart.  I have met many smart people who were unable to intelligently form their own opinions and shape their own worldview.  I also find that this particular trait leads to most of the other intolerable traits such as: arrogant/self-centered, greedy/materialistic, selfish, shallow, close-minded etc. 

         So, in conclusion, I do not believe I could ever attach myself to someone who is by my definition unintelligent.  I truly think that this is a tragedy, especially on a bright and influential mind, but what can be done?  You can never change a mate; so choose the right one who will last through the worst and best of times."

Sesshomaru allowed himself his trademark smirk.

" I am betting that you are the author," he growled.

"Of course.  Just wanted to tell you why you aren't my type…" She meant to be facetious, he was her friend after all, but his mood darkened.  Nice one, Kagome.  This is the man you lost your virginity to!  She mentally berated herself.  But he was soon speaking again…

"We'll talk about this later…it says here that the girl was born in 1988.  That would maker her…"

"Fourteen," Kagome whispered, all jokes behind her now.  "And my mother my mother would be 53…"

She was sitting on the floor with books strewn about her.  As Sesshomaru bent down before her she raised her watery eyes to his.

"I told you once, you probably don't remember, that I would die to have a sister.  But the ironic part is that I did have a sister.  And she died.  Just like my mother." 

Sesshomaru gently brushed the hair off her face.  He desperately wanted to her to continue the story.  Not only would she be confiding in him, perhaps it could be another link in the mystery as well. 

However, she wasn't going to be sharing anymore today for she roughly pushed his hand away and collected her books.

Angry at herself that she not only almost revealed a part of her convoluted past but also that she allowed him to touch her again, Kagome stomped to the door.  She paused briefly and said,

"Forget about my reminiscing…" She breathed out to gain confidence as he stood and began walking towards her.  "And about last night…" 

Sesshomaru allowed himself a small grin.  She was his.

"I never want to repeat that again."

He froze as she continued.

"I would fire you but you are the best so the act is senseless.  You will still accompany me to school but we shall use the limo.  Our after school activities will not continue and the only place we shall interact intimately by necessity is when working on this case.  You are not allowed in my room unless under express permission by me…" Her words got shakier by the minute.  "And lastly, please refrain from touching me."  She let out her breath that she had unconsciously been holding which didn't bode well with the unsteady start of her monologue. 

Sesshomaru had closed the gap between them throughout all this even though her words wounded him.  He could deny it no longer.

Emotions had gotten in the way.

"Do you understand?"  Kagome squeaked out.

"All I understand is that I am a man who desperately wants to kiss the woman before him."  He them captured her lips, feeding her the passion and possession he felt for her. 

Kagome could barely think.  She was mentally patting herself on the back for being able to say that speech on minute and she was kissing the man she tried to deny in another. 

But before he could tumble her to the library rug she broke away from him and ran out of the room.  She had to stand her ground.  He can't hold a night of complete and utter bliss over her head.  It was simply irrational.  He had no power over her whatsoever.  However, her racing heart new better. 

"I hate men," she muttered.

Sesshomaru sat back down on the chair.  Damn the idea of letting her come to me, he thought.  Whatever it was she was about to say considering her family he would ponder later.  All he wanted to think about now was the very important fact that he snatched her locket right out from under her nose.  And she would be wanting it back, her emotions riled up and easily persuaded into anything.

"Perhaps I won't be sleeping alone tonight…" he thought delightfully.