"You aren't going to scream are you?" a familiar voice asked. She shook her head. "Good. Remember what happened last time you made me angry." she nodded and the hand left her mouth.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"You." Kouga replied. "I see you've been a bad girl and let the dog mark you to stop my claim, but no matter. I will have you." Kouga leaned forward and kissed her hard on the mouth, trying to force her to let him kiss her, but she refused. He gave a little laugh. "Soon then."

Kagome stood there leaning against the wall after Kouga left. Once she had composed herself she stepped out to look for InuYasha, and found herself in his arms. He smiled until he caught the lingering scent of wolf and Kagome's fear.

"Where is that fucking bastard." he growled.

"He's gone now, and I have something important to tell you." she said. "Please." She pulled him back out of sight.

"What's so important?" he asked.

"When I went to the restroom I overheard a conversation. Two women were talking about you and your brother. They said he was a fool for thinking that living in hiding should make them happy, and that there is a demon gathering forces. I think they were talking about him starting some kind of war between youkai and humans. They also said he's a purist." She finished quietly.

"Did they say anything else?" he questioned.

"Yeah, but it wasn't important, really." she told him blushing.

"Kagome let me decide if it was important." he replied.

"They said that it was..." she paused. "...Disgusting that you were here and that I was with you, and it was a shame that you and your brother weren't going to be around for them to find out if what they say about Inu's is true."

"What's that?" he asked.

"Uh...something about stamina." she finished, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

He lifted her head with his finger on her chin. "Nothing is going to happen." he said softly.

"But..." she started, tears filling her eyes.

"But nothing." he told her. He sild one hand up to cup her cheek. He wanted to distract her. He didn't like to distress marring her face. "I don't think I said this earlier, but Kami you're beautiful." She smiled and he pressed his lips to hers. He held her tightly to him. He trailed kissed down her jaw and when he reached her neck he bit down. She sighed heavily against him. He stopped abruptly "Sesshomaru is coming. I have to talk to him." he took her hand and they stepped back out into the open.

"Can't you wait until after to defile your human." Sesshomaru said.

"Not now." InuYasha replied. "I have to tell you something, in private, and no it can't wait."

"Very well." Sesshomaru said at last.

They went to a small room and shut the door. InuYasha told Sesshomaru what Kagome had overheard. He included the part that he and his brother were targets without mentioning the context in which it came up. "Well?" InuYasha finished.

"Interesting." Sesshomaru said. "I will look into it. However it will most likely come to nothing." The taiyoukai turned to leave.

"Oi." InuYasha called. "Why didn't you mention that wolf was going to be here?"

"I didn't think of it. I presume he once again went after the miko?" he said. InuYasha nodded. "Your presence is no longer required here. You may go." Sesshomaru left them.

In truth he was most concerned by the news his brother brought to him. He was aware of the information, but for it to have spread so far was alarming. He would have to delve deeper into finding out who this demon was that would challenge his authority. He was also now more concerned about the wolf demon. A miko would be a powerful ally to have should a war materialize. Despite being tainted with human blood he had no doubt that his brother would fight on the side of his family, and the miko should she mate with his brother would be bound to do so as well. He knew that many demons would remain neutral. They were satisfied to live in relative peace with humans.

InuYasha and Kagome wasted no time exiting the building and summoning their driver. They climbed into the back of the limo and left. He instructed the driver to simply drive around until their time for the evening was nearly up. InuYasha could tell that Kagome was still worried about what she had heard. He looked inside the limos refrigerator and found it stocked with champagne. Maybe a glass or two would settle her nerves.

Of course with his demon metabolism alcohol went through his system very quickly. It tended to provide a short head rush that lasted a few moments before subsiding. He found himself wanting that small break from thinking, so he poured two glasses. He handed her one. She just looked at it.

"Try it." he said. "You might like it."

"I've never...I don't." she started.

"One drink won't hurt." he told her. "It might help you relax." He drained his glass in one drink and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. When the rush faded he looked at Kagome and found her finishing the glass he had given her.

"It's not bad." she said softly. "I do feel a little better."

He poured himself another and smiled when she held out her glass as well. Once again he downed his in a single drink and relaxed as his body rapidly processed the alcohol. When he at last looked at Kagome he noticed a slight flush to her cheeks. She was reaching for the bottle again.

She can't be. She only had two glasses. He intercepted her attempt and pulled her back up as she slipped off the seat onto the floor. Instead of being content to sit side him she swung a leg across his lap and straddled his body, facing him. "Uh Kagome..." he said gently.

She smiled and a small giggle escaped her. "Such a cute puppy." she said. She reached up and rubbed his ears. He couldn't hold back his contented growl. Her hands left his ears and went to his shoulders. "Are you my puppy?" He was too stunned to say anything. Soon tears welled up in her eyes. "You don't want to be my puppy? You don't like me?" She started crying.

He wiped away her tears as they fell. "Don't cry." he said softly. "I like you."

Her tears stopped abruptly and she smiled. "So you will be mine?" she asked. He nodded. She kissed him on the nose. "I want to tell you a secret." she said giggling softly.

He was amused by her childlike behavior. "What?" he asked.

She raised herself up so that her lips were almost touching his ears. Then in a voice so soft his hanyou ears barely heard, she whispered. "I think I'm falling in love with you." She sat back down and laughed. He stared at her. He wondered if she meant it. He hoped that she did. He also hoped she wouldn't be upset in the morning when she realized what she had done. He didn't know what to say. Before he had more time to think she had pressed her lips to his.

He didn't mind kissing her or that she rubbed his ears. She had done those things before and so he didn't feel guilty about doing them as she was now, but as her hands started to wander he stopped her. He grabbed both of her wrists. He didn't like the hurt look on her face. He moved them back up to his ears. "Please." he said softly. He was relieved that his distraction worked and she seemed content. Soon he could see she was tired and he pulled her to his chest and growled softly. Once she was asleep he told the driver to take them home.

He gave the driver some extra money and carried Kagome inside. He put her on his bed and took off her shoes. Once she was settled in he stripped down to his usual sleeping attire, his boxers and laid beside her. He had considered putting her in her own room, but to be safe he wanted to keep an eye on her. He had never seen someone get drunk after two drinks and didn't want to take any chances. She rolled over and snuggled into his chest. He draped and arm over her and went to sleep.

Kagome woke up the next morning. She didn't feel sick, just a little groggy. She thought back to last night and it suddenly occurred to her what she had said. She groaned.

"Good morning." InuYasha said. He was sitting up beside her watching tv. The volume so low only he could hear.

She felt her cheeks heat. "InuYasha I'm sorry." she said.

"Don't worry about it." he told her.

"I don't want you to think that I feel that way." she started. "I don't think you are mine like some kind of animal that I can own. I don't know what I was thinking."

"I know you don't think that, but I am yours." he said softly. "For as long as you want me to be. Besides it was my fault. I should have paid more attention to the effect it was having on you. Now go take a shower."

"You trying to say I stink?" she asked with a smile.

"Maybe a little." he teased. She punched him softly in the arm, but got up and headed to the bathroom.

InuYasha wasn't in the room when she got out of the shower. She got dressed and found him sitting in the living room, eating ramen. Of course, she thought, as if he'd take the time to make himself anything else. She went to the kitchen and made herself a bowl of cereal. When they were done, they left to go get Shippou.

It was getting late that evening when Kagome decided to make dinner instead of letting Shippou and InuYasha eat pocky and ramen. She looked in the refrigerator and found it seriously lacking. She looked at InuYasha. "I need to go to the store." she announced.

"What for?" he replied.

"I want to make dinner and I need to get a few things." she said.

"What's wrong with ramen?" he asked seriously.

She groaned. "You can't eat ramen all the time and besides you only have two bowls left." she told him.

As if this was the worst news he had ever received, he jumped up and opened the cabinet to see for himself. "Well, what are you waiting for." he said and thrust his keys into her hand. He also handed her some money.

Kagome laughed. She went to the store. It took longer than she expected. The store was crowded and traffic was terrible. It didn't help that she was anxious to be driving InuYasha's car. She decided to consider finding a way to get a car of her own. By the time she got back to the house the sun had set. She struggled with the two large bags of groceries. Once inside she set them on the counter and called out to InuYasha and Shippou.

"Hello?" she called.

"We're in here." came InuYasha's reply from Shippou's room.

"Yeah." Shippou called. "I'm busy kicking InuYasha's butt."

She started putting the groceries away and making dinner. She felt the familiar touch of two arms circling around her waist. She put her hands over his and realized that something was different. She turned in his arms. Her eyes opened wide. "What...Who...?" she started. She tried to pull away from the man holding her.

InuYasha didn't have to have his hanyou senses to tell that she was scared. "Kagome?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"InuYasha?" she said softly. She looked into the violet eyes before her, so filled with concern. How can this be? He looks human. "Why do you look like that?"

Realization dawned on him and he cursed himself inwardly for scaring her. "Damn it." he said. "I'm sorry. I forgot you didn't know about tonight. I'm just so used to you being here that I didn't realize that you have never seen me on the new moon." He saw the confusion still in her eyes.

Shippou came running out of his room. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at InuYasha and Kagome.

"I forgot to tell her about my human night." he said.

"Figures you'd be a big enough baka to do that." Shippou said before returning to his room.

"Human night?" she asked.

"Every hanyou has a night of weakness, a night were their demon blood wanes and they become human. Mine is the night of the new moon." he told her.

"So, you'll change back then?" she asked, one hand absently reaching up to where his ears would be if he was in his hanyou form.

He smiled at her unconscious gesture. "Yes." he replied. "At sun rise. I'm sorry I scared you."

"It's all right." she said softly. "It's just with Kouga... I just..."

He pulled her to him. "I know." he replied. He made her look at him. He had a serious expression in his eyes. "Kagome you can't tell anyone about this. There are only three people, well four now, that know when my human night is. If it got out..."

He didn't need to finish. She understood. It would make him too vulnerable, especially with the threat that was looming. "I understand." she said seriously. "I swear, no one will ever learn about it from me."

He smiled at her. He had know even without her telling him that she wouldn't betray his secret. "Now, are you going to cook dinner, or do I have to starve." he teased.

"Hey." she said slapping his arm playfully. "You're the one who came in here and distracted me, and in case you haven't noticed, you are the one with your arms wrapped around me so I can't move."

"So I am." he said softly. One of his hands went up to the side of her face, but he didn't back up enough to let her body have room to move from where he had her pinned to the counter. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. When he pulled away they were both breathless.

"I thought you were hungry." she managed.

"I am." he replied, moving to kiss her again.

They broke apart quickly as they heard Shippou clear his throat. "What's a kid have to do to get something to eat around here?" he asked.

Kagome blushed. "I'm working on it now." she replied.

"That's not what it looked liked to me." Shippou said.

Kagome was sure that if he had been in his hanyou form InuYasha would have growled. Instead he took off after the kit chasing him into his room. She shook her head, and set about preparing dinner. In truth a part of her was glad for Shippou's interruption. The shy part of her that felt overwhelmed by the feelings she had when he was near, the part that was afraid of how easy it would be to get lost in him, breathed a sigh of relief. However there was another part of her that growled in frustration. That part wanted to get lost, so caught up in him that they stopped being two separate individuals, to be lost in the kind of sensation that left her feeling weak and yet somehow exhilarated. Yes, part of her wanted to give in to her body as it demanded that she let him consume her completely. She wondered if he felt the same.

The next morning she woke to find a note on the kitchen counter.

I had to go to a meeting with my bastard brother. I don't know how late I'll be. I left you the car to get to work. I'll see you tonight.

InuYasha

She sighed, a little disappointed that she wouldn't get to him until later today. He last vision of him had been in his human form. She wanted top reassure herself that he was back to his hanyou self. She knew he wouldn't have left the house otherwise, but she still wanted to see for herself. She was about to leave for work when the phone rang, hoping it would be InuYasha she picked up.

"Hello." she said.

"Who the hell is this?" a female voice asked.

"Uh.." Kagome started. Whoever this was sure was rude. Maybe they had the wrong number. "Maybe you should tell me who you are calling for."

"Is InuYasha there?" the female voice replied.

"Who are you?" Kagome asked.

"This is his girl friend. Is he there or not?" she asked in reply.

"No, he's not." Kagome said, too shocked to say anything else.

"Fine. I'll call back and you'd better not be there when I do." The woman told her.

The phone went dead in her hand. That was odd. Kagome decided to dismiss the call. She would tell InuYasha about it later. Surely it was some kind of joke, or misunderstanding. If she really had been his girlfriend wouldn't she have called before now, or known that another woman was living with him. Kagome shrugged it off and left for work.

Kagome had just finished dinner when InuYasha came in. She could tell he was in a foul mood. He didn't even say anything to her as he came in. He went straight to his room and shut the door. She looked at Shippou.

"Don't worry, he always acts like that after he goes to a meeting with his brother." Shippou said. "He'll come out in a few minutes."

Kagome could only nod. Sure enough a few minutes later InuYasha came out. He had changed out of his suit and into clothes more befitting his usual style. The first thing he did was come over to her and hug her. She heard him breath deeply as he buried his face in her hair.

Kagome didn't know, but her scent had an almost intoxicating effect on him and it was just what he needed after what he learned today. He looked at Shippou. "Go eat in your room." he said.

Shippou didn't say anything and picked up his plate. When the door to his room closed, InuYasha sighed. He still hadn't released her, but she didn't mind. "What is it?" she asked.

"Other than the fact that I had to spend all day cooped up in an office with my brother and countless other demons who all think it is beneath them to talk to me, I also found out how Sesshomaru's meeting with Kouga went." he told her. At the mention of the wolf demons name Kagome scent became tainted with fear. It only served to upset him more.

"What did he say?" she asked, not really sure if she wanted to know.

"He won't give up." InuYasha said. "Sesshomaru even offered to pay him, or give him more standing among the youkai. He still refused. In face he seems more determined than ever." Kagome paled at the news. InuYasha noticed her distress. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." She nodded.

They were eating when she remembered that she hadn't told him about the phone call. "You had a call today." she said casually.

"From who?" he asked.

"A woman." she told him. "She said she was your girlfriend."

He laughed. "Well unless you called yourself I don't see how that's possible." He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. "It was probably just another girl who managed to get my number. I had to have it changed twice last year."

Kagome couldn't help but feel a surge of both relief and pride. She as relieved that he so easily dismissed the call and though she didn't know where the thought came from she was proud that such an attractive and strong male wanted her above all other females. Kagome shook her head to clear it. What was that?

She was washing the dishes when the phone rang. With out really thinking she turned and answered it. It was that woman again. She looked at InuYasha and held out the phone. "It's her." she told him.

A/N: Sesshomaru isn't a purist. It is the demon plotting against him that is. Also someone is probably going to ask how Kikyo and Kagome ended up alive in the same time. Kikyou is one person who couldn't be her own reincarnation, so to speak, so she has a different soul and is a different person as you will soon see. She is a catalist in this story and a connection to another character who will be revealed. I didn't intend for her and Kagome to have a connection or for her to be competition for Kagome. I think we have seen enough of that in the anime. I was also don't really like inventing my own characters too often, though I will have to at some point. I figured with Kikyou available I should use her. Thanks to those who reviewed and I promise the real story is coming but I still have to finish the set up. Chapter 9 or 10, I think, Will be where all is reavealed and we getentire story about the jewel and her wish and what happened.