Hello everyone. First off I wanted to thank everyone who offered to help BETA my work, it made me all warm and fuzzy inside which is a new experience...lol. Anywho, I won't keep the few of you who actually read these things for long. This is all I had to say...Now ON WITH THE FIC!

As another note: Thank you prplangel326 for editing this chapter!

Disclaimer- me no own...you no sue!

Recap-

Kagome sighed when all was once again quiet. She stood from her bed, and went to shower. When she caught her reflection she almost growled at it in frustration. Her hair was a perfect rat's nest, and her clothes were wrinkled and stained with what looked like chicken soup. She decided that after her shower, she'd call the library and see about coming to work today...provided she still had a job.

(Chapter 17)

Kagome growled to herself when she found herself in front of the library's heavy oak doors. The call from her boss this morning left her a little disconcerted. She'd said that there was a new girl that Kagome was to train since Jenna's disappearance. Kagome wasn't pleased that her 'boss' could replace a person so readily...it'd only been a week! 'Then again,' Kagome mused, 'No one but her knew that Jenna was dead.' She tried to picture what this 'new girl' would look like. Kagome pictured another 'Jersey Girl' with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The thought didn't sit well with her.

Resigning herself for what was to come, Kagome inhaled and pressed against the heavy slab of wood, almost regretting the action immediately when her cramps intensified. Honestly, mother nature was so cruel. Luckily for her, the Midol she'd taken earlier was beginning to take effect. The cool air-conditioner blasted her as she walked through the entrance, keeping her eyes on the ground, not ready to look up at Jenna's replacement.

"Ah Kagome, you're here!" Jayson's overly excited voice announced. Kagome almost cringed at her boss's happy tone. 'What the hell was there to be so cheerful about?' With a sigh of long suffering, kept to herself of course, Kagome looked up, and paused. Standing beside Jayson was a woman that could be described as nothing other than her twin. The few exceptions being that this impostor's hair was longer, and her skin a paler hue. Said woman was glaring at her behind Jayson's back.

"I'd like you to meet your new assistant, Kikyou." Kagome cringed inwardly. 'She's the last person I was expecting! What the hell is this bitch doing here!' "Well, I'll leave you two to get to know each other. Bye!" And with that Jayson picked up his jacket and left the building. Kagome felt bile rise to her throat as dread filled the gap in her stomach. The library's oak doors slammed shut ominously.

"So, I finally get to meet the infamous Higurashi. Pity. I expected someone prettier," Kikyou sneered.

"Funny, I could say the same for you," Kagome replied without missing a beat. For her part, Kikyou hid her inner rage rather well, but her eyes gave her away. After an eternity, Kikyou finally got her rage in check.

"You can't have him," Kikyou stated in a deadly calm voice. It didn't sway Kagome in the slightest knowing who she was talking about instantly. Kagome glared at the vampire before her.

"He is not a thing to be owned," Kagome stated in an equal voice. "Besides, you can't have him either. He feels nothing for you, and never has."

"We will see, human...we will see," Was all Kikyou replied with.

For the rest of the night, both Kikyou and Kagome stayed as far apart as possible. Neither speaking to each other, unless absolutely necessary, and even then words were clipped and efficient. For the most part, Kikyou stayed behind the counter scanning the books while Kagome locked herself in the back room. There wasn't anything to be done in here, but at least Kikyou wasn't in here with her giving her would-be-withering glares. It all seemed childish in her opinion.

Before long, it was time to close up. Kagome walked out of her sanctuary disgusted with herself. She'd been hiding all night, and it sickened her. True she didn't want to start a war, but to hide from ones enemies wasn't something she was ready to subject herself to either. It was so beneath her.

There was no one left in the library, but her and Kikyou. Kagome chanced a glance in the direction of the counter, but it was unoccupied. It took all of her nerve to keep from shuddering in dread. She didn't enjoy being ignorant of her enemy's whereabouts. It wasn't that she was afraid of the woman; quite the contrary. She pitied her...in a way. What she was afraid of was how she was going to end this in a peaceful solution.

"Finally came out of hiding?" Kikyou asked from behind her. Kagome suppressed the urge to jump in surprise. She turned and gave what she hoped was an intimidating glare, but it went unheeded.

"What are you doing Kikyou?" Kagome asked humorlessly. Kikyou just shrugged in response.

"Working; what does it look like?" She answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Kagome just intensified her glare.

"Don't play coy. I meant what are you doing here working in my library? What are you trying to achieve?" She asked on the verge of exasperation. Kikyou glared at Kagome then, and it wasn't a usual glare of hatred or loathing, but a challenge. She was challenging Kagome, and she was not going to back down.

"For the prize, wench. For the prize," Kagome scoffed.

"I told you, Sesshoumaru isn't a thing to be owned...or won for that matter," She added as an afterthought. It was Kikyou's turn to scoff.

"We shall see human," She sneered. "Honestly, I don't know what he sees in you." Kagome's eyebrow began to twitch minutely. It was the first sign that Kagome was beginning to get irritated. Unfortunately for Kikyou, that was the only sign that there was to offer, and she wasn't paying attention to that detail.

"Obviously more than what there's to be found in you, or else we wouldn't be having this conversation now." And just for a little spite, "Not that you've had a conversation with him in what...about five hundred years?" She congratulated herself for that one...the bitch deserved it in her mind. From what she was able to discern from her conversations with Sesshoumaru, he was only around long enough to 'hit it and forget it' as the saying goes.

"Do not speak of things you know nothing of!" Kikyou snarled. "Not that it's any business of yours." That was it...Kagome's temper was thrown to the winds, but not before learning that that topic was a big no-no and to steer clear of it, unless she wanted a war on her hands.

"You made this my business when you killed Jenna, you fucking swamp leech!" Kagome snarled back. Kikyou raised her arm as if to slap Kagome for her derogatory remark, but on it's descent, it was snagged in a stone grip.

Both women started and looked up as Sesshoumaru made himself painfully known. His glare was directed at Kikyou, but Kagome couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She wasn't supposed to engage Kikyou, but the woman tried to push every last one of her damn buttons!

"What are you doing here Kikyou?" Even with her mortal eyes, Kagome could see the woman shudder, though the reason why eluded her. For her part, Kikyou looked like someone who was caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The reaction would have been humorous if not for the severity of the situation.

"I...I wanted...to...to see you," The flustered woman was about to grind out. Obviously, Sesshoumaru wasn't buying it. He flung her still captured arm back at her as if it carried the plague.

"The feeling has never been mutual Kikyou. I suggest you leave this place, and not burden it with your shadow again." Kikyou looked as if she had been stabbed in the heart but seemed to recover quickly. She glared at Sesshoumaru and pointed an accusing finger at Kagome.

"It all because of this...this...whore!" She screeched, "You could have anything you want with me! Power, prestige, love, but you throw it all away for some human twit? Don't you see that she's cast some spell over you!" With each word that passed between her poisonous lips, Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened ominously. It wasn't long before he would cut off her long-winded rant.

"I will not repeat myself." Kikyou's mouth shut with an audible snap, before her eyes turned devious. She made a show of smelling the air before she turned to malicious gaze to Kagome.

"Do you not smell it, Sessho? Your 'precious' human is bleeding." Kagome's eyes went as wide as saucers, as her face became a tomato. 'I didn't know they could tell that!' she screamed in her mind. Mortified beyond all recognition, she groaned internally. 'How embarrassing.'

Sesshoumaru sniffed the air confirming Kikyou's crude statement. His eyes widened with the realization. He seemed to drift off in thought for a while before coming to a conclusion on how to handle this situation.

"Kikyou, I believe I told you to leave this place. This is the third time I've reminded you; there will not be a fourth." Kikyou left but not before sending a wicked smile Kagome's way. Kagome was ultimately confused. Silence stretched long and thin between the two.

"Does your family live far from here?" He asked. The question caught Kagome off guard. She stared blinking into space before it registered in her brain.

"They live in Texas...why do you ask?" Trepidation reared it's ugly head and gave a salute to Kagome.

"How do you feel about paying them a visit?" Kagome felt like she was going to throw up.

(End Chapter)

This chapter was about as long as the last one, (which isn't long) but I tried. I really had a lot of fun writing this chapter! I especially like my new favorite nick-name of Kikyo! "Swamp Leech" lol. Anywho...I guess I'll get on with the review responses!

BelleDayNight- I wasn't planning on Inu betraying Kagome...but now that you mention it...naw. I don't think I'll do it...it's too obvious. I hated having to reduce those two to comedy relief, but their characters decided that they wouldn't have it any other way. You know how it can go sometimes. Good luck studying and I'll talk to you later.

Sarcasm- Thank you for offering to be my BETA but it was a first come issue. Unfortunately you came in second...literally. I'm glad you reviewed nonetheless, and I would be grateful if you continued, even if you have little to say other than "update soon". -

LeoDesirePassion- The popcorn stuff is the ideal boredom entertainment. You could stare at that stuff for hours! - my life is sad...I know. It's alright if you forgot what I had written in my previous chapters...so did I. I had to go back and read my whole story again before I remembered where I was in the story and what I wanted to do with it. Sad...truly. Anyway, thank you for reviewing.

crazy-punk-gurl- In actuality, the original chapters I had written (before they were lost in the disk escapade) had Kagome meeting Shippo, Sango, and Miroku. Miroku and Shippo were lycans and Sango was Miroku's human wife. I think I may rewrite those chapters, but if I do, they'll appear on the mediaminer version...that is, if I ever get around to updating it. The reason I might load it onto that version and not this one is because of how much it evolves around Inuyasha's side of the mix and mediaminer is the Inu/Kag version. Did that make any sense? I'm glad everyone's in character...I worked hard to keep them there. That's mostly why I don't go into Sesshoumaru's POV. I'm afraid I'd ruin his persona if I even attempted because of how much of an enigma he is in the series. Thank you for the review and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Nymphetamine- 0.0 you kinky person you. When did this turn from torture to S&M? What's this...whipped cream and hand-cuffs! shakes head you forgot the strawberries and feathers! How could you! runs away crying in mortification Thanx for the review.

DemonessofNature- 0.0;;...I love you too.

Leugaru- sorry I couldn't take you up on that offer to edit my crap, but you get the chapter anyways! Thanks for offering though.

chihemoria- I know what you mean. I pass up a lot of really good fics because of their titles, only to kick myself in the butt later on. When I first started writing this fic, I wanted it to be believable. Like it could happen to anyone...I guess I did it right! If I got the setting correct in any way, you can think the movies and whatnot that I subject myself to. (That and I think apartments are all the same...no matter where you live. I got the knowledge of just how well voices travel through buildings after living two years in one full of college kids. ) As for good vs. bad...I don't believe anyone can be completely good or bad. They're a balance of both. It's all just a matter of circumstance whether you seem like one or the other. I believe that there is a yin and yang housed in every body, and that is how things should be portrayed. I'm rambling now...never answer reviews when you're dog-tired and the only thing keeping you going is jolt cola and tamarind pulp. Thank you for reviewing.

Bethany- I'm pleased to know that you enjoy reading my work. It warms the heart and sooths my soul every time someone complements my work. I'm sorry I couldn't accept your offer to be my beta-reader, but it was a first come first serve situation. I would like you continue recieving reviews from you none-the-less. Thank you for your generous offer, and for reviewing.

And for those whom I couldn't comment on: Shadow-mai, do a DAMN GOOGLE SEARCH, sveta89, Lady-Crymsyn, lyn, insane vegetables, and so-kun; thank you for taking the time to review, and I appreciate your effort.

For those that care to listen to rants and whatnot concerning my fics and my life in general (so you can know how completely pathetic I am) I invite you to take a look at my livejournal account and leave me a comment. My name there is the same as my pen-name here (kojika85)

Now I believe that everyone knows what to do now...