Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

A/N: I'm a bad author I know! I haven't updated in almost two weeks but it was because I was on spring break. However, now I am returned and along with being much tanner than I was before (which sadly is still relatively pale compared to the general population), I've also got a bunch of the story planned out in my head as well. So…on with the show!

Chapter 13 – Birthday Insanity

Once again Sesshoumaru found himself listening in on his employees. Snooping was a nasty habit, but this kind of eavesdropping was perfectly acceptable because it was a matter of security, he told himself. He needed to know what Hando was up to. He needed to keep track of the walking time bomb he considered her to be. She was reckless, and could be a danger to everyone, so of course he needed to be aware of her movements all the time. This past week she had been especially elusive during the night, managing to escape the tail he'd placed on her. The fact that she could so easily slip away from his sight made him especially eager to know what was going on, which was one of his justifications for listening in on the current conversation.

"She wants to do what?" Sango asked Kikyou.

"She says she wants to hit 22 bars and clubs, one for every year she's managed to live through," Kikyou sighed.

"I think it's a great idea," Miroku said, his eyes containing a certain glee which worried Sango. It was a good thing she couldn't see that he was dreaming of all the pretty women he planned on meeting at all those clubs or he would have found himself on the receiving end of a swift kick in the butt.

"Well I think it's a little weird," Inuyasha put in. "She's been acting odd lately, maybe getting turned down by all those places has caught up with her."

"How would you know what was odd for Kagome?" Sango asked with eyebrows raised. "You've only known her a few months."

"Yeah but she's practically my little sister and Kikyou will agree with me that something is up," he asserted.

"It's true," Kikyou replied. "She waits for Shippou to fall asleep each night and then disappears for hours, not coming back until it's time for him to wake up in the morning. Mother and I have no clue what she's up to, but I can tell you whatever it is, it's big. When she comes back sometimes she's got wads of cash on her, she's always exhausted, and her aura and powers are all, all…" she looked to Inuyasha for help.

"Crazy as shit," he said decidedly. "It's the weirdest feeling to be around her when she's like that."

"What are you doing at the shrine early in the morning?" Miroku asked with a knowing smile.

"Picking my woman up for work you pervert!" the hanyou replied in a threatening tone. "Anyway, I think we should just humor Kagome and see what happens. Maybe if she gets tired out and drunk off her ass she'll tell us what's going on."

The other three agreed and then the four dispersed, going back to their duties in the office. Sesshoumaru pondered what he'd heard. 'So, Hando has been doing some kind of training at night, it must be,' he thought to himself. 'That is the only thing that would cause her powers to be fluctuating, although it is odd I have not felt the disturbance from them. Although, training would not bring in large amounts of money, so perhaps she is doing some kind of secret work for somebody.' This thought did not sit well. The miko had no business using her abilities for any of his competitors. 'I have to find a way to get invited to come along. I could merely follow but Hando would no doubt sense me and react. No, it must be a legitimate invitation. Hmmm.'

He pondered the problem as he returned to his office. Coming up with what he felt was a pretty good plan he called Higurashi into his office. "Kikyou," he began, startling her with the use of her personal name in stead of her family name. "I wish to invite you and your family to a dinner this Friday evening. My reasons are two fold. One, I feel that as we are about to become family in a few weeks I should be making more of an effort to increase familial relations."

"Sesshoumaru-sama I can assure you that you have been most generous to me and my family and I could not think of inconveniencing you…" Kikyou began, trying to placate him before she denied his invite. Friday was the night for Kagome's birthday insanity.

Sesshoumaru, who knew where she was going, cut her off. "My second reason, is that this past week I have felt disturbances which I have traced back to what I believe to be your younger sister's aura and power." This of course was a lie but necessary nonetheless.

"Please sir, could you clarify what you mean by disturbances?" Kikyou asked warily. She knew her sister was doing something but she'd had no idea it was big enough to draw the attention of Sesshoumaru.

"I do not know what she is doing with her time, but I can feel an odd residual power lingering upon the area, and I believe it to be hers. I do not wish to confront her, but I feel that if I may simply be in her presence I may be able to ascertain better her actions, or even if it is really her, and Friday is the only night for some weeks that I may devote the appropriate amount of time to this endeavor." He was aware that if Kikyou really tried she would likely sense his deceit, but he was banking on the fact that concern for her sister would cloud her abilities at the moment.

Kikyou was indeed worried for Kagome, and disturbed by the fact that Sesshoumaru would be able to tell that something was up with her even though he had had no contact with her for a couple of weeks now. But how was she supposed to get the two together? Kagome loathed the taiyoukai, this she knew, and there was no way on earth she would give up her birthday celebrations to spend an evening with him. "I am not sure what to say Sesshoumaru-sama, because although I would love to accept your offer this Friday is Kagome's birthday party and a group of people have already made plans, and…"

Sesshoumaru saw she was considering what to do and decided to make one more comment. "I would not ask this if I did not feel some concern over her well-being." BINGO!

"Of course Sesshoumaru-sama, of course," Kikyou replied. "Perhaps I could persuade you to join us? The plan is to go to a few bars and clubs, which I know is not your favorite pastime, but it may be the only way to get my sister to agree. She is being… quite resilient in her determination not to have, uh, too much contact with certain persons at the moment so…"

"So since she hates me it will be easier to force her to let me accompany you rather than alter her plans completely?" he asked, cutting her off.

"Precisely," Kikyou breathed out, relieved that Sesshoumaru had been the one to say Kagome hated him out loud and not her.

"Very well, that would be acceptable." He said and dismissed her. "So easy," he said quietly once she left.

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As the two brothers approached the shrine Friday evening Inuyasha made an unexpectedly insightful comment. "Woah, Kagome's aura is still all freakish! I wonder what in the heck she's been doing to make it act like this. It feels so…I dunno, weird."

"Inuyasha you astound me with your masterful use of spoken language," Sesshoumaru stated, ignoring the expletives his comment elicited from the seat beside him. It was true though, the presence that was Kagome did have an unusual feel to it, and he understood exactly what everyone had been talking about the other day. Parking the car he decided to watch Kagome closely throughout the evening and see if he could pick up any indication of her recent activities.

Inside Kikyou explained that it'd be just a moment till Kagome was ready and they could head out. That is after she managed to pry herself loose from Inuyasha of course. Seconds later they could hear the younger sister skipping down the stairs.

"How do I look?" Kagome asked to the assembled group of friends waiting for her in the living room. Sango and Kikyou's eyes glowed with pride while Miroku drooled, Sesshoumaru put on a mask to conceal his own shock, and Inuyasha glared at the other two who were gawking at Kagome. She was dressed in a lavender satin dress that came to a few inches above the knee, was backless, and had a halter style front with a neckline that plunged to the empire waist and rose to tie behind her neck. Her hair was curled loosely and left to hang about her chest and shoulders, her eyes were smoldering beneath dark shadow and liner, and her lips looked full and incredibly soft in a light shade of pink gloss. Her shoes were a lavender strappy heel decorated with rhinestones that matched the drop earrings and pendant she wore. All over her chest, arms, back and down her legs she had applied a shimmery body powder which had the effect of making her whole body glow. Basically she looked like some luscious kind of sex on a stick. The only thing which marred her otherwise perfect appearance was the red scar that still stuck out from her left ring finger. Noticing it reminded Sesshoumaru of his conversation with Peters, and he again wondered how in the world he was going to find out the story behind it. Maybe tonight he'd get it out of her once she was "drunk off her ass" as his half-brother had so delicately phrased it.

"Keh!" Inuyasha snorted, breaking the spell that had fallen. "You know you look good so quit fishing for a compliment because I'm sure you're going to get more than your fair share tonight anyways."

"You know Inuyasha coming from you that was almost sweet," Kagome said as she patted his cheek while heading out the door to the cars.

"Let's get going!" Kikyou called.

She had had to go through a major fight to get to this point and she wanted to get things rolling before Kagome could change her mind. As predicted, her younger sister had pitched a royal fit when Kikyou informed her Sesshoumaru would be coming along, but the elder had won her over by playing the 'he's going to be family' and 'please do this for me and Inu' cards. Kagome had argued that Inuyasha would not appreciate Sesshoumaru's presence but Kikyou had countered that she should be doing her part to get the two brothers to get along. After twenty minutes of pleading Kagome had relented. Well, that's how the situation seemed to Kikyou anyway.

Now, as the night began Kikyou sighed in relief and only hoped that everything would go smoothly. In fact, considering the tension between a few of the group members, and the volatile temper some possessed, it did proceed rather well.

With inexhaustible energy Kagome dragged the group from one place to the next, only giving them time to order a drink and stay for a few songs. At every club there seemed to be people who knew Kagome, a fact that Sesshoumaru quickly noted. Some were old friends from high school, some he did not recognize, but a large number of them were either part of Kouga's wolf youkai gang or others whom he knew for a fact were somehow tied to motorcycle gangs. More than once he heard something like "Ahh, our little angel of the night!" or "hey guys look, the angel has returned from heaven!" 'Hmph,' he snorted to himself, 'if they knew what she was really like or capable of they would not be referring to her as an angel. "She-devil" or "foul tempered fiend from hell" would be much more appropriate.' But he remembered the wing design he'd seen on her bike and leathers, and he guessed it was a nickname stemmed from that.

Sesshoumaru further noted that Kagome never wanted for a partner, or a drink. He wondered how she was still upright after so many dances and so many shots, that is until he noticed the brief flares of pink each time a new drink was placed in her hand. The girl was purifying the alcohol out, fairly clever he thought. Finally, it was five am and they were at the 22nd club, the last and then they'd all be able to go. Throughout the night he had watched Kagome carefully from the position, at the bar with a drink in hand, he inevitably would take as soon as they came to a new spot. He wouldn't drink each one, but to hold one gave him the appearance of at least having a reason to be there instead of idly sitting by and doing nothing.

At the beginning of the night he continued to see what Inuyasha was talking about, how her aura and powers were rippling around her in the most odd way. Again he felt as if her aura contained something that was distinct and separate from itself. Thinking of Peters' theory that she was somehow channeling the auras of others he decided to concentrate on it and see if he could sense anyone familiar through it. Before he could get very far though she seemed to be aware he was focusing some of his youki at her because she sent a nasty glare and a brief flare of purification energy in his direction. He merely smirked and went back to his drink as if he could care less. 'Damn,' he thought.

Now, several hours later, he recognized how as the night wore on how her aura had calmed somewhat, but her mood was spiked as well. She was gleeful for some reason. As her mood grew so did her effect on those around her, especially those who were already under the influence of alcohol. The other people in the club had become very happy and very confident, particularly the men. One of their reckless ranks had zeroed in on Kagome and seemed determined to dance with her. She was standing off to the side speaking with a weary looking Sango when this man grabbed her hand and tried to drag her off to the floor.

"Hey buddy," she said firmly but still with a smile, "you're supposed to ask first!"

"I shouldn't have to," he replied with a sly grin. "Things like you are only made for a few things, and talking aint one of them baby." He tried slipping his arms around her waist but she held him off.

"Hmm, charming though you are, 'things like me' don't go for guys like you," Kagome said, her smile failing as she stepped back.

He moved forward, catching her left wrist. "Things like you, dressed as you are," giving her a lustful look up and down, "go for any guy who's got the guts to claim you, and I have!"

Sesshoumaru noticed how her ring scar had suddenly started to turn a bright red and he was there to intervene in a flash. "Excuse me," he said taking Kagome's hand from the guy. "I'm sure you were not aware, but this is my girlfriend, and she doesn't want to dance with you. I suggest you look elsewhere." His deep emotionless tone, and the way Sesshoumaru towered over him registered with the offending man in a way Kagome's petite frame and womanly distaste had not. The taiyoukai had positioned her so she was standing in front of him with his left arm pulling her securely against him, and to his surprise, Kagome's arms had reached back behind her to encircle his waist. To the offending man sensing the threat from a tall built guy was easier to pick up on, so he quickly made his exit.

For a moment the pair of them stayed standing as they were, each surprised by the embrace of the other so much that they were unable to move. Finally Kagome came to. 'Ohmigosh,' she thought. 'I'm in Sesshoumaru's arms and I'm holding him back! What the heck is this about!' Then she realized too that she had just let Sesshoumaru 'save' her when she would much rather have preferred dealing with the idiot herself. She blinked, shook her head and made to move away but Sesshoumaru held onto her hand.

A flicker of anger crossed her eyes when he did not let go but Sesshoumaru said, "Before you explode please consider this: if you had dealt with the man, which I do not doubt you are capable of, it would have made a huge scene and you would likely have unnecessarily hurt him. And, since it is your aura that is affecting him I don't think it's entirely fair you purify him for acting too forward."

He could see the anger in her eyes, but she knew he was right, and he knew that she knew it as well. She looked down at her left hand, which was one, still held in his, and two, no longer sporting a glowing scar as she had expected it would with him holding onto her. "Why are you still holding my hand?" she asked, her tone even.

"Because it is your birthday and I have yet to dance with you," he replied, surprising both himself and her. He didn't know why he had just said that, it wasn't as if he really wanted to dance with her. 'Well it wouldn't be completely distasteful,' he thought, 'she is at least moderately attractive, and her strawberry scent it quite alluring as…TAISHO CEASE THIS LINE OF THINKING!' It was his turn to mentally shake his head to clear his thoughts. When she didn't reply he continued. "I mean, it is traditional that you dance with all the members of your party on your birthday, and I am sure you would be insulted if I did not ask, though whether or not either of us would enjoy it would be quite a different matter."

"Way to go Sesshoumaru," Miroku murmured to Sango, "I think that effectively killed whatever mood he might have managed to establish." She nodded in return.

Kagome yanked back her hand. "No thank you," she said coldly. "I appreciate the kindness of your offer, but I would hate to burden you with my presence, which would evidently be the case as you have made so abundantly clear." She stalked back to where the other four were sitting and chatting. "Hey guys, thanks for coming along on this whole crazy thing, I really appreciate it! But, I think I've had enough fun for one night so I'm going to head home," she said as she hugged everyone goodbye.

"Wait up a sec I'll drive you," Inuyasha offered.

"No thanks, I'd rather walk." At their surprised faces she said "what? I'm not tired, it's only about eight miles from here, and I can be home in time to get cleaned up and make Shippou breakfast. Surely you're not worried that I of all people would be in danger?" she challenged.

"No Kagome dear heart, not at all," Kikyou assured her. "But are you sure?"

Before Kagome could answer she was suddenly embraced from behind and kissed on the cheek. She surprised everyone by giggling and saying "So you finally decided to show up did you?" They had expected her to purify the intruder.

"Yeah, well I had some business to take care of," the black haired, blue eyed wolf youkai answered.

"Now what business could possibly be more important than me Kouga?" she teased, turning to face him.

"Well for starters trying to put out some of the fires you started," he chuckled.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were floored. 'Kagome is in league with this guy? No frickin way!' the latter thought inwardly.

Sesshoumaru on the other hand was desperately trying not to give in to the impulse of carrying out one of the many ways of killing the wolf that were currently racing through his mind.

"What, itty bitty me cause trouble?" Kagome asked, batting her eyelashes. "How so?"

Kikyou, Miroku and Sango were now watching intensely as well. Perhaps they were about to get some answers.

"Well for starters because of you Kenji was unable to pay off a loan and I had to go smooth things over and buy the poor guy some more time. They were close to chopping his tail off when I got there," Kouga laughed.

"It's not my fault he challenged me to race and set the bet so high. What was I supposed to do, lose on purpose?" she responded, feigning indignance.

"So that's where you're getting all the cash from," Kikyou interrupted. "You've been racing for money?"

"Yup," Kouga answered. "Our little angel has cleaned out more than one poor soul. If she keeps up her current pace she'll be able to retire for life in a few months, although thankfully some are starting to catch on and won't risk as much when they challenge her."

"Now now Kouga, no shocking my family with my little secrets," she chided.

"So," he replied, snaking his arms around her waist and leaning down so that his lips were mere inches from hers, "in return for my shutting up how about a dance? Unless of course you can think of a better way to keep me from talking." He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, causing her to laugh.

A few feet away Sesshoumaru was cracking his knuckles and balling his hands into fists in order to keep his acid whip from erupting. He didn't know why he was so angry, it wasn't as if Kagome was working with Kouga, they were just friends because of motorcycles. Yeah, that's right, just friends.

"Actually I can think of something other than dancing," she said, but when he leaned down she stepped out from his embrace with a fluid expertise that made Inuyasha snort in merriment. "How about you give me a ride home, Shippou is going to be up soon and I always make him breakfast on Saturday mornings."

Kouga sighed. "Alright, let's go then."

Kagome said goodbye to her still somewhat shocked friends and let Kouga lead her out the door, completely ignoring Sesshoumaru on her way out. Watching her climb on the bike behind him and zoom off, her hair and skirt flying behind her, caused the smallest of growls to escape the taiyoukai.

"Hey asshole," Inuyasha chimed, having suddenly remembered something that happened before the wolf showed up. "Kagome turned you down again did she? I would have figured you'd taken the hint last time!"

Sesshoumaru, already on edge from having to witness Kagome interact with Kouga, would normally have throttled his half-brother for such a comment. However, Kikyou was standing right there and he had just lectured Kagome on not making a scene in public. "I will win in the end little brother," he retorted smoothly, "I always do." That was Saturday morning.

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A/N: There you are my willing and wickedly wonderful readers/reviewers. I made the chapter extra long as part of my penance for taking so much time to update. I've also 1.) put in a bit of Sesshoumaru/Kag fluff, 2.) added some more motorcycle stuff and 3.) did not make Kagome drunk as requested in reviews, which goes to show that if you do review I will try to incorporate your wishes. Here's some spoilers for the next chapter entitled "Sesshoumaru's Revenge":

- And then suddenly, it hit him. "Kagome!" he growled. Only she knew the order and name of each of their destinations. She had planned this whole thing! The attention, hassle and headaches this whole episode was going to bring upon him seemed limitless. 'She will pay!' he swore to himself.-

-"I told you not to underestimate her Sesshoumaru," the American stated, his voice dripping with smugness as began to sing a chorus of "I told you so" over and over.-

-"SESSHOUMARU!" she screeched so loud that even though Shippou had the volume on his video games up he still came running, fearing his mother was experiencing a painful death.-