The local pet shop was mounted with heaps of animal activity.

The little puppies were barking, the tiny kittens were meowing and Kaori wanted then all.

"Oh Mac, they are so cute." She exclaimed.

"Well, darling, I've got $800 so you can pick one." Mac smiled.

She placed her hand in the cage and all the cute tiny kittens came running and started to play or lick her hand.

Kaori giggled and saw a cute little black and grey kitten that was being pushed around by the other kittens.

It seemed sad and Kaori called to it but the other kittens refused the kitten's entry to her hand.

"Now now, be nice." Kaori smiled.

"I want that one." Kaori pointed to the grey and black kitten and she bypassed the others and picked up the lonely kitten and it cuddled into her hands and Kaori knew she loved it already.

Once the kitten was paid for Mac and Kaori let it go from the cage once they were inside the house.

The kitten was a bit unsure at first but Kaori petted it and it was then confident enough to explore.

It entered the lounge and there was Sandwich just grooming himself on the red rug.

The kitten walled cautiously up to Sandwich and the puppy started to lick it clean and the kitten didn't seem to be scared at all.

Mac and Kaori knew there weren't going to be any problems with the pets; Mac smiled and went off to the living area to watch TV.

Even though there were no problems with Sandwich and the kitten, Kaori had some problems of her own.

Something was craving the freedom and the parties that Sid had offered her; maybe she should give it a go?

She sighed and headed upstairs and sat on the bed and looked for her m-comm.

Maybe Sid wasn't as bad as she thought…

She sent him a private message, and then pondered if she was doing the right thing. But doing right and wrong was hard to distinguish and Kaori just followed the instinct that was telling her to go out and have some fun.

She heard a tiny meow below her and saw it was the kitten.

"Hello there." She greeted in her natural tongue hardly realising she spoke in Japanese.

The kitten licked her hand and then made itself comfortable on her lap.

"Oh right, you don't have a name." she said and then was interrupted by Sid's reply.

"I knew you'd want some freedom, if you're keen, there's a party in a club downtown. Meet me there at 9, bring Mac if you want, he won't mind but just don't tell him that you're meeting me here. Understand?"

All his text was in Japanese just in case Mac was to find it.

Kaori wasn't sure whether to tell Mac or not, even though he didn't like Sid that much, surely he wouldn't mind going out with her to party?

"Okay, but no funny stuff otherwise Mac and I are gone. Understand?"

Kaori replied, she wasn't going to put up with Sid's silly mind games, she was with Mac and she was never ever going to leave him.

Sid's last message made her think for awhile but it was no more than a simple guy wanting some fun.

"See you there, I'm sure you will love it and Mac will love it too."

Kaori was starting to think this was a bad idea. Sid just seemed to extreme for her, Mac was different, and he allowed her to do what she wanted, where she was more comfortable was what he gave her.

Mac only let her do something new if he knew it was safe first or if he'd done it before.

The kitten was fast asleep on her lap and it was so cute, kaori continued to pat it and it loudly purred on her.

She suddenly had a craving for a drink.

She sent a message to Mac using her m-comm.

"Get me a drink honey; I'm upstairs in the bedroom."

She waited awhile and then her m-comm beeped.

"Are your legs painted on?" Mac asked.

She giggled and replied.

"I have my kitten on me and I don't want to disturb her." Kaori sent him.

A few minutes later Mac came up the stairs holding a glass of Pepsi, He bent down and gave her the glass.

"Thank you Mac."

"Your welcome." He smiled.

The kitten yawned and was instantly back asleep within seconds.

Mac stroked the kitten's fur and then thought for a second.

"Have you thought of a name?" He asked.

"Uh, no. There has been no need to call her a name yet." Kaori said.

"How about Milkshakes?" Mac suggested.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm serious. Milkshakes is a cool name for a cat."

"You're just thirsty ain't you?" kaori smiled.

"Aw babe, you see right through me." Mac joked.

"Maybe another name…I like the name Tundra." Kaori suggested.

"Oh! Corvette! That's a wicked name!" Mac imputed in.

"We are not naming her after a car. How about Lemon?" Kaori asked.

"As in Lemonade?" Mac asked.

"I'm not to sure I want to name it a type of drink…" Kaori started but then the perfect name came to her.

"Pepsi."

Mac nodded.

"Oh yeah, Pepsi and Sandwich. Yum." Mac joked.

Kaori smiled and continued to stroke Pepsi's fur and then Mac left the room.

"Wait Mac!" she called and Mac came back in.

"Yeah?"

"Would you wanna go out to a new club in town? You know have a little fun and dancing and stuff?" she asked.

"Yeah, it might be fun." Mac nodded.

"Cool, how about we arrive there at 9?" she asked.

"Yeah okay," Mac agreed and then he went off.

Kaori sat there for awhile but then heard a loud roaring noise coming from downstairs.

Startled, Kaori slightly pushed Pepsi off her and she ran downstairs only to find Mac sitting in a brand new black convertible.

"OH MY GOD! Is this ours?" she asked the driver.

"You better believe it. It came with the house." Mac said.

"Wow, this means we won't have to spend all our money on cab rides." Kaori smiled.

"Yeah, but it means that we'll spend it on petrol." Mac joked.

"Oh my god, we have to drive this to the club!" Kaori shouted in excitement.

"Well, duh, how else are we going to get there, you silly potato." Mac joked and Kaori hopped in the passenger seat but found herself looking into Mac's eyes.

"Kiss me." She whispered and Mac took no time in hesitation, he kissed her softly but passionately.

He had wondered what had made her summon those words but nevertheless, he enjoyed every kiss he got out of her.

The dizzying lights and the beats passed through Kaori's head and she could barely see Mac standing beside her.

The crowd around her was intense and the lasers were surrounding her and she felt somewhat distracted with the task of finding that new cocky rider named Sid.

What was he hoping to get out of this?

It was already clear that he was into her, and her trying to get into her pants but she didn't have enough facts to make that assumption, all the times their lips connected, she had never had initiated it, although she didn't think that was such a difference.

Had they kissed? Was it just coincidence or was there a reason behind it? Had Sid provoked it or had she just been careless?

She couldn't help but feel the guilt consuming her like a black hole sucking her into the blankness.

Her saw fixed on him, that cocky rider just standing there waiting patiently for her.

She nudged Mac on the shoulder and interrupted his dancing, well, it wasn't really dancing, it was more like he was trying to nod his head constantly and moving his arm in the same formation as his head.

"I'm going to go get a drink." Kaori shouted to him, she had to shout since she could hardly hear herself over the loud beating of the stereo.

Mac nodded and continued dancing, Kaori was uncertain of he had heard her or not, his dance moves were similar to him acknowledging her statement.

Kaori assumed he heard her and she went off to the bar, she caught Sid's eyes and she moved her head to signify she was getting a drink.

He followed her and handed out some cash to the barman,

"One martini, for the lady." Sid smiled.

"Oh how nice of you but I don't drink alcohol." Kaori sniggered.

Sid gave an expression of annoyance but called the barman back.

"Make it a lemonade. She's driving" Sid smiled and the barman smiled politely back.

"I don't drive either; you really don't know anything about me do you?" Kaori asked.

"Then what's with the shiny black convertible parked outside?" He asked.

"It's Mac's, it's a housewarming present." She replied without looking at him.

"Whatever, it's a nice car though; I wouldn't mind taking it for a spin with you." He attempted to flirt but she struck him down completely.

"First of all, Mac will never let anyone who he doesn't trust to drive his car and I highly doubt he will tolerate you with me where he can't see us." She said in a monotonous voice.

"I guess that's fair enough, I wouldn't let my lady anywhere near a scumbag as rotten as me now would I?" He said rather sarcastically.

Kaori turned her glaze towards him and her eyes bore deep into him, he suddenly felt a little fear but then wondered why he had felt that. If Mac was to challenge him, he would accept and defeat him and in the animal world, it's the male who is strongest who gets the right to the females, he knew he was older but that meant he had more strategies and more experience. Mac on the other hand seemed like the aggressive type and will let anger cloud his judgement and will subsequently fail.

Sid knew then he was thinking too much into it, and where did he pick up on those difficult and long English words?

On a number of occasions he and Gabriella had a conversation or two and her being French she could pronounce difficult words but Sid could understand them better, what's the point of knowing long and complicated words when you don't know the meaning to them, use then wrongly in context and you suddenly get a miserable reputation.

"Enjoying your drink Kaori Fraser?" Sid asked changing the subject.

Kaori turned back away knowing that Sid was either choosing the wise decision and backing off or was just being a dickhead an trying to irritate her longer.

Why was it she was more agitated around him and was in a constant state of bad mood whenever she was around him?

She couldn't help but stare at him like he was the most evil person in the world.

Sid noticed her staring at him and knew he felt a mixture between fear, admiration and a sense of being turned on.

Why the fear, what she possibly do?

"Why you looking at me like that?" Sid asked and Kaori was about o answer but then the barman handed her drink over.

"No reason." Was the reply.

"I know why."

"Oh really?" Kaori asked obviously annoyed,

"It's that craving you locked up. The bad girl wants to beat the hell out of me doesn't she?" Sid asked with a smile.

"Maybe, I could do that myself if I really wanted to." Kaori said.

"You wouldn't, you're too nice." Sid whispered.

"Try me!" Kaori provoked.

"In a public place? You would be arrested." Sid said.

"Only in a worst case scenario, besides I'll have Mac back me up on it." Kaori said and Sid was taken back by her rashness.

He wasn't expecting her to fight back but it was clear being with Mac had made her change from a quiet shy Japanese girl to a strong hearted and not to mention absolutely gorgeous Japanese woman.

"Well, Then I guess he will be the one who will be throwing the punches?" Sid taunted.

Kaori was beginning to find it hard to control herself.

"Why don't we settle this outside?" Sid asked.

"No, I am not leaving the room with you without Mac beside me." Kaori stood her ground.

"You love him don't you?"

"I wouldn't have married him if I didn't." Kaori didn't think there was any point in answering that stupid question but Sid found it amusing that she answered a rhetorical question.

"Any problem?" Mac asked as he came up beside Kaori and paid for a drink.

"None at all, we were just talking." Sid plainly said loosing his train of thought and then he walked off.

"Man, I don't like him." Mac stated and Kaori hugged him.

"Never let me go." She said and Mac hugged her back.

"I won't." He promised.

Sid was watching in the distance and saw the happy couple and he craved the emotional connection through them, he wanted someone to care for him the way Mac cared for Kaori and the way Kaori cared for Mac.

He watched slyly as Kaori walked off to the bathroom, leaving Mac to his drink.

Sid quietly walled over, his head held high in glory.

"That is quite the girl you have." Sid said as he leaned over the bar and paid for another drink.

Mac wondered how many he had since he was obviously showing signs that he was intoxicated.

"Yeah and what does it matter to you?" Mac asked.

"She is beautiful, of the fish in the ocean; you managed to catch the angelfish," Sid started.

"My wife isn't a fish." Mac stated, he had to keep reminding Sid that she wasn't up for catching anymore.

"Of course." Sid smiled and sipped his drink.

"But I wouldn't mind trying to find another good tasty fish like her." Sid commented.

"Tasty?" Mac asked.

"Oh, she didn't tell you? We kissed, and she was all for it." He giggled and Mac was loosing his temper.

"What do you mean?" He asked getting rather angry

"Do I need to spell it out for you? Kaori, as in your wife, and I kissed on the top of the slopes yesterday," Sid explained.

"That can't be, she was racing Psymon." Mac said trying desperately hard to convince himself Sid was telling lies.

"I was the 'Psymon' she was racing. She actually kissed me first, we were on the plane coming home and she turned her head and kissed me and she kept on denying it." Sid told him.

"No!"

"It's true." Sid said with a very smug look attached to his face.

Mac's anger couldn't be bottled up inside him any longer his fist had been clenched for too long and his hand had lost all of its feeling.

In an instant, he punched Sid right in the gut and Sid folded in half, curling on the floor like a child.

The crowd around him came around and occasionally tried to start a chant of fight! Fight! Fight!

Everyone seemed to getting a kick out of this street fight between Mac and Sid. Even Mac was feeling good about it. It was good to let his anger out other than using it on the slopes.

Mac saw Sid slowly rising to his feet and his face was covered in obvious pain.

"Why did you say that? She would never go behind my back to kiss you! I know she dislikes you, and I know she was acting weird when she came back from racing you but I never would have guessed that you made her like that! It's your fault," Mac growled.

Sid only laughed.

"She kissed me, and she loved it! She came back for more!" Sid yelled before Mac kicked him in the shins and followed it with a punch in the face.

Kaori walked out of the bathroom and saw the commotion, she pushed her way through the crowed and she was revolted by the sight she saw, Mac was fighting Sid in a brutal fight.

"STOP!" She yelled as she ran towards then trying to break them up but getting caught up in the fight between two men in a brutal fight wasn't a good idea and Mac was about to punch Sid again but his fist slipped and he hit something. The soft smooth ivory skin was pressed against his knuckles and Mac's eyes widened in horror.

He saw her fall in slow motion, the fear soaring in her iris. He had hit her and her sore body lied on the floor.