la, la, la. Hmm, WEdnesday once more, and I have to work. I'm in the middle of a seven day stretch of work because my manager gave me this last weekend off (unrequested). I find it odd that she pops these crazy off days on me, but I can't ever get the days off I request. As an example, I told you about the GRE I have to take in November, when I requested the day off, she automatically denied it without even looking at the reason why (because the system asks for reasons when you request days). I had to find time out of my busy day to track her down and talk to her about it. AND she knew what I was talking about too. (I mean the part about asking for it off, not the why I needed it.) I'm not even going to try for the other days off I requested so I could visit my friend out of the Country. Too much effort. Besides, I don't really have the money to go. I just wanted to a few days to recoup from the exam, away from my family. Nothing to major.

Hmmph, maybe it's just me, but when an employee makes a reasonable request for time off, far enough in advance to be convenient, I would kind of check out the reasons before denying it out of hand. Especially if this employee has not been late or absent a single time since hiring in, even more so if, in that space of time, nearly every other member of that department has called in or been late at least once. But then, I believe in fairness and being considerate. I guess I'm a dying breed. Customers are inconsiderate and disrespectful, both to the employees that work to gain their business and of the other customers.

It's just a suggestion, but when you shop, don't pick up something unless you intend to buy it. If you decide at a later time you no longer want an item either put it back where it goes or leave it at the register. Don't leave a shirt in with the can goods. Don't leave a ring mixed in with the potting soil. (believe me this crap happens.) Here's a better one: when clothes shopping, if you try on a garment, give the clothing to the attendent, hang it up or fold it up and leave it in the established area outside of the fitting room. Don't leave it on someone else's cart. Don't leave the clothing inside the fitting room. (that is so disrespectful of both the attendant, who should be standing right there and isn't really paid to pick up after your ass, and it is inconsiderate of the next customer that comes along to use that fitting room. Why should they have to put up with your mess?) When picking up an item to give it a closer examination, if you decide you no longer want it, PUT IT BACK ON THE APPROPRIATE SHELF! Really, how are the other customers supposed to find this stuff if you don't?

Sorry about the rant, but everybody at work is tired of both hearing and making these complaints. STore employees are NOT paid to be housekeepers! We're paid to put the merchandise out for customers. We're paid to help you locate what you're looking for, not to be your nurse maid. WE're paid to keep our store looking inviting and clean, which would be a whole lot easier if everybody could remember what respect and being considerate is. It would also help if people would use the skills they learned in school and read the damn signs posted. You would not believe the number of people that walk up to me when I'm standing in the fitting room "Where is the fitting rooming?" Or "how many items are allowed" When there are two signs clearly posted. And the sad thing is, I'm seldom ever asked by the people who don't speak English as their primary language. they find the area just fine.

To not put too fine a point on it, people are stupid.

but you don't care about that. All you want to know is if Sesshoumaru actually behaves in this chapter. Well, he does...for a little while. But when he misbehaves this time, Aki finally goes over the deep end and gets a little peeved with him. Not that he didn't have it coming, but unfortunately, Aki's body (in its condition) can't support that emotion right now and she scares everybody rather badly.

Dude, Rumiko TAkahashi's other characters (the ones not in this part, not even in disguise) are all giving prayers of thanks and celebration that they've been granted this little reprieve from my evilness. I don't know why though, most the others really don't suffer under it...unless you count the late night tent raids 'n stuff...

Over the Edge

After Sesshoumaru had successfully learned lesson two "hair care," the demon lord strode down the hall to the living room, leaving a struggling Inuyasha and frustrated Loki. Who knew the Half-breed's hair could be so tangled?

He found Aki on the couch in the living room studying a bunch of papers and making small notes on a pad of paper resting on the arm. She didn't even look up as the demon lord settled on the floor in front of her, gently moving the coffee table out of the way. She didn't look the worse for wear, even though he knew her appearance was deceptive. Sesshoumaru had heard the conversation between Loki and Kaoru while he was in the shower. He knew she was in desperate need of care, and yet to look at her, you would never know.

He reached out a clawed hand to squeeze her thigh, asking for her attention. Aki looked up at him and gave him a small smile of acknowledgement before returning to the papers in her lap. Sesshoumaru took a deep breath before doing anything. Loki had told him he didn't respect Aki. Fred had said something similar once. The demon lord had promised to try not to act that way again. He had failed, time to follow Fred's standing advice and apologize for it.

Sesshoumaru reached up and gently traced one of the bruises on her arm with a gentle claw. The muscles of her arm flexed in reaction to the tender caress on her abused flesh. He took a deep breath and sighed. Would the events of this morning be enough to ruin any chances with her he might have had? Shaking the depressing thought from his head, he tugged at her sleeve.

"Yes?" Aki asked without looking up. She instead flipped to the next page of information.

This was bad; she wouldn't even look at him. Sesshoumaru sighed imperceptibly with dejection. He really did need to apologize, and this time she wasn't going to make it easy on him.

Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw and leaned up to plant a firm kiss on her forehead. If she had been raised amongst youkai that would be apology enough. But Aki had been raised around humans and thus required more than a simple show of respect and affection. "Aki," he said softly. "About earlier," the taiyoukai lowered his eyes as his thumb traced one of the bruises on her arm. "I'm sorry."

Aki's eyes flickered to his face, then back to what she was reading.

"I don't..I just…" he sighed in frustration. How could he explain his behavior without embarrassing himself? Sesshoumaru shook his head; the fact was he couldn't. And until he explained himself, he hadn't properly apologized. "From everything that happened since that – that 'warning' as you called it and the blood this morning, I just –"

"You were worried," Aki finished for him, finally looking at him. He nodded numbly, somewhat dismayed at the weariness lining her expression.

"Why do you look so tired?" he murmured to himself.

Aki raised her eyebrow at him. "Because I am tired," she answered him. He continued to study her face. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek absently.

Sesshoumaru leaned closer to look in her eyes for a moment.

And a moment was all he had. A frustrated shout from the direction of Aki's bedroom absolutely ruined the would-be moment. Aki smiled with amusement as she set aside her papers and stood up.

"Sounds like Loki could sure some help," she chuckled. "Lets go see what's going on in there before they wreck my room," she sighed softly as she hauled herself up off the couch slowly.

The demon lord rolled smoothly to his feet to follow after her. Really, what could be so hard about combing hair?

It was a short walk down the hall and into the middle of a very amusing scene of domestic strife. Loki was cursing up a storm with half a comb in his hand while Inuyasha was likewise cursing and growling. The other half of the comb was lodged in the hanyou's messy silver locks.

"Now, now Loki," Aki began dryly. "You'll never be a hair stylist if you continue doing things that way."

The gang leader sent her a look that could kill an elephant at forty paces. "Well, if you think that you could do better then try it!" he huffed.

Aki chuckled softly before quickly getting down to business. "Inuyasha, go sit on the bed for me," she asked as she stepped into the swamp that used to be her bathroom for another comb. She walked over to the bed and climbed onto it so she could kneel comfortably behind the hanyou. Starting by removing the broken comb she sensed the dog boy tense up.

"Why are you so tense?" Aki clucked, "This isn't a battle."

"It was when he did it!" Inuyasha growled. "I bet he was trying to pull all my hair out while he was at it."

"What'd you do, Loki? Start at the top and try to pull the comb through his hair?" Aki asked.

"That's how it's done isn't it?" Loki grumbled.

"You're kidding, right? Everybody knows that when you're trying to work out a knot or a 'rat's nest' you start at the bottom and slowly work your way up," Aki informed him, demonstrating.

"Well, sorry for never learning how to properly take care of other people's hair," Loki groused.

"You're forgiven," Aki said with a grin, continuing to work the comb through Inuyasha's hair. "Mmm, Inuyasha, you smell good enough to eat!" she teased.

"Feh! It's because of those damn fruity soaps of yours!" the dog boy complained over the purr-like contented sound he was making deep in his chest.

"I like those 'fruity soaps'!" Aki retorted with a minor tug on his hair.

"Of course you do, you're a girl!" Inuyasha replied absently.

"And just what's wrong with being a girl?" Aki paused in her combing.

"I didn't say anything was wrong with being a girl. I'm just saying that girls like smelly frou-frou things," he declared without much thought.

Aki accidentally caught his ear with the comb causing him to yelp. "I do not like 'frou-frou things' as you put it," she argued.

"Oh yeah, then what's that!" Inuyasha pointed to the stuffed bear leaning innocently against her pillow.

Aki smiled softly as she looked at it. "That's a memory," she replied quietly. "Loki could you get me a hair tie from the flood that used to be my bathroom?"

"What are you going to do to my hair?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Nothing girly, now sit still and shut up," Aki ordered.

"I will not. I want to know what you're going to do to my hair!" Inuyasha yelled as he attempted to jump away from Aki. Her firm hand on his shoulder impeded the action as he was primly plopped down right back where he was.

"I'm just going to tie your hair back so it won't get so tangled," the former English tutor rolled her eyes. "Who would've thought you'd be so touchy about your hair?"

"Why do I have to tie my hair back? Nobody else does," Inuyasha complained.

"Because you're more likely to run all over the city than we are and Loki's hair is shorter than yours," Aki reasoned.

Inuyasha crossed his arms in a very stubborn pout.

"Oh god, Inuyasha" Aki groaned, "stop pouting." The dog boy merely jerked to the side and muttered a solid "Feh!" She sighed tiredly and rubbed her temple, "If I put my hair up would you please allow me to tie yours back?"

Inuyasha was too busy being indignant to answer her. Aki sighed again and asked Loki to get her a pair of chopsticks from the bathroom.

"Why do you keep chopsticks in the bathroom?" Sesshoumaru asked her quietly. Bathrooms, as he was given to understand, were not places fro eating or food. Rather quite the opposite when not bathing.

Aki gave him a lop-sided grin, "these aren't meant for eating utensils." He gave her a confused look as Loki handed her a pair of dark brown lacquered sticks with red dragons painted on them. "Watch and learn," she said smugly, swiftly twisting her hair up into a modest bun with the two sticks poked into it at angles from each other. "Now, Inuyasha, are you going to let me tie your hair back with this very simple and manly," she snorted, "rubber band?"

Loki snickered at Inuyasha's expression of doubt, earning Aki's annoyed glare, "Watch yourself Loki. I might take it into my head to tell Kaoru you want her to braid your hair."

"You wouldn't," Loki accused in disbelief, not sure if he should be horrified or pleased by the threat.

She gave him a fairly flat look, "Don't tempt me." The gang leader could've sworn the chopsticks in her hair looked like horns set to gore him on the sharp edge of embarrassment. Loki swallowed and shook his head indicating he would behave. "Okay then, Inuyasha, hold this for me," she gave the seated dog boy the rather plain hair tie to hold onto while she gathered his hair at the back of his neck for a low pony tail.

"I still can't believe he's making this big a deal over his hair," Loki muttered amusedly under his breath.

"Loki!" Aki said sharply over Inuyasha's growl. "I would shut up if I was you, I do have another pair of chopsticks to stick in your hair and Kaoru is just in the kitchen."

The gang leader's eyes widened at the threat. "I'll be good," he mumbled softly.

"Good!" Aki turned slightly to hide her grin. "All right," she patted Inuyasha on the shoulder, "all done. Go have a look, see if it's too girly for you," she rolled her eyes discreetly.

Sesshoumaru watched their interaction slightly impressed with Aki's ability to control the situation without threats of violence. What threats she did issue were threats of embarrassment rather than physical harm. And she managed to use a mild compromise to smooth over Inuyasha's would be tantrum about his hair.

The only problem, Sesshoumaru preferred Aki's hair down, free and unfettered. A problem easily remedied as he studied the sticks holding her hair up. Remove one and the whole coif would come down.

As Aki stood up to lead back to the living room after Inuyasha's reluctant okay. The youkai lord of the Western lands stalked up behind her and absconded both sticks out of her hair carefully. She stopped right as she felt her hair start to tumble down her back and turned to face the three males behind her.

Aki looked them over steadily from the hallway without an expression on her face. The three of them watched as her eyes flashed to a more demonic green before fixing on Sesshoumaru. "May I have my hair sticks please?" she asked in a deceptively soft voice.

Sesshoumaru looked down his nose at her without answering. He'd removed them from her person for a reason. That should be answer enough.

"Sesshoumaru!" she began sharply before pausing to modify her voice. "Give me back my hair sticks, now please." Aki suck out a hand as she finished the demand.

The dog demon just scoffed at her as he placed the sticks in the convenient back pocket of his pants. "Leave your hair down," he growled, satisfied with the way her hair draped down her shoulders.

This was obviously the wrong thing to say as her aura spiked with anger. The bracelets on her wrist began to spark a warning as she leapt at him.

In an instant Loki had her pressed against the wall in the hall while he shouted for Tuck. "Aki calm down!" he roared as she struggled against him.

Suddenly Tuck was helping Loki subdue Aki. Kaoru slipped passed them and grabbed the blanket off the bed.

"Damn it!" Tuck cried. "She's passed out. Kaoru-"

"A blanket, I'm way ahead of you," the pink haired female handed the older youkai the comforter.

Loki moved so that Tuck could wrap the unconscious Aki snuggly in the blanket, catching a glimpse of her blackened wrists before they disappeared under the cotton. "Kaoru go pack up breakfast if you still want her to eat it," the cook sighed. "She needs to see Mouse, now!"

Kaoru nodded and disappeared down the hall.

"What's going on?" Inuyasha cried, extremely worried about the female that was his adopted sister.

"You're brother here has been working on pissing her off all morning until he finally succeeded. Unfortunately, most demons get violent when they're pissed," Loki growled. "Such exertion over loaded the bracelets, which then shocked her system, knocking her unconscious and seriously screwing with her nervous system." The gang leader narrowed his eyes at Sesshoumaru. "Happy now? She's susceptible to chills and vulnerable to every disease out there since her body has shut down. And another shock could stop her heart."

Sesshoumaru looked a little paler than usual as Inuyasha tried to get close enough to reassure himself that Aki was breathing.

Tuck handed his keys to Loki as he hefted the bundled Aki into his arms, "Drive them to Mouse's in my car," he told the younger male.

Loki nodded, "Get her there in one piece. I'll have Kaoru call ahead and warn them what's up."

Tuck nodded and headed for the door cradling his precious cargo.

"Wait! Where's he going with Aki!" Inuyasha growled. Loki gave him a flat look before heading to the kitchen and Kaoru.

"Kaoru, I need you to call ahead to Mouse's and warn them-" Loki began.

"-That Tuck is on his way with one unconscious Aki," Kaoru interrupted him, snapping her cell phone shut having already made the call. "Already done."

Loki grinned roguishly at her, "Ah, that's what I love about you. You're so quick on the uptake."

"Don't be ridiculous, we've run this as drill before," Kaoru scoffed as she began packing the food she'd bought for breakfast. "So does anybody want to tell me what set her off?"

Loki turned to glare at the inu youkai standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Inuyasha reached out and snatched the chopsticks from his brother.

"These," Inuyasha showed her.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow at him before taking a good look at the hair sticks. "Ah, no wonder." She turned to continue her work.

"What do you mean 'no wonder'?" the dog boy asked, sensing there was more to this than just what was on the surface.

"I mean no wonder," Kaoru replied without turning. "First off, one does not ever, ever mess with a woman's hair in mixed company without permission first. To do so is grounds for a serious fight and/or punishment. Secondly, nearly everything in Aki's apartment has a meaning behind it other than the obvious." Kaoru paused, "I happen to know those particular hair sticks were the last gift Aki received from her now dead mother."

Sesshoumaru blanched, no wonder Aki had gotten so angry when he refused to return the little pieces of wood.

"Certain things in Aki's apartment you aren't to mess with if you desire a continued acquaintance. One are those sticks, another is the teddy bear in her room," Kaoru continued.

"What's the story behind that plushy?" Inuyasha asked in curiosity.

Kaoru smiled, "It was a gift she received from her father when she was little. She's had it ever since. I think there's more to it than that, but that's what Aki told me."

"Where did Tuck take Aki?" the hanyou asked since he was already on a roll with getting answers.

"To Mouse's. After collapsing like that, Aki needs immediate medical help to get her back to normal again. It's mostly a precaution Mouse had us plan for when we found out Aki had this problem, though this is the first time she's ever gotten this bad," Kaoru mused aloud. "Normally it's just the trouble breathing, but even that's started earlier than usual."

Sesshoumaru was beginning to get angry. Was the woman trying to make him feel guilty?

"Why didn't he take his car?" Inuyasha asked.

"Tuck can get her there faster without the car," Loki answered him. "Traffic this time of day makes driving one of the slower modes of transportation. Of course if he could run all the way there, he could out run the fastest car, but he can't."

"Why not?" Sesshoumaru demanded, he certainly could run all the way to wherever it was their destination happened to be.

"Because to flout demonic powers like that would endanger every person with youkai heritage on the planet. Humans rule the world today and youkai survive by remaining secret. If some guy were to win a race against a car while carrying another person, there goes secrecy," Loki snapped his fingers. "And with secrecy goes me, Kaoru and Aki. You may not have to live here, but we do."

"Aki is not going to remain here," Sesshoumaru declared firmly.

"Quite right, if Aki dies today she doesn't have to live anywhere," Kaoru snorted.

Sesshoumaru pushed her up against the nearest wall violently. A second later he felt the cool tip of a blade on the back of his neck.

"Put her down," Loki growled darkly. "What she said was not a threat but a warning. If Aki dies today it will be because of your actions, not anyone else's. Not Kaoru, not me, but you because you could not give up whatever tiny part of her life you thought you held."

"Loki calm down," Kaoru tried to soothe the gang leader that only growled at her.

"Aki may have been your mate at one time, but she isn't anymore," Loki growled red flashing in his eyes. "Accept it and treat her accordingly."

"He can't," Inuyasha spoke up.

"Why not?" Kaoru asked.

"Well for starters, he can't kill the bastards that broke off the mating contract between him and Aki," Inuyasha answered. "The situation in and of itself exists outside the bounds of his experience.

"Silence!" Sesshoumaru growled angrily at his younger half brother.

"Wait, wait, wait." Kaoru began slowly getting a grasp on things, "Since we last saw Aki disappear into the old bone eater's well, she, at one point, was mated to him?" Inuyasha nodded. "Then by some twist of fate as yet unexplained, Aki and Sesshoumaru's mating contract was revoked by some outside power that a full-blooded grown inu youkai can't kill?" Inuyasha nodded again. "Why didn't he just mark Aki again?"

Inuyasha smirked, "He tried, Aki wouldn't let him."

"Loki, let him go," Kaoru said firmly. "I suspect there's more to this story than we know thus far, but we'll hear all of it later." Of that she was certain. She was going to know everything about how Aki, who supposedly didn't want a mate, had managed to find one without Kaoru pushing for it. If anything, it would help her figure out how to set things up the next time she tried match Aki up.

The gang leader Growled without moving, he didn't want to do as she said. Kaoru gave a growl of her own as she reached over and cuffed him solidly behind the ear. "I said let him go! He's probably hurting enough without you helping. Besides, you have to drive us to Mouse's" she reminded him, picking up the packed food and heading for the door.

Loki growled another warning at the youkai lord before disappearing after Kaoru.

"Come on, we have to go see if Aki's all right now," Inuyasha mumbled as he turned and left the room.

Sesshoumaru stood silently for a moment longer before picking up the chopsticks from where Inuyasha had absently dropped them before following after the rest of them. It seemed he was constantly finding new ways to drive Aki from him when all he wanted to do was draw her closer. He gave a disheartened sigh as he locked the door behind him and followed the scent of his younger brother outside to the car.

This little incident was going to require some serious apologizing.