Kouga allowed himself to drift off to sleep. Kagome awoke hours later to 6 squirming bodies all on top of her. Kouga was watching the interaction from the safety of the bathroom doorway his eyes dancing. Kagome sent him a glare, turning her attention to the five cubs and Shippo, "Okay you guys, go get Kouga!"

She stood up and leapt at him leading the pups in the attack. Kouga caught her and used her like a shield, "I've got a hostage, now try anything and the girl gets it."

The kids turned to each other discussing what they should do when Shippo called out, "Get them both!"

Kagome laughed as Kouga pulled the both of them into the bathroom and closed the door behind them. Turning to Kagome he muttered, "This is your fault, you know."

She shook her head, "Na-uh"

"Yes it is."

She laughed, "You ruined it, your supposed to say "u-huh" then we continue the nu-uh, u-huh thing for awhile until I trick you into agreeing with me."

Kouga pulled her towards him and kissed her, "You know… you are so beautiful in the morning."

She smiled and returned the kiss, "Yes, and hopefully you also noticed that they locked us inside and left…and Sesshomaru wanted to see me this morning."

Kouga tugged on her shirt suggestively, "I can think of something to do while we wait for someone to rescue us."

She nodded, "Me too, we can play charades."

He whined softly, "That wasn't what I had in mind."

She laughed and laid in the empty tub, "Yeah well, while you figure out how to entertain yourself, I'm taking a nap, unless you want to join me, I mean bouncing kids was a harsh wake-up call and I'm still really tired..."

Kouga climbed in and settled her on his chest, "I can live with this."

Kagome burrowed into his chest and yawned, closing her eyes, "Me too."

The ookami closed his eyes and allowed his breathing to even. Kagome followed suit. An hour later, Ginta and Hakkaku unlocked the door and peered inside. Kagome was resting on Kouga's chest, his arm wrapped around her slim form possessively. The two wolves jumped and fled when Sesshomaru appeared behind them. He gazed at the two in the bathtub impassively before stepping in and pulling Kagome out of the wolf's grasp. Kouga woke up to see Kagome over Sesshomaru's shoulder, "I trust you have an explanation for this, Wolf."

Kagome sighed from her perch on the taiyoukai's shoulder "Sesshomaru-nii-sama, it isn't like it looks like."

His eyebrow arched slightly, "So you weren't sleeping with Kouga in a locked bathroom in the tub."

Kagome nodded, "Well maybe it is what it looks like, but in our defense: the bathroom was locked on the outside and we couldn't get out so Kouga decided to be kind enough to allow me to sleep on him rather then on the hard floor."

Sesshomaru snorted and set her down, "Kagome, you are to get ready in five minutes so that we may see your skill level after not practicing for nearly a month."

Kagome groaned and went to get her clothes. Sesshomaru stood at the door way, "Come."

She followed him pulling on a pair of sweats. Kouga groaned from his position in the tub at the sight of Kagome changing. Nodding curtly at Sesshomaru, he closed the bathroom door and began a long cold shower to calm down.

Kagome stopped at the dojo and Sesshomaru turned to her, "You will be attending Smallville High, I understand strange occurrences seem to frequent the school and I wish for you to investigate these events, I do not have servants familiar enough with the human school system to successfully pull it off. But now I wish to see your abilities."

He ran at her and Kagome had just managed to duck the blow, she threw her leg out to sweep his feet out from under him. Sesshomaru just leapt over the leg and brought his claws down on it. Kagome managed to avoid an injury and leapt up. Sesshomaru turned his calm gaze at her, "Acceptable, now you will tell me why you were sleeping with the wolf and you didn't remain at your cousin's residence."

Kagome looked away, "We ran into a youkai here and Kouga decided that it would be safer for me to remain here with him and not risk my cousins' lives."

Sesshomaru nodded curtly, "What else has happened that made you believe it prudent to sleep in the same bed as the wolf."

She fidgeted, "Someone has been spying on me and I guess I didn't feel very comfortable sleeping alone knowing this person had actually placed a camera in my necklace and because the Tokyo police called me, he threatened Souta if I spoke with them again."

Kouga walked in the dojo. surprised as hell when Sesshomaru thanked him for caring for his imouto. Before Sesshomaru left Kagome spoke, "Sesshomaru-sama, I was wondering if I could possibly touch your tail."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, "I would have thought you would have grabbed it if you wanted to touch this one's tail."

Kagome smiled and walked up to it running a hand gently across the surface. She squealed in her head that was so soft. Sesshomaru felt his entire body tingle and relax. Pulling away she thanked him and went to shower. Kouga watched her go laughing when Sesshomaru went back to normal, "So, Sesshomaru, how'd it feel?"

Sesshomaru sniffed, "You can always ask her to do the same."

With those parting words he walked out. Kouga smiled at the implications in that statement; if he allowed her to play with his tail it would practically be a proposal to have him as a mate. The fact her aniki was the one to suggest it meant he approved of the court.

Houjo sighed as the camera was discovered and destroyed; 'Now how am I going to protect Kagome and keep an eye on her?'

As if answer to his thoughts the phone rang, he picked it up and the Ayumi was on the line, "Houjo did you hear what happened to poor Eri?"

Houjo played innocent, "No, what happened?"

"The poor girl was attacked when we separated on the way home from the cinema."

"Really? Oh my God, that's terrible, so that's why the police came and talked to me. Also something bad must be happening to Kagome because they were asking me questions about her too."

"Then we should go to her and bring Eri. Friends stick together. Besides America will do Eri some good."

"That's a great idea, say why don't you plan it for us."

"Will do."

Ayumi hung up after that. Houjo smirked as he put the phone on its cradle, 'Soon, Kagome.'

Kagome felt a small shudder run through her back. Looking around she saw nothing. Shrugging it off she stepped into the shower allowing for her muscles to relax. Shampooing her hair she allowed the water to run through it. Stepping out of the shower she wrapped herself with the towel and entered her room. Treading around the broken necklace and cell phone parts Kagome began to dress for the day.

Kouga went into his study, where Sesshomaru was waiting for him. Sesshomaru turned to him, "Explain about this person who was spying on Kagome."

Kouga started to growl, "What do you want to know about the fucker?"

Sesshomaru raised one of his eyebrows at the response, "What has transpired so far?"

Kouga started with the first call at the Talon then the calls that followed and the rape of Kagome's friend. He finished with the final call that took place in Kagome's room here and the camera he found in her necklace.

Sesshomaru tightened his grip on the chair, his claws digging into the wooden arms, "I trust the situation is being handled appropriately. If what you say about the camera is true wouldn't that suggest that this person knows Kagome is staying at your home and can easily come around under some pretense?"

Kagome dressed and then picked up the pieces of the cell-phone and necklace from the ground and threw them away. She sat down on the corner of the bed trying to figure out how the camera could have possibly gotten into the necklace her friends gave her. 'None of my friends would do such a thing to me…Houjo's too kind and naïve to do it and Eri Yuka and Ayumi may be a little nosey for their own good but, they would never threaten me. None of them would hurt one of the group.'

Ginta opened the door and startled the miko out of her thoughts. Looking up at him from her undignified position on the floor she greeted the wolf.

Ginta helped her up, "I wanted to know if you wanted some breakfast while Kouga and Sesshomaru are in their meeting."

Thanking him she followed the wolf youkai to the dinning room, "So, Ginta, do you have cubs?"

Ginta nodded, "Me and Ayame mated and you met the younger three this morning."

Kagome nodded, "So they were part of my wake-up call? How is Ayame?"

Ginta puffed his chest, "She's expecting our next litter."

Kagome congratulated him. The two were then ambushed by the cubs in question. Kagome winced from her spot on the ground. She quickly retaliated with the tickle torture while Ginta held one of the cubs in his arms while the cub was gnawing on his forearm. The shrieks quickly brought Kouga and Sesshomaru into the hallway. Once Sesshomaru saw what was going on he returned to the study while Kouga stood watching the interaction. He felt the slight longing to have his own cubs to romp around with. Kagome feeling his gaze looked up. She stopped, "Oh, I'm sorry, Kouga-kun, did we disturb you?"

He shook his head and crouched down beside her. Kagome smiled at him, "So what were you and Sesshomaru-nii-sama speaking about?"

Kouga shrugged, "Business matters, nothing too important or interesting."

She nodded and returned to the cubs that were gnawing at her arms, "So guys, I'm pretty sure I don't taste too good so why don't you join me for breakfast?"

Suddenly the cubs launched themselves at her clinging to her abdomen the one in Ginta's arms joined the fray. Kagome stood with the cubs latched securely to her back. Kouga watched as she carried them towards the kitchen. Ginta placed a hand on his leader's shoulder, "So, you joining us?"

Kouga nodded curtly and followed Kagome. His confident swagger leaving Ginta to stifle a chuckle, 'And to think he was so self-conscious in the past about wooing Nee-chan.'

Kagome turned from her spot and waited for both males to catch up. Kouga caught up to her followed closely by Ginta. Ginta smiled, "You don't know the way do you?"

She grinned, "I have no clue what you're talking about; I was merely waiting for you two to finish what ever guy-bonding moment you had."

Kouga tried to put his arm around her waist but the cubs that are holding onto her growled at him and bit his arm. Kouga growled back while Kagome stifled her giggles. Ginta wasn't sure if he should be amused or horrified that his cubs had the gall to bite the leader of the tribe.

Kagome couldn't hold it any longer and laughed, "Thanks guys I guess I have some new protectors…brave enough to face down the big bad wolf."

Kouga turned to her a wounded expression on his face. Kagome chuckled and patted his head, "Awwww, but, he's a very cute big bad wolf. What do you guys say?"

They snorted and Kagome smiled. Kouga grabbed Kagome and threw her over his shoulder. The cubs just repositioned themselves while Kagome sighed, "This view is becoming very familiar."

Kagome turned to Ginta pleading with her eyes. Ginta put a hand on the ookami prince's shoulder, "Kouga, I'm pretty sure that carrying Nee-chan like that won't get her to say yes to you."

He set her down and she sent him a smile before following Ginta to the kitchen. Kouga watched her retreating figure before strolling after them a wolfish grin on his face. When the wolf prince caught up he settled beside Kagome and listened to Ginta as he entertained Kagome with tales of his children when they were growing up, "Wow, Ginta, 15 children and those on the way."

Ginta chuckled, "Yeah, Ayame's threatening to neuter me if I get her pregnant within the next 50 years."

Kagome laughed while Kouga hid a smile. Kagome calmed downed, "I can understand I would probably do the same thing, but then I always wanted a big family."

Ginta nodded then after watching his children run off sent a sly glance at Kouga. Kagome missed the exchange and stood up, "Thank you for the meal but I have a school to register to."

Kouga growled, "I don't think it would be safe."

"Of course not, its high school, they have the ability to tear you apart without spilling a drop of blood."

The wolf prince growled deeper, "You are not going."

The miko rolled her eyes, "Sorry, you cannot dictate my life, Kouga-kun."

Kouga's eyes flashed red at the challenge to his dominance, "You are my bitch, and will submit to me."

The he bit her keeping a grip on her neck. Kagome struggled but he only bit down harder. At Ginta's urging, she stilled and felt him let go of her neck and lapped at the blood that welled up from the puncture wounds. The red seeped out of his eyes and Kagome managed to pull away rubbing the pain in her neck away. Kouga winced at the taste of blood on his lips and moved to apologize when Kagome just cuffed him gently, "Warn me the next time you go vampire on us. "

Ginta wisely retreated allowing for the couple to have a private moment. The miko picked up a paper towel and dabbed the spot removing the new accumulation of blood. Kouga walked up to her and gently coated the wound with his saliva sealing it. Kagome thanked him and noted a certain inu's presence at the door. Sesshomaru growled at the wolf warningly before taking Kagome with him and giving her a ride to the school's register's office.

Kouga laid his head on the table reviewing the events in his head; mentally pleased that she responded to the bite like a true youkai bitch would but slightly worried that he could have caused serious damage because the fact remained that she wasn't a youkai and didn't have their durability.

________________________________________________________________________

Houjo packed his suitcase mentally counting down the hours before he could reunite with Kagome and prevent that ookami from touching her anymore. Yuka was going to join him for an earlier flight while Ayumi and Eri were going to fly on a later flight.

Sesshomaru swallowed his growl, if it was still the feudal era he would have lopped the patronizing ningen's head. Kagome annoyed snapped at the man, "You will cease that infuriating patronizing before I go to the Department of Health and report on several infractions on the health code and with the disturbing evidence I've photographed you would be looking at a lawsuit. So I suggest finish this up and remember I have attended school for over 12 years."

The man printed the schedule and quickly handed it over. Kagome and Sesshomaru stood and left the building. Kagome sighed and loosened her hair from her bun. Sesshomaru nodded at her to tell her that she had done a good thing. Kagome laughed shaking her hair free, "That man was annoying and he was giving humans a terrible name."

Sesshomaru smirked slightly, "You've spent far too much time with me."

She laughed again, entering the car for the ride back to Kouga's estate.

________________________________________________________________________

Houjo stepped of the plane stretching a little. Eri was surrounded by her two close friends when Houjo's phone rang, "Moshi moshi, Houjo Akitoki speaking."

He then switched to English when he realized it was his father's friend on the line, "Ah yes it's good to hear from you, Luthor-san, I was rather surprised when you called asking about a certain friend of mine. You receive the documents I sent you?"

The girls looked at Houjo curiously, they never picked up on English; Houjo was to be the translator of the group. He noticed their stares and apologized to them after hanging up the phone. Eri tried to put on a brave front, "Well let's go to Smallville and get to our inn. Then we can go and find Kagome and have her show us around."

They all picked up their bags and headed out to take the Greyhound that would take them to the town where Kagome was staying. Houjo looking at the setting sun smirked, 'Soon.'