Kagome entered the mansion and was pounced on by Kouga and the cubs. She let out a rush of air and turned her pleading expression to Sesshomaru who merely raised his eyebrow, "You're a cruel youkai, Sesshomaru."

"What ever gave you the idea I wasn't."

She stuck her tongue out at him and turned her attention to Kouga who was lying on her stomach watching her, "You want to put that tongue to better use?"

Kagome shoved him gently, "Hentai."

Kouga smirked and nipped at her lips. Kagome smiled innocently, "So, Kouga-kun, can you please get off of me. I would like to stand up."

Kouga smirked then stood up lifting the miko with him causing her to instinctively cling to him. "Well, I didn't know you wanted me this bad."

She huffed slightly and put her feet to the ground releasing Kouga from her grasp and she walked towards her room her face sporting a small blush. Kouga watched her go with a small smirk gracing his features.

Houjo turned to girls who were sleeping in the cab before listening to the cab driver explain the meteor shower that placed Smallville on the map. The girls woke up when the cab reached the Smallville city limits. Houjo tuned out the girls' chatter as he focused on how to get Kagome away from the wolf. 'Who knew demons existed? I believe Kagome's been keeping secrets from me.'

Eri sent a smile at the two girls trying to keep her mind away from what happened to her just a short time ago. Stepping out when the cab stopped in front of the inn they paid the fare and entered to reserve the rooms. "After we settle in we go to Kagome's cousin's place and see her."

The girls entered their room while Houjo entered his. Eri was given her own bed while Yuka and Ayami shared the second bed. He knocked on their door before the girls let him in. They packed their purses each equipped with a miniature Japanese-English dictionary.

Houjo asked them, "Her cousin's name was Kent, right?'

They nodded and left the room to head to the nearest coffeehouse to ask where the Kents live.

Jonathan went to The Talon to see if his son was in there when he caught sight of four Asians at the counter asking if they had seen a girl by the name of Kagome Higurashi. Clark spoke, "Yeah, she's my cousin, who are y'all?"

Yuka introduced the group and asked to see Kagome. This time Jonathan spoke up, "Kagome's living with a friend, I don't know where, but her mother told me about him and he seems to truly want to take care of her."

The girls turn to Houjo sympathetically, when the Asian boy spoke, "Do you know which friend?"

Jonathan looked at them trying to gauge their trustworthiness, not picking up anything particularly screaming 'demon' he told them that she was staying with a Kouga Ookami. "I'm sure if you call her she'll come by."

Yuka and Ayumi look at each other then turn to the other two in their group. Houjo was the one to speak, "I must say that Kagome never gave us a number she just told us she would be staying with her cousins the Kents…It was rather quick. She had just recovered from a particularly bad case of the flu when her mother told us someone tried to rob her and she came here to recover from that. We were worried someone is after her and they hurt our friend Eri to try and get to her so we decided to come and well warn and protect her."

Clark's eyes widened at the thought of someone hurting his new cousin. Jonathan nodded thoughtfully, "I'm sure Ookami will make sure nothing happens to her or her son."

The girls blinked, "So she was two-timing, poor Houjo."

The girls heard a slightly amused voice behind them, "Hello guys, what brings you to America?"

They all whirled around, "Kagome-chan!"

She nodded towards her friends and gave her cousins tight hugs. Jonathan ruffled her hair, and Clark noticed the bite mark on the back of her neck. He frowned but, didn't mention it. "How are things with Kouga? I do miss you."

"It's going great and I love seeing all of my old friends. I'm going to attend my senior year here in Smallville High, just enrolled and everything."

Clark smiled and Jonathan nodded while giving his departure as Clark returned to his job at The Talon. Waving a goodbye she turned to her friends, "Now what's this about two-timing Houjo? We would have to be dating for me to two-time him and sorry Houjo, but I'm not interested in him like that I never was you guys would always force me into it…Eri-chan, how are you feeling? I'm so sorry it's my entire fault you got involved with whatever is going on."

The door opened and Kouga stepped in his eyes meeting the gaze of Houjo, "Who are your friends, Kagome?"

Kagome sent him her brightest smile, "Remember I told you about them, these are my friends, Eri, Yuka, Ayumi and this is Houjo."

Kouga growled slightly, the scent of the boy's arousal for Kagome was choking his senses. Kagome slipped her hand into Kouga's and ran the pad of her thumb in gentle circles along his hand in order to calm him down. He gave it a gentle squeeze as Kagome's girlfriends turned to face Kagome, "Ookami-san, can you please excuse us for a minute?"

Before Kouga had a chance to reply they had already dragged Kagome away. Kouga could still hear them even though the doors. "You, whore, how can you say that about Houjo he's been nothing but, helpful and polite and kind throughout this whole time and you go and fuck around behind his back. Is that guy the father?"

Kagome gave a very decent growl, "Yuka, if you liked Houjo-kun so much why don't you go after him, I've told you guys I was never interested but, you kept pushing and pushing it. I ask you respect the fact that you are my friends and as such you are not my mother, grandfather, or Sesshomaru-nii-sama, you have no say in my love life. Its not junior high anymore."

Ayumi spoke next, "And your son, I want to meet him."

The miko sighed, "Kouga-kun was supposed to be watching him. So I'll ask when we get out of here. And Yuka do not ever call me a whore again."

The girls shivered at how cold their friend's voice got at the end of the statement. She stalked out of the bathroom Kouga watched her with slight pride as no hint of her irritation was evident. He had spent the time torn between glaring down that Hobo idiot and wanting to rescue Kagome. Houjo cleared his throat softly, "What happened to our farewell gift we gave you, Kagome?"

Kouga's hackles rose at the memory of the necklace. "I destroyed that thing and if I found out who actually snuck the video camera in it, I'm ripping their windpipe out and stuffing it down their fucking throat."

Kagome sighed and rested her hand on his arm, "Kouga-kun, where's Shippo?"

Kouga blinked he had half expected Kagome to stop him from threatening her friends, when it came, "Please don't threaten my friends unnecessarily."

He placed a kiss on her forehead, "Of course I won't threaten them unnecessarily."

Giving him a kiss on the cheek and bowed a farewell to her friends. Kouga watched her go and meet up with Ginta, "You may be Kagome's friends which is the only reason I'm tolerating you but mark my words if one of you had a part with what's bothering Kagome now and hurt Eri I will make you suffer for every tear she shed."

He then left the store leaving her friends there, "Aww, it so cute how he protects her. I think it's sweet."

Yuka and Houjo look at Ayumi stunned while Eri nodded, "Perhaps if I had someone to protect me like he does her I would never had been raped."

The girls fell silent after that statement unsure of what to say to the girl. Houjo growled, it was time he took some desperate measures.

Gwah here is the next chapter in the TATA series…I just love making Houjo the bad guy, he's too nice and it's creepy how nothing fazes him.