A/N: It's been mentioned to me that writing in more than one point of view is making my story a bit confusing. So for this chapter I'm going to write the entire thing in 3rd person. Mind you, I enjoy writing in different character's perspectives because I think it adds emotional dynamics to the story but if it will make the reading easier to do it this way, I'll give it a shot. However, I can't promise that the change will be permanent. After all, I would hate to restrict my capacity to be creative or unique! Let me know if it helps!

On with the chapter!

Chapter Five

A Level Playing Field

…

For the first time in his existence Sesshomaru couldn't help but find that his emotions were becoming harder to contain. The past few weeks of his life had been less than ideal and there were no signs of things getting better anytime soon. Sesshomaru exhaled heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He had no one to blame for his troubles but himself.

He closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to drift to Kagome. Sesshomaru hadn't spoken to her in over a week. Ever since the night of their last fight he had tried to avoid her if he could help it. The image of Kagome's helpless brokenhearted expression was still fresh in Sesshomaru's mind and the idea of seeing it yet again was more than he could bring himself to face. Eventually, he would have to somehow resolve the situation but Sesshomaru forced that notion out of his mind for the time being. He was about to deal with something much more imperative that called for his immediate attention. Kagome would have to wait.

Sesshomaru got out of his dark blue jaguar and headed towards the small café. His eyes scanned the perimeter of the parking lot. There was no one else outside of the café that he could identify which brought him slight relief. Sesshomaru had only been to this side of town once or twice before. It was nothing like where he lived. The streets were narrow and muddy while the community itself looked as if someone had colored the entire thing grey. Even the air smelled odd.

Sesshomaru entered the nearly empty café. The quicker he could get this over with the better. He spotted her almost as soon as he walked in. She was sitting on a high stool at a table in the corner. Her long inky black hair was tied in a bun and she was wearing an oversized petty coat that covered her entire body.

She offered him a taunting smile as Sesshomaru sat down across from her, "I knew you would get my message." She purred.

"If you put your hands on any one of my employees again, I will make it my personal responsibility to make certain that you regret it." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. The very sight of her repulsed him. It was like she was his own little demon plucked straight from the hell that he couldn't pull himself out of.

"How else was I supposed to get your attention?" Kagura sucked her teeth.

"You were given instructions."

"Yeah, well, waiting for you to respond to my emails was taking too long," She snapped at him "Besides, I only have three more months to get you all caught up on parenthood now don't I?"

Sesshomaru's jaw tightened. He was visibly angry and Kagura couldn't get enough of it. She finally had him right where she wanted him and there was no way in hell that he could flee her now.

"What do you want wench?"

"Wench?" Kagura clutched her chest mockingly as if she'd truly been insulted "Is that any way to refer to the mother of your child?"

"You have no proof that the abomination inside of you is mine." Sesshomaru said slowly through gritted teeth.

"Would you be here if you didn't think so?"

Their eyes clashed and silence poured between them.

Had it not been for the accurate timeline of Kagura's pregnancy, Sesshomaru would have every doubt in his mind that the baby wasn't his. But he couldn't deny the possibility. If only he hadn't been so careless…so weak. None of this nightmare would be happening.

"Look," Kagura rolled her eyes "We've been through this before. You know just as well as I do what happened that night. You can try to deny the facts in that pathetic little mind of yours all you want but we both know the truth."

"The only truth I know is that you're a conniving whore." Sesshomaru growled.

Kagura shrugged her shoulders, "Doesn't matter sweet cakes. In twelve weeks I'll have all the proof I need that this baby is yours."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Which was?"

"What do you want wench?"

Kagura exhaled heavily. If he called her outside of her name one more time she was going to lose it. She leaned back into her chair and folded her arms, "I want what every expecting mother wants. Assurance that the father of her unborn baby is going to do all he can to make sure she has everything she needs."

Sesshomaru remained silent. He could see the directing that their conversation was headed and he didn't like it one bit.

"Oh come on Sesshomaru, you didn't think I was going to do this by myself did you." Kagura could hardly contain her laugh "Get real."

"Why?" Sesshomaru could feel his body begin to tremble with anger and it took everything inside of him to control it "Why would you continue this pregnancy knowing that we have no connection to each other whatsoever? You should have terminated this before it was too late. I would have given you the resources."

Under any other circumstance, Sesshomaru would never condone abortion. But he couldn't help it. Kagura knew that they were never supposed to speak to each other again. That night was a mistake and should never have happened. They weren't in love, they weren't together…they weren't even infatuated!

Kagura shook her head, "Why settle for five hundred dollars when I could shoot for five hundred thousand?"

Sesshomaru blinked twice. Had he really heard correctly?

"I'm a business woman Sesshomaru," Kagura continued. Her dark eyes narrowed. She'd had enough of beating around the bush and her patience was wearing thin "One who doesn't enjoy the regular nine to five if you catch what I mean. The night I met you, I saw my biggest career opportunity yet. If a kid is all I have to put up with to keep my bank accounts full for the rest of my life…I figure, what the hell."

"You sick bitch."

Kagura laughed again, "Call me what you want. But this little bundle of joy isn't going away anytime soon unless we can make a deal, I promise you that."

Sesshomaru couldn't believe the words coming out of her sordid mouth. Did she really expect him to pay for her child? A child that he didn't even know if he had fathered? Had she lost her mind, "No."

"No?"

"No," Sesshomaru repeated crossly "You're not getting a cent of my money."

"Oh really?" Kagura shot back quickly "And how do you think poor Kagome will feel once she finds out?"

Sesshomaru felt his heart skip a beat. There was no way she could have known…

"I know all about your little girlfriend," Kagura snapped "How long have you been together hmm? Three years? That's a long time to throw away over one little slip up that can be easily resolved right here, right now."

"How did you—"

"I have my ways."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

Sesshomaru stared at Kagura hard. The expression on her face told him she clearly wasn't bluffing. How she had found out about Kagome was beyond him but he had to do something. Kagome could never find out about this. It would break her heart and Sesshomaru knew that she would never find it in herself to forgive him…

Sesshomaru swallowed hard. There was no other choice, "Five thousand a month until a DNA test is administered." He finally said. There was no way that he was going to allow Kagura to get her hands on any more of his money until something was proven.

"Fine by me," Kagura smiled "You can have the money wired to this account." She pulled out an index card and slid it across the table to him "I'll expect the first deposit by morning."

"And Kagome stays out of this?"

"My lips are sealed."

Sesshomaru snatch the card in put it into his pocket. He stood to leave, if he looked at Kagura for one more second Sesshomaru wasn't sure if he could contain himself from throwing her across the café.

"One more thing," Kagura stood up behind him. The mixture of triumph and sarcasm in her voice was more than obvious, "You really should be happy Sesshomaru. Your son is going to grow up knowing how to make the right decisions like you did today."

Sesshomaru stormed out of the café. That bitch was out to ruin his life. What's worse is that he had no way to stop her. He couldn't figure out how one mistake would have the capacity to singlehandedly destroy everything he cared about. His job, his standard of living…his relationship.

Would Kagura be true to her word? Sesshomaru didn't know if he could trust the wench or not but as much as he hated to realize, he didn't have a choice.

…

Naraku watched quietly as Kagome slept beside him. She was an image of absolute beauty in her slumber and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Throughout the night the two of them had spent hours ravishing each other's bodies and enjoying sweet ecstasy. It wasn't until four 'o' clock in the morning that they'd actually stopped to rest.

Naraku had to admit, when he'd first pursued Kagome he had very clear intentions. She was going to be the newest addition to his little black book, his golden egg. There wasn't supposed to be any difference from any other woman he'd been with.

But there was.

Everything about Kagome set him on fire. Her hair, her buttermilk eyes, her lips, her body, even her creamy tan skin all made him crave Kagome's presence. His attraction for her had become unexpectedly more than physical. Naraku found Kagome to be incredibly kind hearted and intelligent. He couldn't dream of how any man could mistreat her…

Like Sesshomaru. The very thought of his name made Naraku's blood boil. Though he barely knew the man, Naraku couldn't stand the idea of Kagome's thoughts and emotions being devoted to some pathetic piece of scum. One that clearly didn't recognize the amazing woman he possessed…or did possess.

Kagome rolled onto her belly and stretched her arms above her head. Her eyelids fluttered open as she yawned.

"Good morning."

She ran a lazy hand through her hair, "How long have you been up?"

"Not long," Naraku lied. In all actuality he had been awake for almost three hours watching her toss and turn.

Kagome sat up and wrapped the comforter around her naked body. The expression on her face was a mixture of deliberation and confusion.

"Is something wrong Miko?"

"I'm a horrible person."

Naraku chuckled, "What makes you say that?"

"The fact that I spent the entire night having an affair," Kagome cradled her head in her hands "And I have the worst headache in the world."

"That's probably because of all the wine," Naraku flipped the comforter off of him and disappeared into the bathroom. After a few seconds he returned with two white pills and a small glass of water, "Here take these, they'll help you feel better."

Kagome looked up, temporarily distracted by Naraku's nude body before her. Even in his normal state the size of Naraku's manhood was very impressive. No wonder why she could feel him so deeply when they…Kagome blushed. She took the water and pills then swallowed them.

"I would hardly call this an affair." Naraku sat back down on the bed. His thick dark hair pooled around his shoulders.

"How can you say that?"

"An affair only happens when someone in an equally committed relationship seeks the company of another."

Kagome looked down at her hands. Up until last night she had been fully committed to her relationship with Sesshomaru. Well, for the most part. She'd been dedicated to him until the emotional neglect had finally worn her down.

"He doesn't appreciate you Miko." Naraku said soothingly.

"That doesn't mean that he deserves to be cheated on." Kagome looked back up at him "And the worst part of it all is that…I don't regret it."

"Come here," Naraku pulled Kagome gently by the arm. She moved closer to him, curling up to his chest as he snaked his strong arms around her.

"I don't understand it," Kagome continued "I'm not some kind of cold-hearted woman who enjoys sleeping around on her boyfriend. I just…I've put up with so much of his distance from me that last night…I felt freed from it all."

"Why do you stay with him?"

Kagome shrugged, "It used to be different. And I would be lying if I said that a part of me doesn't still love him…but I don't know if that's enough anymore."

Naraku clenched his jaw. He didn't want another thought of Sesshomaru to ever run through Kagome's mind again, "Leave him." Naraku whispered "I can give you everything you'd ever want or need Kagome, if you would only let me."

Kagome felt her heart speed up. She had to be honest with herself. Being with Naraku was like taking a fresh breath of air. She felt more like herself around him than she had in the past year. Though they hadn't known each other for a long time, something about Naraku made Kagome feel special again. Like someone actually valued her above everything else. A part of her wanted to find out what else he could make her feel…what new life she could experience by being with him.

But it was too soon…

Although Kagome was curious about taking a chance with someone new, the other part of her was still latched to Sesshomaru. She couldn't help but remember the times he wasn't a complete asshole. She remembered the times when he used to cater to her and be the man that she had originally fallen in love with. The man who called her his everything and shared his world with her. That Sesshomaru was still buried deep inside the jerk that he'd become, and Kagome had hoped that one day he would resurface if she held out long enough. But how long was long enough?

She was so confused…she needed time to think.

"Naraku," Kagome bit her lip "it's not that easy for me. I thought it was but I feel so conflicted right now…"

"About what?"

"What you just said and the fact that my heart and mind are saying two different things to me."

Naraku sighed, "Kagome I want you. I can't deny that fact. I want all of you and I'm not the type of man that shares his treasures."

Kagome inhaled "Would you mind terribly if I asked you to give me some time to think?"

"How much time do you need Miko?"

"Just give me a week to think this all through. My mind is literally racing right now."

Naraku kissed Kagome's forehead then shifted his weight so that they were facing each other. She stared up at him in anticipation as he slowly guided his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. Naraku's arms squeezed Kagome's body closer to him and for that moment she'd never felt safer. His kiss told her that he wanted her and that he wasn't willing to let her go so easily.

Naraku pulled away from her after what felt like forever. He was starting to become aroused and he knew that it would only be a matter of time before he wouldn't be able to stop himself. If Kagome wanted some time to collect her thoughts, he'd give it to her. But in the mean time Naraku was going to do a little collecting of his own. He was going to find out everything there was to know about Sesshomaru.

"I'll give you the time you asked for Miko," Naraku breathed into her ear "Just promise not to keep me waiting too long."

"I promise," Kagome pulled his head down and reunited their lips once more. Naraku rolled on to his back, sliding Kagome on top of him in the process. To hell with it. If she was going to leave him for a week, than he was going to give her something to think about while she was gone.

…

…

…

Again, let me know what you guys think about writing in 3rd person. I hope this chapter was everything you've been waiting for! Until the next update,

Xoxo

Courageous Pearl