Next Door

Chapter 8: Mates and Jealousy

Previously on 'Next Door'

"Hello Risa…"

Risa gasped as she heard the chillingly familiar sound of Sesshoumaru's voice echo through her ears. Why was he calling all of a sudden, and so late in the evening? At the moment Sesshoumaru called, Risa had just come in from hanging out with Koga at the movies.

"W-What do you want?" She asked him timidly.

"I'm calling for another date…"

…Now…

Risa blinked her eyes in bewilderment before answering Sesshoumaru. "What do you mean another date?"

"I mean you and me, going out wherever I please, in a romantic setting. That is all."

"That's all?!" Risa looked left and right before making a mad dash up the stairs and into her room. Shutting and locking the door so Miki couldn't barge in, Risa sighed before regaining composure and sitting down on her bed. "No. No, I'm sorry Sesshoumaru but the answer is 'no'."

"What!?" He growled out before continuing with his reply. "Why?"

"Well for starters, let's talk about the f-…. Let's talk about the fu-uuu-…." Risa gulped down a knot in her throat, before managing to state her reply. "Let's talk about the fudging drink." Risa had never been one to swear, so the fact that Sesshoumaru had made her angry enough to almost do so, was a pretty astonishing feat.

On the other side of the phone, Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, but he did curse himself for not taking that fact into consideration. He did drug her on their last date. As he was about to attempt to persuade her, Risa continued, her voice riddled with anger.

"I should have called the cops! Who knows what you did to me during the time I was passed out! I saw a band-aid on my wrist the following morning! So before I get myself-"

"I lied to you."

Risa stopped. "Wh-what?"

"Alright, you caught me. It was alcohol; a new type of alcohol that I whipped up. I did not realize it was going to be that strong. So that's why you passed out."

"…W-Well what about the bandage on my wrist?!"

"When you fell, your wrist landed on a stray piece of glass that I missed picking up two nights before. It pricked you slightly, but it was enough to make you bleed so I put a small band-aid on the 'wound.'"

Risa remained silent for a moment. The argument was pretty valid, and Miki didn't seem alarmed upon her return the first night. But there was one burning question in the back of her mind.

"Why did you tell my sister we went dancing then?"

"Even though it was for a moment, we did dance, no? And besides, what would you look like to your family if I had told them you had too much alcohol? But then again, there was deceit. You had no idea of the drink content, and for that I humbly apologize. Please, let me make it up to you Risa. I promise there will be no drinks, no spiked food. Just us and a good time."

Risa's cheeks flushed with red as he made his apology and asked her out on another date. Astonishing; he even said please. But what was she to do? It's not like she was ready to completely trust him, and yet, he sounded so sincere in his apology. There was a long and tense-filled silence between them before Risa made the first sound. Clearing her throat, she called for his attention with an 'ok.'

"Ok. Fine, I will accept your offer. But we will remain outdoors, in daylight,where it's heavily surrounded by people, and where there are cops got it? Take me to the mall or something."

"Fair enough."

"When and where?" Risa asked, the sound of defeat riddled in her voice.

Sesshoumaru responded by giving her the date and time – which was next Saturday at two in the afternoon - before saying his good-byes and hanging up the phone with Risa.

Risa let out a heavy sigh before flopping down on her mattress. She buried her face in her hands as she tried to cope with what she just agreed to do. Risa walked over to unlock the door so as not to worry Miki or her parents, then cracked it open slightly before laying back down to go to sleep. Was it really the right thing to trust Sesshoumaru again? Risa didn't know.

When Monday rolled around, Risa was a bit out of sorts upon seeing her friend Koga. Noticing this, the wolf walked over to Risa to check up on her. He laid a consoling hand on her shoulder and gave her a questioning look.

"What's up Risa? You seem nervous."

Risa, playing into her nervous habit, began fiddling with her glasses, wiping invisible dirt from her lenses every few seconds or so. Her green eyes dart back and forth throughout the hallways wondering if she would see the domineering Sesshoumaru Hiro in her sights. Koga then reached for her hands so he could claim her attention.

"Hey! Reese! Talk to me! What's wrong with you?"

Risa then snapped her focus to a worried Koga. She sighed after realizing she almost suffered from a nervous breakdown. "Oh it's noth-"

"Liar."

"Ok it's Sesshoumaru." Risa said quickly.

"What?!" Koga exclaimed. "That guy givin' you trouble again?"

Risa didn't know where to start. Just a week ago, she was confiding in Koga about how creepy and possibly dangerous this dog demon could be, and now she had to tell him that she agreed to a second date. Risa swallowed a lump that had been wedged in her throat from the nervousness then proceeded to tell Koga the – somewhat – bad news.

"You WHAT?!" Koga cried.

"What was I to do? He made me feel bad for thinking the worst of him…"

"You were supposed to say 'no', that's what!" Koga then turned from Risa, his hands on his hips as he shook his head disapprovingly. "You gotta break this date off Reese. You just gotta."

"It's not that simple Koga."

"What's not simple? Just call him up, and say, 'Hey, I don't think we should see each other anymore.' Hang up, and then move on with your life."

"Koga…" Risa started but then hesitated. True, Sesshoumaru did kind of creep the young brunette out, but she really wanted to give him a second chance. Maybe he really isn't as bad as she previously thought.

"You're still going to go ain't ya?"

Koga was met with silence, but he sighed and outstretched his arms so he could embrace his friend. Risa's cheeks were flushed in a bright red. This was the first time Koga had ever embraced her in the seven years they had known each other. It was almost as if she could finally feel how much he cared for her well-being.

"I… just don't want you to end up like those chicks that fall in love with some dream guy who turns out to be a nightmarish psycho…" Koga started. "I just want you to be happy and safe…" He then pulled away slightly to look down at her before continuing. "Preferably w-"

"Risa…"

The familiar low rumble that was Sesshoumaru's voice sailed through Risa's ears, and the young girl whipped her head around to see her Saturday night date standing just a few feet down the hall. As Risa gasped, she could hear Koga mutter "Aw… Man" with disdain in his tone.

Risa pulled out of Koga's hug and walked to Sesshoumaru, who's expression wasn't entirely too pleased. "Ahem, H-Hi…" She said.

"Have I interrupted something?" The dog asked as he looked up to glare at Koga who was giving him an equally as menacing gaze.

"N-no. Not at all, I was feeling a little down, and Koga here was just cheering me up." Risa explained trying not to sound fearful.

"Hn." Sesshoumaru responded; his gaze still fixated on Koga.

Risa bit her lower lip as she maintained her sheepish look. She then looked back to Koga and asked for him to leave. Reluctantly, the wolf conceded to her request and began walking away, looking back every so often to see if Risa was still safe.

Koga didn't know why, but the thought of that stupid dog laying his filthy claws on Risa made his blood boil. And the more he thought of his Risa falling deeper in love with Sesshoumaru, the more Koga wanted to slit that high and mighty dog's throat. But all Koga could do was hope and pray that fate would give Koga a chance to have Risa as his own.

…

Sesshoumaru watched the wolf demon disappear through the double doors, growling slightly before snapping his head down to look at Risa. She looked afraid as she took a step back from him. Wondering what caused this behavior, Sesshoumaru cocked a brow in question.

"Why are you giving me that look?"

She pointed at him. "Your eyes… they were turning red…"

Sesshoumaru blinked, as if doing that action would make the hue disappear. "Red you say? Hm, you must forgive me my dear, because I don't normally act so vicious. But please try to understand that I don't like seeing my intended mate in the arms of another man."

"Wait, wait, wait." Risa said. She held up two hands for him to stop speaking, waving them about as if clearing the air. "Intended mate?"

"That is correct. In my culture we have a term that symbolizes two people in a relationship; mates. Your human culture gives it a myriad of nonsense names such as husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, betrothed. No, we are mates."

Risa then gave Sesshoumaru a baffled look. It was as if he had already claimed her before they even went out on their date.

'Maybe Koga's right… Maybe he will turn into those nightmarish boyfriends like what I see on TV…'

Risa then broke from her thoughts to stand up straight and tall. It was time to tame this beast named Sesshoumaru, but as she opened her mouth to speak, a slender finger pressed against her lips, silencing her. Sesshoumaru leaned in so his lips were brushing against her ear.

"It's nothing to fear my dear Risa. It's something to embrace." He then placed a kiss on the bottom of her jaw. "Please, let me have a chance to impress my love."

Sesshoumaru let go of her face and slinked into the next hallway, leaving Risa to sink in everything she had just heard. Placing a shaky hand on her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart, the brunette leaned against the wall and purposefully banged the back of her head against the wall. Now what was she to do? Sesshoumaru seemed pretty adamant that Risa would be his sooner rather than later, but what of Koga? Risa looked in the direction the wolf left in, a sigh leaving her lungs. What would happen if she and Sesshoumaru became an item? Would he care? Would he still want to be her friend? Or will the two kill each other trying to vie for her attention? The woman didn't have all the answers yet, but she would first have to survive her Saturday night date.

…

Casual-clad and strutting her way down the streets of Hartman, Kagura was making her way to Skinz to begin work as a waitress. For the past couple of days, Rin has given reports useless in forwarding her efforts, but Kagura was hoping that today would be different. There was no way that Sesshoumaru would waste any more time in beginning one of his biggest projects. Besides, the more she thought about having to report to Naraku with no new updates, the more the demoness felt cold chills run up her spine.

Though the feisty woman was deep in her thoughts, Kagura was also keeping up a firm guard. She could sense that someone was following her.

Quickly, she turned into one of the nearby alleys and pulled out her fan from a jean pocket. Opening it swiftly, Kagura positioned the unorthodox weapon in her hands so she could swing it backhanded if the need arose.

"I suggest you go about your own business. Or must I kill you today?" She said menacingly, her back facing whomever she was speaking with.

"I don't think Lord Sesshoumaru would take too kindly to that."

And there it was that squawking! That oh so annoying voice that scratched at her ears belonging to the bane of her existence; Jaken. Kagura righted herself to an upright position as she closed her fan with an angry snap. Turning around to look fully at the familiar face before her, Kagura huffed and shoved both fists into her sides, taking a sassy stance.

"Well I'm pretty sure 'Lord' Sesshoumaru wouldn't care if that irritating scraggle you call a voice goes missing for – oh I don't know – all eternity." Kagura snipped, red eyes glaring harshly at the small imp.

Said imp responded with a mischievous chuckle before turning on his stubby toes and hobbling out of the alleyway, his staff in tow. Kagura kept a steady pace behind him often wondering how one so short in stature could tote around something over two times his height. Suddenly, the green demon caught the henchwoman's attention as he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. The two were no more than a mere few steps away from the entrance of Skinz.

"What's the meaning of this toad?" Kagura asked impatiently.

"Why are you working for Lord Sesshoumaru wench?"

The demoness rolled her eyes, "I thought that would be obvious enough, I need the money."

"Hmm… no Kagura it isn't. Actually I find it quite interesting that you just now decide to seek employment under our lord just as he was inventing this Angel's Blood of his."

"What exactly are you implying?" The woman's patience was running thin.

Steely, yellow eyes shifted to spare Kagura a condescending look before he began to trudge along to the front entrance. "Lord Sesshoumaru is no fool woman. I suggest you tread carefully around him lest you find yourself six feet below his boot."

As the imp walked inside the club, Kagura growled and took hold of the door handle, squeezing the metal fixture as if she was gripping the neck of the oh-so-annoying Jaken. As much as she hated to admit to herself, but the damned imp was on to her and what frightened her most were the chances of her walking inside to meet with Sesshoumaru only to be greeted with five poison claws to the face.

Finishing her musings, Kagura released the death-grip on the door handle before finally walking inside the club, her co-workers greeting her with salutations.

...

The sight of the wriggling woman attached to the wall amused the sadistic Sesshoumaru greatly, though he wished for Risa to be in place of his test subject. Today, the silver-haired man hoped to make an astonishing discovery in not only the drug world, but to cover new ground in the fields of genetics. He hoped that his little concoction would turn normal everyday mortals into full-blown demons. If this worked, the value of his product could double, no, triple in price!

Sesshoumaru walked over to his drawers and pulled out the vial of Angel's Blood; ready to begin testing. Suddenly his watch began beeping uncontrollably and gold eyes flickered over to the face of his watch. Silencing the alarm, he the growled in hatred of these menial interruptions in his work.

Focusing his attention back to the screaming and kicking prisoner, Sesshoumaru grinned widely. He had a drug to test. A readied vial in hand, the demon lurked closer to his intended target, released one arm from its shackle, and lined up the needle carefully with an exposed vein. Casting his blank stare over the girl, Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes slightly in warning.

"Keep still Rin or I'll make you." He snapped.

Said Rin continued to scream, but her movements lessened, taking heed of his threat. The demon would think her smart as he finally pushed the thin needle into her arm and emptied out a fixed amount of the vial's contents, making sure to leave some for Risa if the drug reacted to Sesshoumaru's standards.

Golden eyes stared for a good, long moment at his test subject, masking his anticipation like a professional poker player hiding his excitement when he comes across a great hand. The girl, Rin, kept her brown eyes open wide and shooting looks around the prison cell wondering what exactly was going to happen to her. Was she to explode, be in debilitating pain? Was her memory to be lost to the girl? She was almost too afraid to find out.

Sesshoumaru, however, couldn't be any more intrigued, though the fascination was quickly fading as he realized that the drug was taking no real effect on Rin. Disappointed, the dog went to pack his things when his imp follower, Jaken hobbled in taking a piece of paper from his shirt. The smaller youkai handed his superior the document before bowing deeply to the point where he was near face-planting the ground.

"My Lord, here is the list of participants for your next auction. There is also a list of neighboring similar events in our area."

The demon lord simply nodded his head curtly, still disappointed by the outcome of his test. Humming softly in a questioning tone, he flashed Jaken a harsh glare.

"Naraku is not on this list. Why?" He asked, irritation present in his voice.

Jaken jumped back a few steps, quivering slightly under his master's angry gaze. Waving his arms frantically, the imp lost all composure as he tried to explain to Sesshoumaru about the reason for the missing name

"I-I have no idea My Lord! H-honest!"

Just as Sesshoumaru was about to press for more questions, he heard a strange rumbling sound come from behind him. It sounded like growling even. Turning around, the demon made no attempt to stop Jaken as he excused himself from the demon lord's presence. He could hear Jaken shouting to fix the situation, but the dog tuned him out. The woman Rin was thrashing about; barking, growling and snarling before groaning out in pain.

"What's happening to me!?" She shouted.

Sesshoumaru was in such delight that he nearly fell to his knees upon observing the success of his greatest experiment yet. His marveling was cut short when Rin began going through changes. Rin snapped her head up to shoot the dog demon a terrifying glare. Her former brown eyes were no longer brown, but red. Her hair remained black, but her finger nails grew into sharp talons and her tiny, dull canines became sharp and ready to tear through flesh. Sesshoumaru licked his lips as he gazed upon the demonized Rin. But how was he supposed to control her aggressive behavior? He would need to examine a few sedatives before mixing anything again, but for now, he could revel in step one of his new product being a complete success. He just couldn't wait to test this on Risa.

…The very same night…

A knock on the door of the Kuro household was heard. Miki being closest to the foyer area skipped over to the front of the house and opened the door with a smile. However, her happy expression changed to one of concern when she saw that a woman and a man of the Hartman police were the ones standing on the porch. Turning around towards the stairs, Miki called for her sister.

"Risa, the police are here! What did you do?!" She shouted.

The woman chuckled for a moment before waving the younger Kuro's notion off while shaking her head in the negative. Extending her hand out for Miki to shake, the policewoman began to introduce herself.

"No, no. This isn't about your sister, or anyone in your family for that matter." She passed Miki a piece of paper cradled in her arms, "I'm Sango with the Hartman City Police Department, and this is my new intern - and younger brother - Kohaku. We're going door to door raising awareness of the increase in disappearances in the area." Sango then pointed to the picture on the flyer, "This is our latest missing person case. Her name is Rin Kyosuke; if you see her in the area, please make no hesitation to inform us."

Risa finally made it down the stairs as Sango and Kohaku were bidding Miki their farewells. Coming up behind her younger sister, Risa spotted the piece of paper in Miki's hands and went to take it from her observing the picture.

"Wow, she's pretty…" Risa said. "I sure hope they find her."

"Risa!" Miki suddenly shouted as she began to shake her older sister. Risa looked down at Miki with a frustrated expression, but her eyes followed Miki's pointed finger in the direction a familiar car was coming from. Risa gasped as she recognized it as Sesshoumaru's car. An excited Miki ran gung-ho towards the vehicle before Risa was able to stop her. With a groan, the older sister followed behind, her eyes never leaving his sharp gaze.

"So Mr. Hiro..." Miki started, "What's with the car? You live right next door. Here to take my sis' out on another date?"

Sesshoumaru remained silent for a moment, noticing the flyer in Risa's hands. Looking back to Miki, he patted the girl on her head - earning a small grumble from her - and walked towards Risa.

"You are most correct young one." Sesshoumaru answered Miki, though his eyes continued to focus on Risa.

Risa held on to her arms hoping to disappear from his gaze.

"You look beautiful my mate."

"It's not Saturday." Risa responded quickly, distrust laced in her tone. "Miki, could you excuse us for a minute?"

Miki gave a small smirk as she began to walk towards the house, "You guys gonna make out on the driveway?"

"Miki leave please!" Risa snapped.

Miki's eyes widened before she slinked back into the confines of their home, a scowl now on her features as she mumbled under her breath.

Risa, turning back to Sesshoumaru, took a small step back though she was suddenly pulled into his chest. She felt him slip the piece of paper out of her hands, and watched him analyze the flyer with a bit of curiosity. His grip tightened on it as his eyes slightly widened, catching Risa's attention.

"What's wrong Sesshoumaru?" She said curiously, her suspicion of him spiking from the way he reacted to the picture of Rin.

"Nothing." He responded. He then smirked and let his claws find a way underneath her shirt to scratch at her back. "Now about our date…"

"It's on Saturday!" Risa insisted as she frantically shook her head and moved her hand to push away from him, but Sesshoumaru's free hand caught it like a shackle around a wrist.

"I changed my mind… I would much rather go tonight." He leaned in to kiss on her cheek. "Please?" He whispered.

"I-I… already have plans!" Risa said, still struggling to be released from his iron grip.

"With who?" Sesshoumaru nearly growled out, though he almost had a feeling of who it could have been.

"Koga, he's coming over to help me study, and then we're going to hang out with other friends." Risa said quietly.

Letting the young woman go, green eyes met with jealous glazed amber orbs before Sesshoumaru turned to walk back to the car.

"Fine then, but Saturday you're all mine." He said. Just as he pulled his car out of the driveway, Koga came pulling in. Sesshoumaru flashed a death glare at the wolf before moving his car to park in his driveway.

Koga and Risa walked inside the house, but not before Sesshoumaru could overhear Koga asking, "What was that asshole doin' here?"

The silver-haired dog, growled in utter frustration. How dare that beautiful wench still cling onto that lesser being when she had him living right next door! And he wanted her!

Sesshoumaru sighed to release the anger that was boiling inside of him. Jealousy was unbecoming of him. But it mattered no more, because come Saturday, that little green-eyed minx would be his.

Sesshoumaru finally exited his car and went inside his house, but little did he know, another pair of eyes was watching...

Everything is updatedddd!
How are you guys?
I finally managed to post this!

Anyhoo, I'm finally out of this writer's rut and now I think I can pump out a few more chapters Whooot! (hopefully :/)
Just stay with me my loyal readers and thank you for reading my new chapter and putting up with flaky author style!
Keep on the lookout for next installment! :D