A/N: Thank you again for the reviews.

So now that Naima and Sesshoumaru are done, what will she do about it?

This chapter is basically a filler chapter. This chapter focuses on how Naraku and Sesshoumaru are doing, after all of this drama.


As soon as classes ended on the following day, I immediately left the campus and headed to the home where I grew up in southern Brooklyn. Seeing my sisters again was a much needed vacation from all of the drama that was going on in my love life at the moment. Tarei's spunkiness could cheer almost anybody up and spending time with my still unborn niece was joyful as well. Still, even though I tried to put on a happy face and act as cheerful as I could around my family, both Tarei and Li knew that something was wrong. As usual, Tarei automatically assumed that it was Sesshoumaru's fault and Li automatically assumed that it was Naraku's fault. Little did they know that it was my fault.

I sat in my room late Saturday night with my in-lawed nephew, Hikaru, playing Hot Wheels with him, still trying to do all that I could to take my mind off of the two men in my life. I had tried to call Sesshoumaru a couple of times, but he wouldn't ever answer me. Naraku had called me many times too, but none of his calls were answered either. I wasn't able to talk to either of them at the moment. Maybe it was best that I remained single for a while until I was sure who I wanted to be with. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if they were okay.


Naraku's POV

"Okay man, let's see if you can take me on like a demon like you should be able to," Bankotsu declared as he positioned Banryu in an offensive stance. I smirked a little as I postioned my sword also in an offensive stance.

"You know that sword is huge 'B'. You wouldn't be overcompensating for something, would you?" I joked. Bankotsu sneered at me.

"Ha ha ha. The spider's got jokes. Funny from a man who's currently taking the bus everywhere he goes." I laughed a little.

"Okay. Touche. Let's just do this thing."

Bankotsu and I were on the football field late that Saturday night practicing for an upcoming exam in Totosai-Sensei's Weponology class. The field was the perfect place to practice because it was pretty much isolated from everything else. Plenty of space and room to fight.

"Ready?" Bankotsu asked.

"Yeah. Come on." I replied. Bankotsu and I began to run at each other with our swords. The sound of the impact that the blades made whenever they clashed was very loud. I was instantly put into a defensive position as Bankotsu came at me with such skill and force. Usually I would have fought better than I was, but my mind wasn't really on fighting at the moment. Not soon after, Bankotsu had disarmed me of my weapon. Bankotsu gave me a wide eyed stare as he held my sword in his hand.

"Damn that was easier than I thought. Naraku, you usually don't fight this badly." I just shrugged my shoulders and sighed.

"Well, my warrior's spirit isn't really burning that brightly tonight." I turned around and walked over to the sidelines to sit down on the player's bench. Bankotsu followed me in my action and sat down too.

"Naima's still not answering your calls?" he asked. I shook my head no.

"My suspicions were right. She still loves Sesshoumaru more. No matter how hard I try or how much I fight for her, he still holds the majority of her heart."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes."

"Well, are you doing okay during all of this?"

"I'll be alright. I'm just concerned about her. That's all. I mean, if she'd answer the phone so I could hear her voice, it would make things a lot easier." Bankotsu gave me an amused look.

"U got it, u got it bad, when you're on the phone, hang up and you call right back. U got it , u got it bad, if you miss a day without your friend, your whole life's off track." I gave him an annoyed look as he began to sing the lyrics to an Usher song. Bankotsu just laughed. "I'm sorry man, but I had to do it. Cheer up dude, everything will work out."

"You keep saying that but its not."

"You just have to have patience and wait. She'll come around."

"Yeah and what if she doesn't?"

"She will come around." Just then, Bankotsu's cell phone began to ring. He smiled really wide when he answered the phone. "Hey Sugar Bear." I stiffled a laugh as he began his sweet talk to who I already knew was Sai. "...yes...okay...alright, I'll be over...no you hang up...no you...okay on three. One, two, three...you were supposed to hang up! Okay, this time for real. One, two three." He smiled as he clicked off his phone.

"You know it will suck if she really didn't hang up," I said with an amused look. His eyes instantly widened.

"You're right! I should call her back."

"Mmmhmm. Who's got it bad now?"

"Okay, I'll admit it. Bankotsu loves his Sai. I am not ashamed to say it."

"Well I'm happy that one of our relationships is going well."

"I know. Who would have thought that you would be the single one, considering all of the girls that wanted to jump you back in the day. You used to make so mad when we were growing up. I would try to talk to a girl and all they could say was, 'Oh look at Naraku. He's so hot with his red eyes. Oh he's sooooo cute.' And me and my blue eyes would be left...all...alone." I laughed a little bit.

"But oh how times have changed."

"That they have. I still can't believe that I was able to get a fire goddess. I must say that I'm impressed with my damn self. I think I'll pop my collar now." I shook my head.

"You are an idiot. Go on and go see your woman now."

"You need a ride home, Geico?"

"No. I can ride the subway. Go on. I'll be alright." Bankotsu nodded his head and patted me on the back.

"Alright then, I'll see you later," he said as he got off the bench with Banryu, "and stop worrying about this man. She will realize that you are where she belongs."

"Oh yeah? How are you so sure?"

"Because my dad always told me that the measure of a man is by how much he will fight for his woman. You might have screwed up and went away, but you came back and you fought for that woman. As far as I'm concerned, between you and Sesshoumaru, you fight harder for her than he does. And to me, that only proves that you love her more. She'll eventually see that too, so no worries. Okay?" I nodded my head in reply. Bankotsu nodded too before leaving the field.

I laid down on the player's bench and stared up into the night sky. It was rare for one to see stars in Brooklyn, but tonight the stars shined very brightly. Bankotsu was right. I did fight hard for Naima because I love her so much. I know she might think that I'm only trying to cause a rift between her and Sesshoumaru, but if she only knew how much I loved her. I surely wished that her father was still alive so he could give me some advice. I learned all about relationships from Rashid-San, since my father wasn't exactly...qualified for the job.


Flashback

"Okay son, let's just see what you can do," Rashid-San said to me one early September day in 2001. about seven days before 9/11 to be exact. The great panther demon and I were outside in his front yard playing football after another long day in seventh grade. I was twelve at the time. Naima and I had just began dating.

"Alright," I declared as I threw the football to him.

"Go all the way to the end," Rashid-San instructed me. I obeyed him and walked all the way to the other end of his spacious front yard. "Ready?"

"Yeah!" Rashid-San threw a perfect spiral at me and I caught it very easily. I began to run towards him and he ran back. Of course he ended up tackling me, but I did get a good amount of yardage.

"Kami! Boy you got some hands on you," Naima's father declared with a smile as he pulled me out of the grass, "you'll do well in high school and college if you keep this up. Plus you're fast too."

"Thank you," I replied, dusting grass off of my pants.

"Okay, I'm coming!" I all of a sudden heard Naima's voice say. I turned around to see that Naima and Kagura had just come out the house and were now getting on their bicycles.

"Hold it! Naima, Kagura, where are you going?" Rashid-San asked.

"To Bankotsu's house. We'll be right back," Naima replied.

"Did you two clean up the mess in your room?"

"Yes Daddy."

"Alright then. Be home before the street lights come on."

"Alright."

"Bye Naima," I said with a smile. She just rolled her eyes and turned around.

"Um excuse me Miss Attitude but you speak when spoken to," Rashid-San sternly warned his middle child, "I didn't raise you to be rude. Tell the boy bye." She sighed but obeyed her father.

"Bye Naraku," she said in an obviously forced voice. She turned back around and rode down the sidewalk with Kagura. Rashid-San gave me an amused look.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Yes Sir."

"What's my baby mad about now?"

"I forgot our one month anniversary." He chuckled a little.

"Yikes. Big mistake son."

"I know."

"So what did you forget to give her? Bubblegum?"

"Rashiiiid-Saaaan."

"I'm sorry. I just find it amusing that my twelve year old daughter is mad about her boyfriend missing their anniversay. Then again demon children do mature faster than human children do."

"Well what should I do? I don't want her to be mad at me."

"Awww Naima can't stay mad at anyone for long. She'll be fine when she comes back with Kagura. Watch."

"But what if she doesn't?" Rashid-San sighed.

"Come on, let's go in the house. We'll talk inside" He declared. I nodded and followed him to the door and inside the house.

"Son," Rashid-San began as we sat on the couch watching ESPN and drinking Sprite, "no matter how hard you try in life, you will never truly be able to understand women. They are just too complex for our simple minds to handle." I gave him a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

"Okay for example. When Naima's mom and I were dating, she had this red dress that I thought was a little too tight on her. But Felicia just thought that she looked absolutely stunning in that outfit. So one day she comes to me and asks, "Rashid, honey, does this make my butt look too big?" So being the blunt man that I am, I opened my mouth and said what no man should ever answer."

"What's that?"

"Yes. Never say 'yes' to that question son. Never! Its a disaster waiting to happen. The best way to get out of the situation is say, 'Well...I think that you would look much more stunning in this' and point out another outfit. But don't say 'yes'. Nuh uh. Nooooo."

"So then what happened?"

"Here's the freaky part. A couple of months later, Felicia decided to wear that same dress and asked the same question. So this time, I wised up and gave her the propper answer. I said, 'Baby, you would look much more beautiful in this black dress.'. But she decided to wear the red dress anyways. So when we got home after the party, she was very hostile to me. When I asked her what was wrong, she snapped at me. Do you know what she said?"

"What?"

"Rashid! How come you didn't tell me that my butt looked huge in this?!" I began to laugh.

"You see! You can't win. Women will switch up on you so fast its ridiculous. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. Felicia was that way all the time with me, and it will be your luck that Naima will be the same way because she acts just like her mama."

"Uh ohhh."

"Uh oh is right. She has the sweetness that her mama had, but she has that sassy attitude too. My baby will definitely give you grief from time to time, but she is really a keeper if she ends up like Felicia."

"Did you love Felicia-San?"

"Love doesn't even begin to describe how I felt about Naima's mom. Felicia could melt even the coldest heart. The way she talked and walked. Her generosity and kindness. Oh and that beautiful smile. I still get fuzzy just thinking about her. I hope you'll find a woman who will do those kinds of things to you son."

"I think I already have." Rashid-San chuckled as he leaned over and put me in a head lock and ruffled my hair.

"Oh, listen at you. Youngblood thinks he's grown now. Thinks he's in love with my daughter. Well, I'm glad its you instead of some punk ass ruffneck."

"Ahhh Rashid-San, you're choking me."

"Oops. My bad son." He let me go and we both smiled at each other. "You know, I like you Naraku. You kind of remind me of myself a little. You're unqiue and just like you, my papa was a rolling stone. I guess that's why I bonded with you so quickly."

"Thank you Sir."

"And don't worry about Naima. She'll be okay. Just tell her how much you're sorry about forgetting your anniversary and kiss her on the cheek. Not on the lips or I'll have to kill you and then go to jail." I laughed and nodded my head.

"Okay Sir."

"That's my boy. Now come on and let's finish up this football training so you can grow up and become a New York Giant."

"And beat up on Naima's Jets on Sundays?"

"Oh you already know. Giants all day, every day. I guess Naima will learn eventually."

End Flashback


I still use Rashid-San's advice to this day. Its gotten me out of a lot of sticky situations with the women I've been with, that's for sure. Now if only he would have taught me how to win back the woman you love, when you've lost her to another man.


Sesshoumaru's POV

"Lord Sesshoumaru? Lord Sesshoumaru? Oh, Lord Sesshoumaru!"

"Jaken. Be silent. I'm trying to study," I ordered my annoying friend as I sat in my room studying for my English exam that would be given right before Spring Break.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," Jaken said as he sat down at the foot of my bed.

"Sesshoumaru how long do you plan on studying? Come on man, let's go out," Koga said as he came into my room as well, "we can go to Oasis tonight."

"I have no interest in strip clubs," I replied.

"Come on Sessho. All books and no play turns the dog demon gay," Koga joked as he sat backwards in the chair at my desk. I gave him a breif, annoyed look.

"Sorry, but I need to study."

"Oh whatever man. You're not studying because of education. You're studying because you're trying to get your mind off of Naima. You can do that at Oasis. Its much more...fun."

"Lord Sesshoumaru are you still pining away over that girl? I think you need a more trainable woman in my opinion. One that you can say, 'Bitch, get in there and make me a sandwich.' and she will go do it."

"Jaken! You will not speak that way about women in my presence."

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru. My apologies."

"Jaken is right Sesshoumaru. Well, slightly. You can't continue to mope over Naima or you'll become too depressed. She'll come around in time."

"I doubt it. Its clear that her heart belongs to that half breed."

"Does it?" I slightly cocked an eyebrow at the wolf demon.

"What makes you think it doesn't?"

"Because you have stood by Naima's side no matter what. You've never broken her heart. Naraku did and that's where he messed up. As far as I'm concerned, the man who didn't turn his back on his woman is better suited for her, because it proves that he loves her more. She'll see that sooner or later." I shook my head.

"Until she comes to me and says that she loves only me, then I can only assume that Naraku still has the advantage." Koga sighed deeply as he got off of the chair.

"Alright Sesshoumaru, but don't give up on her. Naima will come around. She just needs time. We'll leave you alone now. If you need me, I'll be down at Oasis. You coming Jaken?"

"Right behind you Koga," Jaken replied as he got off of the bed and followed the wolf demon out of my bedroom. After my concentration was officially broken, I put the book aside and laid back on my pillows. I stared up at the ceiling above me, still feeling the pain from the sting of knowing that Naima has doubts about her love for me. She's called me several times, but I won't answer. I can't bring myself to talk to her right now for the wounds are far to fresh. Still, I miss her very deeply and I hope that what Koga says is true. I want to continue to make memories with her and not be forced to relive them. I want to continue to make memories that will be as strong as the ones we already have. Especially the memory of when we first started dating.


Flashback

"Sesshoumaru, you'll never get a girlfriend if you continue to be such a stick in the mud all of the time," Koga said to me as we walked down the hallways of our high school, on our way to our last class of the day. It was a bright October day in 2006. We were both seniors and seventeen years old.

"I'm not a stick in the mud. There just isn't a girl who I've found to be suitable yet," I defended.

"What about Kagura?"

"Not my type."
"Abi?"

"Not my type."

"Hmmm. What about...Naima?" I became quiet when he said her name. I had a bit of a crush on Naima, but I didn't know if she liked me in the same way. Koga looked at me very expectantly. "Hello? Earth to Sesshoumaru. I said what about Naima?"

"Let's hurry or we'll be late to class." My avoidance to his answer only caused him to smile really wide.

"You like Naima don't you," he grinned, "ohhhh isn't this something. I thought canines like us didn't like felines."

"Well, she's not your average cat demon. She's much different."

"Uh huh. Right. You just like that ass. That's all that's about."

"Nonsense you pervert. I don't think like that. You might, but I don't."

"Sesshoumaru I know that deep down you have a little nasty in you too, so don't make me look like the bad guy. I'm just more open with how I feel. You on the other hand are like a rock. I bet you Naima won't even look your way."

"We're already good friends."

"Okay, so now you can become friends with benefits. Its only natural."

"Ayame better watch every step you make with an attitude like that. You sound more and more like that pervert Miroku with each passing day." Koga laughed as we both entered our Calculus class. I went and took my usual seat beside Naima in the middle of the room.

"Hey Sesshoumaru," she said to me with one of her gorgeous smiles when I sat down.

"Hey Naima," I replied, slightly smiling myself. I never was one who liked to openly express how I felt inside, but there was something about this panther demon that could just make my indifferent persona melt away. "Were you able to understand the math homework after I left your house last night?"

"Oh yeah. Li helped me out some too. Thank you so much for coming over to help me. I really appreciate it."

"You're very welcome."

"I never knew that you were so smart." I felt a slight blush come across my face as she began to flatter me. I quickly turned my head to my math book before my strong composure was completely shattered.

As class went on, I really couldn't concentrate on my school work. All I could think about was Naima and if she would want to go out with me. I never thought that I, Sesshoumaru, would be nervous about something like this, but I was. I mean she was so pretty. Her black hair, her lovely hazel eyes, her beautiful smile, her flawless brown skin, her fit yet curvaceous body. She could have any man she wanted with looks and a personality like hers. Would I be able to be that lucky man? Did she even like dog demons? I guess it would never hurt to find out.

After class was over, I told Koga to get lost so I could talk to Naima afterwards. "So what did you want to ask me?" she asked as we began to walk out to the parking lot to go home after another long day of high school. Now was the moment of truth. It couldn't be avoided any longer.

"Well," I began, appalled at how nervous I sounded, "I was wondering. We're such good friends and all and I like you and I hope you like me..."

"Of course I like you. You rock Sesshoumaru."

"Well, I was just wondering what your boyfriend thinks about us spending so much time together." She giggled a little.

"I don't have a boyfriend. You know that, silly."

"Oh. Must have slipped my mind. Well, since you're currently unattached...I was wondering. Do you want to attach yourself to me?" She stopped for a second and paused. A very sad look appeared on her face.

"Well...I..." Her voice trailed off. Oh no! She was going to say no. I should have know that a cat demon wouldn't have any interest in a dog demon.

"...I-I mean...you don't..."

"I'd love to be your girlfriend," she said, cutting me off. I knew that my face couldn't hide the happiness I felt right then. I could tell from the way she smiled at me.

"Really?"

"Of course. Like I said, you rock. So yes. Yes, I'll date you." I smiled again. Something which was so rare for me to do.

"Thank you Naima. You really have made me the happiest boy in school right now."

End Flashback


I found myself smiling as I thought back to that day, but it never dawned on me until now as to why she suddenly had that sad look upon her face. Little did I know that Naraku was the reason behind her sad look, just like he's the reason behind my sad feeling now.


A/N: Its funny how each man thinks the other has the advantage, when in reality they're pretty much even at this point.