Sesshoumaru was still at the office after his parents left. He would have preferred to leave immediately and see his mate as his beast roared inside of him but he was in the middle of taking over another company so things had to be done. He had just finished up a conference call and as soon as a few documents were faxed over, he planned to take his work home with him. As he waited, he ordered a new wardrobe to be sent to his place for Kagome. He wondered if she would model everything for him – mainly the lingerie.

With a knock, his secretary came in. "Sir, Naraku Onigumo is here to see you. In person."

This should be interesting. "Let him in."

Naraku came in, expensively dressed in a black and red suit. He had a smug and arrogant smirk and walked through his office to sit in a chair as if he owned the office. Before greeting Sesshoumaru or even acknowledging him, he sat down and made himself comfortable. All the while, Sesshoumaru was sitting leaned back in his chair – looking as if he didn't have a worry in the world.

"I hear you became pleasantly acquainted with my assistant," Naraku said. "Pretty thing, isn't she?"

Outwardly – he remained impassive – inwardly however, he wanted to rip out the hanyou's throat. "Very. Now refrain from wasting any more of my time. What do you want?"

He now had a sly smile and tossed a couple of papers on his desk. "Such a pretty human. Too bad you took interest in a lying and deceitful harpy. I hope this will make you reconsider my proposal. After all, it would be a shame if these things were to be made public."

Sesshoumaru didn't even look at the papers to have to know what he was talking about. However, he was livid that his mate had betrayed him. She lied and even stole. But as he – Sesshoumaru – wanted to ruin and punish her; his beast still urged him to protect and be with her. He told his stupid, foolish beast to shut up and go back to his cage. "I beheaded a harpy once; she wasn't quite as pretty," Sesshoumaru said nonchalantly. "And go public with those papers. They're fake and were placed where they were in case circumstances such as this were to arise."

The smirk had slowly disappeared from Naraku's face. "I see."

"Now leave before I lose the rest of my patience."

Naraku calmly got up. "This isn't quite over, Sesshoumaru. I will be seeing you."

As soon as Naraku left and closed his office door, Sesshoumaru – seemingly calm – got up, walked over to one of the walls in his office and then punched it, creating a nicely sized whole and making the all the things that were hung up on that particular wall to fall down. As if nothing happened, he just as calmly walked back and sat at his desk.

He wanted to kill something; to slaughter and destroy something beyond recognition. The punch to his office wall was only a drop in a bucket compared to his strength and it left him deeply unsatisfied.

Getting up, resolve burning in his eyes; he left to retrieve his mate. This would change nothing. She was young and could still be shaped and molded into a better person. He would protect her, provide for her, and even change her. He would not easily throw away the gift fate had given him. Before leaving, he told his secretary to find any background information on Kagome. He didn't trust that his parents were very thorough. Only problem was, he didn't know her family name. However, he did know her address so he relayed that information to his secretary and had faith that she was competent enough to find out using that information.

Flying past other drivers on the busy road, Sesshoumaru was seemingly relaxed during the drive. Inwardly however, he had a handful of thoughts that were nagging at his existence. He wondered about matehood. It was said that when a youkai found his mate, his beast – which they always had but remained dormant unless in life threatening situations – would fully awaken and give him newfound strength and even clarity. That his mate would be able to heal any past wounds and bring newfound happiness. All he felt right now was anger and annoyance.

He also wondered – spitefully – how his idiot younger brother found happiness with a common fiancé.

When he reached her small apartment, he knocked on her door and waited. He could hear Kagome tripping and cursing through the door. He shoved his fingers through his hair and wondered what sight he would behold when she opened the door. When she finally did, his heart clenched. She was breath taking. Her hair was tangled and damp, she had on an oversized t-shirt and shorts – and Gods did she make it look good. Her beauty almost made him forget her deceit.

"Sesshoumaru," she sounded confused. "What are you doing here? Want another go," she added mischievously.

"Is that the only reason I have to be here?"

"You tell me," she challenged.

Kagome stared at the imposing male in front of her – not allowing him access in her humble abode. She thought she had more time, but clearly he knew that she had snooped through his personal belongings and took things. And she was screwed.

Looking down at the vixen in front of him, with one arm he pushed her aside and let himself in.

"Hey ass," Kagome was annoyed now. "I didn't say you could come in."

Taking in her mess of a home in horror, he immediately regretted stepping in. He wondered how many diseases could affect him at one time. "You… you can't… how can… You live here," he finally asked.

"Yes, I do," she said annoyed. "Now please, kindly get the fuck out of my apartment."

"You deceived me and stole from me, you should be the last person speaking rudely to me," the sound of the television caught his attention. There was a tick in his jaw as he watched the show play. "Don't have cable? What else have you lied about?"

"What exactly is your issue? Have you never been lied to?"

"Not by the likes of you."

Kagome scoffed. "The likes of me? You mean your mate? My only responsibility is to myself. You were the fool who laid your feelings out to be trampled on and only after a day if I might add."

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe he was saddled with such a deceiving human as his life mate. He almost wanted to defy fate and kill her. "As it remains," he said as calmly as he could. "I can easily have you thrown in jail. The question is how far you will go to prevent that."

Giving him a measuring glance; she figured that she should play along. "What do you want? I suppose we could just have sex once more. Tell me, did you like all the things I let you do to my body?"

"It was adequate."

Kagome scoffed. "Liar."

"How would you know?"

"Besides the fact that I have this uncanny gift for insight," there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone. "I'm a liar, Sesshoumaru. So I can easily spot one. Now, I'm getting bored. What do you want from me?"

"My father has caught scent of your less than honorable character. He'll be staying with me for a week, so you will be too. And you will convince him that you are of good moral code."

"Like a common prostitute? No thank you."

"You spread your legs after not knowing me for even a day. Do you expect me to believe that this is against your moral code?"

Kagome shrugged. "Let's say I do. What do I get?"

"You get to avoid jail."

"Fine," Kagome eventually said. "This could easily work out to my favor. Being the public girlfriend to one, Sesshoumaru Taisho could have many advantages."

Sesshoumaru was now seemingly amused. He took her hand in his. "It goes further than that." Placing her wrist to his mouth, he bit into her flesh, holding her still by her waist when she started to move and object. "We now have a blood bond," he said letting go of her. "Not many humans know what that is – but just know that you will not be able to easily leave me."

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and held her bleeding wrist with her other hand. "You are going to deeply regret this."

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Doubtful Kagome. Youkai hold their mates above anything and everything. Now that you are within my reach, I feel nothing close to regret."

Humans knew very little about youkai. Wars, family history, and customs weren't recorded or revealed. They figured that there was no reason for humans to know about them. In fact, even their family relationships weren't usually revealed. If one were to look up a youkai on Wikipedia, the only information they would find would be from the past 5 or 6 decades. And it would be minimal.

Kagome let go of her wrist to find that a glowing blue sigil had replaced the puncture marks. Sesshoumaru expected her to look shocked and express confusion but much to his surprise, she only appeared angry.

Her eyes were narrowed and her hands on her hips. "You're going to have to drag my dead and lifeless body if you expect me to stay with you for any amount of time."

Raising an eyebrow, he gave her a look that questioned if she was serious or not. And when she raised her chin and gave him a queenly look, he got his answer.

Not missing a step, he grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder and went to leave her apartment. "I had hoped you would choose me over jail."

Kagome started to kick and hit his back. "Let me go you freak!"

Although she was thrashing against him, he was unmoved. However, he felt the need to insult her. "You are much heavier then you appear. Perhaps you should lose some weight?" He was walking out of her front door; receiving odd looks from a few bystanders.

Kagome scoffed. "Then you're as weak as you look, princess."

He threw her into the front seat of his car, closing the door and walked over to the driver side. Getting in he inwardly admitted that he was surprised she had not ran off. "Keep in mind that harming you would be ridiculously easy." He started his car and started to drive. "What's it going to be – my house or the police station?"

Kagome pulled her legs to her chest and stared out of the window. "I'll stay for the week," she said quietly. "But no longer than that."

"We'll see," he said evenly. "And try to be cordial and honest; this is my family after all."

Kagome breathed a condescending laugh. "You don't know me that well, Sesshoumaru. But helpful hint, I'm never honest. I am quite cordial though."

During the car ride, Sesshoumaru told her about his family. He had said that his father – Touga – was eccentric and overbearing. Apparently up until Sesshoumaru was 200 years old he had raised him to be nothing short of perfection and lethal, but had a change of heart after that – raising him with a more doting touch. He mentioned his equally overbearing but more reserved mother and that she would not be there. Touga had mated with a human woman several centuries ago named Izayoi. He didn't say much about her, just that she was tolerable. And finally, his adopted little sister Rin. His family had come across Rin a few years ago. They don't know what happened just that she was severely injured and was now mute.

Kagome had carelessly asked if there was something wrong with the girl; to which Sesshoumaru curtly answered by saying that she was fine she just didn't like speaking.

Arriving to Sesshoumaru's empty house, Kagome learned that his house guests wouldn't be there until tomorrow. "I could have come tomorrow morning. There's no reason for me to be here."

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "That may be true. But I do not seem to care."

Looking around, she wondered what she should do. Just standing there was feeling awkward to her. Walking towards the living room she eyed the glowing blue mark on her wrist. "What is this anyway?" She sat down on the sofa and grabbed the remote to the television, turning it on.

Sitting at a chair opposite of her, he shrugged. "Nothing you need to worry about. How old are you?"

Kagome gave him a questioning look before answering. "A lot younger than you. Now if you would kindly answer my question with a real answer."

She turned her head to the television, clicking through the channels. "Anytime now," she sounded inpatient.

"How about a little tit for tat. You answer mine and I will answer yours."

Settling on a reality tv show about celebrities living as a married couple she set the remote down. "Sure, but first things first. I'm going to need to go back to my home and pack some clothes; unless you want me to walk around naked."

Sesshoumaru still appeared bored as ever. "I had a full wardrobe sent over already. Your nudity is not something I wish for my family to see."

"Smart move. It would be a shame if for the rest of their lives they found all others severely lacking once they saw me. Forever dreaming of me. Secretly watching you pet my hair through the crack of a door. Hmm, pity."

"You're insane, aren't you," he asked deadpan. There might actually be something mental with this one.

"Actually no, I am not. And back to our original agreement, since I answered your question you must answer mine. What's this blood bond you mentioned and how do I get rid of it?"

"It is simply a mark that tells other youkai that you belong to me and that if harm were to befall you that I would strike back in the most fiercest and merciless of ways. It is not as serious as it sounds. Now your age, if you please."

Kagome laughed at something from the tv before answering. "I get the feeling that you are lying, but it's whatever. Oh but there's nothing else I want to know so you don't get any more questions answered."

"You won't allow me to know more about my mate?"

She looked at her self-proclaimed mate and appeared as if she was trying to make some sort of decision. For such an imposing figure, he looked really relaxed. He had an elbow propped on one of the armrest and was resting his head on his fist. "Isn't it a little foolish to have a human mate? I mean I don't know much about youkai but a human and a youkai just doesn't seem very smart. In fact, it sounds like a stupid idea."

"Perhaps," he answered blandly. It's been a while since he conversed with someone who knew so little about his world about his world. "Though we youkai do not go against fate and our destiny. And apparently you are mine."

"And when I die?"

"You won't. When we actually mate you'll have my lifespan."

Kagome didn't answer. She would allow him to delude himself for a while. But fact was, she would never agree to live for so long. She'd rather die tomorrow.