There were rules with courting and mating, and while Sesshomarus's mother and father had faith in his little cat-and-mouse game, her friends did not.

Sango and Miroku hardly thought it was fair; he had the advantage, but they also knew Kagome was liking their back-and-forth game more than she would admit. They agreed to stay out of it for now.

However, Inuyasha was growing more and more agitated.

They were at a dinner event, one of many for the line of work. Inuyasha sat in black next to Kikyo, who also wore black. "He is just stinging everyone along; he isn't going to commit to her,"

Kikyo slid her eyes to Inuyasha.

"Why mate her when he has her right where he wants her?"

"And where is that?" Kikyo asked,

"At his side, at will, or not." He shrugged. "He is playing with her, and it's keeping his mom and dad off him,"

Currently Kagome was sitting next to Sesshomaru, watching others dance. Sesshomaru was casually looking around the room with his eyes ever so often glancing back at her.

"It's all fine till he gets bored with it," Inuyasha stated, his ears drooping some,

"If he has chosen her, he will not get bored,"

"Yeah well, it still ain't fair, she is sitting there trying to figure it all out and he's just letting her play the fool," Inuyasha looked at Kikyo "If I had done that to you?"

Kikyo heard him and looked back at Kagome. Though the man had given her hits, hell, they all saw the flirtation. But Kagome was simple. Kikyo stood.

"Where are you going,"

"Boys dont want their toys till another boy wants them,"

Both his eyebrows shot up,

"I will be back,"

"You gonna start something,"

"Is that not what you want?"

"K, have at it,"

Kikyo made her way around the room and found a mutual friend; Hojo was his name. She knew he had a small thing for Kagome and told him to offer her to dance that was really wanted to.

Kikyo watched with a small smile as Hojo made his way over. Meek, of course, around Sesshomaru, who bowed and asked Kagome to dance.

Kagome beamed.

Sesshomaru did not.

"She has work to do,"

Kagome stood. "I would love to dance, Hojo. Thank you for asking!" She stressed the last word.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes watched as they left him. Kagmome stuck her tongue out at Sesshomaru over Hojo shoulders and he almost smirked. She would pay, later.

His father chuckled, making Sesshomaru look at him,

"Should have asked her first,"

Sesshomaru snorted; he didnt need to ask her anything. She would be leaving with him, so he would allow this little dance and, later, payback.

He watched for a moment more before standing and vanishing.

Kagome found herself at the bar after the dance, and Kikyo moved in.

They sat next to each other. "I am surprised your guard dog allowed you that dance,"

"Dont let him hear you call him that,"

"Defending the enemy are we?"

Kagome snorted "Hardly," Kagome looked around the room.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Kikyo asked,

"Just looking,"

Kikyo stared at her,

"He needs a girlfriend," Kagome smirks,

"He needs more than that,"

"Yeah, he does,"

"But then you will lose your playmate,"

Kagome almost spits out her drink. "My what!?"

Kikyo smirked,

Kagome looked away, trying to hide her blush. "I admit sometimes it's fun," But sometimes it was tiring. "He can have any woman in this room,"

"Any woman?"

Kagome looks at her,

"He doesn't want any woman, he wants on,"

Kagome looks out again. "I wonder who,"

"I am rather surprised you do not know,"

Kagome looks at her again. "You know!"

Kikyo leans in. "There is only one woman in this room leaving with him tonight,"

"Yeah, me,"

Kikyo pulled away,

"Me?"

Kikyo smirked and looked back out; he was coming their way.

"He has scent marked you; you have marked him,"

"What?"

"Your kissing game keeps the other's way," Kikyo looked at her. "I tell you this because it's not a fair game; the one he has chosen is you, though you should have realized that," Kikyo pushed away from the bar and winked at Kagome before fleeing back to Inuyasha.

The ball was now fairly in her court; Kikyo wondered if she would shoot her shot.

Of course, that would mean Kagome would have to believe it even when others didnt.