{Kagome's POV}

A couple passes by me as I walk down the street. They sicken me, with their public displays of affection. Those stupid pet names that my husband and I gave up long ago. The kisses, hugs, hand holding in public areas that my husband and I regarded as childish and juvenile.

Oh, oh, oh, here it comes, and there it is. The ever popular Eskimo kiss. I can't even remember the last time my husband and I did that. They're simply disgusting, vile, sick, repulsive, and whatever other words you can think up that mean it makes you want to vomit. I hate them.

I envy them. What's worse yet, I'm following them, hoping the love in their auras will rub off on me. They hug. Kami how I wish he'd hold me like that, my husband I mean.

He presses his lips to hers, and I bite my lip. If only my love would kiss me that way. Wow, now he's groping her in public. My dearest hasn't laid a hand on me since he cheated on me. Sometimes I wonderif he still is, but there is no female scent on him, and there is no woman's aura mixing with his.

He isn't cheating again, no. He's just being a workaholic. If only he'd work me like he used to. I hear some one clear their throat and, looking up, find the couple staring at me. Blushing, I mutter and apology and dash off in the direction I'd been going earlier.

I forgot to mention where I was going, didn't I? I'm going to surprise my hubby. It's our 7th aniversary. I'm wearing a trench coat, and nothing more. I hope the expression on his face is the one I'm looking for, pure happiness and arousal.

I creep into his office, grinning when I find it empty. Closing the door, I sit at his desk and open my trench coat, ready to bare myself when he arrives. Hearing someone twist the doorknob, I put on my best seductive face and waited eagerly.

He steps through the door, and his eyes widen considerably. It seems that he is about to turn around when a few of his fellow co-workers walks in, their eyes opening wider than my husbands, and their mouths falling open.

I stare back in equal shock before having the modesty to blush, cover myself with my trench coat, and look away.

One of them whistles, his name is Koga. "Dear Kami."

Another one, my husband's brother, Inuyasha, blinks repeatedly. "I envy you for getting to go to bed with that every night."

The other, whom I don't know the name of, rolls his eyes. "She's embarassed enough guys." Though I'm glad he took up for me, I'm more upset that my husband didn't do so. I turn to him.

He sighs, shaking his head, "Kagome."

"Sesshomaru, I'm so sorry. I didn't think that- I never knew that- I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

"We'll talk when I get home." Oh great, now he's going to be angry with me.

Nodding numbly, I get up and start heading toward the door. Casting him a glance, tears in my eyes, I mutter, "Happy Anniversary, Sesshomaru." I leave. How could I be so stupid to forget that his co-workers liked to join in his office to talk. I'm such and idiot. How could I-

"Kagome."

I turn when someone calls my name. It's that guy, the one who's name I don't know. "Oh, hi, um..."

"Naraku. Kuro Naraku." He smiles slightly, his reddish eyes locking with mine.

"Naraku." I nod, then my cheeks grow hot. "I'm sorry about flashing you."

"Don't be." His smile fades. "You couldn't have possibly known."

Try telling Sesshomaru that, I think dryly. Sessh would never understand. "Yeah." We stand in an awkward silence. "Well, I'll just be going."

He smirks, turning his head to look through the transparent doors of the building. His hair is so silky looking, an inky black. I want to touch it so badly, but I restrain. "Yes. I suppose you should be leaving. It was a pleasure meeting you, Kagome."

I gasp when he grips my hand in his larger, far warmer one. "What are you doing?"

"Has it been that long since Sesshomaru did this?" He questions, kissing the top of my hand. "Even if you're married, he should be romantic every once in a while." He kisses my hand again, then flips it to kiss my palm. My, are his lips warm.

Stop that! I scold myself mentally, snatching my hand back. "Um, I'll see you around, Kuro-sama?"

He smirks again. Something about that delicious smirk screams trouble. "Certainly. Now, off you go, little one."

"Little one?" I glare, then huff, turning away from him. "Goodbye, Kuro-sama." I start out of the door, before his smooth voice reaches my ears.

"Call me, Naraku."

"Certainly." I mimick. "Now, off you go, little one." Smiling flirtaciously, I leave the building.

You flirting. A voice in me scolds. Stupid beast. She always intrudes on my affairs. This is one of the bad things about being mated. It made me a demon, beast and all. Kami I missed having a conscience that I could dismiss.

I was not. I send back, hardly noticing that I'm holding my warm, Naraku-kissed hand to my face.

You flirting. Mate no be happy.

Does his beast let him know when I'm not happy? It obviously doesn't if he never comforts me.

He no comfort, so you flirt with other man. Man no good.

He certainly seemed nice to me. I recall his wonderfully spicy scent of fire and Beni-shouga.

No go near man.

I will if I wish.

Go near man and I tell mate.

My eyes narrow. You wouldn't dare. I am in control. Besides, it isn't like I'm sleeping with the man.

Man want you sleep with him. See twinkle in eye.

No. I didn't see a twinkle. I saw genuine kindness.

Mistress. She reprimands.

Serving beast. I scold back.

I warn you. When mate angry with us, only you feel wrath.

Sure. Whatever. Begone. I dismiss her with a smirk. I'll only talk with Naraku. Nothing more, but nothing less. But for now, I'm going to pick up my son from a friend's.

S-___-___-___-___-___-___-___-___-___-K

{Sesshomaru's POV}

I growl to myself as I recall the days event. What the hell was Kagome thinking, baring herself like that?! The halfbreeds saw her naked. That flea-infested wolf saw my mate's body. She is in for it when I get home.

No be mad at mate. There it is again, that damned beast. Why every demon must have one, I have no idea. Only those who can not think for themselves truly need a beast in my opinion.

Vanish, pest. I am not in the mood.

I can envision it glaring at me, meaning it's angry. Mate only want us touch her. She want us happy. I want touch her. I want be happy.

I am happy. I mutter a mantra, "Vanish, vanish, vanish," hoping uselessly that it would leave me be..

Me no happy. We no touch mate since we hurt her after sleeping with secretary wench. Why?

I can not touch her. I sigh. I'm bored.

Bored of beautiful mate? Mate perfect in all ways. She fiesty, or at least was till she hurt. She less now. We break mate. You break mate 'cause you no obey me. It could go on like that for hours, whining in those annoying ass broken sentences about me hurting Kagome, what I can do to make her feel better.

It doesn't understand that I'm not just bored. My life isn't where I want it to be. I'm supposed to be rich by now. I'm not supposed to be working. Kagome is supposed to be pupped with our 8th child at the least. And she isn't. Granted, that is all my fault.

We've had a son. I named him after my deceased grandfather, Amaimaru, sweet perfection. In a moment of blind white anger, which was with myself, not Kagome, I was too rough with her, resulting in a few torn muscles. There was so much damage that, according to the surgeon, if they were to leave her uterus within her, and she became pregnant, it would kill her. Naturally, I did what I had to to ensure her life.

So, what I told my beast, about being bored, was a complete lie. I am merely afraid, afraid that I will harm her again, afraid that she will break and crumble beneath me. I would rather have her with me, upset, than have her leave me with anger in her heart.

When my Kagome cries, my chest aches. When she pleads with me to hold her, I make up excuses. When she accuses me of cheating, I do not to persuade her that I am not, even though I am not.

Checking back on my beast, I find him to still be blabbing.

You smell Naraku when he return?

I sigh. No. I didn't. Why?

He smell of mate, his hand. He touch her. No let him take mate away.

I chuckle. As though he could.

Cocky baka! You will make lose mate!

Be calm. Kagome is going no where. She loves me.

She no know you love back.

I roll my eyes. She is fine. Kagome is no fool. She senses love.

No. Mate leave! She take Amai and leave! Don't let go! Don't let-

"Leave me!" I roar aloud, glaring when the male in the car beside me turns to stare.

Fine! But if mate go, I make you pay! He disappears, and I sigh contently.

Kagome will never leave. I try to assure myself, but that does nothing for the intense fear in my heart.She'd never leave.