Chapter One:
"Itsuko."
A voice, low in key but soft in tone, pierced the darkness of her lonely mind. The voice bore only her name, calling her to wake from her long, deep and dreamless slumber.
"Itsuko."
My name?
"Yes." She managed to utter. Her body was weak and sleep continued to burden her still. She stirred, trying to force the repose and dullness to vanish.
Yes. That must be my name. Yet still I do not remember…
Itsuko could not remember anything of what happened before. The memories were there, however. She could feel them, trying so hard to reveal themselves to her. But somehow, they were blocked from remembrance.
A hand came to rest upon her shoulder, cold. It caressed her skin lightly in a way that made her tremble.
"Who are you?" Itsuko asked, her violet feline-like eyes fluttering open to see who it was beside her.
"Naraku."
The name sent a shiver to pass through her body.
Such a cruel name. Surely this man with such gentle touches does not resemble it in soul.
Red eyes stared down at her.
So much sadness.
She slowly reached up bother of her hands and touched the man's pale cheeks. "Why do I see such heartache and bitterness in you?" She questioned.
Do I love this man?
Naraku took her hands into his own and smiled, a pretense only known to him. "What do you remember, Itsuko?" He asked, ignoring her question.
Itsuko blinked her eyes. The struggle to remember anything sent a sharp pain into her forehead.
"I-."
White hair.
Golden eyes.
"I-."
Blood.
Death.
Red eyes.
These images flashed through her mind. But as quickly as they came, they went and were once again locked deep within the chasms of her mind.
"I can't remember anything." She finally responded.
"Good." Naraku's hand shifted. "And tell me. What do you feel?"
"What do I feel?"
"Emotion-wise. What are you feeling?" His hand moved to her hair, petting and running his fingers through the soft strands. "For instance, what do you feel when I touch you?"
Itsuko's heart sped up, pulsing quickly in her chest.
Love.
"I feel…"
Lust.
I see him again… that man with hair. So beautiful.
Naraku moved his hand again, this time to grip her throat. "You feel?" His finger nails dug into her skin, squeezing, making her unable to breath.
"Naraku?" All feelings of pleasure had turned into ones of fear.
"You are a powerful demon, Itsuko." The gentle touch was gone. The coldness of his hand and of his voice made her body numb, as if a freezing wind was sweeping through her.
I hate you, Naraku.
"Demons feel nothing. They do not feel pain. They do not feel love nor do they feel happiness." His voice rang.
Itsuko's chest began to burn fiercely. She looked down at herself to see her kimono open and falling at her sides, making her body exposed. Between her breasts was a scar in the shape of a spider, glowing a dark purple.
"I am your master now." He continued to say. "I brought you back from the dead. And as easily as I did, I can just as easily send you back to Hell." He opened his hand. Resting on his palm was an orb, glowing the same inky purple as the scar. "I control you. Do you understand?"
His words tore at her.
My heart? When did it become so tainted?
Her eyes close in a silent defeat.
He holds my life in his hands. I must listen. I must obey.
"Very well. I will obey you then, my Lord Naraku."