I still don't own Inuyasha.

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Naraku gazed out his window, dark brow creased. Where was Kagura? She was late. Perhaps it was time to remind her of her duties.

He took a velvet lined box from a shelf, opening it to reveal Kagura's beating heart, which lay inside. He emptied it into the palm of his hand, where he clenched it in his fingers.

Ten miles away, Kagura fell into a spasm, clutching her chest.

Sesshoumaru bent to catch her, concerned for the safety of their plan, for he could not succeed without her.

"Kagura!" His eyes anxiously searched the lines of pain in her face, trying to make sense of her sudden affliction. "Come out of it! Kagura!"

Her eyelids fluttered; she was panting hard past lips that were white like china.

He pressed her hand, not knowing what he could do to help her, and all too aware of the forces that were already at work against them.

At last, she opened her eyes, scarlet orbs clouded with restrained rage.

"Naraku." Sesshoumaru said quietly.

"Naraku." She replied, avoiding his gaze. She hated to be weak in his eyes more than anything else. She couldn't falter, not now. Not when she could almost taste freedom.

He wordlessly set her on her feet, and she dusted her kimono for the second time that evening. "He's wondering where I am." She informed him.

Sessoumaru's lips curved into a delicious smirk. "Then it's time he finds out."

Kagura stared at him. "So soon?"

"We have no time to waste, Kagura."

She answered with a silent nod.

He walked before her for the rest of the night, and they did not trade words, lost in their thoughts. She watched the shift of his white silk robes in the moonlight, considering him in her mind. Lord Sesshoumaru. The man was practically made of moonlight, moonlight and steel. Kagura had always been able to decipher the workings of a person's mind; the little things that made them think and feel and act the way they did. But Sesshoumaru was different. He was something more than just a powerful demon, she knew that. But what? It puzzled and tweaked at her curiosity, for no one could bear an unsolved puzzle less than Kagura could. And Sesshoumaru was a particularly attractive puzzle.

She tried her hardest not to fear the battle that lie ahead. After all, her choices were freedom or death. Sure, death was more likely, but she'd never even seen an opening for release before this moment. It was a chance she was willing to take. What did she have to lose?

To keep her mind on track and far from anxiousness, she continued to watch the movements of Sesshoumaru.

It didn't take long for the youkai to notice, and less for him to say something. "What is it, Kagura?" He asked, ennui covering his annoyance.

Kagura languidly blinked her ochre eyes as if coming out of a dream. "Hm? It's nothing, Sesshoumaru."

His eyes narrowed, skeptical. "I'm sure."

She arched her eyebrows, now fully awake. "What do you mean by that?"

Without so much as a twitch, he turned away from her and began to walk again.

Kagura scowled in irritation, but she said nothing. So much for keeping a focus on the job! He couldn't even handle so much of a sideways glance!

The pale faced moon rose cold over the darkening forest, and they traversed on in silence.

Sesshoumaru was the first to spy Naraku's castle on the horizon, and he held up an hand to signal a halt. Kagura came to stand beside him.

"I'm afraid." she said.

Sesshoumaru looked at her sharply, with a certain amount of anger in his gaze. "That is no was to feel before a battle." He said harshly.

Kagura snorted. "Please. Only a fool tries to deny fear. It is wise to acknowledge fear; then it is faced along with your opponent, instead of striking in your mind like a thief to distract you."

Sesshoumaru was silent.

The miasma around the castle twitched at his sensitive nose. "Is this the barrier?"

"The first. There are seven we must pass."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Kagura chuckled. "Cliché, I know. But it isn't much of a problem." She reached into her satchel, taking a tiny down feather and letting it rest in her palm for a moment, and it burst into an enormous plume of a vessel that could carry them both.

Sesshoumaru looked at it, respect in his eyes. Kagura saw this and smirked. "It is nice, isn't it?"

He quickly wiped his face blank. "I suppose."

She laughed, throwing back her elegant head, and gracefully half leaped half fluttered to the head of the feather, looking back at him. "Come on! It's time to go!"

In an instant, Sesshoumaru was behind her. She felt his strong hands encircle her arms, assuring he wouldn't fall, and she felt her skin prickle. "You're uneasy." He said, warm breath tickling the nape of her neck.

Kagura closed her crimson eyes at the sensation, old discipline immediately banishing it. "Of course. We've been through this."

And as always, he said nothing. The feather rose into the sky without hesitation at her command.

Castle Naraku loomed ahead like a monster of shadow and poison clouds. Kagura clenched her teeth. The end was nigh. She would be free, or die trying.

End chapter two. Comments always welcome, friends! More will be coming, but I'm working on my novel right now, and that has top priority. Please comment, it always helps me put pen to paper again! Thanks for your support!

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