Deep in the woods a man with somewhat wavy long raven hair slept peacefully, lying against the grassy fields slightly dampened by the morning dewdrops of spring. It was cold but that didn't bother him, he never felt so at peace before, he had just woken from a horrific dream and hoped to forget about it by going back to sleep.
"Ahh…what are these annoying bugs flying on my face…" the long black haired man grumbled in annoyance as he swatted away what he assumed to be mosquitoes that won't leave him alone. Just wanting to go back to sleep and forget about the nightmare he just had. There were absolutely zero things he liked in that dream, well actually there was one thing that he did like…not a thing but rather a person…However a bellowing grunt from deep within the shadowy forest didn't give him any time to ponder on his sleeping adventures.
"Those are actually my spawns!" A crackling voice boomed out. The dark haired main immediately jumped up in a defending position, eyeing his surroundings.
"They leave a scent on my victims so I can easily track them…heheh" the monstrous voice continued. The trees were actually shaking from his voice, but upon further inspection it was actually his gargantuan figure that was actually shaking and crashing down the trees.
"GAHAHA!" The voice bellowed as his giant arm seemingly to be like rocks itself crashed onto the man knocking him down, the bones in his legs cracking and breaking.
"Hey I remember you! You're that bastard Naraku!" the rockish looking demon exclaimed. However something was not right with this one. He completely lacked his disgusting smelling miasma; in fact he had the stench of a delicious human just begging to be swallowed up.
"Ahh…shit." The man mumbled with a pained expression. 'Wait Naraku? Isn't that the name everyone referred to me by in that nightmare I just had?'
"I heard you were a wretched half-demon, so it's true after all. And this is your time of the month huh?" The gigantic demon laughed menacingly as he slammed his stone like fist onto Naraku's legs.
Naraku screamed in agony as he felt bones crack, his lower body going limp, he tried his best effort to crawl away and while he thought he succeeded, the human eating demon is simply toying with him. He did wonder though how this seemingly brutish demon knew about everything that happened in his dream, but that was the least of his worries. Now that he thought about it he didn't even know who he was or why he was even sleeping out in the open like that. Not like any of that matters since just as quickly his life apparently seemed to have started it is about to just as quickly end.
"Time to die!" the gigantic demon laughed out loud as he tighten his grip on Naraku, threatening to break his ribs too. Just as he was about to say his prayers, he notice a powerful beam of pink light soared through the clearing. The demon's body instantly torn apart and reduced to ashes.
"Are you alright?" a calm melodious voice asked, it sent chills down his spine that voice is like music to his ears, the serenity of that feminine voice was so infectious that despite his injuries he felt peaceful. This voice… it was familiar to him, he was sure he heard it from somewhere before but he couldn't recall where…
Naraku half opened his eyes, expecting to see an angel to match the heavenly voice. But he was abruptly met with an arrow staring down his face instead.
"Don't move!" she threatened angrily. Despite the hatred and anger in her voice it still manages to maintain the calmness and serenity as before. He looked up to see the beautiful woman towering above him; her long black hair flowing freely in the morning breeze, those breathtaking chocolate brown orbs that were all too familiar to him, her flawless milky white skin covered by the standard miko garments leaving everything to be desired. She was it, she was the girl in his dream. The one pleasant part of that nightmarish experience.
"Not like I can." He replied in almost a sneering way. His life was in danger; whether she killed him herself or he dies from his injuries. But he just had the urge to tease her. That and he was never a man to beg for his own life anyway. Even if he didn't know a thing about himself he just felt pitiful to beg for his life.
"Naraku explain yourself!" the miko entire body shook with rage, using every ounce of her will power to not blow off his head right then and there. In truth the only thing stopping her was that Naraku lacked his youki, she contemplated that it could be because of the fuyoheki but then she also didn't detect any Shikon Jewel around him. Perhaps it was a trap that he was like this, mask his own demonic aura and then pretends to be injured so he can kill her. Then it dawned on her, the real reason she didn't fire an arrow and obliterate him right then and there was because she IS hoping this is a trap. She wanted to die, wanted it all to end. Her whole life had been miserable and being revived again didn't change the miserable part. Despite acting selfless in giving up on Inuyasha, her heart betrayed her actions, she didn't want to do it but she loved Inuyasha too much to make him go through the pain he would have had she didn't. But that doesn't mean she wanted to live a life of solitude and be alone forever. She wanted Naraku to just plunge through her body with his wretched tentacles, so she can finally leave this god forsaken Earth.
'Naraku, Naraku, Naraku there goes that name again, that damn name from my dream…' He didn't know what his name was but he certainly didn't want to be associated with the bastard that was in the nightmare he had.
"You must have mistaken me for someone else." He kept up his sneering attitude despite the pain that he was in. Surprising even himself though, he could take the pain and mask it effortlessly.
"What are you scheming Naraku? You lured me out successfully; you want my life do you not? Well take it!" Her voice full of hatred and malice however her eyes tell a completely different story, it was one of sorrow. He questioned her sanity, it was he who was at her mercy yet she thinks he was in any position to threaten her life?
'Kikyo…that's right I remember now…her name is Kikyo. She hates me…' Naraku recalled what happened in the dream. He remembered every atrocious act he committed. Although it was as unclear as most dreams are after waking up. The particular memories of Kikyo were vivid.
Naraku then came to the dreadful realization that what happened in that dream wasn't really a dream. It was real. He did not find himself valuing life at all, not even his own life but could he really have done all those things? He thought back but he found everything that happened was somewhat vague, in fact he couldn't really remember much from that dream. He admits the stuff he did remember were all possible actions he could take, if he were in the same position.
Kikyo studied Naraku carefully, she despise and hates him with all her being. As much as she wants to kill him, he will probably survive knowing Naraku. Then she remembered what Inuyasha had told her, something about Naraku being purified by his own wish. Miroku's curse being lifted…Then does the man lying before her means that he is someone else? Or perhaps he's a reincarnation of Naraku like Kagome is to herself? But what would be his purpose in gaining a renewed life? Sighing in disappointment, she withdrew her bow, disappointed by the fact she didn't have the chance to kill Naraku herself and deep down even unbeknownst to her; the fact that she survived.
"My apologies for mistaking you for someone else…" her voice returned to her usual stoic and calm nature. "Stay here I will tend to your injuries." The miko walked off; slightly dipping her head, as if in deep sorrow.
Whether emotionless, angry or sad, she was still an angel in his eyes. The most stunningly beautiful woman he ever saw. He was glad she was real and not just a dream.
Naraku hated feeling vulnerable and weak. Despite the fact that he's a human now it still reminded him of his miserable life as Onigumo. After all he is Naraku, he didn't go back to being that miserable human Onigumo. Speaking of which, his current state reminded him of the time back when he was that wretched Onigumo in his poor destructed state. And then Kikyo showed him the kindness that no one else did…it sparked an undying longing for her… the former hanyou didn't have much time to contemplate his situation before being interrupted by a breathtaking sight.
The wind bellowed wildly causing Kikyo's dark tresses to fly freely about like a soaring falcon. It was as if nature itself complemented her entrance to make it all the more dramatic. Her haori also acted like the waves of the sea clashing wildly yet elegantly against her own voluptuous form.
Naraku's subconsciously widened his eyes at the sight immediately causing the woman before him to scowl. Recomposing himself back to his usual indifferent face, he greeted the miko.
The same way Onigumo would stare at her. 'So he did become a human…'
"There that should help." Kikyo wore an emotionless mask as she nursed Naraku's injuries. Her voice did not betray her, revealing no emotions as if a soulless being doing what its master commanded it to do.
Naraku personally found this both entrancing and boring. He was amazed how she always kept up that façade but at the same time annoyed that she is never changing in her attitude. He wanted to do something, anything to cause her to rile up. Like the anger she expressed earlier...He wondered if he should tell her the truth. Surely she would despise him and even kill him. But it would certainly be entertaining.
"Say you never did tell me your name." Naraku's voice came out almost mockingly, an all too familiar tone to Kikyo. This guy didn't just simply looked like Naraku he acts like him too…However he seemed helpless enough and if it was indeed a trap she would find out eventually.
"You can call me Kikyo." She stated, again no emotions to speak of. Her caramel doll like eyes always held that sad expression but her voice would not betray what was hidden deep within her soul. It's intriguing to him.
"And you can call me Naraku." He kept up his smug grin, his red orbs never leaving the miko's angelic face. He wanted to see her reaction. He felt the pressure on his wound lifted and the herbs drop to the ground. Her usual calm expression twisted to anger, hate, loathing. He thought he would be amused by this but all he felt was heart wrenching regret. For some reason he didn't find it funny or amusing to have the beautiful miko hate him. He wanted her to like him.
"I should have known!" she stood up however she made no move to grab her bow. She simply studied him.
His sinister red orbs met her gentle caramel ones. Even in anger she still manage to look like a goddess. For countless minutes neither moved nor said a word, waiting for the other to make the first move. Naraku wondered why Kikyo hasn't killed him yet. Kikyo wondered why Naraku became a human. A cold breeze blew against them taking both their raven hair in its direction.
Naraku was sure he would win this waiting game. He was accustomed to being patient to achieve his end goal, sitting still for a couple of minutes isn't anything new to him. His assumption was proven correct when Kikyo promptly turned around her long hair swaying ever so elegantly as she made her way past the clearing without saying another word.
'What exactly was the wish Naraku made on the Shikon Jewel? To become human? No that can't be it he wouldn't have gone through all his despicable acts just to be a human. Not to mention that wouldn't explain why I am still alive…' Kikyo thought, but then is he really a changed person? No he played her for a fool or so she thought. The powerful miko is usually always in control of her own emotions but this time she felt her blood boil at the realization that she helped her most hated nemesis. She turned back her new found rage fueling her as she stomped towards Naraku. An anger not shown since the day of her very first revival when she saw Inuyasha.
"You! Have you not tormented me enough? Why do you deceive me even now?" She pointed an accusing finger towards the dark haired man. However she made no move to actually attack him.
"Deceive you? I never acted any differently than before. You helped me on your own accord." And to emphasize his point, his lips curled into his usual condescending smirk.
Naraku's reaction didn't help either. He showed zero remorse for what he did; he didn't even bother apologizing, let alone begin to feel sorry for his past deeds. Kagome's eyes must have been tricking her, there's no way this lying deceiving bastard would ever make a selfless wish on the Shikon Jewel. "You-You are an evil man; there is no redeeming qualities in you! I hate you with all my being!"
Naraku inwardly flinch, it felt like she had slapped him. If what he dreamt was true, then surely he have brought happiness to Kikyo, did he not? Why did she hate him so much then? All his actions were futile? He didn't remember everything he did, but certainly it wasn't all that bad considering he made it up with that wish…
"You're alive because of me." He replied still keeping his cool. Although he was still feigning an uncaring, smug attitude. Deep down he was at lost at what to say. He didn't know how to handle Kikyo at all. He wanted to tell her how she was an angel to his eyes how he wanted her to be his angel. But he had too much pride for that. Not to mention she hates him and there was no way he could convince her otherwise.
"I didn't ask for it. Keep your charity to yourself and stay out of my life." She spat storming away. By now she has accepted that Naraku did in fact change for the better. But if that fool for one second thought she would forgive everything he did because of one dumb wish he made then he is sorely mistaken.
"You could be at least a bit grateful for what I did." Naraku seethed for the first time showing anger.
Kikyo laughed as if she had lost her mind, the chiming echo of her laugh sent chills down his spine. "You mean you attempted to fix the pain and misery you caused? You can pretend you changed all you want but you can't pretend the past didn't exist!" she seethed.
Naraku visibly stung by her words, a pang of pain in his heart when he heard the merciless words. It felt like she ripped his heart out and stomped on it. All his efforts to please her! And this is what he gets!
"Be glad I didn't wish for your eternal obedience to me. That was the wish I originally intended when I desired you. But instead I made a wish for your happiness instead…" For the first time Naraku stuttered with his words. It felt weird, weird that he was pouring out his inner deepest feelings like that. Whether he was a human a hanyou or a demon he despises having weak emotions like that, let alone showing it.
Kikyo, taken aback by his words, was now her turn to not know what to say. She blinked foolishly for a brief moment, cursing herself for being weak and unable to keep up her hatred for him. 'Its fine he just caught me off guard with his flattery.' She convinced herself, still glaring daggers at the former hanyou.
"Still up to your old tricks with your mind games Naraku? Don't mistaken me for my foolish reincarnation I am not easily deceived." Kikyo sneered. Despite the demeaning gesture he still found her features beautiful. In fact she was more beautiful than ever when she is riled up.
Naraku didn't feel the need to defend himself knowing that no matter what he said or do it would never make it up to her. She would never forgive him and he came to accept that. Feeling the bones in his legs were already somewhat healed, he limped away, turning his head to absorb the image of his beloved one last time.