Chapter 3: Naraku

Inuyasha stopped in front of a large black door. He raised his hand to walk when suddenly the door began to swing open.

Kagome could sense that Inuyasha was tense.

Was he afraid?

No…he wasn't afraid. It felt more like Inuyasha was trying to control his anger. Was this anger toward her or this Naraku person?

She was led through the doors where she was met by absolute blackness except for the light that was coming through the door they had just entered. Kagome's heartbeat quickened when the door closed itself and she was plunged into darkness. She stopped walking. Where was she going?

All around her she could hear the faint whispering of voices that she didn't recognize. Yet when she put her hands out they were instantly touching cold stone. There was no way for other people to fit in hear without brushing against her. Then where were these voices coming from?

Her hands began to shake when she realized that she couldn't hear Inuyasha's footsteps anymore.

Where had he gone?

With her hands out n front of her, Kagome walked slowly through the darkness. Following the voices, they became louder the farther she went on. She turned left and found that she was moving at a slant that was going downward. Suddenly there was a high pitched scream and Kagome leaned against the wall, holding and hand over her own mouth so she herself wouldn't scream.

Who was that?

They sounded as if they were in…pain.

Suddenly a hand went around her wrist and Kagome screamed, swinging both of her fists into the air. She connected with something solid and heard a voice grunt. A hand came over her mouth, silencing her scream. Struggling against the mystery person she tried to kick it but it slammed her against the wall, pinning her legs.

She took a deep breath and focused on building up her powers. She would fight if she had to.

"Would you calm down!" a familiar voice hissed in her ear.

"Inu-Inuyasha?" she whispered as he took his hand off her mouth.

"What they hell are you doing down here?" he hissed, stepping back from her, "I told you to keep close."

"No you didn't," Kagome mumbled.

He growled, "Well now I am telling you. So stay close."

And with that he turned around, maneuvering through the darkness easily. Kagome was dragged along because he still had his warm hand firmly around her wrist.

They walked on for at least ten minutes until they came to an elevator. Inuyasha pulled her ahead of him.

"Get in," he said.

She was pushed in and Inuyasha pushed the top floor button.

"Wait!" Kagome yelled as the doors closed, "Aren't you coming?"

Inuyasha didn't say anything, he just looked at her with those big amber eyes.

And then Kagome started going up…

The elevator was all mirrors and Kagome stared blankly at her reflection. She looked pale and tired. Her eyes were involuntarily wide in fear and her hands were shaking.

For some odd reason, she seemed to miss the warmth of Inuyasha's hand on her wrist.

The elevator stopped suddenly and the doors slowly opened to reveal a large room. It was surrounded by windows and Kagome could see a huge starry sky stretch across the horizon. She couldn't see any sign of Tokyo. Where was she?

As she continued to looked around the room, she noticed that everything was either black leather or stainless steel. There was a large table that could have seated twenty people in the middle of the room. At the far end, there was a black desk with nothing but a pen and a laptop on it.

Seated at the desk was a man that sent an uncomfortable shiver down her spine.

Red eyes stared at her as she stepped out of the elevator. The man stood up and he walked toward her, towering almost a foot above her. His long wavy black hair fell into his eyes and he was smirking at her.

Kagome's power pulsed through her veins.

He wasn't human, but he wasn't demon either. Although his aura was more powerful then both Inuyasha's and Kouga's, Kagome sensed that he wasn't a full demon.

"Naraku…" Kagome hissed.

The man smirked and stood in front of her, his red eyes chilling her to the bone.

"Kagome Higurashi," he whispered, "it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

He stuck out his hand to shake hers but Kagome just stared at it as if it we going to morph into something disgusting. Naraku's smile fell and he dropped his hand.

"I see your pathetic father never taught you any manners," Naraku smiled.

Kagome scowled.

Naraku smirked and moved to the window, staring out at nothing.

"Do you know why you are here Kagome?" he asked.

Kagome frowned, "Yeah, that guy named Kouga told me everything."

"And here I wanted the pleasure of watching your pretty face take it all in…" Naraku whispered.

Something in his voice made her shiver, like he had more then one meaning to his words. All she knew was that Kouga was not going to benefit from the outcome.

Suddenly a phone rang, breaking the silence and Kagome jumped.

Naraku reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone.

"Yes?" he asked calmly.

There was a pause and Kagome could faintly hear the sound of a muffled voice on the other end. Naraku's lips slowly curved up into a smile as he turned to look at Kagome.

"Alright," Naraku said and then hung up the phone.

Kagome wanted to ask who had been on the phone, but she suspected that that was what Naraku wanted her to do. So she kept her mouth shut.

Naraku frowned and pressed a button that was located on the edge of his desk. Kagome frowned and waited for something to explode, or jump out at her… but nothing happened.

Naraku laughed, "Don't looked so worried my dear," he whispered, "I merely called for your escort to take you back to your room."

"What?" Kagome asked, "So that's it?"

He smirked, "I was planning on asking you where your father kept the jewel, but I no longer seek that information."

"What are you talking about?" Kagome breathed.

Naraku walked toward her and stopped barley a foot away from her. Kagome could smell his strong musty cologne and she would have taken a step back, but she didn't want Naraku to know that she was terrified.

"Do you know who I was on the phone with?" he asked softly.

Kagome shook her head.

Naraku smirked and brought his hand to Kagome's face where he pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She slapped his hand away and stepped back from him.

"Just tell me," she hissed.

"Your father," Naraku smiled.

Kagome gasped, "M-my…father?"

He nodded, "He sounded quiet hysterical, wanting to know that your were alright. He cracked a lot sooner then I thought he would. He has wisely decided to surrender the jewel to me and I have men out to pick him up as we speak."

Kagome's hands were shaking, "You're bringing him here? Why? Why don't you just pick up the jewel at a drop off?"

Naraku sighed, "Your father and I need to have a little…chat, and I thought it would be best if it was here where no one could interfere."

"What's going to happen?" Kagome asked, her hands in tight fists, "I know your type well enough to know that you aren't going to let any of us go."

"Smart girl," Naraku nodded at her, "Your father gave in knowing exactly what his punishment would be. So whatever happens is all what he deserves."

Kagome felt her knees begin to give way beneath her and she placed her hand on the cold wall to steady herself…

"Y-you're going to k-kill him aren't you?" Kagome whispered.

Naraku just stared at her, smiling. His eyes told her all she needed to know.

Naraku was going to kill her father. But he wasn't going to stop there, she knew…he would kill her, and Souta, and mama before he was satisfied. She could tell by the way his eyes gleamed at the mere thought of blood…the way they almost glazed over with disgusting pleasure…

"You're sick," Kagome whispered.

Before Naraku could answer the door opened. Kagome turned around quickly, expecting to see her father, but instead she saw Inuyasha enter the room, his face unreadable.

"Are they here yet?" Naraku asked.

Inuyasha shook his head.

Naraku tapped his fingers on his desk impatiently as they all stood in silence. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha and noticed that he was staring at her. When he noticed her looking he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with pink.

Suddenly the door opened again and three figures walked in. A man with his black hair in a pony tail at the nape of his neck walked in first. He was quite handsome, and was wearing black pants with a black shirt. His violet eyes looked Kagome up and done with interest.

Behind him was a tall man the looked a lot like Inuyasha. He looked older and his long silver hair went past his ass. His cold eyes glanced at Kagome and quickly looked away, as if in disgust.

In one hand he was dragging someone behind him by the arm…

…her father.

"Daddy!" Kagome moved toward him but Inuyasha's hand shot out and grabbed her elbow.

She looked at him in shock and his eyes stared into hers, telling her to stay.

Looking back at her father, Kagome's eyes began to fill with tears.

He looked horrible. One of his eyes was blue and his lip was bloody and swollen. His cloths had been ripped in various placed and Kagome noticed that he was walking with a slight limp.

Naraku laughed lightly and walked in front of her father who and been thrown onto the ground by the man with silver hair.

"Higurashi, you are looking a little worse for wear," Naraku hissed.

"Fuck you Naraku," her father spat.

Naraku frowned, "Now now, you aren't exactly in the best position to be talking back."

And with that Naraku sent a swift kick to her father's gut, causing him to double or in pain, gasping and spitting out blood.

Kagome fumed and she tried to get at Naraku but Inuyasha's hands went tightly around either of her elbows.

"Tell me where the jewel is Higurashi," Naraku hissed, "When you called I had assumed you would do the smart thing and bring it with you, but I don't sense it anywhere."

Her father laughed bitterly, "Do you honestly think I would be so stupid as to bring it with me? You could have taken it and killed me and my family."

"And what makes you think I still won't do just that?"

"Because you need me you bastard. I know where it is. If you let Kagome go, I will take you to it," he said softly.

Naraku growled and dug his hand into his pocket before he pulled out a gun. Kagome gasped as he pointed it at her chest. Inuyasha's grip on her tightened as he growled softly from behind her.

Why was he upset? Hell, she was the one with a gun pointed at her! Not him!

"Tell me where it is or I will shoot your daughter," Naraku threatened.

Her father shook his head, "If you shoot her then I will never tell you. Let her go. You can have me in her place. I will take you to the jewel and then you can do whatever you want with me."

Naraku hissed and turned the gun on her father. Kagome fought to escape from Inuyasha's grip but he pulled her up against him, overpowering her.

"Don't move if you want to live," he hissed in her ear.

She ignored him.

"Does anyone else know where the jewel is?" Naraku asked her father.

His eyes flashed and he shook his head. Too quickly, and Naraku noticed.

"Someone else does know. Who?" Naraku placed the gun on her father's temple and Kagome noticed her father shaking.

"Daddy just tell him! Tell him wear it is!" Kagome yelled, tears streaming down her face.