Chapter 4 Delirium

Kagura watched quietly as her master subdued the miko. Her passing out had nothing to do with the tea. It was the miasma clouded in the room that made her faint. He simply gave her that drink so she wouldn't get sick or dehydrated. Naraku propped her up against the wall and brushed his fingers along her clavicle until he found her necklace. In one swift movement, he yanked the Shikon fragment from the chain. His eyes widened in amazement. Her shard was as large as his! Without wasting another moment, he took the half that he owned, and Kagome's half and fused them together. The Shikon no Tama glimmered and sparkled in his hand, completely and utterly whole. He grinned evilly XD, and even though the pinkish glow had faded, he could feel the immense power thrumming in his palm.

Kagome tilted her head forward in her unconscious state. Naraku pocketed the gem and turned back to her. Emotionless, he lifted her chin and stared at her face.

"I really must thank you for helping me." Her eyes fluttered, but did not open. He continued, his voice now a whisper.

"You have no idea how trusting you are. You'd let anyone who came your way take advantage of you naivety." He let his other hand sweep up by her hair. The sweetest aroma from her raven locks reached his senses and he inhaled deeply. Humans didn't have this kind of scent, the scent of the fresh spring wind on a cool evening. It was unfamiliar to him, and yet...so natural.

"So strange, yet so..." he trailed off and met his lips with hers. Humans were dirty and useless creatures, the filth of the earth. This girl...she was anything but human, he was sure. Her soft skin and unique scent was that of a tennyo. What other being was she, but an angel?

The young miko began to stir and he parted from her. For now, he would forget about that thought and kill her when she woke, now that he had the entire jewel. He removed his hidden dagger and unsheathed it, poising it over her chest. Her eyes flickered open and blinked. The slender blade gleamed in the reflection of her brown eyes, inches from her beating heart. Her mind and body went numb and she didn't scream. Naraku was stoic, his blood-red eyes clashing with hers.

"You've fulfilled your purpose, little miko. I have the Shikon no Tama...and you, Kagome...you die here." However, he didn't bring the blade down, for Kagome had begun to do the most unbelievable thing.

She was laughing. Whether from the shock of dying or from having a fit of temporary insanity (we all have those), but she was all giggles now. Naraku frowned and pressed the cold knife against her chest, slightly puncturing the skin. She stopped immediately so it wouldn't dig any deeper, but kept smiling at him.

"And what, pray tell, is so amusing?" he demanded coldly. She still grinned and lifted the knife away.

"You are. You can't use that jewel yet. It's not complete."

"What are you talking about?" He didn't wait for an answer, and pulled out them gem. He looked at it from all sides, searching for any missing pieces. The surface was smooth and unmarred, and yet he felt that its power was being restrained somehow. But after carefully inspecting it, he found the flaw of the jewel. A tiny sliver, so miniscule that it could have been mistaken for a crack, was missing from the center of the pink orb.

The dark lord felt his anger swell to a fevered pitch and he wanted to drive the dagger into the conniving wench. But he settled for an interrogation.

"Where is the last shard, girl? Give it to me!" The dagger lay forgotten on the floor and one strong hand squeezed her slender neck. She wasn't smiling anymore and Naraku enjoyed her pain. She couldn't speak, but shook her head from side to side, refusing to give him the information he wanted. He clenched tighter and moved in closer to her, inches from her face.

"You know what I can do to you, wench. The kind of pain I can inflict upon you, the misery you would have." Her breath was coming out in short, labored gasps and her eyes were watering.

"Now tell me where it is, Kagome," he growled angrily. With her oxygen cut off, she used what little breath she had to say one word.

"In...uyasha...ahh..." she breathed. The second the name left her lips, she knew her mistake. The name had one meaning to her, another meaning to Naraku. To her, she always called to him when she was in trouble, only needing to say his name. It was becoming too much of a habit, and she had proved that here. To Naraku, the name was the answer to his question, to the location of the last shard. To Kagome's horror, she realized what Naraku now knew. Inuyasha DID have the last shard! She had given it to him incase someone had stolen the ones she had. If that had ever happened, then he would have the one piece that kept it from being complete.

Naraku's calm demeanor returned and he gently released the pressure on her neck. He smiled, as if it had never happened. Kagome drew in a shuddering breath, the oxygen rushing back into her lungs. Although she couldn't see them, she felt the dark throbbing bruises on her throat forming quickly. He allowed her to catch her breath before speaking again.

"So...Inuyasha has the last fragment, am I correct?" he inquired. She didn't answer, but her silence was a hint enough. In her mind, she was scolding herself harshly.

'Kagome, how could you?! Why did you tell him the Inuyasha had the last piece?'

'I couldn't do anything else! He was going to kill me if I didn't,' another part of her argued.

'Like that matters now! Inuyasha's as good as dead."

'We're both dead.' Naraku let her argue with herself for a minute longer before standing up. He was already forming a plan to take what was his.

"There's no point in waiting. We attack him now." That statement made Kagome jump to her feet.

"We?" she protested, "Now??" He smirked at her outburst, his crimson eyes glimmering. He walked past her to the door.

"Yes, now," he replied, amused with the little miko. Kagome grit her teeth and stood her ground. It was absolutely frustrating that he found everything she said funny. He wasn't going to get his way.

"No." The dark-haired lord turned back to her, his sneer softening into a thin line.

"No? You do not wish to fetch the last shard for me?" She clenched her fists, her muscles tensing up. What she wouldn't give for a bow and arrow right now.

"You heard me. I'm not some sort of slave to do your evil bidding. And I'm not dragging Inuyasha into this. You aren't getting the last piece." She gave him her fiercest glare, wanting to set him on fire with her burning stare. Naraku held up his index and middle fingers and met her gaze with his own ferocity.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter." He flicked his wrist in the same motion as before and Kagome's feet stumbled forward. She braced herself again, trying to strain against the invisible force, pushing and pulling at the same time. She was coming closer and closer to the doorway and to Naraku, until she was right next to him. She felt his hand on the small of her back.

"Good girl," he whispered in her ear. Shivers of terror ran down her back. She had no control whatsoever as her body moved on its own. In a matter of moments, the dark lord had led her out of the ominous castle. She stood there in the light downpour of rain, the sun in the east rising up. She had been awake all through the night, a blanket of exhaustion covering her limbs. Naraku spoke to her again.

"Find Inuyasha and get that last shard." Kagome turned to refuse, but he had vanished! However, she almost jumped out of her skin when she still felt his hand pressing on her back. She swallowed nervously.

"And if I don't?" she inquired. She heard him chuckle in her ear.

"If you don't..." He paused, then grazed his hand up her spine to the back of her neck, squeezing her flesh firmly. The bruises on her skin began to throb again.

"I'll kill Inuyasha and steal the shard myself." He shoved her forward and forced her to walk. Kagome wanted so much to drop to her knees and cry. She was under his complete power, though her mind was still her own. She had no way to defend herself and she couldn't run away if she tried. The only thing she could hope for was Inuyasha's safety, along with everyone else.

As she continued forward, the edge of the sun was barely rising over the treetops, and she saw Kaede's village. She was hoping that Inuyasha wasn't there, that maybe he was out looking for her. He could even be on the other side of the well, which was the safest place he could be from Naraku. She could only hope.

But seeing as how today wasn't exactly hopeful, her wish didn't come true.

"Kagome!" From a distance, Inuyasha came running toward her, leaping over entire houses to reach her. Kagome turned away, not wanting to face him. He skidded to a halt in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Where were you? Everyone's been looking for you!" he demanded. She looked away and didn't answer. Maybe if she didn't say anything, he wouldn't bother her. Then again, if she didn't speak at all, eh would certainly be suspicious.

"Seriously, tell me where you went, Kagome," he insisted. She sighed and fought the overwhelming feeling to burst into tears.

"I...was attacked," she mumbled quietly. She heard him gasp and he pulled her closer.

"Who attacked you?" he persisted, "Where are they? Are they still alive?"

"No," she choked out, "It was just a demon." She began to tremble underneath his hands, quiet sobs shaking her body. The hanyou glanced down at her neck and saw a smatter of black and blue on her pale skin. He softened his grip, bringing his arms around her in a hug.

"It'll be alright, Kagome," he told her, holding her close. She buried her face into his red haori, weeping miserably.

'If only you knew...'

They returned to Kaede's hut, where Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara were gathered. The moment she stepped inside, everyone jumped up. But before they could speak to her, Inuyasha blocked them by standing in front of Kagome. He didn't need to say anything; the glare from his golden eyes was enough, a look that clearly meant, "Stay away from Kagome." (It rhymes! XD)

They reluctantly sat back down, allowing her to step inside. She felt numb, almost blank inside, as she shuffled to the corner of the room. The others didn't say a word as she laid herself on the small futon, curling up like a wounded animal. Tears leaked out from her now dullish brown eyes and she turned over to the wall so they wouldn't see. How could she tell him? She felt helpless only moments before, when Naraku took over her body. She knew that he had let her go for now, but she was supposed to steal the shard that Inuyasha had.

Kagome fumbled around behind her for the covers, then yanked them up to her neck, forming herself into a tight ball. She couldn't do it. She could never betray him like that.

She came out of her musings just in time to hear Miroku and Sango leave, taking Shippo and Kirara with them. The room became darker as the door flap closed and Kagome lay still, staring blankly at the wall. It was better that they left, they shouldn't get involved. She couldn't afford to lose them as friends

A low sigh came from behind her and she peeked over her shoulder. Inuyasha was sitting against the wall near her head, watching her. Kagome shifted herself over so she could face him. His expression was pensive, very different from his usually fiery appearance.

"So what happened when you fought that demon?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know...I just shot it with my arrows," she paused for a moment, staring at him, "and it died." This answer wouldn't usually satisfy him, but since she seemed to be so shook up over it, he decided to ask later.

"Alright," he replied. They stared at each other for a moment. She studied his eyes, soft and golden. Eyes that weren't glaring at her with anger or stubbornness, but calm and peaceful. Eyes that would soon scorn her for betraying him. He blinked, breaking her from her thoughts.

"You should go to sleep. I'll leave you alone for now." He stood up and turned away, leaving her. She sat up. If there was ever a moment that she felt helpless, it was now.

"Wait," she spoke silently, her voice weak and cracked. He faced her and returned to her side, question in his eyes.

"Don't..." she took a quivering breath, "Don't go yet."

"What is it?" She stayed silent, throwing her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder.

"Kagome..." He pulled her closer and held her shaking form. Wetness seeped onto his skin through his clothes.

"I don't want to do this," she wept, crushing herself to him, "Not anymore. I don't want to do it." Inuyasha didn't ask her what she meant, but gave her comfort by rubbing soft circles on her back. She relaxed after a few minutes, her cries dying down. They sat, wrapped in each other's arms, Kagome's eyes fluttering close.

"I don't...want to do it..." she mumbled.

"You don't have to, Kagome," he whispered. It was probably best to just comfort her. He pulled her away and laid her back down, repeating those words. She fell asleep to the tones of his voice, and he watched her until her breathing became slow and deep. He walked back outside, hoping that she would sleep and forget her troubles.

Dream

"Kagome...Kagome..."

"..."

"Kagome..."

"What is it?" she answered blearily. She couldn't see in front of her. Some sort of thick, white fog blurred her vision. Her body seemed to be floating.

"Kagome," the voice called again, echoing softly in her mind. She began to wade through the smoke, pushing herself forward, searching for the source of the voice. A figure began to materialize before her, a dark shadow that contrasted with the billowing white fog surrounding her. It came closer to her, also floating like herself. As it neared her, she suddenly felt wide-awake. The fog began to clear up, and the void of her dream became black and ominous. She was standing in a room, pitch black and empty.

"Kagome..." There it was again! She whirled around, looking for that shadow that was there only moments before. She was getting a bit annoyed at it, saying only her name and nothing more.

"Kagome..."

"What?!" she shrieked, "What do you—"Something grabbed her by the forearms and threw her down to the ground. She groaned in pain and looked up to see the shadow crouched down over her, holding her down by her wrists. She suddenly became very scared.

"Kagome, you disappoint me. I send you to get one simple shard and you've done nothing."

"Naraku! Get out of my dream!" she yelled, kicking her legs in order to free herself.

"Now now...don't be that way, little one. Appreciate what I've done for you. I save you from death, and I spare you from my wrath, and this is how you repay me?" He was looking at her with those eyes again, making her feel weak and helpless.

"S-Stop it!" she groaned, clenching her eyes shut. (Kinda useless if you're in a dream)

"Until you decide to obey me, I will not stop. I will have that shard by any means necessary." Kagome felt something on her cheek, trailing down to her chin. Of course she would be crying...she was so weak. But the tears didn't feel wet, nor did they travel in a straight line. She opened her eyes to see Naraku brushing his lips over her face. She gasped and was beginning to struggle away when he closed his mouth over hers, kissing her firmly. What...what was he doing?? Her mind reeled with jumbled thoughts as he massaged her mouth with his. He was the enemy! He wasn't supposed to be doing this to her!

His hands were entwining with hers as he kept assaulting her senses. It felt so strange to have his body pressed against hers, to be so close. But as each moment passed, it didn't feel wrong. These feelings inside her, they felt forbidden, a little unnatural, she didn't know if she liked them or not.

Her mind was slowly changing, however, when she tried to take a breath through her nose, but instead opened her mouth. He took this as an invitation and swept his tongue inside, tasting her warmth. Her tenseness melted away as he caressed her mouth and her arms and legs went limp. It was so wonderful.

Meanwhile, Naraku was having his own conflicts. He had merely opened this dream inside her mind to remind her of what she was supposed to do, which was get that last jewel shard. But he had ended up taking a different approach. This girl was so willing, easily bent to fit his accommodations. If this was what it took to make her succumb to him, then he would have to resort to these measures. And it wasn't a bad idea.

At the moment, he had every intention to take it further, to show her what it would mean to submit to him. If things went well, not only would he have the entire jewel, but the miko as well. She could be particularly useful, if persuaded to do so. Simple enough.

He deepened the kiss, and then pulled back, looking down at her. Her cheeks were quite flushed, her eyes almost black with passion. She had enjoyed it, he knew that much.

Kagome lay there in shock. She had enjoyed it...she liked it...what a weakness she had...Her eyes closed again, and she felt defeated.

"Now you will get that shard from Inuyasha, or you will face me," he whispered huskily. She didn't move, but he already knew her answer. She wouldn't get the shard, which meant that he would have to teach her to obey him. And in all truth, he was looking forward to it.

Naraku disappeared and the fog returned, clouding her vision in white.

"Kagome...Kagome..." the voice returned, "Don't forget..."

End Dream

"Kagome!"

A.N. W00t! OMG, so kewl! This is so FUBAR! WTF?? (is smacked by a hard object) Oh-ho-okay, I'm back! Yep, that's Internet lingo for ya! I'm truly sorry for making everyone wait for this chapter; you know... school... tests... ACT...buying manga...downloading anime episodes...it takes up time! But now I have this chapter and a brand-new story up called "I am a Good Samurai" (RK). Go read it!