A/N: Just found this on my computer. Guess it's been there collecting dust for a while heh heh. Forgiveness?

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi is the owner of this exceptional series. All rights go to her.

Canon: Yesh. I mean, it completely ignores the final act, and well, much of the episodes before that because, frankly, I just don't like how Naraku looked with that weird tentacle armer stuff. Idr how it looked lol, just that it was ugly. So yeah, I like kimono clad Naruku so he shall stay that way.

Warnings: Other than the above? No, this is a really tame installment. Naraku may be a little (lot) OOC but there's only so much I can do with a pairing such as this...

Enjoy!


The Harmonization of Yin and Yang

"Love won't be tampered with, love won't go away. Push it to one side and it creeps to the other" ~Louise Erdrich


He makes no move to dodge as she slaps him with all her strength. He has tested her limits today; he had been prepared for this outcome. He doesn't know why his chest is constricting.

"You bastard," she says in a barely contained whisper, "I should purify you now for how much you make my friends suffer." She weeps as she remembers Sango's pained face after another confrontation with her brother.

Naraku does not remember the last time he's ever seen her looking at him with so much hatred. It takes him a moment longer than it should to reply.

"Yes, you should." He says, voice subdued despite his best efforts. Kagome's breath is coming in and out in a storm of emotion. He looks above her, ignoring the feeling in his chest and the stinging building up behind his eyes.

When he was a boy—when Onigumo was a boy—his ba-chan would always have to remind him to be gentler with his toys.

"Toys are delicate; if you keep treating them that way they'll break, and then where will you be hmm?"She'd say.

But Kagome had stopped being a toy to him long ago. He still couldn't help but push her again and again because surely she did not feel as strongly as he did. If he rattled her enough surely her inner revulsion of him would be revealed. I usually feel much more satisfied when I am proven right.

His musings scatter when he notices small hands clenching his hoari.

"I should hate you," she repeats head bowed. Naraku's heart beats wildely and before he can stop himself hope starts to swell in him.

"Kagome I-" he starts but trails off when she viciously shakes her head. She locks gazing with him then, and he sees how red and pained and furious her eyes are because of him. His heart plummets again and he closes his eyes, unable to face the anguish he has caused. She regrets everything now. That uncomfortable sensation behind his eyes threatens to spill over.

A hand cradles his cheek and his eyes slowly open. She is still crying but the anger has retreated.

"Quit trying to drive me away, alright?". She lets out a teary giggle at his shocked expression. "Yeah I noticed, you idiot" her tone is almost fond. I do not deserve this but please let this continue. He pleads to the heavens.

"I love you," she whispers and he comes undone. He wraps his arms around her and is unsure if he can ever let her go. "I won't stop loving you," she continues, "I don't think it's even possible anymore. We're in this together, all the way." She slides the hand on his face into his hair in a way that is wonderfully familiar to him. It is easy for him to speak now and he doesn't hesitate with his reply.

"I will do my best to undo what I can." The smile she gives him makes him wonder if he's somehow died and made it into the heavens through a glitch in the procedures. He showers her with kisses and whispered words of love, hoping to never be found and cast out of this heaven.


And we have another post! yay! Don't look for another anytime soon. I think everyone knows the routine by now.