Author's Note: Sorry I've been MIA for so long but all I can offer are the usual excuses; school, etc. Anyways, I appreciate all the reviews and favorites so I intend to make this chapter a good one.

Chapter Nine: Regret

- In the absence of the wind witch, Sesshomaru reveals the destination of his journey. Meanwhile, Kagura discovers rather unsettling news to say the least.-

It was mid day and Kagura was paid an unexpected visit by Naraku's poisonous insects. Despite her unwillingness to follow the creatures she knew that if she did not, Naraku himself would come and retrieve her and that would certainly result in catastrophe. She maneuvered through the severely wooded area trying dreadfully hard to keep up with the demon bugs. The trees were so thick together that it shaded nearly all the light from the beaming sun. One would have guessed that somewhere like this would be one of Nakraku's first choices for a hideout. She cursed the rocky ground accompanied with terribly high grasses. These features made it even harder to walk. On top of that this was a perfect haven for other insects, more specifically mosquitoes. She was disgusted although she became even more displeased when she found that she had been lead to a mysterious cave within a steam.

"Great," she whispered sarcastically to herself, "Not only do I have to go through this hell of a forest but now he expects me to tread through rippling waters."

She entered the cave cautiously. To her displeasure, the cave was not leveled, the futher she went in the futher she went underground. It was hot and wet. She felt cramped and uneasy but she continued to follow Naraku's messenger bugs. Until, she tripped over something. The sorceress tried to adjust her eyes to the ever growing darker. Then she saw it; it was a demon, at least part of one. Her eyes traced the trail of dismembered parts to her creator. From Naraku's body the demons were being expelled. She'd only seen this once before when Naraku reconstructed his body.

"Kagura," he voiced traveled through the space. "Come closer to me." She obeyed and slowly advanced to the other side of the cave. "Closer," he beckoned for her to crouch down and she did. "I've no need for the castle at the mountain anymore. Once my body is done transforming I will be powerful enough to take all the castles of this land; human or demon. Kagura tensed. It was just as she expected; he was making himself stronger. The menacing demon continued, "Will you join me Kagura?"

She looked to him in confusion, 'What's he talking about?' she thought.

"I wanted to show you something, my dear. Kanna, come and bring your mirror let your sister witness her lover's demise.

Kagura gasped as Kanna emerged from the shadows. The demon girl spoke eerily quiet but enough for Kagura to hear. "He is trapped." Kagura didn't understand so she looked to Naraku. "Trapped?"

"You see Kagura, that idiot of a yokai has led himself to his own destruction. He's been guided to a fiery grave by his own mother in order to enhace that pathetic sword of his. It's really quite humorous. I have invested all this time trying to send that dog demon to hell where he belongs and now he's walked right in there himself."

"Impossible," she whispered in disbelief. "Sesshomaru would never-"

"Abandon you? Oh, I beg to differ."

"No," she answered trying to be firm yet only trying to convince herself. "He'd never endanger the human child. She means too much to him."

The half yokai smirked evily, "regardless of what you may say or believe," he paused and looked into her eyes, "Sesshomaru is dead and he's never coming back. Now you will obey me and only me. I'm all you have now, woman. You're only hope at survival." Kagura trembled and he laughed. She could only imagine how satisfying it was for him to crush her hope. But still she fought to maintain a straight face in his presence.

"I can't stay in the conditions of this cave much longer," she rose proudly and headed towards the exit. Before she got too far away she could hear him speak again.

"It's truly a shame I won't get to witness her tears." He laughed.

Once out of the cave she struggled to stay on her feet. She fell to the forest floor in an agonizing cry. Thoughts of the man she loved flashed quickly through her mind. Thinking of the little time they had together pained her more deeply than she had ever thought possible. When she thought of her last words to him, she cursed herself. "Sesshomaru," she said.

Too be continued…

Author's Note: Don't leave without sending me a review. And no worries the next chapter will be up very soon. Thanks for reading! =)