Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

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Chapter 10

Attraction

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"Why do they always have to explode?" Kagome groaned. She'd of course got back to the group just as Inuyasha dealt the final blow to the reeking youkai – just in time to be covered with pieces of flying intestine and tentacle. It was just what she'd needed to forget about Sesshomaru kissing her ... The miko sent him a surreptitious glance, but he still wasn't looking her way. Damn it. As if she could ever forget an experience like that! Her lips still felt all tingly and her skin was still warm where he'd touched her. Her mind was really quick to rush and dive head-first into the gutter, picturing what could have happened if he hadn't pulled away ...

Kagome jumped when a hand touched her shoulder, but it was only Sango. The demon slayer smiled sympathetically at her. "Are you alright, Kagome? I'm so glad Lord Sesshomaru managed to move you out of the way before that youkai hit you."

They ignored the loud "Keh!" from Inuyasha.

"Indeed," Miroku agreed. "It is truly fortunate. You should be more careful while your powers are suppressed, Kagome. I'm surprised that your arrow still purified even part of that youkai."

The miko shrugged. "I think it leaks out unconsciously. I don't feel like its going to go out of control any time soon." She grimaced when she noticed how shrugging made her clothes and skin grate with the drying, reeking youkai flesh. "What I do feel like is a good wash – and you better have one too, Inuyasha!"

"Stupid girl!" the hanyou was indignant. "Do you think I like the filthy stench either?!" He turned his back on her, leaving all of them behind.

Kagome stared after him sadly. He was upset with her, she knew, and she didn't want that. Despite everything, Inuyasha was still her best friend.

Sango caught her gently by the arm, pulling her off in another direction. "Come on, Kagome," she told the girl softly. "Let's go bathe. It'll make you feel better."

"Mmm." Kagome's eyes moved from the direction Inuyasha left to his brother. The youkai wasn't looking at her. Out of all of them, he'd got the least gore-splatter, but he was moving off as well. She guessed he was going to wash. The memory of Sesshomaru's divine body from the last time they'd bathed together came flooding back, and she had to turn away when she flushed with embarrassment. Kagome didn't notice that there were two pairs of eyes watching her expression.

Sango and Miroku shared a look, but Miroku was probably the only one who noticed how stiffly Sesshomaru was walking away, or the hitch in his step when Kagome flushed red.

When they were alone, Sango considered asking her friend more probing questions about her relationship with a certain youkai, but the slayer wasn't the type of person who could do that. So, as worried as she was, Sango kept quiet. She could only hope that Kagome knew what she was doing.

Kagome could also only hope that she knew what she was doing. She was finding it increasingly difficult to drag her mind out of the gutter now it had strayed there. And, as many people do when they're desperately trying to distract themselves, girls in particular, she turned to her friend for assistance.

"So, Sango, how is Miroku lately?"

The slayer frowned at her friend suspiciously, but Kagome was leaning back in the water with her eyes innocently closed. "That pervert would be a better one to ask, Kagome. He's just lucky his skull is so thick." She sighed, the thought of the monk frustrating her. "If he weren't so useful with his staff, then I would be happy to be well rid of him."

There was a resounding, vibrant silence across the water. Sango felt a rising trepidation as she watched Kagome freeze, before opening her eyes and turning slowly to look at her. The expression on the miko's face was just ... worrying.

Kagome looked like she was holding back a number of emotions. "His ... sorry," she choked, "Did you say his staff is useful?"

Sango stared at her in horror. "Kagome! You know very well that I wasn't meaning that! I was talking about his holy staff!"

The other girl covered her mouth with her hand. "Really?" she coughed, "His holy staff?"

"The – his stick, his rod ... damn it Kagome! Stop laughing at me!" But Sango couldn't bring herself to be angry with her friend, because it was far too nice to see her laugh and smile again. Even if it was over something so perverted. That didn't mean she couldn't get her back.

Kagome was too busy laughing to notice Sango's intent stare, and paid for her inattention with a mouthful of water when she found herself shoved under. The miko came up shrieking, splashing Sango vigorously while trying to defend herself from retaliation.

Perhaps it wasn't entirely Miroku's fault that he'd been close enough to hear the commotion, and came to check that they weren't being attacked.

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"I feel so much better!" Kagome sighed contentedly, rubbing her hair dry as she plonked next to their camp fire. It was still light, but she felt ready to sleep.

"Owww." Miroku groaned, coming around and rubbing the two bumps on his head.

"Serves you right, monk," Sango snapped at him. "Came to 'check on us', indeed!"

"Kagomeee!" Shippo and Rin came running up to the little miko. "Won't you play with us?" Shippo begged, making the most of his big innocent eyes. "Pleaseee!" Rin added, using her sweet smile as extra weaponry.

Kagome sighed internally, but gave them a smile of her own. "Of course. What are we playing?"

The kids grinned, and in an instant had leapt forward to touch her before darting away. "TAG!" they shouted gleefully, running together into the woods.

"Not too far, you two!" she called after them, pulling herself up. She chased after the scoundrels, leaving Sango to watch the pot of food on the fire with Miroku to offer commentary and Inuyasha sitting up in his tree, still not talking to her.

Kagome stalked through the woods, lead onwards by the odd giggle and the rustle of running feet. She kept on after them, feeling a vague sense of growing apprehension as the woods grew darker and more quiet. There weren't even any birds calling. The miko tread forward hesitantly, about to call for the children when she stumbled on the source of the silence in the forest.

Sesshomaru loomed out of the dark like some marble god. The swish of his hair as he turned to look at her, his movements with that unnatural fluidness that made him a youkai, made her heart ache. The white and silver seemed to glow, drawing her closer against her will. Faintly Kagome could hear giggling, and scuffling as Rin and Shippo ran back to the camp.

"Those two are going to hear it from me," she managed to whisper faintly, holding her ground. On some level she didn't even hear her own words. That was the level that was longing to fall at the youkai's feet, and beg him to finish what he started with that molten kiss.

And when he started advancing on her, with silent predatory steps, Kagome tried to keep her mind clear and backed away. But in a forest full of trees, you can only walk backwards so far. Thankfully she didn't trip and fall, because it could have been difficult to avoid him if they both ended up on the ground (again), but her back hitting a tree didn't give her many more options of retreat.

The miko turned her head to the side. She closed her eyes, because if she saw him looking at her like he was again, all her resistance would melt away. It was hard enough to feel the heat radiating from him as he came close, and not reach out to touch him.

"Don't, Sesshomaru," she murmured softly. "This isn't right – not for you."

The youkai's eyes searched every part of her face. Her smooth skin, marred only by the lines of concern, of worry. She always fretted about everyone else, and never spared a thought for herself. That was part of what had got her into the mess she was in with Naraku. It was also what had drawn him to her.

Thoughts of her had haunted him, his every waking moment. It didn't seem to matter how wrong it was, how against his principles. He wanted to fall into her, and keep falling until he'd left behind all the tense anger that existed when she wasn't around to share her peace. His life was full of darkness, of rage and blood, and Rin had been the first to bring a little light. But Kagome ... Kagome brought so much more. It was inexplicable, what she did to him. And he couldn't help himself from wanting to taste more.

Sesshomaru brushed his hand against her face, letting his claws entangle themselves in her ebony hair. He leaned in to slide his cheek along hers, drawing in her sweet smell and letting him trace the shell of her ear with his lips. Her hesitation only made him want her more, but she couldn't resist long. Their lips met in a bruising kiss, made all the more delicious because it was forbidden. Kagome gasped as he pressed closer, trapping her against the bark. His forcefulness didn't scare her, because she knew he would never hurt her. It was only more of his real self that she was seeing – the youkai beneath the mortal mask. What scared her a little was her own passion, her own need. But she gave him control, following his lead. And though he thought her foolish for it, he treasured her trust.

He slid his hand over her skin, enjoying the feeling of her blunt nails digging in to his shoulders. She was so small, so fragile, and innocent. It was her innocence that stopped him from tearing her clothes off – that, and the fact that what he was allowing to happen was so wrong. He took an uncharacteristic amount of care with her, keeping his touches from roaming too far. His mouth strayed to her throat, delving into her scent and drawing soft strangled sounds from her lips. He bit her skin softly, feeling the frenzied pumping of her heated blood below the surface.

It was too much, too forbidden. But after the bond they'd formed between them, it was irresistible. It was an attraction that took away logic, and defied thought.

Sesshomaru slowly pulled away, knowing that things would go too far if he didn't. He was used to controlling his urges, having kept the beast in check for centuries. And when he had himself back in control, he had to stop himself from killing her. She threatened everything he believed in, and that made her dangerous – made her a weakness that should be eliminated.

Kagome didn't seem to detect the change in his mood, or if she did she ignored it. Her trusting nature insisted that he wouldn't hurt her. She reached out and touched his arm, and then his cheek.

"I should kill you." he spoke at last, while realising that he wasn't going to. Somehow the decision had already been made.

The miko didn't flinch. She smiled at him almost sadly. "I should be afraid of you." she replied. But she wasn't, and she never would be.

Miko and youkai shared a long, silent glance. Finally, she twined her fingers in his. "We should get back."

"So we should," he agreed tonelessly. He pulled her close enough so that he could breathe her in, before he let her lead him towards the camp.

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It was barely an hour later that they were attacked – hardly a coincidence when Kagome thought about it much later. Naraku had been waiting for her to feel like she'd got free, and had chosen to make a move to prove how wrong she was. This time there were five of his super-charged puppets as well as the poisonous wasps and a few smaller scurrying youkai that were mindless and bloodthirsty. Kagome didn't sense them coming, and knew only when Sesshomaru alerted them. Her powers were completely out of commission.

"We have company coming." the inuyoukai said suddenly, putting the rest on instant alert.

"This stinks of Naraku, so watch Kagome!" Inuyasha ordered as he drew his sword.

"I'll be fine, Inuyasha." Kagome cocked an arrow, trying to stretch her non-existent senses. "Keep close to Ah-Un, Rin, Shippo," she warned them. "And you better look after them, Jaken!"

The toad muttered angrily, but shut up when his lord repeated her orders.

When they arrived, they seemed to come from everywhere all at once. The puppets were as unoriginal as any of Naraku's creations, but their speed and power was again increased by what she could only guess to be jewel shards. Kagome was too afraid to release an arrow, for fear she'd hit any of her friends with the speed they were moving. It was the smaller enemies that proved the most troublesome, because they scuttled close to the ground like spiders but were unbelievably fast.

"Look out!" Kagome shouted. "Those spiders are poisonous!" She'd noticed the yellow slime on their pincers, fear for her friends making her heart beat faster and faster. Sesshomaru had managed to kill one, being as fast as he was, and was after the others but they had the puppets to deal with as well. If any of them were infected with that venom ...

Inuyasha swung his sword at the nearest puppet, fighting it viciously. The creature's tentacles came far too close to a nasty hit at his head, but the hanyou dodged in time. Sango was trying to destroy the spiders from a distance, but they were too fast for her hiraikotsu unless she caught them by surprise. Jaken was blasting anything that came too close with his staff, and had managed to incinerate two spiders. Pretty impressive for a toad. And she ...

She didn't even have her powers to help them. Any arrow she shot would be almost useless, with so little power that she'd have to hit the things dead on and with her aim that was unlikely.

Kagome clenched her fists, feeling that familiar helplessness welling up inside. The one that made her believe that she was nothing, was worthless. And even the thought of Sesshomaru didn't make it any better. She was so confused about what was happening between them – what she wanted and what was forbidden. It was a twisted mess that would hurt Inuyasha when he found out, if he did.

She couldn't do anything to help them ... unless ... You didn't throw the last one away, Kagome. The voice hissed in her mind, insidious and seductive. But they don't need me, she insisted, wincing when Inuyasha was thrown across the clearing. They don't need that from me. Not again. The cure might not work a second time. But her excuses weren't enough for the craving she'd thought had been cured. It had waited, bided its time until she was weak enough to hear its whispers. Are you going to risk your friends for a chance? Before she knew what she was doing, she had the pill in her hand, remembering how powerful it made her feel. The world around her faded away, and suddenly it wasn't a struggle to save her friends – it was a struggle to save herself.

Is this why these things are so dangerous? She wondered vaguely, hearing the fight through a fog. Because I crave the feeling they gave me rather than the things themselves? I want to feel that again. I want that power, that control. Maybe ... maybe I can take it and it won't affect me. I can control this – it doesn't control me.

And before the argument that was swayed more by addiction than reason was even concluded, the miko crushed the pill into powder in her hand and swallowed it quickly so that it would act as fast as possible.

Almost immediately she fell against a tree trunk, grasping the wood weakly when the full effect of the drug hit. It swept through her thoughts and veins, eating her from the inside. Her powers pulsed against the barrier of her skin, and the barrier provided by Miroku's beaded necklace. Her powers were back, but they were by no means in her control. It had been too long and not long enough since she last took one – the pill worked, but one wasn't enough. As quickly as the drug acted, it faded away to be replaced by something much darker.

Her craving crept up on her, blackening her vision and making her hands shake so much she wouldn't have trusted herself to shoot a target a metre away.

It was then that she felt the tug of a very large portion of the Shikon. The presence of such a large shard could only mean one thing. Kagome glanced behind her, and she saw a glint of white – Naraku's baboon suit. She was so afraid of him, but greater than her fear of the spider-hanyou was her fear of her nightmares coming true, and greater than that was her craving. It was a raging demon in her breast that wouldn't be denied, wouldn't be suppressed or ignored.

Kagome started to back away to that section of trees almost against her will, driven by something that wasn't in her control. The others didn't notice, or they just thought she was getting to a safer position. They were too distracted by the fight, though two puppets had been destroyed already. When Kagome knew she was close enough for him to hear her she stopped.

"What do you want, Naraku?"

"You know what I want, Kagome. You. I want you." he replied softly, his tone making her shudder.

"What makes you think you'll get me?" she asked sharply, ignoring her building need. She hated the creature who whispered his insidious lies and twisted truths just so that he could destroy the lives of others. "I don't want anything you could offer. I'd rather die than take anything from you!"

Naraku chuckled softly. "I think you are forgetting who holds all the power here, little miko. I have those pills you long for so much, but more than that – I hold the lives of your friends in my hands. I wonder how the taijiya would feel if she watched the monk swallowed by my curse and her little brother die before her eyes in one day? Do you think it would hurt her enough so that she would end her life honourably? And that little fox kit of yours, and the young girl – how long do you think they will be able to avoid the fight? How would Inuyasha feel if his beloved Kikyou finally found her eternal rest?" The youkai's smile widened as he watched the effect of his words etched into her eyes. "My reach is longer than you think, Kagome. I have let your group get away lightly so far, but events could get far, far worse. This is no game, miko. When your friends die, they will be dead ... and you could prevent it all ..."

"You can't ..." she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched her friends fight Naraku's creations, unaware that she was so close to the devil himself.

And the devil stared at her, feeling pleasure at watching her soul shatter into pieces. He desired to possess her more than he wanted anything, other than the entire jewel. "Oh, I can, Kagome. And I will, unless you come with me. Perhaps, if you do, I will grant you some ... favours. I am not entirely unreasonable." he hissed persuasively.

Why was I so stupid? she asked herself, sunk in despair. If I hadn't taken the pill ... but he probably would have come after me anyway. He would have found some way to make me agree to go with him. How can I? How can't I? He'll take everything from me ... but I can't watch him take everything from them. Not from the ones I love.

"Promise you won't kill any of them?" she asked, defeated. "And ... release Miroku from his curse. If you leave them all alone ..." She couldn't even finish saying the words, disgusted by them. And she couldn't even let herself think about Sesshomaru ... although he was the one she followed with her eyes.

"You will do what I say," he added unwaveringly.

Kagome's breath caught as she felt her nightmares closing in on her. "But I won't hurt anyone," she countered.

"Very well." he replied smugly, and Kagome could sense him coming closer. She tensed but didn't fight when he slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest. His one hand opened to show two pills in his palm, and she took them quickly.

"Kagome!" Sango had seen them, and she couldn't look up because she knew the rest would now be looking at her. They'd destroyed the last of the enemies, but not in time to prevent what they'd all been worried about.

"Let her go you fucking coward!" Inuyasha snarled, coming towards them with his sword drawn.

"Don't come closer," Naraku warned, his hand going to Kagome's throat and stopping Inuyasha in his tracks. "Why should I let go of something that came to me of its own free will?" he gloated, enjoying the disbelief on his enemies' faces.

Kagome met Inuyasha's eyes for a brief moment, tears welling up in hers. She couldn't take her betrayal of them all, but it was Sesshomaru who she looked at the longest. In his eyes she could see the rage, as well as the understanding. He knew why she was leaving, but he wasn't going to let her go that easily.

"I'm sorry ..." she whispered, shaking as she let her eyes fall. She regained her spark long enough to snap at her captor. "Keep your end, Naraku, or I'll purify you."

The hanyou laughed, amused that she still retained some spirit. "As if you could without hurting those you love as well! But just for you, my dear," he pressed his cheek against her hair with an evil smile. "Watch your hand, monk." he called out to Miroku, "Be glad that I am humouring this delightful new toy of mine, or you would be a mere hole in the ground before long."

"Kagome ..." Miroku said, filled with relief and horror as he looked at the whole palm of his right hand. The void was gone. "Kagome, you didn't ..."

"And Kohaku," she forced out among her tears.

"He will be a corpse when I remove the shard," the hanyou warned her.

"Just give him time with Sango," she begged, hating herself for it.

Naraku smirked as he pulled her closer, meeting Inuyasha's eyes as he pressed his lips against her hair. "Hmm. Perhaps I will do this for you, Kagome. But the time's up for goodbyes."

"Stop." Sesshomaru's growl halted the hanyou. They were all taken aback by the sight of the inuyoukai. Sesshomaru's eyes were red-edged as he stopped himself from giving in to his raging beast, and his lips were curled in a snarl. "Let her go, or I will rip your throat out." His voice was deep, bestial and barely human.

"We will hunt you down, you son of a bitch," Inuyasha growled, only his sword keeping him in control of his demon half.

"And we will find you and tear you to pieces!" Sango added, shaking with the urge to carry out her promise right at that moment.

Kagome couldn't stop herself crying at the sight of all of them, of Shippo standing desperate and protective in front of Rin, of Sango with Miroku, who was clutching his hand with his eyes full of aching guilt, of the youkai ready to fight for her.

"Ah, but there is another companion who you may wish to check up on. A certain wolf demon is in a bit of trouble to the west of here." Naraku replied. "If you want him to live, you shouldn't waste your time on someone who doesn't want to be saved."

"Go!" Kagome cried, shouting at them. "Go help Kouga! Just leave me and help him!" She met Sesshomaru's eyes, desperate and pleading. "Please ..."

Naraku took that moment to pull his miasma around them, disappearing into the darkness with his prize.

Inuyasha leapt at them, but he was too late. Kagome was gone.

"Fuck!" he swore viciously, slamming his sword against the earth. He spared an instant to stare at the ground where Kagome had stood, before he grabbed a stunned Miroku and took off to find Kouga.

Sesshomaru stayed where he was, wondering why there was such a feeling of loss in his heart that was feeding his anger. Just the thought of that disgusting creature touching her and the memory of his promise that he hadn't kept drove him to the edge of his control. He was furious that it had come to this.

When I find you, you will regret the day you began this pathetic existance, he promised the evil hanyou, his red-tinged eyes glowing.

Jaken watched his lord, concerned by his unusual behaviour. It was unlike him to be so at the limits of his control – he'd built it up over centuries, and it was almost unknown for him to be so angry over something like this, especially not over a mere mortal. But it wasn't only the inuyoukai that was upset. The fox kit and Rin were crying softly, huddling close together.

"Stop your crying," the toad youkai told them. He didn't know how to handle tears. "It won't help anything!" They just cried harder.

"I will bring her back." Sesshomaru said, his voice quiet and firm. The children looked up at him with wide eyes and tear-streaked faces. They nodded stiffly, Shippo wiping his eyes furiously.

"Th-thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." Shippo replied softly. If anyone could rescue his adopted mother, it was the powerful youkai who had come to care about her as he had for Rin.

Sesshomaru glared down at his clenched fist. It should not have come to this, Kagome. But I am going to find you and that creature. As foolish as your plan was, I shall make it come to pass. And destroy Naraku in the process.

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A/N: Plan? Hmm, I wonder what plan that might be ... :) I hope this chapter was up to standard. Expect things to take a dark turn in the next few chapters – I've got two planned out and the third is lurking somewhere in my subconscious. Hope you don't think its going too quickly – I don't want anyone to get bored. This story has been demanding to be written lately! I think it must be all the nice reviews that inspired it ;) Thanks for the great comments! Work's been getting me down so they are greatly appreciated. Hope you all have a great week!

Cheers