Disclaimer: These characters are not legally mine!

She woke to pure darkness, moving slowly with caution Leigh tried to sit up but found she was chained so tightly she could only lift her limbs two inches off the cold ground. Letting out a stifled sob she let the confusion and fear fill her. She had no idea where she was but knew without a doubt it was not good. There was faint laughter in the dark and it slowly grew closer.

"You poor sweet girl. Are you frightened? Are you scared?" Came the deep voice she had heard in her head.

"Who are you!" Leigh asked to the darkness mustering as much courage into her voice as she could.

"No need pretending to be brave my pet. I know you're frightened. I'm Naraku." He said suddenly illuminating the chamber.

Cold fear swept through her as she gazed up at the masculine figure. His dark wavy hair framed his angular pale face with handsome eyes that could fool anyone. The robe of a baboon hung limply to his toned body. So this was the demon who had been plaguing her friends. He was supposed to be fearsome yet he looked… innocent and charming. Shaking her head she knew those thoughts weren't hers.

"Ha ha ha yes that's it… run from those thoughts. Hide inside yourself. Soon I will know all about you! And you will be mine completely. You will bend to my will and we shall rule the world."

"Never! You're a monster I could never love someone like you!" Leigh spat.

"Love? I am not looking for love pestilent girl! I seek power and you will give it to me! And you will bring me great satisfaction over the years. Be proud young one most of my other girls only last a night and are disposed of instantly. If you are as good as I feel you will live many years by my side."

"Why me! Why not some other girl?" Leigh sobbed trying in vain to escape her bonds.

"Because I can see in you the destruction of that damn half demon Inuyasha! And upon his death I will finally have access to the Shikon Jewel! I have seen it in your soul the formation of the Jewel into one piece is brought by you. Instead of letting it slip into his grasps I shall have you kill him and bring me the jewel. Kagome's bond to Inuyasha proved too strong for me to corrupt her, but you have no such bond, yet he is still willing to risk his life for you."

Does he not recognize me? Has he changed so much that he can not sense who I am and what lies within? Push it deep. Hide it from him. He must not know until the time is right! Closing her eyes Leigh concentrated on hiding the Kokoro and Midori's presence deep within her so no one could find them, with a last helping hand from Midori's power she was able to seal them away even from herself. She remembered everything with the exceptions of information pertaining to Midori, her true identity. It was like words cut out of a magazine, flashes of memories no longer linked together. She stared back at Naraku hate filling her last remaining free will.

"I will not kill my friends! You think I have a weak soul but I will never be yours Naraku! You're vile and evil I'd rather DIE!"

"Yes that right fight back… and feel yourself slip. Your emotions are the trigger with each wave of feelings the shard goes deeper into your body releasing more of it's poison. Soon the shard will be pure again and I can have it back and leave the curse within your system so you will always be mine!"

Shock flitted across her face as all the moments came back to her when she felt so distant from her own body. It had been him. He had tried to kill Koga through her. He was gaining control. She still held her thoughts but they were growing distant from her body. She could only sit back and watch as she was taken over only subconsciously knowing it wasn't really her anymore. A single tear trickled down her cheek.

He bent close to her and wiped it away with a surprisingly gentle finger. Then placing a hand upon her chest she felt the wave of power course through her as he used his powers to make the last bit of poison seep into her taking complete control.

"That's a good girl. Soon we shall join and you will quench this thirst I can not fill." Naraku murmured staring into her cloudy eyes. She was a remarkable specimen, slender body, great figure, active, beautiful features, pure of heart, and a weak soul. Everything he needed. He knew about her past. He could bring forth those terrible memories; that is how he had truly known she was the right one for corruption, easily manipulated. He left her lying chained to the ground letting the poison flow continuously through her whole body letting it take hold of her permanently.

Kagura stood on the edge of the darkness watching them. He had her now, there was no doubt the poison was now freely circulating through her uninhibited. Yet there was a strange sensation in her stomach.

"Two days Kagura. Then I will finish them both off!" Naraku said as he passed by her.

"Yes master."

"Be gone from here Kagura. Make yourself useful else where. She will remain here until the time is right."

"Damn him! What gives him the right to talk to me like that!" Inuyasha spat after his brother.

"He certainly is a bastard when it comes to politeness and feelings." Miroku said.

"Inuyasha…." Kagome's weak voice reached him through the light rain like an arrow shattering his soul, "What… what are we going to do?"

"We're going to get her back Kagome. I promise you I will bring her back safely!" Inuyasha said looking into her eyes deeply.

"You'll bring her back? Since when did this become a one man show?" Koga said stepping forward.

"Look this is between me and Naraku. It has to be me. I'm not going to risk everyone else just because I was dumb enough to fall into one of his traps again." Inuyasha said directly.

"If you think for one second that I'm staying here while you go off…" Kagome said.

"You will because I said so."

"Not good enough! How many times have I said I'm here to stay no matter what!"

"This is different Kagome. You're emotionally invested. You might be distracted. You could get hurt…"

"I could have been hurt many other times and have! That still hasn't stopped me!"

"This is different!"

"HOW!"

"Just because ALRIGHT!"

"NO! I want a real answer!"

" I COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF IF YOU DIED!" Inuyasha burst out to the astonishment of everyone.

Wide eyed Kagome stared at him, "What…?"

"I can't live without you Kagome. Haven't you learned that by now? I need you!" Inuyasha said in a half whisper looking at her pleadingly.

"And what makes you think I can live without you? If you go I go. Alright? I refuse to let you go off and have to sit here worrying whether or not you'll come back to me."

"Kagome…"

"No Inuyasha… we're in this together forever. And she's my cousin remember."

The rest of the group and slowly edged away from the two knowing it was a discussion that was meant for their ears only. Koga begrudgingly left them, so the mutt has finally made up his mind I guess. Oh Kagome if only you didn't love him so much.

"It's about time he made up his mind!" Shippo said rather loudly as Miroku slapped a hand over his mouth drawing the little fox behind him giving Inuyasha a frantic smile and backing further away.

"So how exactly do we go about finding his castle?" Miroku piped up several hours later as the group awaited sunrise. The rain and died and now the sky was clear.

"Didn't Kagura say he'd show us the way?" Sango asked.

"Yah but what does that mean? Is he going to roll out a red carpet?" Kagome asked.

"What's a red carpet?" Shippo asked curiously.

"It's just an expression we say in my era." Kagome answered simply, she was exhausted from the range of emotions she had experienced in the short amount of time.

"I think I know what Kagura meant… look." Koga said pointing above the tree line.

Through the early mourning light the ominous mountain loomed like a vulture over it's prey. The notorious castle that they had been searching for rested near the top as if it has always been there.

"Well this certainly makes things easier! I say we rest up a bit and head out." Miroku said heavily.

"Rest? Why? We should leave now!" Inuyasha said impatiently.

"Inuyasha it will do us no good to have you exhausted and cranky. We could all use some sleep. It was a long night." Miroku said mutely.

"Fine but once everyone's rested we leave at once!" Inuyasha said slouching over to Kagome letting her head rest in his lap as she slept and he watched over her until he too drifted off.

Damn fools. Don't they realize that whatever Naraku has planned for their friend is more important that sleeping! Sesshomaru cursed as he observed the group from afar.

"Come Jaken."

"Yes my lord!" Jaken said jumping and running after his master. It was very curious how he behaved when the girl was taken. It was almost as if his lord had lost some part of himself and it showed only quickly in a flash of his eyes before he steeled himself again.

A/N: So the plot thickens! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I plan to be updating again very soon! Please read and review! your comments really help me and motivate me to keep writing!