Itachi- Happy New Year!

Summary:

The Missing Masquerade

It's the last year of Highschool for Kagome Higerasahi, and what better way for her school to celebrate then a Masquerade Ball! But wait, this wasn't meant to happen! Falling in love? With a Mysterious Masked Man?! Will she find her Masked Masquerade in time? Or will he forever be lost behind his Masquerade Mask?

….

-The Missing Masquerade-

Chapter 36- Crimson

And into his side, did the blade puncture.

"Naraku?! Uughh..!" Sesshomaru was caught by surprise when he felt the heavy puncture of a knife, sinking into his side with such a force – only to be pulled out, and drawn back into his flesh, again and again. He trashed about, failing to knock the blade from Naraku's stone grip, "Gah!" Sesshomaru fell to the floor with a loud tud – Kagome was sure to hear it from above… "N..araku… you…"

"I what, Sesshomaru?" The assailant brushed his messy hair behind his ear, kneeling down to meet his friends pained glare, "I betrayed you? I tricked you? No, I did nothing of the sort. Stabbing you to the point of submission?" He dragged his bloody fingers under Sesshomaru's chin, pecking his nose with his lips, before chuckling and pulling away, "Yes. That I did, and for that, I must apologize – I'd no choice given my current situation, with your father on the way here and all, I've got little time left to spend idle here," Casually, he stood, walking towards the door as Kagome's footsteps echoed down the steps.

"Sesshomaru? Naraku? What was that bang? You two okay?"

"Just fine, Kagome," Naraku sent a calm sneer in his bleeding friends direction, "Sesshomaru had a little 'fall' is all."

"W…why.?" His breath was staggered, and it was getting harder and harder to keep his eyes open. But for what reason would Naraku do such a thing? Could it be?! "Kagome..!" Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Here he was, almost immobilized and in too much pain to move even his arms, while Kagome was open to the very danger he and the others were trying so hard to keep her from. He'd been next to them the whole time.

At the school.

In his house.

…And it all started during the Masquerade Ball.

"You know, I have to thank you," Naraku moved from the door as it came open, both sets of ears were met with Kagome's never heard scream, "If it weren't for you basking in the shadows as 'Kai', I'd have a harder time moving around,"

"Sesshomaru?! Wha-" A quick chop from behind, turned off Kagome's lights, leaving her body to fall back into the traitor's arms.

"You have my thanks, my good friend…" Sesshomaru reached out in a futile attempt to stop Naraku from leaving with Kagome, "My greatest thanks…"

Naraku's scheming smirk was the last thing he saw before blacking out.

…

"Hurry…Stop the bleeding! Hurry…Stay with me…Wake…up! Sessho…! Sesshomaru!"

His eyes snapped open as the barrage of mushed voices grew louder, he jerked upwards, taking a fistful of air into his lungs, before collapsing back onto the ground due to the pain.

"He's up! Dad!"Inuyasha's shrill voice rung out in Sesshomaru's ears. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Kagome was gone. And Naraku…Naraku was his enemy, and hid in plain sight, unknown to everyone around.

His true motive? No idea.

And now that he'd found out who was really after Kagome, he was in a less than perfect state to go out and rescue her, "Aw Fuck! The bastard took Sesshomaru's car!"

…And his car was gone.

Today was turning out just dandy.

The demon sighed, lifting his hands to cover his face, which was beading with sweat. He was tired. He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes, and let all that had occurred become nothing more than a horrid dream – something to forget, something he'd never have to recall, something that'd fade into the darkest depths of his memory.

"Sesshomaru," Touga's voice made itself known to him, "Did he really..?"

"Naraku, he took Kagome," Sesshomaru starred to the ceiling, his hand lying over his bloody shirt, as if soaking up regrets, "He was by her side the whole time…and I…"

"Now's not the time for sulking!" Menomaru was already by the door, frantic, and ready to go, "Get off your ass and let's get going!"

"To where?!" As quickly as the words were out of Inuyasha's mouth did all heads turn to face the two from before, "Kouga! Miroku! Speak!"

...

"Naraku, what are you doing?"

"Nothing you should worry of, Kagome, just trust me," It was pitch black behind the blindfold, "You've trusted me for two years now, haven't you?" But there was no denying who it was.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why?" He paused for a moment, "Blame it on your father for making such a deal with Touga, and blame it on that boy Sesshomaru for coming too close-"

"Too close to what?! What do you mean, Naraku?!"

"To you! Those two got too close to you!" He grabbed my shoulders, yelling so loudly, the sound echoed through the room, "I had you first! And I'm not letting them take you!"

-The Missing Masquerade-

Chapter 36- Crimson