Chapter Thirty-four

Naraku laughed deeply. "Ah, it is good to know that you are aware of who I am, Sesshomaru, considering I am from before your time."

Sesshomaru drew out his sword, placing it in front of him. "You are not welcome here!" He growled. Ever since Naraku had given up his human form to demons, he had been cast out from the ranks, now a lowly mixed being. He was no longer accepted in the human world. He was a demon and he would be punished as every demon should be: with death.

Naraku only smirked. "I only came to collect something that belongs to me. It is here and I need it back."

Sesshomaru did not know how to react. What could possibly be here that belonged to Naraku?

Naraku laughed, seeing the confused expression shared by everyone. "Ah, I see it has been hiding. How cowardly." Naraku let out a sharp, condescending sound, startling the people nearest him.

Naraku spun around, searching the crowd. "Come out," he called, "You cannot hide from me. I sense you. Do not be afraid!" Naraku laughed again, his eyes glinting. Whispers rushed between the guests, terrified of what was hiding with them.

Naraku sighed, seeing as nothing moved. "Are you scared? Come forward, do not hide your true self. It is over and you know it."

The time had come and there was nothing that would change the outcome of the event. Pushing through the thick crowd, someone stepped out into the center of the room.

Kikyo's eyes widened and Sango gasped. Sesshomaru stood still as Kagome walked around the chandelier, coming closer to Naraku. "Kagome," he pleaded as she passed by him, but she pretended not to hear him. It was all over.

Naraku grinned when Kagome stopped in front of him, several feet away. "Thought you were smart, did you? Thought you would be safe here?" Kagome did not make a sound or move an inch, only keeping her eyes on the floor.

It suddenly clicked. Kagome had been running from Naraku; he was the demon that she had served! Anger rising, Sesshomaru strode forward, sword at the ready when a tentacle shot out from Naraku, blocking his path. Growling slightly, Sesshomaru tried to move around it, but to no avail. When he tried to cut through it with his sword, Naraku only moved it to evade the blade before placing it back. Kagome looked up, catching Sesshomaru's eye. He stopped his attempts, stunned. The look in her eyes clearly read Do not and he did not know how to react. She did not want his help?

She looked back to a smug Naraku, who stood with his arms crossed. "You thought you could escape me," he continued. "I will always find you, Kagome. You will never be free."

"What happened to her?" Kagome asked quietly.

Naraku chuckled, pulling something out of his pocket. "Dealt with." A lone feather floated to the ground and Kagome bit back a scream. She wanted to lash out and strike Naraku, but it would not help. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, balling up her fists. Kagura never went anywhere without her feather.

"She wanted to be free and I let her be just that," Naraku chuckled. "I gave her the freedom she craved. And then I killed her."

Naraku pulled yet another object from his pocket, grasping it tightly in his palm. Kagome knew what it was, it was the reason she always knew she would go back. "I fear you have grown too comfortable here and that the people have grown too fond of you." He gave a pointed look at Sesshomaru and chuckled darkly. "I think I should fix that."

Sesshomaru moved forward again, but a loud neigh erupted in the room, something large coming through the break in the dome. A large horse came down in front of him, stopping Sesshomaru from moving forward. A small boy hopped of the horses' back and strode towards Sesshomaru. "We will have none of that," the boy chided. Inuyasha growled, taking out his sword, taking a stand next to Sesshomaru.

"And what are you gonna do about it, kid?" Inuyasha snickered.

The boy shook his head, sighing, "So ignorant."

The horse reared up its front legs, taking a blow at Inuyasha. Inuyasha jumped back, landing on his feet. The horse huffed, growing agitated. Another one of Naraku's tentacles shot out and wrapped itself around Inuyasha, immobilizing his arms. Inuyasha thrashed around, trying to move, but it was futile. Kikyo rushed towards him, pulling him back as Naraku's grasp on him loosened, allowing her to do so.

Sesshomaru still stood in front of the boy.

"Hakudoshi, do not," Naraku commanded. "I want them alive to see this."

By now, several on the guests had fled and more were leaving. Naraku did not mind, seeing as the multitude of pompous lords and their overstuffed ladies were of no importance to him. The room was practically empty and not a sound was made. No one moved, unsure of how to continue.

Hakudoshi snickered, knowing exactly what was going on. Kagome as well knew what was going to happen next and before it did, she needed to get something out.

Kagome looked up solemnly at Sesshomaru and he was taken aback by the sorrow in her eyes. "My father used to tell me stories of handsome princes on noble steeds riding up to save the princess from peril," she spoke softly, breaking the silence. Never once did she break eye contact. "But for the past two years, I have come to hate those endings."

Kagome glanced briefly at Naraku, with his devious smirk, before returning to look at Sesshomaru again. The pain in her eyes made his heart ache, as he had no sure way to wipe away the sorrow so evident in her eyes. "Because they are never true," she whispered, her eyes closing as a tear slipped down her face.

Naraku's smirk widened and he squeezed the object he held in his hand, feeling the power well up in the room.

A demented light sprouted from the floor, circling Kagome. Inhuman screams emitted and in the light it almost seemed as if tortured souls passed upwards. They all shielded their eyes as the demented light brightened and the screams continued, save Naraku, who watched with a smirk engrained on his face.

As quick as it had come, the light ceased. Their eyes readjusted to the dim light and widened in horror. Once where Kagome had stood was something else. Sesshomaru's breath caught in his throat as he realized what it was.

The Beast.

A/N: Oh wow, did it again. I imagine there is so frustration growing with all this little cliffies? Oh well, I've got to get my excitement too. As you may already be aware of, I know how this ends and I need entertainment as well. :) BUT I BET NONE OF YOU SAW THAT COMING. Okay, well maybe some of you, but you guys look at this too critically.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! For those of you still in school: stay strong, we will get through this! And as for those who are done with school: please be aware that we hate you. That is all. Well, I should probably go work on my homework since they're kind of my finals…but first, a few responses to reviews! :D

Sasusakui: Wait, this spider has a laser? Hold cow, would Naraku have come prepared. I feel like that would have been a nice touch. Oh wells. Hopefully, what I just did made up for my lack of laser wielding spiders. Probably not. :)

Ainhoa11: Really? That happened in the Phantom Opera? What have I not seen that movie? And well, you see, Naraku is pretty infamous around town, despite the fact that I imagine he kinda just skulks around in his little palace hidden in some dense forest or whatnot.

Katscratchstudios: Uh well…howz about everyone just running from the room screaming like the wusses we all know them to be? No? Well, that's what ya get anyway.

OH WAIT. Okay, some of you probably won't read this, but I've been meaning to mention that I finished my sequel to Child of the Forest. It will be called Voice in the Wind and I will publish it after I finish this story and do some editing. That is all.