"Do you even know where the castle is, Miyoga?", Inuyahsa asked the flea on his shoulder. "We've been walking for a while and you haven't given us much direction yet."
"Unwise of you to assume I knew where the castle was in the first place, Master Inuyasha. I merely said that I knew of its existence, not where it actually it's where-abouts are", Miyoga responded sheepishly.
"Listen, flea. You were the one who was supposed to know where the castle is. We've been following you this whole time! You could have at least told us three hours ago that you didn't know what the hell you were talking about and found the damn thing ourselves", he barked leaning his head down to the flea in with rage on his face.
"Follow your nose, Inuyasha. You have a pretty keen sense of smell. Why don't you try and find the scent of the castle and follow it that way? You're a demon, meaning you should be able to sniff if out from here with no problem", Miroku said.
"I can't really get a whiff of anything from here. What about you two", the half demon said averting his eyes to me and kagome. "Do either you have any idea which direction we should be going? Use your powers or something and find out where the castle is."
"It's not that simple, Inuyasha!", Kagome exclaimed with her free hand balled in a small fist at her side. "If it was, we'd have already found it. I can sense jewel shards, not miracles."
"Kimmy, you saw the castle in you vision. Try and recall what you saw. Any landmarks or stand out geographical markings that could give us hints to its location", Miroku asked.
"My memory is still pretty fuzzy. I only remember small segments of the vision and everything else is a blur. I don't think I'll be of any help this time", I explained.
"I guess that leaves it up to you, Inuyasha", Shippo chimed in from Miroku's shoulder.
"Why am I always the one doing all the work around here", Inuyahsa grumbled. "Fine! Let's keep walking until I can pick up a scent."
"Kilala, what wrong?", Kagome asked the small cat in her arm.
Kilala was perched up in a crouched stance and growling into the distance. Her red eyes grew large, as she released a whimper from her chest. "Do you see something, Kilala? What is it?", Kagome pried.
All at once, the shade cast above from the towering trees was gone. A long and curved wooden weapon had cut through them like water. We ducked to avoid being impaled by the attack and just barely missed it. The familiar looking boomerang swung back around and headed in the direction of its wielder. Standing in front of us in an open field was the girl from my vision. I actually remembered her, which surprised me. I was also glad that she was alive and moving, but concerned that the deadly gaze she now adorned was locked onto us.
"Are you Inuyasha", she asked. The stone mask she wore over her mouth made the look in her eyes even more menacing. There was pure rage seeping out of them as she looked at the half demon. "I've come to gain my revenge."
"Revenge for what? As far as I know, I have no idea who you are, Lady. You must have me mistaken for another demon. Either way, if it's a fight you're looking for I'll gladly give it to you", Inuyasha said pulling out Tetsaiga.
"Master Inuyasha, that is Sango of the demon slayer's village. Trust me ye must not fight her. The odds of you beating such a warrior are slim to none", Miyoga warned the half demon frantically.
Sango launched her weapon at him again and just in time, he braced its attack with the hilt of the Tetsaiga. Though he was not injured, the Tetsaiga appeared to be struggling against the power of the demon slayer. With one last grunt of frustration, Inuyasha threw the boomerang up in the air and it returned to its master.
"What are you coming at me for", he asked the slayer.
"I'm here to avenge my people you murselesly killed!", she yelled with another attack.
It almost hit him this time, grazing his shoulder harshly. Kagome, Miroku and I exchanged worried looks.
"We've got to do something about that weapon she has. It's circling back around before Inuyahsa can even get his feet back on the ground! There's no way he'll win against her", Kagome cried.
"This is the girl from my vision. The other demon slayers said she was one of the strongest in the village. I know Inuyasha is powerful too, but he may have met his match today. She's really skilled with the weapon she has. If my vision was correct, she is still injured from her fight at the castle. If we can get it away from her she won't last in hand to hand combat. I guarantee it", I explained to them.
"Let me handle this", Miroku said jumping in front of us.
He swiftly ripped the fabric from his palm releasing his wind tunnel. The whirling gust of the vortex in his hand pulled the weapon into it with ease. Right before it could be devoured by the black hole, a swarm of Saimyosho suddenly appeared in the air.
"Hurry and close the wind tunnel, Miroku", I yelled over the loud gusts of wind. He looked over at me with a confused expression and I pointed into the air. His eyes widened in shock as he watched the poison insect fly fast into his path.
"What are they doing here", Miroku asked placing the cloth back over his hand.
"Look behind the demon slayer! It's Naraku!", Kagome shouted to us with a finger pointed in the girls' direction. The cloaked man was standing right behind her. Though his face was concealed by the monkey mask, I could practically see the evil grin plastered on his face. A buzzing gang of insects covered him in every direction.
"Inuyasha, she will destroy you. So, you might as well endure you fate without a struggle", Naraku mocked.
"Keep dreaming, Monkey. I ain't dying anytime soon and especially not to you and your puppets", the half demon said back. "The only person going down here is you!"
"He is not your opponent, Dog Demon. I am", Sango interrupted. "But I will not be as quick to slaughter for you as I'm sure my defenseless village was. You're a monster that does not deserve to live any longer than you already have. You're life ends today." Sango plunged her weapon at Inuyasha again with more furocity than before.
"She thinks you were the one who murdered her village, Inuyasha! Naraku must have tricked her into thinking it was you who did it instead of him!", I yelled over to him. That was the only explanation for her attacking Inuyasha. This was another one of Naraku's tricks to get rid of the half demon for good. I remember the first time I met Naraku. He was bartering with Sesshomaru to take down his younger brother for him. Of course it didn't take much convincing on his part, but that shows the lengths Naraku will go to get rid of Inuyahsa. This scheme was not at all a surprise.
"And she believed him?!", he responded back, dodging an attack.
"She has a jewel shard in her back!", Kagome said. "He's controlling her with the jewel like he did the boy at the cafe. You need to stop him, not her!"
"Let me take care of Naraku", Miroku said. The monk ran over to Naraku as he casually sat on a throne of dirt, surrounded by his pets. "You have caused enough grief for a thousand lifetimes, Naraku. Now is the time someone needs to stop you and that someone is me."
"I appreciate your valour, Monk. But I am not here for battle", he said shooting me and Kagome a look. I stood frozen in my spot as he reached his hand out to point at us. "I am only here to retrieve what belongs to me and nothing more."
"I think not", Miroku said.
Swinging his staff in the air, the monk sliced it down onto Naraku's outstretched hand. The dismembered limb fell to the ground and we all let out a gasp. Sango and Inuyahsa halted their battle to watch in horror as the pale fingers twitched on the ground.
"Do you think that will stop me, Monk", Naraku asked in a calmly. "You've only made my job much easier."
The fallen hand lifted into the air and flew right at me. It darted quickly to my right and grabbed at the jewel shards around Kagome's neck. She fought against it to no avail, as it pried the chain from around neck. The hand then moved to me, but it didn't directly grab at my jewel. Instead it's thick fingers laced themselves around my throat and began dragging my body over to Naraku.
I tried to dig my heels in the dirt for friction. The air in my lungs was stuck in my chest from the hand's tight grip and I began to struggle for oxygen. Reaching out to Kagome and the others for assistance, I let out another choked scream but it was too late. The fingers unlocked from around my neck and I darted off in the opposite direction of my capture. Naraku swiftly reattached the dismembered hand and grabbed the back of my shirt collar.
"Where do you think you're going?", he asked me with a mocking laugh. Picking me up by my collar he hauled me over his shoulder. I thrashed in rebellion but he didn't let up. "I have use for you and your jewel, girl. You belong to me now."
"Let her go, Naraku! She's not the one you're after. Fight me instead", Inuaysha called over to us, with his Tetsaiga held in our direction.
"I have no more need for battle. My objective here has been met, meaning I no longer have any use for bickering with you, Inuyasha", Naraku sneered. Turning his head over to Sango he commanded, "I expect for you to finish the job, Sango. Do not leave here until Inuyahsa has been slain. I bid you all farewell for now."
I screamed out in anger for him to let me go. Punching and kicking in every direction until he put me down. Inuaysah and Miroku ran over to save me but were stopped by the black smog of poisonous gas coming from beneath Naraku's cloak. The dark substance seeped into my eyes and nose, bringing uncontrollable tears streaming down my face. I felt myself wading in and out of consciousness from the noxious gas and I sputtered from choking on the fumes. I took one last look at my companions before drifting off. I wasn't sure if the black smoke has risen over my eyes and blinded me or if I had been knocked out.
When I woke up I was propped up onto a tree in an empty forest. The howls of wolves cut through the night air and I shot up to my feet. I started to make a run for it, until I heard a deep growling voice call for me.
"I advise you not to try and escape. It will only cause you more trouble", the monkey masked man said to me. He was hiding in the shadows of a nearby tree, like how he was when we first met. Still just as menacing as back then.
"My intentions are not to hurt you, Kimmy. Exactly the opposite in fact. I want you to join me in my efforts for supreme power. You and I could be a team and rule the world. With your abilities to harness the Black Shikon Jewel, we can easily find the remaining fragments. We could be legendary, you and I", he cooed. He made his way over to me. Walking slowly as if not to scare me. "I would love to share my wealth with you, Kimmy", he said softly.
Reaching a hand up to the edge of his mask, he lifted it up and pushed his cloak over his head revealing himself to me. This was the first time I had really seen his face. Naraku was the opposite of what I'd expected him to look like. In my head he was an ugly old man with a rotten heart and even more rotten exterior. But the person in front of me was actually quite appealing on the eyes. He was young with long wavy black hair flowing down past his waist. The features on his face were doll like and delicate. Dark brown piercing eyes gazed over to me as he looked me up and down with desire.
"I could give you the world, Kimmy", he stated, reaching for my face. "If you only agree to help me. We could rule together. Whatever it is that you desire in this life, I could give to you without a second thought. Is that not what you want?"
"I-I don't want to rule the world and especially not with you", I said stammering away from him.
"Oh? Would you rather me be Sesshomaru then? Would you agree then", he asked in a snarcky tone. Lifting my chin up to him with a taunting finger. "You do know he only kept you around for the jewel. He needs it to purify Inuyasha and turn him into a human, so he can be defeated. What a weak demon he is. Inuyasha is no worthy opponent for any powerful man, humans included. You saw how he was being beaten by a petite woman back there, didn't you? If Sesshomaru can't beat his own younger brother, then what good is he really?"
"I don't care what his intentions are with me anymore. Unfortunately, I figured out his plan for myself a long time ago. If he doesn't need me around than so be it but, I refuse to be anybody else's side kick, including you", I snapped back at him.
He peered down at me with a grin peeking at the corners of his mouth. He was so beautiful, but underneath the porcelain exterior was menacing eyes and a decaying soul. Naraku may be able to fool others with his outer shell but I could see right through him. I didn't need the jewel for that either.
"I know you desire him. I can feel your need for him coursing through your veins", he stated while taking another step closer to me.
I was now backed into a tree with nowhere else to run as he hovered his face right above mine. His chest was crushing my own. I could feel a cold hand making it's way up the opening of my shirt. I squirmed and commanded him to stop but that only amused him more.
"I can please you far more than that dog demon ever could. I saw the two of you in the pond. How he was scared to touch you and release his animalistic urges. I am nothing like him. I was once human and know what your body craves. Sesshomaru can not please you the way that I can, Kimmy. But I'm sure you know that."
A sharp sensation erupted from my lower region and I realized his hand was pushed up against it. The gesture wasn't romantic at all. It was aggressive and possessive, not comforting at all. If this was supposed to entice me to join him, then he was failing miserably.
"Leave me alone", I commanded trying to push him away. "I don't want or need your help so, get lost!"
"You do not yet understand your true feelings, Kimmy. You are scared of me now because you aren't aware of what I can do for you. However, once I am finished with you you'll begging me for more. Let me show you what it really feels like to be a woman", he growled into my ear.
I let out a scream for help to the empty forest. Naraku took that as consent as roughly threw me into the tree. His hands wandered my body intrusively. I struggled for a bit, fighting against his advances the best that I could. His mouth grazed my neck as he placed unwanted kisses along my skin. He was too strong for me to fight off. My will power was beginning to fade, until I gave up and slumped against the tree trunk, waiting for the worst.
"I see I can't rely on Inuyasha for anything", a calm voice came from behind. "Release her now, Naraku, or suffer the consequences should you choose to continue."
Naraku dropped me to the ground and turned to the voice. When he shifted to the side I could see a tall figure in front of him. Long white hair cascaded back and forth in the night breeze like waves in a clear sea. I trailed my gaze up and to his face. It was the same face that had always brought butterflies to my stomach. My hands shot to my mouth as I muffled cries of relief upon seeing him.
"Come to me, Kimmy. You have no business here with such a man", he said down to me.
His eyes never met mine but I could feel the heat burning from them. Sesshomaru was glaring daggers into Naraku with his stern yellow irises. His demeanor was coy but the vibration of his anger was causing my shoulders to tense up. Getting up to do what he said, I was halted by a hand jutting out in front of my waist.
"She will go nowhere with you", Naraku sneered. "The girl belongs to me know. You had your chance and chose to give her away to your brother. Neither of you could keep her under control, so I suppose it is my turn to try."
"We had a deal that if she stayed with him, you wouldn't harm her. Said deal has been broken by your wandering hands just now. Let her come to me or I will have to kill you. Just for good measure, I may do that anyways", Sesshomaru snarled back.
Pushing Naraku's hand away I ran over to Sesshomaru's side. I latched onto his fur sash and pushed my face into the soft surface. Hot tears were streaming down my face as I came to the realization of what had just been interrupted. Who knows what Naraku would have done if Sesshomaru hadn't shown up to save me. I was shaking into his side and he rested his arm around my shoulder. I felt his strong hand stroking my hair to calm me down.
"In no part of our agreement did we say that I couldn't touch the girl. You asked me not to hurt her. My intentions were to do nothing of the sort. If anything, I would have made her feel more welcomed to be at my side. Since you can't seem to do it yourself, Lord Sesshomaru", Naraku taunted.
A rumble bubbled in Sesshomaru's chest at his words. The growl deep within his lungs was brimming to escape his throat. Sesshomaru was holding back for my sake. He didn't want to traumatize me further by being aggressive, so he withheld his true feelings under the surface.
"Stand back, Kimmy. This will not take me long", he demanded to me. I stepped back watching his clawed hand burn green. "I will end this here and now, Naraku. You will disrespect both her and I no longer. Prepare to die."
The white haired demon lashed out at the cloaked man and sliced him clean in half. I was shocked to see the remains fall to the dirt in a puff of ash.
"This was a decoy, I see. I should expect nothing less from such a cowardly being", Sesshomaru grumbled in frustration. "Are you all right?"
I opened my mouth to respond but felt myself fall to my knees before the words could come out. I was humiliated to say the least. Not only had I been violated by a vile demon, but the demon I actually liked was watching the whole time. The only other person who had ever touched me in that way was Sesshomaru, but the two sensations were completely different from one another.
One was soft and enticing and the other was harsh and disgusting with every motion. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and be invisible to the world. I sobbed into my hands until I felt the warm touch of his finger under my chin. He was kneeling in front of me and lowered his face to mine placing a long and hungry kiss on my mouth. I allowed my rigid body to slump at his touch. This was everything I wanted and more. His soft lips pressed against mine with an intensity I'd never felt before. Our mouths fit together like the perfect pieces of a released his lips from mine and looked deep into my eyes.
"I didn't fare well on my promise before. I told you that I would never let you go again but I didn't make good on my words. I told you to stay with Inuyasha for your own safety, or so I thought. I was a fool to trust such a man as Naraku a second time, but I felt it was my only choice to protect you. I will not be made a mockery of again. You will stay by my side from now on, do you understand?", he asked me.
"What about Inuyasha and the others? They'll be upset if I don't come back", I sheepishly admitted.
"You do not need them anymore. They were merely a pawn in my plan to protect you. However if you wish to stay with them you are free too. I can not stop you from fulfilling your own happiness. Are you happier with them?", he asked down at me with intense eyes.
The only way I knew how to respond was by smashing my mouth against his in another passionate embrace. He laced his talons in my hair and gave into with my gesture. I could feel his longing for me in the way he kissed me back. He'd missed me as much as I had him. That feeling was even more intense than our kiss.