Disclaimer: I don't own Naraku, unfortunately, except for the action? figure. I just get to write about him for fun.

Naraku wasn't sure how long he had been running when he finally collapsed by the river. Shimatta, he was out of shape. Well, that is what happens when you always send your minions or kugutsu out to do your dirty work for you. He dunked his torso into the cold water, hoping the shock would restore some kind of clarity to his thinking. He needed to figure out what was going on. He was dunking his torso for the third time when a shadow appeared in the water.

"Naraku."

Naraku raised up again and sighed. Sesshomaru. His day just kept getting better and better. He heard the crack as Sesshomaru flexed his right hand and turned to look at him. "Sesshomaru. I know we have some unfinished business, but could it possibly be postponed until another time? I am having a very strange day."

"Explain how that is my concern." Sesshomaru couldn't help but notice how Naraku's eyes were constantly shifting from red to brown and that he had developed a tic in the left one.

"It isn't, but I would not be able to give you the fight you deserve at present." Sesshomaru flexed his hand again. "I woke up this morning to find a naked Kikyo in my bed." Sesshomaru's eyes widened momentarily and he raised one elegant eyebrow. "My minions have gone insane and Kikyo burned my baboon pelt."

"The annoying wench finally did something useful. Really, Naraku, I have never understood your attachment to that ugly thing."

"You are one to talk. You always have that fluffy boa or tail or whatever the hell it is draped about your right shoulder." Naraku looked Sesshomaru up and down. "And is that eye shadow?"

Sesshomaru sniffed haughtilly. "I'm not saying that it is or isn't, but if it is, it at least complements my looks. That is more than I can say for that hideous shade I saw you wearing."

"I do not wear eye shadow."

"Of course. And I am known for my random acts of kindness."

"You know, rumor has it that you are female or possibly gay."

"I am neither. Just ask Kagura."

"You had sex with Kagura?"

"Many times. She hoped to enlist my aid in destroying you. She's a screamer, in case you are curious."

"I'm not. Sango is more my type of woman."

"The youkai exterminator?"

"Hai. I remember the first time I saw her, dressed for battle. I was grateful for my baggy trousers. Later I made it a point to be the one to dress her battle wounds. She's a bit skimpy in the chest, but that suits her warrior lifestyle."

Sesshomaru yawned. "As much as I find this conversation fascinating, you still have not given me a reason as to why I should not kill you here and now."

"I thought I had. So that we can have a more interesting battle at a later time."

"I detest waiting."

"Well, you will have to. Gomen."

"I also detest being told what to do or controlled in any fashion."

Naraku sighed. He was just about to try the naked Inuyasha gambit again when a rock struck him in the head. It was followed by another. And another. Rin, the young human girl who travelled with Sesshomaru, was throwing rocks at him. For a small girl, he noted, she threw with considerable force and accuracy.

"Kuso! Sesshomaru, put a leash on your pet." Sesshomaru made no move to interfere. He found it all quite amusing, though you would never know it by looking at him.

"Kikyo may be immune to my miasma, Sesshomaru, but neither you nor the girl are, so I would call the gaki off."

"Rin"

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Go help Jaken catch fish."

"Hai."

Naraku sat there rubbing his head, trying to figure out how, in less than twenty four hours, he had gone from someone loathed and feared, to someone a small child threw rocks at. Perhaps someone had put a curse on him, like that old hag Kaede. That had to be it. He would confront her and force her to lift the curse. Then he would have his revenge on all of them

.

Sesshomaru watched as Naraku carried on some kind of silent debate with himself, complete with body language. Something was definitely wrong with the hanyou. Becoming bored with it all, he left to go find Rin and Jaken.

Naraku was surprised, and more than a bit relieved, to find himself alone again. He decided he could use the physical excercise, so instead of transporting in his usual way, he began the long walk to Kaede's village.

Owari