AN: Be prewarned of character death.

CH: 3 Bonds

Kagome woke up to find herself in her sleeping bag. 'What happened?' All the memories of the past night's events came back to her and she wondered whether it was a dream or not. She saw her shoes that she had forgotten at the stream next to her sleeping bag. She looked around and found undeniable proof that last night was no dream. Everyone was already awake and eating and standing next to them was the dead miko. "What's she doing here?"

"She's here to help us, wench." Inu Yasha turned a belittling stare at Kagome. "You got a problem you can leave. We don't really need you anyways. Kikyou can see the shards and she can protect herself so we won't have to spend half our time protecting you."

Kagome was taken aback and was close to tears. 'I won't cry, I can't let him get to me.' Kagome looked at Sango and received an understanding and comforting look. Sango walked over to her and handed her some breakfast. She also shot an angry look at Inu Yasha.

"Well, I have no interest in the shards, so if that walking corpse is staying then I'm going to look for Naraku on my own." She put a comforting hand on Kagome's shoulder.

"You will not be alone lady Sango. I will accompany you." Miroku walked over to the two women. "What about you Kagome-sama?"

Kagome sighed. "It would seem that I'm no longer needed for finding the shards and I would like to keep my soul so maybe I'll stay with Kaede." Kagome began to think of all the things there were left for her here. She had lost Inu Yasha, actually she knew she had never had him. She did have Shippou and he loved her like a mother and she had nothing to go back to back home. For some reason the thought of Naraku came to her mind as well. 'You've got to be crazy Kagome. Naraku is evil he said so himself.'

"You can always come with us Kagome-chan." Sango said breaking Kagome out of her thoughts. Kagome looked at the girl who had been like a sister to her and smiled.

"Okay." Kagome got her stuff together and the three of them walked off.

Inu Yasha was in slight shock that everyone was leaving him. "Yeah well who needs you stupid weak humans anyway? We'll probably kill Naraku before you guys even find him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naraku had seen everything and was slightly amused by the turn of events. He could tell that Kagome was angry at the stupid mutt and now he would have no qualms what so ever with destroying him. Perhaps he would play with him a bit first. He decided that the best way to hurt Inu Yasha first was to kill the undead miko a second time.

The Oni Gumo part of Naraku was very against this idea, but Naraku forced him back. He wondered why he was now capable of forcing the opinions of Oni Gumo back when before he had not been able to make a move on the miko. Perhaps it was because of the feelings that the collective that was Naraku had for Kagome greatly overpowered those of the pitiful Oni Gumo for Kikyou. Naraku smiled, his feelings for Kagome were proving quite advantageous in this time.

He followed the three humans as they left, no doubt back to Kaede's village. He still needed to figure out a way to get rid of the taijiya and the houshi. 'I could just convince her to take my offer and erase their memories. Then they would have no reason to stand against me. They are of little concern to me if they are not following me.'

The group had gotten attacked by a bear youkai after the shards. Sango had destroyed the youkai with her hiraikotsu, but was not fast enough to stop Kagome from getting slightly injured. "Are you all right Kagome-chan?"

"Hai, Sango-chan, I'll be fine. It's only a small scratch."

As the sun went down the group was about half way back to the village. They decided to make camp and Kagome sat down to change the bandage on her arm. As they got closer to the village, Kagome had been feeling a strange tinge of something. She did not know what the feeling was, but it did not feel good. She sighed, 'I must be going crazy. I need to calm down.'

Sango went to get some water and Miroku went off to find fire wood. Kagome had reassured them that she would be fine and that she had her arrows. If she was in any great danger she knew they were only a scream away.

'I feel so sorry for them. They love eachother so much and can't admit it because of their own problems. Miroku doesn't want to because he's afraid of his air void and Sango doesn't want to because she's afraid of losing him and being left alone again. What if I did take Naraku's offer? Sango would forget her troubles and Miroku would have been healed. They would be able to be together.'

'Okay now I know I'm crazy. I mean I'm considering an offer from Naraku.'

'But he sounded sincere.'

'I'm sure he can sound many different ways when it suits him.'

'He was sweet to you.'

'It has to be some sort of a ploy.'

'He held you when you cried and must have been the one to bring you back to camp when you fell asleep in his arms.' Kagome found no counter to that. He had taken her back and given her comfort. She knew that even for an evil plan he would not do such a thing. He probably would have changed his plan and killed her when she was vulnerable or atleast would have made a move to kidnap her, but instead it seemed as if he didn't want to see her in pain. 'Could it be that he really does care for me?'

"So where is the stupid half breed?" Kagome looked up to see Naraku standing by her.

"Are you stalking me?"

"Perhaps." He sat down next to her.

"Then I'm sure you already know what happened with Inu Yasha."

"You are a lot smarter than I gave you credit for."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" The question had still plagued Kagome ever since that first night at the river.

"I thought it was obvious already. Although I know you do not trust me and will probably not believe me, I have been having strange feelings for you. I believe I may be in love with you."

"I didn't think you could love."

"Aa, neither did I."

"And what of Kikyou?" Naraku understood what Kagome was asking.

"The undead whore is not wanted by I, Naraku. She was the love of Oni Gumo and although as unfortunate as it is that Oni Gumo's soul resides in me, I do not hold the same feeling for him. I am Naraku, he was Oni Gumo, we are not the same."

Kagome understood and it shocked her. Naraku, the greatest evil this world has known, had a heart and was telling her that he loved her. 'I want to believe him.'

"I have so much more to offer you than that stupid mutt." Naraku brought his hand to Kagome's cheek. He looked into her deep bluish grey eyes and found himself getting lost. "I can offer you the world."

Kagome turned away and buried her face in her knees. "I just want love." Kagome admitted softly more to herself than to Naraku. She tensed as she felt him wrap his arms around her. She lifted her head to look at his face. She saw strange emotions in his eyes. One that she thought she would never see from Naraku, let alone emotions she thought he had. She saw concern, understanding, and love.

Kagome didn't know what possessed her but she brought her hand up and ran her fingers through his long wavy black locks. She found his hair to be like silk and was surprised when his face turned into her touch. He brought his hand again to her cheek and stroked it with his thumb. He leaned in and captured her lips with his and was pleasantly surprised when she did not resist him.

Kagome was in shock. She didn't resist the kiss, but she did not return it either. Her whole being was at war with itself. On one hand she knew he was evil, he had tried to kill her and her friends. But on the other hand she longed to be loved and have comfort, which he seemed to be offering so freely. He pulled back and she saw a slight tinge of regret in his eyes.

"Gomen, you were not ready for that." Naraku heard footsteps approaching and knew that her friends were returning. He placed a small kiss on her forehead and left.

'Did he apologize? Not ready for what?' But then Kagome remembered how she had not returned the kiss, because she was not decided on caring for him yet. 'Perhaps that's what he meant. So he really does want me to want him before he does anything. Does that mean he really does care?'

"You seem to have a lot on your mind lately Kagome-chan." Sango stated as she began to cook dinner.

"Hai, I guess it's the whole situation with Inu Yasha and Kikyou." Kagome lied. 'I can't tell her that I may be falling for our worst enemy. The one who single handedly destroyed her life.' Kagome felt guilty for the feelings that were growing inside her.

"I know. I can't believe he decided to be with that walking corpse." Kagome just nodded and ate in silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naraku sat in a tree not too far away. His hand ran through his hair as he remembered what it had felt like to have Kagome run her fingers through it. 'She feels something for me, I can tell. She will be mine. But first how to get rid of the undead miko.'

Naraku had decided it best to simply kill her in front of Inu Yasha, but he thought of something better to decide Inu Yasha's fate with. He felt it would be much more fitting to turn Kagome to his side and allow her to kill the hanyou. 'It will take time to get her to accept me and a bit more to get her to hate the hanyou so greatly to kill him. But the look on his face as he is betrayed by her as he betrayed her would be priceless.' Naraku let out a small laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The group had continued their journey in the morning. Every step closer to the village increased Kagome's feeling of foreboding. Her feeling were confirmed when the village came into view. It was in ruins. The three of them ran forward. Kagome went to Kaede's hut and found her lying on the ground in a pool of blood. She called out for Shippou, but could not find him anywhere.

A few huts were still standing, but most of the village was burnt to the ground. Miroku, Sango and Kagome searched for any sign of survivors, but there was none. Sango lifted a small body and brought it over to Kagome. She looked at it and felt her heart tear apart. There in Sango's arms lay the lifeless form of Shippou. She grabbed his body and brought him close to her. She cried as she clutched onto his limp form. 'First my family and now this.'

The group decided to give everyone a proper burial. All the while tears ran down their faces. Miroku held Sango as she broke down after they finished the final grave, Shippou's grave. Kagome saw the two embracing and went off on her own to mourn. She ran to the well, but found it had been smashed. At that moment she did not care and she fell to her knees and cried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naraku of course had seen what had happened and although he would not admit such he was shocked. He would have never thought any youkai other than himself that would have the courage to attack that village on its own. He knew it had only been one for he only found one scent over the area. He had seen Kagome run away from the village towards the well and followed her. He could stay and watch her since he sent Kagura to watch the mutt and undead miko.

He found her on her knees crying before a splinted mass that was once the well. He came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jerked away and looked at him with anger. "You did this didn't you? You're the only one evil enough to do this." Kagome started to hit him in the chest, but her punches were weak and in the end she just collapsed against him.

Naraku wrapped his arms around her. Kagome struggled, but was too tired to do anything. "I did not do this Kagome. I would not lie to you. The villagers were of little importance to me true, but I have not been far from your side this entire time." Kagome didn't want to hear him. To think some one out there was as evil as Naraku and had destroyed the village, burnt homes, killed children. Deep down Kagome knew he was telling the truth, but she was too filled with pain to care.

"First my family and now the village and no clue as to what happened." Kagome collapsed into Naraku chest and cried. He pulled her tighter against him and rested his head on hers. Kagome spoke the entire time he held her. She talked of her family being dead, of Kaede, and of Shippou. Naraku just sat and listened as she whispered all her darkest fears and memories between sobs.

'I shouldn't be here holding her like this. I should be using all the fears she's speaking of and using them against her, but I can't. I, Naraku, the greatest evil these lands have seen am at the mercy of my heart, this girl. But strangely I don't care.' He pulled her closer and took in her scent. 'I swear that all those who caused her pain will die. The hanyou, the undead miko, and this creature whatever it was that destroyed the village. I will probably cause her the same pains if I am forced to kill her remaining friends, but by then she will hopefully already be mine and she will never find out about that act.'

'I can't believe he's just holding me. Why doesn't he do something? Surely the great and evil Naraku would have killed me already for striking him no matter how weak it was.'

'He said he was falling in love with you and you know that he was not lying about the village.'

'I know. I'll find who did it and kill them.'

'Where did this come from?'

'It comes from me being tired of pain and losing people I care about. I won't let what ever creature that was go on hurting others.'

'But what can you do? You need to train and you will need greater allies.'

'I will train, but who will help me. I can't allow Sango and Miroku to be hurt.'

'What of Naraku?'

'What about him?'

'Let him help. You know he would. You know you want him to.'

'No I don't.'

'You like him, maybe love him. You feel safe with him and want him with you. He can also be a strong ally against this creature.' Kagome cleared her mind. She couldn't believe that her mind hand practically just told her that she was in love with Naraku. She realized he was still holding her although she had stopped talking. "Naraku?" He allowed her to pull back a little and look him in the eye. "Gomen, for hitting you and accusing you. I know you didn't do it."

'She knows. She's apologizing?' Naraku smirked. "You did not hurt me." He leaned forward and placed a small kiss on her brow.

"Will you help me find the one who did this?"

"You're asking for my help?" Naraku was slight taken aback by the request.

"Hai."

"Then I will help you find him and kill him I'm assuming."

Kagome nodded. "First I want to give Sango and Miroku a new life." Naraku nodded, but pulled her close again. 'I guess he's not so bad.' Kagome snuggled against him for a bit before she felt it was time to get up.

Naraku was hesitant to let her go, but allowed her to stand and followed her example. Kagome circled the broken well and found something on the ground. It was a small green scale. She looked at it closely and a memory hit her.

*flashback*

Kagome searched frantically through the rubble that was once her home. She needed something some sign of what had happened. She found a small scale among the rubble. "What's this?" She quickly discarded as one of her jichan's past bobbles when she caught sight of her mother's necklace.

*end flashback*

"It's all my fault. That thing that killed my family got here through the well." Kagome's determination was renewed. She would make sure that she would kill whatever creature it was. Naraku came by her to offer some comfort. He was shocked when she practically threw herself at him in a tight hug. Kagome felt something come over her that she had never felt before. She knew she needed to make that creature pay, but she also wanted to make all those who ever hurt her pay as well. 'Naraku will be there to help me, and maybe more.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay well another chapter down. Probably another one will be up next week do to finals. Please review and tell me how I'm doing.

Review Responses:

Obscuredwaif: Thanks for the support and hope you liked the new chapter

Ginny Riddle: Thanks for not thinking he's OOC

Ponchinta: glad you like it

Kawaiikitsune: thanks a bunch

Ryuu Girl: Thanks for the suggestion and trust me I have similar plans for Inu Yasha

Yuko: thanks, hope you can get back on the computer again to read this soon

Thanks to all the rest that reviewed. You guys are so wonderful.

~*Shichan