"From the Darkest of Shadows"

By: Shi-chan

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Blood and fluffiness and darkness

Disclaimer: Disclaimers are bad for the average fanfiction-authors, like myself, thus... yeah.

Author's Corner!!

Shi-chan: Kon'nichi wa peoples! Yay! I got some nice reviews and stuff, henceforth my writing more!!

Naraku: Wow, there are actually other idiots out there, you set aside, that support my pairing with Inuyasha's wench? How positively amusing...

Shi-chan: *rolls eyes* Anyways, please continue to leave me good reviews and stuff so I know that I should continue this!

Naraku: Or *don't*.

Shi-chan: *glare* Don't listen to him!! Oh yeah, there was someone (can't remember their name) who was yelling at me for this pairing the whole review, and then at the very end they said they liked it anyways and to update it soon. "O_o" is all I have to say. ^^;; LOL

****=Kagome's POV

=Naraku's POV

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*****

I can do nothing but stare at the hanyou before me. The wind is gentle, and his long, black strands of hair are blowing in the wind. The sun is even out for the first time in several weeks, and it shines down on Naraku's face, making his nice features illuminate. To my surprise, I find that the evil being is quite handsome. His dark eyes close suddenly, and a small chuckle escapes from his throat. "You still believe not a word I've spoken to you, eh," he questions scooping up some soil into his hands and letting the breeze carry it away.

"Though my reasons are unknown, I somehow believe you," I inform him in the best rude voice I could manage. He laughs again, hearing my words behind those, which said, "Of course I do."



I laugh at the child's pitiful attempt to be ill spoken with me and see right through her cold mask. What she was trying to say was that she doesn't *want* to believe me, but does. The sun is behind Kagome, and it's shining brightly on my face, while only casting a shadow across hers. The darkness makes her eyes stand out, and they glisten beautifully. Subconsciously, my hand reaches out and gently caresses the human's face. My hand trails down to her neck, and I can feel her throat swallow beneath my fingers.

"What... is it you want the Shikon no Tama for," the priestess interrogates. Her eyes clearly demand I give her an answer, yet in the same air, they look scared. She fears that I'm going to hurt her. I continue to stare at her eyes until I finally close my own, remembering her question.

"My wish is to be the most powerful and esteemed youkai of Feudal Japan."--I then pause and move my hands down to hers. I still daren't lock eyes again, knowing that I'll forget myself once more--"With such power, I'd be more able to maintain both my human and youkai appearance, and not be bothered by the human which resides in me, Onigumo."

*****

So he also wishes for the power of the full, prestigious youkai. Is that not what all youkai want from the Shikon no Tama? Probably the first and only to consider otherwise was Inuyasha, but that's in the past now, is it not? I gently sigh and watch Naraku cast his fingers against mine in a calming gesture, as he senses my still being in grieving.

"I thought that one claiming the power of the jewel would be so overwhelmed with such power that they'd not have the capability to transform into the compressed, human state," I say, my voice almost inaudible beneath the wind and sound of chirping birds. The hanyou purses his lips and raises an eyebrow, then replies, "Perhaps your average hanyou or human, but I am already as powerful, if not more, than the vast majority of youkai, so I honestly doubt such an effect."

He then takes his other hand and cups it to my chin, and brings my face up so I can look him in the eyes. "That set aside, my want to have this body for you would dominate such an overwhelming strength," he whispers into my ear. I feel his lips press to my cheek for all but a brief second, and he parts.

"Now then, I have some business to attend to with a youkai and his Shikon Shards. Do you wish to come with me, Priestess?" He clasps his hand around mine so that our fingers are laced as we go inside and I tell him, "I will go, but please... can you call me Kagome? I don't like being referred to as a priestess." Naraku smiles and responds, "But of course... Kagome."



I sent Kagura out to scout for Shikon Shards several days beforehand and she came back with the whereabouts of an arrogant wolf with a few pieces of the Jewel of Four Souls. Knowing that Kagura's been in the mood for failure lately, and that the wolf would probably win to her, I decide to retrieve the bits myself. Kagome agrees to come with me, however, so I pull her into my arms and we fly to the area in which Kagura informed me of the wolf youkai.

"This place... is familiar to me, Naraku-kun," Kagome says in a small voice as we glide down to a clearing in which I can land. I observe my surroundings for a moment and discover that it comes to mind as somewhere I've visited as well. "Is this not the land where the wolf youkai prince lives?" I ask. Kagome gasps and her eyes suddenly go wide. "Oh, no... Perhaps I should not have come... The wolf prince is in love with me, Naraku-kun!"

I lift my eyebrow in amusement and question her, "Have you feelings for the wolf?" She shakes her head wordlessly, but then says: "Kouga-kun basically wants me because I am powerful, pretty, and possess a lot of shards, so I don't feel anything for him."

Nodding slightly, I allow a smirk to show. "Well then this shall be amusing. I'll not have some wolf thinking you're a mere possession in such a way, so I'll show him what it looks like to show love for someone. With that done, I'll then take his parts of the Shikon no Tama."

*****

As Naraku and I approach the lair in which many wolf youkai, and Kouga, reside, I realize that there's no way he could be lying about being in love with me. As he said that he'd not let a wolf think of me as a possession, his eyes seemed in emanate with a hatred for the youkai in which he does not even know. He truly wants to prove how he feels for me by 'teaching Kouga lesson'.

I smile and blush lightly, linking arms with the hanyou just as a wolf youkai comes out of the lair. "Who are you and what do you want?" It demands, looking rather perturbed. "I, Naraku, and the Lady Kagome have come to take something from the prince of your tribe," the man I'm with announces.

That said, a male wolf emerges from the lair, his eyes wide. "What about Kagome?!" He yells, staring down at the former Onigumo and I. He then notices my presence and glares daggers at Naraku. "Why do you have Kagome?" The youkai screams, surprised to find me with someone other than Inuyasha and my old clique of friends. I recognize this wolf to be Kouga, and quickly tighten my grip on the hanyou's arm.

"You are the wolf known as Kouga, are you not?" The being consumed with evilness asks the infuriated man on the ledge. "I am! What of it?" Kouga hollers in his aggravated voice. Naraku pulls me against his body and agilely jumps to Kouga's perch. "Prepare to battle."

Kouga backs up slightly, confused, and demands, "Why do you wish to die by my hand?"

Naraku extends his claws and narrows his eyes into a glare at the prince. "I'll not be the one dead at the end of this battle. I am going to prove to you that Lady Kagome is worth more than her beauty and shards, and then I'll take the parts of the Shikon no Tama, which you possess."

I can only watch as the hanyou and prince before me begin to duke it out. The ferocity in which Naraku is fighting with seems much deeper and meaningful than it ever has to me before. He considers this a battle in which Kouga should forever remember, if he survives, and I can tell. I really mean that much to him.

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Author's Corner!!

Shi-chan: Well there's the second chapter for you! Please continue to leave me such good and... interesting... reviews as you have been. :) *hugglez all who have given me positive feedback* Remember that you should keep criticism gentle, and tell me how to improve instead of flaming! ^^

~Shi-chan Meows~

=^o^=