Disclaimer: Inuyasha characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Other characters are property of Dark Star.
Rating: PG-13: for language and just in case
Summary: [Nar/Kag] The ningen foiled his plans again! What was it about this human girl that allowed her to infinitely ruin his plots? He would find out for himself what she was really able to do…
Genre: Romance/Drama
A/N: Next chapter! ^_^
True LoveChapter Six: Plan to Capture
December 2002
A new plan was to be conceived, he thought lazily. Naraku was slinked against the wall of his hot spring. His special hot spring. It was a good thing he had the pool to himself. Anyone else probably would've been burnt inside the steaming hot temperature. As someone who was always living in the extremes, he could take it.
Now, he mused, how to lure the girl to me… He sunk lower into the searing water. Sesshoumaru… Maybe he could have the demon lord help along with this plot…he certainly was trustworthy as well as very much predictable. Some thought him the most difficult to understand creature on the planet, but Naraku seemed to have a strong understanding of him. He does as he pleases. That explained it all. Simple enough.
Usually he had the plans unfold for themselves, but this one required a little nudge in the right direction. It seemed his plans were becoming simpler and simpler. With a sigh, he dived underwater. The water washed over him, cleansing him of the day's stress and toil. Maybe I could use a real confrontation? It seemed straightforward enough. A golem and he could perform the whole scheme very nicely. Being the simpletons the Inuyasha-tachi were, they probably wouldn't realize his treachery. One fake Naraku, and one disguised as a human, or something along those lines. It was a possibility…
He surfaced, midnight hair shimmering brightly in the light of the moon. Or… Floating out of the water and onto shore, the hot droplets evaporated with the drastic change in temperature. Convenient, was it not? He fluidly robed himself while staring into the shadows of the surrounding forest, shrouded in black writhing mists. The girl could just, by chance, lose herself in the forest…it was very plausible. Nodding to himself, he silently considered each plot before gliding back into the castle, to the solitude of his room.
As he settled into his massive bed, he went over the course of plans. Since the object of this particular ploy was to actually capture the girl, nothing could go wrong. Nothing! He hissed to himself. It wasn't possible that she ruin it; she was the whole purpose, and by the fates, he would get her. He would finally make her pay. Closing the dark-lashed eyes, he decided with finality, A forest maze it will be. A sly smirk flickered over his features. Tomorrow.
~*~*~*~*~
The sun pushed its way over the horizon. Fresh scents of morning were rising to greet Inuyasha's nose as he shifted his position on the tree branch. There was something stirring in his arms… He gazed down curiously to find a mass of pitch-black hair snuggling into him for warmth. Kagome? He pushed the thought aside, dismissing it; he was tired.
The girl stared out across the expanse of the forest. Everything was so small below her! The slightest of breezes caused a wave of foliage to ripple across the treetops, like a green ocean. Inuyasha was so lucky he had the chance to see this everyday. It was no wonder why he came up here so often. She felt his lean arms tighten around her before his chest resumed the steady rise and fall of breathing. It was already morning; they should probably get going.
She sighed and allowed herself to rest against Inuyasha's strong frame for a moment. Such times like these were rare, and she needed the knowledge that Kikyo wasn't his only love. Her fingers involuntarily sifted through the thick silvery hair that fell over his shoulder. It felt so soft…she had never noticed how it scarcely got tangled. She smiled. Just about every girl in the future would kill for hair like Inuyasha's.
Looking up to his sleeping face, she found herself reaching up to caress the smooth skin. He looked so peaceful, so cute when he was asleep. It's too bad he couldn't always be like that. You've broken my heart more than once, Inuyasha. As her gaze fell to his lips, she winced. The memory of a forced kiss still burned in her conscious. It wasn't Inuyasha, she told herself over and over. But her soul refused to believe it. She had, after all, witnessed it with her own eyes.
Cautiously, she unwound his arms from her body. She had left her backpack by the lake. Not wanting to wake her hanyou companion, Kagome carefully removed herself from him and began to descend from their high perch. It was a bit scary, considering the fact that she was so high up and that she never really climbed trees back home, but she finally hopped down to the ground. With a glance upward to assure Inuyasha was still sleeping, she sighed and began in the direction of the lake.
As she passed a sleeping monk, she wondered briefly why Sango and Shippo hadn't come back yet. They only went to get supplies in the nearby village…they should've been back by now. Maybe they had some trouble along the way? Kagome gasped. Maybe they ran into youkai? She shook her head. They probably just decided to help the villagers in some problem or another. She spared another glance to Miroku. Strange…Miroku usually doesn't sleep this late. She shrugged and continued on her way to the lake.
The forest atmosphere seemed…different than yesterday, she decided, pushing through the undergrowth. She could've sworn she passed this tree already… Stopping for a moment, she attempted to gather her bearings. The breeze blowing in her face was lukewarm. Water must be ahead. She sighed and kept picking her way through the trail.
~*~*~*~*~
He watched from Kanna's mirror, observing the way she stopped occasionally and sighed before carrying on. Foolish girl. Naraku held his hand above the mirror. A sharp red light emanated from it, flickering and glowing ominously. His eyes glowed a similar way as the light spread to cover the mirror. It misted over, and only the figure of the girl remained. She was only walking in an alternate reality now. She didn't exist visually in the real world. This would most definitely cause a good measure of chaos and panic. Removing his hand from its position, he grinned maniacally and sat back to watch how the girl would deal with this ploy.
~*~*~*~*~
Was it just her, or had she passed this tree again? Kagome examined the trunk more closely. She frowned and undid the tie to her uniform. It was only there for decoration, anyways; it's not like she needed it. Hastily, she tied it to a low branch and resumed wandering through this seemingly endless forest maze. I swear, if I see that tree again, I'll kick it! It felt like she had been wandering around for hours, when in reality, she knew it had only been a couple of minutes. Kagome resisted the urge to scream Inuyasha's name.
Five minutes. That must have been all the time that passed now. Kagome stared hard the red tie to her uniform dangling above her. The only logical explanation for this was that she was going around in circles. Well! There's a solution for that! Tearing her the crimson bow down, she stalked in a dead-straight line, hoping it was the right way to Inuyasha. She was beginning to get frustrated.
~*~*~*~*~
It was quite amusing watching her go around in endless circles. Still, there seemed to be an unstoppable perseverance in her. She refused to call for the hanyou and also refused to give up and break down. What a strange human… Naraku mused. Just for it to look more real, he waved his hand, causing the 'forest' in which she paced to brighten a little. The sun had to rise a little more, after all. How will she last? He wondered.
~*~*~*~*~
Now, it must have been at least an hour! Kagome clenched her teeth together. Surely, they would've noticed her missing by now. Biting back her tears of aggravation, she broke into a dead run, willing herself to not relent in her quick long strides. Someone get me out of here! The Shikon no Tama strung around her neck glowed warmly, bouncing against her neck as she attempted to flee the maze.
"Inuyasha!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "INUYASHA!!!"
The hanyou nearly fell from his perch. Kagome? He thought fearfully. Kagome! The girl wasn't nestled in his arms like she was supposed to be. Panic surged through him. Where could she have gone?
"Inuyasha!" the call came again.
She sounded fairly close. Was there a youkai near? He sniffed the air. There was no youki anywhere. What was going on? Inuyasha dropped down from the branch and sprinted toward the sound of her voice and the source of her soothing scent.
"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?!" he cried desperately.
Kagome saw the hanyou flash by her. Why didn't he stop? She could hear her name called. She could hear his voice, feel the rush as he passed her by. Can't he see me?
"Inuyasha!"
He turned around and backtracked, relying on his nose to guide him to Kagome. Relaxing, he allowed his feet to carry him automatically to her familiar aroma. When he heard his name whispered and felt the slight breath on his face, he opened his eyes. She was right there, in front of him. Her image seemed blurred at the edges, and she looked semi-transparent. What's going on?! He cautiously reached out, but his hand went straight through her.
"Kagome!" he reached out again, but his hands still went through her.
Kagome watched, flabbergasted, as his hands seemed to dissolve through her. It was impossible! She, too, reached out to him, his image indistinct. Her hands fell through him. Tears dripped from her sad blue-gray eyes. What's happening to me?!
"Inuyasha! Help me!" she pleaded, collapsing to the ground.
She was beginning to feel light-headed. Something was happening to her! Inuyasha watched helplessly as his Kagome fell to the ground in a heap. He tried in vain to pick her up, to somehow help her, but his hands fell through her again.
"Kagome," he murmured feebly. "Kagome!"
Naraku threw his dark cloak around himself and tuned in with the dimension he had created for the girl. It was time to retrieve her. He could only smirk with anticipation at Inuyasha's expression when he would carry Kagome away. He would relish that moment and revel in all his glory. All his life, he had wanted to cause pandemonium, to cause pain and suffering; it was quite amusing. This hanyou just happened to be his target right now. Inuyasha was so much fun; he was hurt so easily and manipulated even more so.
A stride forward took him to the alternate universe in which Kagome resided, crumpled in a mass on the soil. Her petite figure looked so vulnerable against the forest floor, her black hair pooling around her head. She looked as if she was sleeping. Naraku stared pointedly at Inuyasha, dispersing a bit of his dark youki to catch the hanyou's attention. Once the writhing mist had surrounded him, Inuyasha's head snapped up to growl at Naraku. The dark demon grinned in return. Inuyasha lunged in vain towards him only to pass straight through. Imbecile, Naraku thought idly. He waited patiently for Inuyasha to turn around again, so he could watch, witness in real life, as he whisked his lover away. Upon receiving his golden gaze, Naraku advanced slowly in well-measured steps, and scooped the human girl up. She was surprisingly light. All the more convenient for him.
Inuyasha watched helplessly as his precious Kagome was picked up. In futile effort, he attacked repeatedly with outstretched claws, only to meet the dim images of Naraku's body. There was nothing he could do, and it drove him crazy. Do something, idiot! He screamed at himself. FIGURE SOMETHING OUT!!! GET HER BACK!!!! His mind was only working in slow motion as he registered Naraku's victorious smirk and laughing eyes. Kagome was out cold. She hung limply in the dark demon's arms, instinctively snuggling against him for warmth. It made Inuyasha snarl with jealousy.
"What do you plan to do with her?!" he demanded of Naraku. His glare could've frozen fire.
Naraku turned halfway to the hanyou, lips flicking upwards in a mischievous grin. "I plan to find out more about this amazing human you love so dearly, Inuyasha. It would serve to quench my curiosity. She may prove to be very amusing."
His words were entirely too suggestive for Inuyasha to ignore. "Amusing?" he grated out. "Give. Her. Back." The golden eyes were beginning to pulse a shocking red. Energy came off him in powerful waves. His fangs were beginning to lengthen and his hands to twitch impatiently at his sides.
"Kukuku," the hanyou clucked, "Turning demon won't do you any good, Inuyasha. You can't get through to me. Besides," he mused, "I'll give her back when she no longer interests me. Farewell, Inuyasha."
He was gone, just like that. It left Inuyasha seething mad, his youkai features still pulsing dully.
"NARAKU!!!"
His cry echoed eerily in the still forest. Light was beginning to finally seep through, to radiate the hanyou standing lividly in the middle of a worn trail. Kagome's scent still lingered about the area faintly. Birds began to sing and streams to gurgle again. The silence of the forest was shattered, and in its place came the comforting drone of nature. However, the depiction was ruined by the dog-hanyou. He looked to be on the verge of breaking as forest creatures twittered around him. Not being able to take it anymore, he gave a full swing of his hand, slicing down the ring of trees around him. Birdsong ceased for the time being.
Dammit! He thought to himself. Damn you, Naraku! I'll get her back. I'll find your fucking castle, and I'll tear you to a pulp! I'll make sure you die a slow, painful death. A sadistic grin came over his visage. His eyes were shadowed in the cover of long white bangs. Had anyone walked upon the scene, they would have turned around fleeing for their lives. Right now, Inuyasha looked truly evil. If possible, his façade was even more frightening than that of his wild, rabid youkai form. No one touches my Kagome.
A/N: Well, while I'm writing this Author's Note, I still have yet to go over the fic again. Somehow, I didn't like this chapter very much, although most of the actions have happened here. I think my sentence variety was a little off. I discovered (in my opinion, anyways) that too much sentence variety gives cause for annoyance and very…strange writing. It's just not conversational. While too little causes monotony. ^^; I'll have to go over and revise this again. Thanks for your comments so far! Tell me, was anyone confused in this chapter? I changed views a couple of times, I think. ^_^
deleria: Don't worry about it. ^_^ Apology accepted; there's really no need.
~*~*~Dark Star~*~*~
