Dark Desires

Chapter 4: Battle Lines are Drawn

By Priestess of the Blade

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. It really helps when you do that, one nice review and I get all excited and need to write. Seriously, I was completely stuck on this story and distracted by another one, then I went online and read my new reviews next thing you know I'm typing this stuff. Thank you so much to Joyleaf. I was worried people didn't really like my little conversations with Miroku and I was planning on leaving them out of this one.

Miroku: (having just entered the room and read the last sentence) WHAT? You were going to leave me out of this one?

Me: Well yeah, I didn't know if people liked reading it or not. (Miroku looks completely crushed; Priestess stands and hugs him consolingly) Its okay Miroku, Joyleaf likes our conversations so I'm going to keep putting them in. (Miroku straightens and smiles)

Miroku: (beaming with happiness) Really?

Me: Yes really.

Miroku: Good 'cause I wanted to tell the readers all about last night.

Me: The hell you are!

Miroku: (utterly oblivious to Priestess' angry glare) I'm sure all your reader's are very interested to hear about it. (Miroku turns to face readers, ignoring Priestess who is turning red with anger) See we were at the store looking for new anime for me to buy for priestess and while she's looking through the selections I grabbed her ass; which always gets her excited. (Priestess' hands are reaching for Miroku's throat, but seeing as how his back is turned to her he doesn't know this) So she drags me off to the bathroom anaaAAAHHH…. (Priestess has now tackled Miroku to the ground and is beating him senseless with her shoe.)

Me: (Screaming at the top of her lungs while beating him with shoe) I…THOUGHT…I….EXPLAINED…TO YOU…THAT I…DON'T…WANT…YOU…TALKING…ABOUT…THOSE THINGS…IN…FRONT…OF…THE…READERS!

(Curtain falls. Moments later Priestess and an unhurt Miroku walk out from behind the curtain to thunderous applause.)

Miroku and Me: Thank You! Thank You! We love you all!

Me: I just hope you all know I would never really treat my man-bitch like that; I'm really a very kind person…Besides I have him trained better than to do something that I specifically told him not to. (Priestess glares at him pointedly and Miroku grins sheepishly and looks the other way.)

(Whip crack is heard)

Me: (looking confused) Did that line seem like it needed a whip crack sound effect?

Guy in charge of making whip crack at proper time: Sorry I was just getting kind of bored.

Me: Oh…Okay. (Priestess grabs onto Miroku's arm and waves at readers with her other hand) Anyway, thank you everyone for reading and I hope you all enjoy my little story.

Oops, I almost forgot! Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. Though as I'm sure you all know by now Miroku is my man-bitch.

Miroku: Yeah I am! (Hugs Priestess)

(A/N: Aw that was so cute! Wasn't it? There is no bond like that of a fanfic writer and her lecherous monk man-bitch.)

(Another A/N: Damn, that went on a LOT longer than I intended!)

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For a moment she thought she had woken, but her thoughts continued to remain separate from her movements as though in a dream. Distantly she felt something call to her and she felt her body respond. Like watching a movie she saw herself stand and move towards the thing that summoned her. It was not until the ghostly bodies of Kikyou's soul stealing serpents wrapped themselves around her and bound her to a tree that she realized she really was awake.

"Now you will feel the pain of betrayal."

Kagome tried to scream for Inuyasha but a cold hand wrapped itself around her throat strangling her cry. "You keep my soul from me and now you take Inuyasha from me." Kikyou's dead eyes bore into Kagome her voice draining away her strength like death itself. "I will kill you for what you have done. First I want you to feel the pain that I have felt." With that Kikyou embraced the girl tightly.

*What is she doing?*

Kikyou pressed herself against Kagome's rigid form she quietly spoke an incantation. Kagome gasped as the heat was drained from her. "What are you doing to me?" she tried to say but the only sound that escaped was a rasping croak. Kikyou stepped back and stared at Kagome with dead eyes. She laughed cruelly at the girl's stricken look.

"Now you will watch."

When Inuyasha felt Kagome touch his arm gently he woke. He looked up into Kagome's soft loving brown eyes.

"Kagome? What are you doing?" The hanyou asked her, his voice thick from sleep.

"Shh…" was her only answer as she lowered herself over him. Inuyasha returned her caresses gratefully as she pressed herself to him in a deep kiss.

"Kagome…" he whispered softly in her ear, which made her laugh hollowly. He looked at her questioningly and she shook her head and leaned in to kiss him again, longer this time. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her feeling her warmth, the life in her. He inhaled deeply, relishing in Kagome's scent.

Kagome watched in horror, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She wanted to sob or scream but neither could escape from her hoarse throat. She struggled against the serpentine forms and they tightened around her, one head twisting to hiss at her in warning. How could he? Why? Her mind screamed though her voice could not. She watched as Kikyou woke him. She watched as he kissed her. She could only watch as they made love. She struggled harder, throwing herself twisting wildly between the tree trunk and the serpents. They wrapped tighter around her arms and legs and the tears flowed faster and hotter. She tried again and again to scream shutting her eyes against the pain of watching Inuyasha with his former love.

Kikyou played her part so well that Inuyasha couldn't tell he was not with Kagome until they had both finished and she drew back dropping her disguise. He stared in dumb wonderment at the naked body of his former betrothed before him. She stood slowly glaring at him with dead hate-filled eyes. Am I dreaming? He thought dimly before the flare of Kikyou's power assured him he was not.

"Kikyou…what are you doing here?"

"Taking what is mine." She spoke coldly her mind dead to the emotions racing through her, and the fact that Inuyasha had been able to make her feel the things Naraku could not.

Inuyasha's mind whirled with the realization that he had made love to Kikyou not Kagome. He had just done with been with Kikyou in a way he had only been in his most fevered dreams of fifty years ago. Kikyou the woman he was going to become human for, the woman he would have married, yet he was with Kagome now, and with shock he realized he had just betrayed her as well, even if unknowingly. Breaking through now panicked thoughts was the awareness that Kagome's scent was now gone.

"Where is Kagome?" he snarled at the dead priestess. Rage at himself and fear for his mate's life drove the awkwardness of the situation from his mind as he leapt to grab Kikyou. Her burning aura drove him back and she continued to stare coldly at the furious hanyou.

"Now I will make you pay for all that you have done to me. You will hurt for every time that you have hurt me and you will die in payment for my death." Kikyou turned to glare hatefully at Kagome.

"What are you looking at?" Inuyasha yelled at Kikyou's back. "Where is Kagome?" Kikyou merely smiled coldly again and brought her hands together as if in prayer. Before she could speak a bright light flared in front of the tree and torn bodies of her serpents flew in all directions. Kneeling at the center of the explosion was Kagome face tear-streaked and chest heaving in pain and anger. Her blood-shot eyes burned with hatred and she screamed forlornly clutching at her stomach as though sick. Kikyou stepped back in fear at the raw power radiating from the girl's crumpled form. Rage filled her that the girl would exhibit such power at that moment; it was too dangerous to attack her now the girl might lash out blindly and Kikyou would not be able to stand against it.

"Soon, Inuyasha," She said as she disappeared into the darkness. Inuyasha, heedless to the departure of Kikyou, raced to Kagome's side. As he reached to out to hold her he jumped back in pain from the flare of her power that burned his hands. Kagome was unaware of the reactions of her own power as her body shuddered with sobs. Inuyasha came as close as he dared.

"Kagome…I…"

Sadly a Delinquent Monk was having problems of his own…

(Priestess blithely ignores angry groans and various flying projectiles from angry readers.)



Miroku groaned as consciousness slowly pressed its way back into his mind. He pried his eyes open only to be greeted by darkness. As he tried to sit up he smacked his head soundly on a rock. He fell back again His dark vision swirling as his empty stomach tried to heave. He held tenaciously onto consciousness until his head stopped its rapid revolutions. This time he rose slower holding a hand over his head to feel for the ceiling of the cave. He blinked as he tried to find a light in the darkness. There behind him was a faint light, as though filtered through something. Carefully twisting around in the small space he crawled his way to the entrance. As he approached the opening he discovered what it was that blocked the light. A large bush had grown over the entry blocking it from sight. Extremely lucky for him he realized as the buzz of a venom wasp sounded from outside. As he peered through the branches he decided he must have unknowingly backed over the edge of a dried up river bed and fallen into the cave, thankfully not seriously damaging the bush that hid it from the insects. He also decided he had best wait in the cave concealed from view until the wasps took their search elsewhere. As he waited he wondered if Naraku was out there and worried that Sango might have encountered him. At least Shippo would be safe with her and Kirara. Did she really see her brother?





Kirara leapt against the barrier that blocked her from following Sango. Shippo watched from a few feet away.



"Kirara please stop!" He cried. The broken bodies of venom wasps littered the ground around them. Shippo shook with fear that Kirara would get through the barrier and leave him alone on this side to face more bugs alone. He couldn't even approach the enraged cat to seek comfort. "I want Kagome." The little fox whispered as he collapsed into the grass sobbing.



Kohaku's chain scythe, (A/N: Could someone let me know what that thing is called? I'm just making the name up; I hope you all know what I'm talking about.) sliced through the air and Sango blocked it with her Boomerang. Yanking the weapon back to him he dashed the Sango's left swinging the weapon at her again. She rolled to the side dodging the blade narrowly and swore under her breath as she regained her feet muscles aching and chest burning. He's not even winded. Sango thought crossly as she fought for her life.



"He has improved much since he became my mindless slave." Naraku calm voice carried easily to Sango's ears as he watched them fight from the shadows of the trees at the edge of the forest. He watched for a moment longer as Sango struggled to hold Kohaku off and keep an eye on Naraku. Then he stepped calmly into the battlefield halting Kohaku's assault with a glance. Sango braced herself against her boomerang trying to stand up straight and ignore her exhaustion. I don't have enough left to fight him and Naraku! The thought sent a flash of horror through her that she tried to keep from showing on her face. Where is that priest? Surely he can find a way through Naraku's barrier! As if reading her mind Naraku answered her unspoken question.



"I'm sorry but no help is coming for you Sango. The monk is otherwise occupied." A cruel smile played across his lips. Fear for Miroku flashed through Sango's mind, briefly pushing aside her own. Kohaku stepped in front of Naraku shielding him and holding his scythe threateningly. Sango's heart ached at the sight of her brother protecting the creature that should be his mortal enemy. Recklessly she spoke to her brother aware of but heedless of the demon standing right behind him.



"Kohaku, please listen to me I know you're in there somewhere. You can't protect that demon! He slaughtered our whole village, he is the reason our father is dead!" Sango was pleading for any remnant of her little brother to hear and Naraku laughed at her.



"You are wrong Sango. There is nothing of your brother left, only his body. I have taken all of his memories he is only a shell, an empty servant for me. But I can return him to the boy you loved. If you wish it…" The words left unsaid hung thick in the air pressing in around Sango.



"If I wish it? And what must I do to have my wish granted? Steal the Tetsusaiga again? Or do you wish me to kill someone this time?" Naraku smiled inwardly at the hate in Sango's voice. This might be easier than he had first thought.



"Sango? Do you care so much for your new companions? Are they already more important to you than your brother's life?" Sango's breathing caught with fear. "So be it then." He said with a sick smile. "I have no more use for the boy." Kohaku began to dig desperately at his shoulder, tearing the flesh with his nails to get at the shikon shard that maintained his life. Sango froze for a moment. Perhaps she should let him do it. Maybe it would be better to let Kohaku's suffering end and free herself from the constant threat held by Naraku. The dark thoughts fell away as she tackled her brother pinning his arms to the ground.

"I won't let you take my brother from me!" Sango screamed over her shoulder. "You are my only family I have left," She whispered to her brother.

"Then you are ready to listen to my proposal?" Naraku asked with a smile. Kohaku's eyes stared blankly as his sister and new master watched each other, one with hate in her eyes and the other with satisfaction.



It was only more blind luck that led Miroku to Sango. It had not taken the venom wasps long to move on in their search for the monk and Miroku had gladly taken his first opportunity to escape from the cramped cave. Having lost his sense of direction during his struggle with the bugs he headed to the east simply because fewer wasps had gone in that direction. Tired, sore and still dizzy from being knocked out he stumbled along wondering how he would find Sango, Shippo and Kirara and hoping she was still okay. Then he spotted them walking towards him from the opposite direction. Sango was also exhausted and near stumbling and Kirara stalked protectively next to her. With the wash of relief came a burst of strength and Miroku ran to the Hunter. "Sango-sama are you well. Have you been hurt?" He kept a respectful distance though what he really wanted was to hold her close. Shippo who had been walking quietly next to her jumped onto Miroku's shoulder and hugged him tightly round the neck.

"I'm…okay." Sango said quietly and continued to trudge forward.

"Did you find your brother? Is he safe?"

"My Brother…He will be okay."

"I don't think she's okay Miroku." Shippo whispered in his ear, the monk looked at him sideways and Shippo nuzzled into his cheek refusing to speak again. Miroku troubled by Shippo's comment and Sango's despair fell into step beside her holding his questions back, resolved to wait until she was ready to tell him what had happened to her while they were apart.

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Yeah okay I'm cutting it off there because it's pretty long and I need to get something posted soon. This one took way too long to write. First I got writer's block then my fourteen year old brother and his friend went snooping through my documents and decided to inform me that I'm a pervert (which let's face it I already knew!) and I was too embarrassed to write for awhile. But I finally finished this chapter and I'm working on the next so expect it soon! I'm sorry loyal readers I hope you didn't forget about me.

Oh and uh, don't expect any Miroku and Sango lemons from me any time soon. I am very possessive of my man-bitch and while I like the pairing on the show I just can't bring myself to write about it. (A small group of psychiatrists enter the room and begin studying Priestess intently and taking notes. Priestess attempts to ignore them.) I'm only a little bit crazy!

As always when you review remember that my gigantic ego is made of glass and will shatter easily! Anyway Ja ne! The Priestess