AN: Thanks for all the reviews!!! They're great! Just to let you know, I don't mind flames either. Really. If you hate the story (especially after the ending) and feel like killing me, it's ok to tell me that. Uh…
Well, I'm thinking there's about one chapter left, after this one. I might break up the last one into two parts, might not. I'm sorry if it seems like Sesshoumaru is getting OOC, but he's in love. That requires a bit of a character change for him, doesn't it. I hope I planned it ok. Well, onto the next chapter. I know your just all dying to see what happens…right?..eheh.
A TWIST OF FATE*~CHAPTER 19
Sesshoumaru's claws seemed to grow and he lunged towards Kagome and her captor, drawing toukijin, but black and purple youki and vapors poured out from around Kagome, and Sesshoumaru was lost from her sight as she felt herself rise in the air and saw the forest disappear. She struggled violently to free an arm and reach for am arrow, but she was held fast and felt Naraku's noxious aura surround her, paralyzing her.
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How? How had he not sensed her? How had he not reached her in time? How had he not succeeded in ripping Naraku apart with his claws?
The look of horror on Kagome's face. She had called for him, but he was unable to reach her in time. He would not be made a fool of. He would go after Kagome. She was his and his alone.
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Gray. Cold. Hard. Those were only three of the words Kagome would have used to describe what she was laying on. If there had been anybody to describe it to.
Kagome had awoke, her head pounding, to find herself in a dark, alien room, her hands bound with rope along with her feet. She felt as if somebody had drugged her and beaten her with a stick.
Momentarily, she couldn't remember anything, but as her conscious slowly kicked in, she recalled what had happened and instantly struggled against her bonds. She had to get out of there. Kagome was in the middle of wringing her hands, attempting to loosen the ropes, when a door opened and she was forced to shield her eyes.
A figure stood black against the outline of a gray light.
"Ah. You've awoken." an eerie voice called. "It took shorter than I would have imagined."
"What do you want, Naraku." Kagome spat
"I was just curious, and came seeking answers.." a hint of amusement touched his voice.
"I don't know what psycho plan you have this time, but Inu Yasha won't come for me no matter what, so you can take your plan and shove-"
"Tsk. Tsk. Manners, my dear Kagome, manners."
Kagome looked at him, poison in her glare.
"As for Inu Yasha, you don't believe he'll come, even after you've stolen his precious tetsusaiga?" Naraku paused here, smiling at his gain on the ever-stubborn girl. "Tell me, Kagome. Did it hurt when he chose Kikyo? After all, you knew he loved her the whole time…not you."
Kagome was seethed silently.
"And tell me, how did it feel, betraying him?"
"I only took his sword. He deserved it." she shrugged, but anger still poured from her. Maybe if she could play it cool, he'd lose interest. Maybe.
Naraku stepped out of the doorway and walked over to her, standing over her.
"Oh, but that's not all, is it. Tell me, do you think the demon lord was eager to make that deal with you?"
Kagome was slightly jarred. But this was Naraku, and she wasn't going to show it.
"What was in it for him? The sword which he so desperately wishes for? And you? Was it just revenge…or something else. After being cast aside from Inu Yasha, you undoubtedly were aching for a male companion. Even if it was unconsciously."
Kagome snorted. But his knowledge unnerved her.
"Just a few more questions, dear Kagome. You've been ever-so-patient." he grinned in what Kagome would call a psychotic, murderous, chesire cat way. " Did you enjoy it, when your dear Sesshoumaru-sama kissed you? Did you enjoy the way his lips felt against your skin? Or was that just part of revenge too? Or perhaps, since you couldn't have the hanyou, you decided why not settle for his brother, Was that it?"
With that, Kagome let out an outraged shriek, lunging at Naraku, but fell hard to the cold stones, her bindings impairing her movement. Kagome kicked her legs, attempting to free herself. Naruku chuckled and bent down onto his knees. He grabbed a fistful of raven hair, rolling her over and pulling her head up, her steel blue eyes meeting his red ones.
"That was quite uncalled for, Kagome dearest. I was merely asking you questions, which you would not even answer, and then to attack me…but it may be excused. For now. As long as you answer my questions"
Nothing scared her as much as what he had just said. He wasn't going to punish her now? And how did he…
"Kagome, I'm truly worried, for your sake." he said as if it were true. He released her head slowly, letting it slide into his lap. Kagome stared up at him, wide-eyed and more frightened than she had ever been in her life. Narku ran a hand slowly through her raven hair. "That first time, when he saved you from the wolf demon, that started it all, didn't it. When he kissed you, you enjoyed it. When he mended your wounds, you admired him. When he paid you those little attentions by the river, you reveled in the feeling. Am I correct?" he asked softly, grabbing a handful of hair and admiring it in his palm.
Kagome was completely paralyzed.
"Am I correct?" he reapeated, yanking on the hair in his hands, pulling her face upwards, towards his, his eyes boring into hers.
Kagome was jolted out of her paralysis. "Y-you know about all of those things! H-how do you know about all those things?!" she asked, a look of fright and shock coming to her face.
"Simple Kagome. Dear, simple Kagome. Of course I know about those things. I know every move you've made since you left Inu Yasha's company and before." He smirked and Kagome stared at the red of his eyes, only inches from hers. She felt her mind collapse in on itself, along with her body.
"I-it was you…" she felt sick.
"Yes, remember.."he whispered in her, his heavy breath assaulting her ear.
"All those times…I thought it was Sesshoumaru…how could I-" How could I have mistaken Sesshoumaru for Naraku… "The white. All those times I saw the white. It wasn't Sesshoumaru. It was you.." Kagome was getting weak. Just by him being so close, holding her, her power was quickly being drained. She attempted to release herself from his grasp, but her power was ebbing away and her mind was still in shock.
"Yes. When you fled Inu Yasha. Before you where saved by Sesshoumaru in the river. When you fought the ogre. When you left to retrieve the tetsusaiga. I was there." there was something in Naraku's voice that Kagome could not read. Something that she did not like at all.
"Kagome, does he love you? Your Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Kagome was startled, turning her eyes towards his blood-filled ones, still so close.
"I-he-"
"Has he told you he loves you?" Naraku ran a nail over the wounds that Sesshoumaru had made earlier, drawing blood.
Kagome cringed, shaking her head slightly. Why was she telling him this. Why was she so weak and tired? And why did it seem that he was tiring too? Then she realized. Her miko powers had been fiercely battling his miasma, even if both of them couldn't see it.
"Kagome. Perhaps he doesn't love you. You may just be fooling yourself again. What then? What if he abandons you…just like Inu Yasha did."
No. That can't happen. I can't be left alone again! Sesshoumaru he- but Kagome realized what she was doing. She didn't want to think about how she had betrayed Inu Yasha. She didn't want to think about the fact that, once both side of the pact were fulfilled, Sesshoumaru might push he away. He might not take he. And neither would Inu Yasha. Alone.
Kagome's chest was heaving with bitter, angry sobs.
"I thought so." Naraku smirked. "We'll see, Kagome."
"Why? Why are you keeping me alive?" Kagome half growled.
"You know, this may answer some of your questions, Kagome. If Sesshoumaru shows up before I kill you, then that proves that he loves you, and I will kill you two together. If he doesn't, Inu Yasha is sure to come for his revenge on you. Any way, I win."
"And what if neither show up?" Kagome stated bitterly. She was done being the scared schoolgirl. She struggled, some of her energy building back up.
"Like I said…" Naraku brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, at the same time, cutting the bindings on her hands. His fingers left her hair, his hands pinning both her arms to the floor. "Any way, I win." Naraku dug his nails into her arms where Sesshoumaru had made previous cuts, and Kagome screamed, Naraku taking the opportunity to press his lips against hers and cover her mouth with his.
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Kagome. His Kagome. His Kagome had betrayed him and taken the tetsusaiga. It wasn't right. Something was not right. Kagome never would have done that. Maybe Sesshoumaru had hexed her. Or Naraku. It could be Naraku's doing, Inu Yasha cursed the monster angrily.
Inu Yasha ran through the forest, skidding to a halt where he had caught three scents. Kagome. Sesshoumaru. Naraku. A combination that made Inu Yasha want to rip up the tree in front of him. But the scents had parted, Naraku and Kagome together. Sesshoumaru following not minutes later. Inu Yasha hadn't told Miroku and Sango. This was his to deal with. They would just get in the way.
Naraku had Kagome. Inu Yasha growled at the thought of it. What had he done to her?
"Inu Yasha. How very…enjoyable to see you."
"Speaking of the devil." Inu Yasha snarled. "Where is she, you bastard?!!"
The figure beneath the baboon pelt chuckled deeply. Do not distress, Inu Yasha. I have…found her."
"TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!!!" Inu Yasha swiped at the puppet of Naraku, slicing it in half. Naraku's cool voice rang out from the woods surrounding Inu Yasha.
"Assuming you have the proper items for trading, meet me tomorrow and we can…make our exchange…"
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Kagome. His Kagome. Naraku had stolen what Sesshoumaru now saw as rightfully his. It was Sesshoumaru's job to protect Kagome. It had been his promise. He no longer considered it a pact. It was a promise. And he had betrayed that promise. Kagome, even if she was a human and had been the companion of Inu Yasha for a long while, was still his. She was his companion now. His comfort. And, if he was destined for the weakness of heart, his love.
But she was unaware of this, and there would be no time to tell her if he could not reach her soon enough. Sesshoumaru had no idea what he would do with the young miko, but he knew that anything Naraku had a hand in, was not benign in any way.
He was following what he could of Naraku's and Kagome's scent now, but it was nearly impossible for him to find, even being a powerful, full youkai. How Naraku was able to vanish nearly without a trace, he was uncertain. But one thing was certain. He would find and take back Kagome.
Sesshoumaru was forced to stop when all traces of Naraku, no matter how small, disappeared completely.
Sesshoumaru stood, scanning the ground and searching the air for any hint at all of the direction in which Kagome had been taken.
"Quite a dilemma for a demon lord." Sesshoumaru recognized the voice immediately as belonging to Naraku as a baboon-clad figure emerged from the trees. "A demon lord who has sworn against humans. Now to be caught in this position, I pity you." Naraku chuckled deeply, but the only sign was the sight movement of the figure.
"Your pity is wasted, unwanted, and untrue." Sesshoumaru stated calmly.
"Ah. But I suppose there is no question about what to do in your position…if you are in love…"
Sesshoumaru stood still, calm, but did not dignify Naraku's statement with a reply.
"And you do love the human wench, don't you." Naraku said off-handedly.
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes narrowed.
"You know nothing about it."
"But that is where you are wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama. You see, I know that you will not tell me that the girl means nothing to you, because, quite simply, it isn't true, and then I would have the liberty of keeping her for myself. Not that I object. We've been having…fun…together."
Sesshoumaru frowned, his eyebrows knitting together.
"You will not touch her."
"Oh, but it's too late for that, Sesshoumaru-sama. She's a feisty one, isn't she." he stated as if talking to himself.
Sesshoumaru, for the first time he could remember was fuming inside. He imagined ripping Naraku to pieces on the very spot, but reason returned to him and he remembered that the Naraku he was conversing with was merely a puppet.
"But that is not my purpose for coming to you. I currently have Kagome under my guard, but I may be willing to negotiate a trade tomorrow."
Sesshoumaru stared at the mock Naraku, he eyes showing a slight tint of red.
"You will not be able to locate my keep. Do not attempt to. If you truly wish for the return of our precious little Kagome, you will come tomorrow…I assume you will be able to locate me."
Sesshoumaru detested Naraku's words. 'our precious little Kagome'. How dare he refer to the property of the lord of the western lands as belong to he. He would pay. For everything.
"If you do not come, I may just have to kill her…or keep her for myself…" with that, Naraku disappeared into the darkness of the woods.
Sesshoumaru would get Kagome back.
In the back of his mind, he wondered how he, Sesshoumaru, could have become so attached to a human like Kagome. But the question was answered instantly with a million different reasons why, the main one being, she was Kagome.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She was scraped and bruised. The slices Sesshoumaru had made had been reopened by Naraku as he tortured her, and her clothes were ripped and bloody. She lay on the floor, bound in chains after she had reached out to strike Naraku who had been all too friendly.
She had never been more scared in her life when he told her that he had been watching her all those times, but then he told her something even more disturbing.
After he had kissed her, she punched him with as much strength as she could muster up, her miko powers being drained down. He had appeared slightly shocked, sending a look of triumph over her face. But as soon as he recovered, he had slapped her across the face, leaving stinging trails behind his nails. Kagome had toppled over from her position and he had taken the liberty of chaining her hands together.
"You know, Kagome dear, it would make things so much easier if only you would cooperate." he sighed, while chaining her hands, as if talking over afternoon tea. "If only you would try to understand and see things from my view."
"What, and let you rape me!!!" Kagome screamed at him.
"Heh. Rape is such a vulgar thing. I would not rape you, Kagome, that is…against your will."
Well that's reassuring! Kagome thought. He has some manners in him. 'Rape is such a vulgar thing.' She imitated him in her head. 'No, I much prefer molestation!!' ,Kagome panicked.
"You see, Kagome, if Sesshoumaru-sama does not come, and Inu Yasha does not seek his revenge on you, you are mine for the keeping."
At this, Kagome looked horrified, he blue eyes open wide.
"And, you see, I've become quite…taken with you, no matter how much it unnerves me. You've become my new obsession, and when neither of the two demons reclaim you tomorrow, you will be my little obsession to do whatever I please with." he smirked poisonously.
"How do you know they won't come tomorrow! And how do you know that I'll even let you near me!!!" Kagome yelled, he face twisting, on the verge of tears.
A twisted smile pulled at Naraku's lips, making him more malicious-looking than Kagome had ever witnessed him.
"I didn't say that Sesshoumaru-sama or Inu Yasha would not come for you. I said they would not retrieve you. And as for your willingness to cooperate, I can be very convincing. Tomorrow, Kagome. Tomorrow." With that, Naraku had rose and left her chained and broken on the floor.
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AN: Bwahahahahaha! I am evil!!! Short chapter, I know, but it felt like a lot happened. The next chapter may take me quite a while. I plan on doing a lot of things in it, including the end of the story. These chapters, I've actually written quite fast…
Did anyone figure the whole 'Naraku, not Sesshoumaru thing' out before I wrote this? Did anyone understand it? If not, read earlier chapters again! Sesshoumaru, in the white *cough* seems to be spying a lot on Kagome.*cough* I hope someone understands this. It was my main twist in the story. Well, until the completely screwed up ending. Please don't kill me after the last chapter!!
I love cliffies. If you don't know what I mean, you will! Anywho, I'm so glad, I have smart reviewers! You guys notice the small things, which, in case you couldn't tell from this chapter, amount up to a lot in my writing. (I.E. foreshadowing!) To that Sherlock Holms reviewer, yes, there does seem to be an absence of a certain character, doesn't there. You're good! Well, anyway, don't know how long the next chapter will take me. After all, I plan on it being the last chapter! Wow. 20 chapters. I never thought this would go that far. Oh well, its been fun. See ya next chapter! Peace and puppies! (hopefully huge, fluffy Sesshoumaru puppies)