Disclaimer:: I do not own Inuyasha, but I have kidnapped every other
bishounen I can get my hands on, so nyah!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Sabi:: Thank you people so much for reviewing so nicely!! Naru-kun is no longer chasing me. (Joy!) So now I can get on with a proper introduction. Currently I think the score is one more for Naru/Kag than for Sessy/Kag. In this chapter, there are gonna be plenty of surprises, a humor scene or two, and *GASP* Miroku gets a girlfriend!!?? ^.^;; Also we find out what happened to poor Naraku. Sesshoumaru's misfortune, however, will not be revealed until the next chapter. I also just noticed that I left the visitor from the feudal era without a name... THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT. Her name is Kurai...
Kurai:: ^.^
Miroku:: You sound surprised that a lady would be interested in me... -.-;
Sabi:: Heh...heh... Oh, excellent job on last chapter's editing Rai-kun. That's about all I've got to say I think.... Here's a little present for you reviewers before we begin the story. ^.^ (I can do that, right?? Oh well if it don't work, email me and I'll send you a copy directly. It's so cute.)
\
\ A REMINDER: Everyone has to make sure they watch for the new episodes of
Inuyasha on August 16th I think it is.
\
\
*.*
Breakfast had been finished for a while and everyone was sitting in the living room, waiting for Kagome to finish putting the dishes away. Miroku was chatting animatedly with Kurai, while Sango absently agreed with whatever Shippou was chittering about. Kirara was curled up at one end of the couch, purring quietly. Grandpa, Souta, and Kagome's mother had gone to the store for groceries, leaving the gang a perfect chance to talk.
"Alright! I'm done." Kagome anounced as she sat down against the table in front of the couch,
The rooms occupants fell quiet and Kurai shifted for a moment, unsure of where to begin, "I...I was sent here, Kagome, to retrieve you and bring you back to Sengoku Jidai. There are some matters that require your attention. My master-"
"Exactly who is your master, Miss Kurai, if I may ask?" Miroku spoke, never taking his eyes off of her
"Well...I suppose I can tell you, but you have to promise that you'll still go to the feudal era." She waited for the others to nod before continuing, " Naraku-kun-"
"Naraku!" Miroku stood, glaring at her, "You work for Naraku? Do you think that we are foolish enough to let Kagome go to the feudal era at Naraku's biding??"
Kurai cringed and growled, "Are you insulting Naru-kun? It's not his fault he's evil... his mind was warped by Onigumo."
"You're sticking up for him too?!?!" She stood up and got right in Miroku's face
"Yeah! Why shouldn't I?!" The electricity was visible in the air "Naru-kun is a good person deep down in side."
"Yeah...REAL deep..." Kagome muttered, watching the two have their shout out, "Alright, you two. Break it up. We're all friends here, no matter what our opinions are."
They remained there glaring at each other for a moment before Miroku stood up straight and cleared his throat, "Yes, perhaps Kagome is right. We should try to get along..."
"Right. If Kagome says so..." She held out her hand for him to shake and then they both sat down on the couch, "Well, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted." She smacked Miroku in the back of the head, "Something has... er... happened to Naru-kun. He has been um...drained of his power, in a matter of speaking... and I have come here requesting Kagome's help with the problem."
Everyone looked a little surprised except Miroku, he seemed to be thinking something very evil against Naraku, "So Naraku is defenseless and you come to us seeking protection..." No...don't...bad hand...gyah...Miroku fought desperately against his lecherous hand, but to no avail...
"HENTAI!!!" WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
@.@. Miroku fell off the couch onto the floor, his eyes clouded and out of focus. He chuckled rather lightly and mumbled something incoherently before completely passing out. Shippou shook his head at the defeated monk, It's not worth it Miroku....give up.... The three girls were left to glare at him for a moment before they decided to continue their conversation.
"Well, Naraku isn't exactly a popular person, you know. And his little minions aren't very willing to follow him at the moment. He needs your help Kagome, or he'll get himself into a bigger mess than he's already in. I thought you might be able to keep him from doing anything drastic and maybe you can help him out until his powers come back..." She finished hopefully(A/n: My sister practically begged me to be Naraku's loyal servant.~.~)
Kagome stared at the ground for a moment. Why should she help Naraku? He was the one that had done all those bad things to her and her friends. He was the one they were trying to beat in the race to collect the jewel shards. How could she help him? But then again...he was powerless now, and it wouldn't be right just to turn her back on him now. He might change his mind after knowing what it was like to be helpless... he might help her and the others now that Inuyasha was gone. She almost snorted, fat chance, Naraku helping them was one of those 'when hell freezes over' things, and last time she was in hell it was pretty damn hot.
"Well...I..." She looked uncertainly at Kurai's hopeful face, then to Sango's more grim one, and Miroku's amusingly blank face, and back at Kurai's, "Well...I...I'll do it. Nobody deserves to be left all by themselves when they're in trouble."
"Yes!! Yay yay yay!!" Kurai jumped off the couch and did a little happy dance as Kagome stood and left the room.
Sango followed her, "Kagome...this is Naraku we are talking about. We can't help him...he's the enemy."
"Sango...did you see the look in her eyes? She adores him...if not for him, then for her I will help Naraku. Whatever he's done, he did something right at least once for her to care about him so much. We may not like him, but it's the right thing to do."
"Gods forbid we ever get in trouble and have to rely on him to do the right thing." Sango said with a small laugh. Kagome smiled and walked the rest of the way to her room
The cot was already put away and her bag was packed to leave. She sighed. 'An unexpected change'...yeah, real unexpected. I guess it's time to go then. I wish Inuyasha were going with us though... it was always a little easier going with him. She shook her head and sat down on her bed, smoothing out the wrinkles while she thought. It hadn't seemed like jewel sharding existed without Inuyasha. She'd never thought about hunting without him. With a smile she thought, It really wouldn't be hunting without him picking a fight with everything we come across....
Outside the window a bird sang happily on it's branch, nothing in the world to care about. Kagome wandered over, smiling a little, but the smile dropped when her cat jumped on the bird and snapped it's head clean off the neck. She turned around and grabbed a shoe out of her closet, and began to toss it at the cat but stopped when she saw Miroku standing under the tree with Kurai.
"I really am sorry..." He said, adjusting the ice pack in his hand, "I just can't help myself sometimes around a pretty girl.... You know, this wind tunnel in my hand makes it a little more difficult on me. I worry about it...about the day when it will spread and suck me into it.... And I think about continuing my line before I die..." He took her hands in his free one, that sad gleam in his eyes
Kagome was already looking for something to drop on him. "I was hoping perhaps you...you would bear my child and help me continue my line..." She had a flower pot in hand, aiming...
"Well...I...I don't see why not." Kagome was so shocked she let the pot slip right out of her hand to smash just inches from Miroku... She said YES?!?!
*.*
Naraku's head was pounding. He couldn't move, think, he could barely breath. He waited and waited for the pain to subside, till it was only a dull throbbing, and chanced opening his eyes. He was still in his castle, in his own room, by himself. He shifted a little, something felt different. He couldn't smell anything. All he heard was silence. His vision wasn't as good as it had been. He tried to sit up, and as soon as he did the blood rushed to his head. Blood?? He fell back onto his pillow, his head throbbing all the more painfully.
He lifted his hand to look at it. It wasn't the same as it had been, it was like looking at a complete strangers hand. His face and hair were damp with sweat, and he felt like he was smashed between a brick wall and the ground. He struggled to sit up again, his vision swimming in and out of focus. He hadn't gone back to...Onigumo had he? No! It couldn't be... He dragged himself to his feet and wandered out into the hall, desperate for a mirror, a shard of glass, anything. His hands brushed against the dark hall walls in search of something while his eyes roved around on the floor.
His hand brushed against a mirror lying no a table and he picked it up, staring at it blankly for a moment. He refused to believe what his reflection showed. (A/n: I really wanted to put Kanna's mirror in here but I don't know anything about it...*Sigh* Oh well...) He looked... completely human. There was nothing demon about him. His flesh was not pale like it had been, and his eyes were a gray color. He saw that giggling little twit in his mind and he growled.
"I'll...kill her..." It came out more as a croak than a real threat. He let the mirror drop and he trundled back to his room, almost falling on his bed and slipping to sleep, his mind full of a delirious rage. She would die. She would definitely die. Kurai was on death row.
The next time he woke, there was someone standing over him, a very pretty someone...
*.*
They were all packed and ready to go. It was time for good-byes and then they were off to Sengoku Jidai, but Kagome had something else on her mind. She didn't plan on coming back this time. Without Inuyasha there to help sort things out while she was gone, it would be a full time job. Besides, she had more and better friends in the feudal era than she'd ever had in her time. There wasn't any other reason not to stay. She hardly saw her family anyway, and her grades were hopeless, so she really didn't have much of a life left in the future.
She looked at her mom, her mind made up, "Mom... I'm not going to come back very often after this... I'll come back to get what I'll need once I find a place to stay, but past that...you'll only see me on holidays and stuff.... I'm needed there more than I am here."
"Kagome..." Her mother's eyes welled with tears, "You can't be serious... you're still just a girl."
"I'm a very grown up girl, mom. There are a lot of things in the feudal era that need my attention and allot of people that need my help. Kaede's been helping me with training my powers... so I'll be able to protect myself well enough. And Miroku and Sango will be there for me. The Shikon no Tama, once it is complete again, will need protection."
"But Kagome...please don't go.... What about your family...your friends?" A little tear fell down her cheek, followed by streams of fat, vision blurring tears, "Please don't leave." She flung her arms around her daughter, "You're my baby...you can't leave me."
"I have to mom. Let go. I have to say good bye to Souta and Grandpa." After she pried herself from her mother, she said goodbye to them. Souta broke down into sobs and wouldn't let her go either, but though her Grandpa was torn and crying a little too, he understood...and he let her go.
She walked out to the well-house, her eyes fixed on the ground, and found Miroku, Sango, Kurai, Shippou, and Kirara all waiting patiently. Miroku and Kurai seemed to be standing rather close, their hands entwined, and Sango was rather distant from the both of them, looking anywhere but at their hands. Kagome jumped into the well without a word. Once they'd arrived, Kurai took the lead and they began their trek to Naraku's castle.
Kagome remembered something and fell back a little, evening her pace with Miroku's, "Miroku..."
"Yes, Kagome?" He was especially cheerful. Kagome's hopes that she'd heard their conversation wrong died
"Did she really say yes?" He was startled and that made her smile a little, but she was dying to know, "Did you really find a girl who'll bear your child?"
"Well...she said..." He began, smiling also, "That she really wouldn't mind, as long as I could keep my hands out of trouble until we get to the castle. You know...we spent the whole night talking when she arrived...and I really do like her.... She's so fun and innocent, but completely UN-innocent at the same time..."
Love-struck. Kagome smiled at him, but then her glance fell to Sango. Sango didn't seem exactly happy about it, but it was reasonable. She'd grown fond of Miroku. Really fond. She'll be alright. Sango wasn't one to dwell. Kagome's thoughts wandered back to her dreams again. She assumed that the dreams were just the after-shock of finding out about this 'change.' She didn't take them seriously. She didn't want to. Subconsciously she knew, it was because of that shadow. She felt too comfortable with that shadow and it made her nervous. She felt like she was losing touch with reality.
"We won't go any further tonight. It's getting dark." Kurai called ahead of them, "We'll camp in that clearing just over there. It's right next to a hot spring."
Kagome was set with the task of gathering herbs and things for dinner, Miroku with the task of gathering firewood, Shippou was their scout, and Kurai was helping Sango make dinner. The sun was disappearing quickly, and they'd only gone a few miles. It was going to be three or four days before they got to the castle. Later that night, while Miroku cleaned up from dinner, the girls slipped off and got in the hot springs, soaking quietly in the water.
The silence was starting to get a little pressing when Kagome finally spoke, "So... how did you end up with Naraku as a master?"
She looked a little surprised at the question, but answered nevertheless, "I've always known him. Since I was a child. I guess you could say...I've always been the one who takes care of him when he doesn't take care of himself." She smiled, "Naru-kun doesn't always recognize his emotions, so I help him along in realizing what they are. When he gets all wrapped up in hating people, I smack him around a bit and bring him to his senses. I make sure he eats daily, and sleeps when he's supposed to. I keep him preoccupied when he's bored and would otherwise be off ruining lives...."
Kagome gaped at her, and burst into fits of giggles, "So...you're Naraku's care taker?" Laughter erupted from the other two girls and rang out all the way back to camp
"Yeah...I guess so. God only knows what would happen to him if I wasn't around to kick his ass into gear. But he's not all that bad. He's just been pummeled a little too much throughout his life...lives.... Well, whatever." She paused for a moment, and looked at the two of them then asked, "What did he do to you? To send you after him I mean?"
Kagome looked at Sango then at the water, but Sango answered without hesitation "He had my family and my village destroyed. And he now uses my little brother, Kohaku, as his minion against us..."
Kurai looked at her, a little smile across her face, "So you're the sister he talks about..." Kagome and Sango gaped at her, "He can barely remember you, but he does remember. He misses you."
Sango's eyes shimmered with tears for a moment, but she blinked them away, and Kagome changed the subject, "Come on...I think it's about time we go back. Miroku's probably going mad by now."
They returned to camp and retired. The next couple of days were long and wet, rain somehow finding it's way through the leaves of the trees often enough to have them soaked within the first ten minutes of their journey. They didn't talk much, and their conversations were limited to requests and answers. Shippou eventually gave up trying to cheer them up and resorted to hiding in Kagome's back pack with Kirara to keep warm and dry.
By the time the castle came into view they were all grumpy and water- logged. Kurai saw the castle and squealed with joy, "Last one there is the last to dry off!!!" She screamed as she bolted off towards the welcoming building
Everyone was running and smiling as they came up upon the castle, happy at the thought of finally being warm and dry. They all nearly fell over each other when they got inside, slipping on all the water they'd brought in with them. It was very quiet in the hall with the exception of the racket they made tripping over each other. Kurai found them each places to get warm and dry, and each had their own room to stay in. She had a dinner made for them and pulled Kagome aside just as they were cleaning up.
"Come on, I'll take you to Naraku's room now." She grabbed her arm and escorted her down a few empty passages before bringing her to a very large room and wandering off, "You can take care of it from here."
"But-"
"If you need anything, just call for me, okay? But I think everything you'll need is in there. Bye now!" She took off back down the hall towards Miroku and Sango, leaving Kagome all by herself to face Naraku.
She hesitated before Pulling open the door and walking inside. There was a fire lit at one end of the room and a table with a bowl of cool water and a rag beside the mass of blankets in the middle of the room. She walked over, very hesitantly, to where the bed was, kneeling down beside it. The aura he gave off was different. It seemed like he was a different person from before, and it seemed more helpless than she'd ever felt it.
She hesitated before pulling the blankets down away from his face... what if he was still trying to kill her even after his powers had been drained. She felt like there was something she hadn't been told... "Oh well, here goes..." She pulled the blankets off his face and gaped. He was completely human.
He looked like any other human man, a very handsome human man though. She shook those thoughts away his face was a little flushed with fever, so she dipped the rag in the water and wiped his face with it, absently brushing her hands through his hair while she did so. His hair's so soft...it's like silk... (A/n: Silk is gewd.~.~) He seemed to be struggling with getting used to his human form. She pulled back the blankets more and tugged his shirt off to rub some menthol on his chest. Her hands moved rhythmically with the up and down movements of his breathing. She stopped and wiped her hands on her skirt, watching him closely. She'd seen him shirtless once before, when he'd kidnapped Kikyo, but now that she saw him up close... Snap out of it! Get yourself together, this is Naraku you're talking about... She put a hand to his forehead, satisfied to find that the fever was already going down and his breathing was evening out.
She was just about to get up and leave when Naraku's eyes fluttered open. She sat very still for a moment, staring at him. He stared back at her for a long time before he sat bolt upright, scaring her and almost knocking her over.
"What are you doing here?!" he glared at her, but his eyes had lost the menace they had once had, and all she did was keep staring at him, "Well, wench?! Don't just sit there like a lump. Say something! Why are you in my room??"
Slap! She planted a nice firm smack right across his face, stood and walked out, completely ignoring the completely stunned Naraku. How dare she... He stood and yelled a few good profanities at her as she walked down the hall, then he got a shoe in his face and went back to sit on his bed and fume.
"That impudent little wench child." He hissed
He saw the menthol she'd rubbed on his chest and wiped it away in his anger, then he decided it might make him feel better to throw the bowl of water through the door. That was a stupid thing to do. The door opened right then and it clopped Kurai right over the head.
"What the HELLS is wrong with you?!?! You bloody ingrate!" She yelled, slamming her foot down on his chest, knocking him down and quite breathless, "You get turned into a helpless little human, and I go get you help. You're SO grateful that not ONLY do you piss off the help, but you THROW A BLOODY BOWL AT ME!!!!" She stomped on him a couple of times for effect then huffed, "What have you got to say for yourself?!"
He wheezed, trying desperately to fill his uncooperating lungs, "I...uh....oops?" He said pitifully, already ducking to avoid the fist that she swung at him only seconds after
*.*
Sabi:: *Pets Naru-kun on the head* Poor guy...always the victim, huh?
Naraku:: *Puppy dog eyes*
Sabi:: Well, that's about it for chapter three. Next chapter: A Change of Heart and Not Enough Bathrooms ^.^ Ciao. Sayonara. Bye now. *Cuddles Naraku*
Sabi:: Thank you people so much for reviewing so nicely!! Naru-kun is no longer chasing me. (Joy!) So now I can get on with a proper introduction. Currently I think the score is one more for Naru/Kag than for Sessy/Kag. In this chapter, there are gonna be plenty of surprises, a humor scene or two, and *GASP* Miroku gets a girlfriend!!?? ^.^;; Also we find out what happened to poor Naraku. Sesshoumaru's misfortune, however, will not be revealed until the next chapter. I also just noticed that I left the visitor from the feudal era without a name... THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT. Her name is Kurai...
Kurai:: ^.^
Miroku:: You sound surprised that a lady would be interested in me... -.-;
Sabi:: Heh...heh... Oh, excellent job on last chapter's editing Rai-kun. That's about all I've got to say I think.... Here's a little present for you reviewers before we begin the story. ^.^ (I can do that, right?? Oh well if it don't work, email me and I'll send you a copy directly. It's so cute.)
\
\ A REMINDER: Everyone has to make sure they watch for the new episodes of
Inuyasha on August 16th I think it is.
\
\
*.*
Breakfast had been finished for a while and everyone was sitting in the living room, waiting for Kagome to finish putting the dishes away. Miroku was chatting animatedly with Kurai, while Sango absently agreed with whatever Shippou was chittering about. Kirara was curled up at one end of the couch, purring quietly. Grandpa, Souta, and Kagome's mother had gone to the store for groceries, leaving the gang a perfect chance to talk.
"Alright! I'm done." Kagome anounced as she sat down against the table in front of the couch,
The rooms occupants fell quiet and Kurai shifted for a moment, unsure of where to begin, "I...I was sent here, Kagome, to retrieve you and bring you back to Sengoku Jidai. There are some matters that require your attention. My master-"
"Exactly who is your master, Miss Kurai, if I may ask?" Miroku spoke, never taking his eyes off of her
"Well...I suppose I can tell you, but you have to promise that you'll still go to the feudal era." She waited for the others to nod before continuing, " Naraku-kun-"
"Naraku!" Miroku stood, glaring at her, "You work for Naraku? Do you think that we are foolish enough to let Kagome go to the feudal era at Naraku's biding??"
Kurai cringed and growled, "Are you insulting Naru-kun? It's not his fault he's evil... his mind was warped by Onigumo."
"You're sticking up for him too?!?!" She stood up and got right in Miroku's face
"Yeah! Why shouldn't I?!" The electricity was visible in the air "Naru-kun is a good person deep down in side."
"Yeah...REAL deep..." Kagome muttered, watching the two have their shout out, "Alright, you two. Break it up. We're all friends here, no matter what our opinions are."
They remained there glaring at each other for a moment before Miroku stood up straight and cleared his throat, "Yes, perhaps Kagome is right. We should try to get along..."
"Right. If Kagome says so..." She held out her hand for him to shake and then they both sat down on the couch, "Well, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted." She smacked Miroku in the back of the head, "Something has... er... happened to Naru-kun. He has been um...drained of his power, in a matter of speaking... and I have come here requesting Kagome's help with the problem."
Everyone looked a little surprised except Miroku, he seemed to be thinking something very evil against Naraku, "So Naraku is defenseless and you come to us seeking protection..." No...don't...bad hand...gyah...Miroku fought desperately against his lecherous hand, but to no avail...
"HENTAI!!!" WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
@.@. Miroku fell off the couch onto the floor, his eyes clouded and out of focus. He chuckled rather lightly and mumbled something incoherently before completely passing out. Shippou shook his head at the defeated monk, It's not worth it Miroku....give up.... The three girls were left to glare at him for a moment before they decided to continue their conversation.
"Well, Naraku isn't exactly a popular person, you know. And his little minions aren't very willing to follow him at the moment. He needs your help Kagome, or he'll get himself into a bigger mess than he's already in. I thought you might be able to keep him from doing anything drastic and maybe you can help him out until his powers come back..." She finished hopefully(A/n: My sister practically begged me to be Naraku's loyal servant.~.~)
Kagome stared at the ground for a moment. Why should she help Naraku? He was the one that had done all those bad things to her and her friends. He was the one they were trying to beat in the race to collect the jewel shards. How could she help him? But then again...he was powerless now, and it wouldn't be right just to turn her back on him now. He might change his mind after knowing what it was like to be helpless... he might help her and the others now that Inuyasha was gone. She almost snorted, fat chance, Naraku helping them was one of those 'when hell freezes over' things, and last time she was in hell it was pretty damn hot.
"Well...I..." She looked uncertainly at Kurai's hopeful face, then to Sango's more grim one, and Miroku's amusingly blank face, and back at Kurai's, "Well...I...I'll do it. Nobody deserves to be left all by themselves when they're in trouble."
"Yes!! Yay yay yay!!" Kurai jumped off the couch and did a little happy dance as Kagome stood and left the room.
Sango followed her, "Kagome...this is Naraku we are talking about. We can't help him...he's the enemy."
"Sango...did you see the look in her eyes? She adores him...if not for him, then for her I will help Naraku. Whatever he's done, he did something right at least once for her to care about him so much. We may not like him, but it's the right thing to do."
"Gods forbid we ever get in trouble and have to rely on him to do the right thing." Sango said with a small laugh. Kagome smiled and walked the rest of the way to her room
The cot was already put away and her bag was packed to leave. She sighed. 'An unexpected change'...yeah, real unexpected. I guess it's time to go then. I wish Inuyasha were going with us though... it was always a little easier going with him. She shook her head and sat down on her bed, smoothing out the wrinkles while she thought. It hadn't seemed like jewel sharding existed without Inuyasha. She'd never thought about hunting without him. With a smile she thought, It really wouldn't be hunting without him picking a fight with everything we come across....
Outside the window a bird sang happily on it's branch, nothing in the world to care about. Kagome wandered over, smiling a little, but the smile dropped when her cat jumped on the bird and snapped it's head clean off the neck. She turned around and grabbed a shoe out of her closet, and began to toss it at the cat but stopped when she saw Miroku standing under the tree with Kurai.
"I really am sorry..." He said, adjusting the ice pack in his hand, "I just can't help myself sometimes around a pretty girl.... You know, this wind tunnel in my hand makes it a little more difficult on me. I worry about it...about the day when it will spread and suck me into it.... And I think about continuing my line before I die..." He took her hands in his free one, that sad gleam in his eyes
Kagome was already looking for something to drop on him. "I was hoping perhaps you...you would bear my child and help me continue my line..." She had a flower pot in hand, aiming...
"Well...I...I don't see why not." Kagome was so shocked she let the pot slip right out of her hand to smash just inches from Miroku... She said YES?!?!
*.*
Naraku's head was pounding. He couldn't move, think, he could barely breath. He waited and waited for the pain to subside, till it was only a dull throbbing, and chanced opening his eyes. He was still in his castle, in his own room, by himself. He shifted a little, something felt different. He couldn't smell anything. All he heard was silence. His vision wasn't as good as it had been. He tried to sit up, and as soon as he did the blood rushed to his head. Blood?? He fell back onto his pillow, his head throbbing all the more painfully.
He lifted his hand to look at it. It wasn't the same as it had been, it was like looking at a complete strangers hand. His face and hair were damp with sweat, and he felt like he was smashed between a brick wall and the ground. He struggled to sit up again, his vision swimming in and out of focus. He hadn't gone back to...Onigumo had he? No! It couldn't be... He dragged himself to his feet and wandered out into the hall, desperate for a mirror, a shard of glass, anything. His hands brushed against the dark hall walls in search of something while his eyes roved around on the floor.
His hand brushed against a mirror lying no a table and he picked it up, staring at it blankly for a moment. He refused to believe what his reflection showed. (A/n: I really wanted to put Kanna's mirror in here but I don't know anything about it...*Sigh* Oh well...) He looked... completely human. There was nothing demon about him. His flesh was not pale like it had been, and his eyes were a gray color. He saw that giggling little twit in his mind and he growled.
"I'll...kill her..." It came out more as a croak than a real threat. He let the mirror drop and he trundled back to his room, almost falling on his bed and slipping to sleep, his mind full of a delirious rage. She would die. She would definitely die. Kurai was on death row.
The next time he woke, there was someone standing over him, a very pretty someone...
*.*
They were all packed and ready to go. It was time for good-byes and then they were off to Sengoku Jidai, but Kagome had something else on her mind. She didn't plan on coming back this time. Without Inuyasha there to help sort things out while she was gone, it would be a full time job. Besides, she had more and better friends in the feudal era than she'd ever had in her time. There wasn't any other reason not to stay. She hardly saw her family anyway, and her grades were hopeless, so she really didn't have much of a life left in the future.
She looked at her mom, her mind made up, "Mom... I'm not going to come back very often after this... I'll come back to get what I'll need once I find a place to stay, but past that...you'll only see me on holidays and stuff.... I'm needed there more than I am here."
"Kagome..." Her mother's eyes welled with tears, "You can't be serious... you're still just a girl."
"I'm a very grown up girl, mom. There are a lot of things in the feudal era that need my attention and allot of people that need my help. Kaede's been helping me with training my powers... so I'll be able to protect myself well enough. And Miroku and Sango will be there for me. The Shikon no Tama, once it is complete again, will need protection."
"But Kagome...please don't go.... What about your family...your friends?" A little tear fell down her cheek, followed by streams of fat, vision blurring tears, "Please don't leave." She flung her arms around her daughter, "You're my baby...you can't leave me."
"I have to mom. Let go. I have to say good bye to Souta and Grandpa." After she pried herself from her mother, she said goodbye to them. Souta broke down into sobs and wouldn't let her go either, but though her Grandpa was torn and crying a little too, he understood...and he let her go.
She walked out to the well-house, her eyes fixed on the ground, and found Miroku, Sango, Kurai, Shippou, and Kirara all waiting patiently. Miroku and Kurai seemed to be standing rather close, their hands entwined, and Sango was rather distant from the both of them, looking anywhere but at their hands. Kagome jumped into the well without a word. Once they'd arrived, Kurai took the lead and they began their trek to Naraku's castle.
Kagome remembered something and fell back a little, evening her pace with Miroku's, "Miroku..."
"Yes, Kagome?" He was especially cheerful. Kagome's hopes that she'd heard their conversation wrong died
"Did she really say yes?" He was startled and that made her smile a little, but she was dying to know, "Did you really find a girl who'll bear your child?"
"Well...she said..." He began, smiling also, "That she really wouldn't mind, as long as I could keep my hands out of trouble until we get to the castle. You know...we spent the whole night talking when she arrived...and I really do like her.... She's so fun and innocent, but completely UN-innocent at the same time..."
Love-struck. Kagome smiled at him, but then her glance fell to Sango. Sango didn't seem exactly happy about it, but it was reasonable. She'd grown fond of Miroku. Really fond. She'll be alright. Sango wasn't one to dwell. Kagome's thoughts wandered back to her dreams again. She assumed that the dreams were just the after-shock of finding out about this 'change.' She didn't take them seriously. She didn't want to. Subconsciously she knew, it was because of that shadow. She felt too comfortable with that shadow and it made her nervous. She felt like she was losing touch with reality.
"We won't go any further tonight. It's getting dark." Kurai called ahead of them, "We'll camp in that clearing just over there. It's right next to a hot spring."
Kagome was set with the task of gathering herbs and things for dinner, Miroku with the task of gathering firewood, Shippou was their scout, and Kurai was helping Sango make dinner. The sun was disappearing quickly, and they'd only gone a few miles. It was going to be three or four days before they got to the castle. Later that night, while Miroku cleaned up from dinner, the girls slipped off and got in the hot springs, soaking quietly in the water.
The silence was starting to get a little pressing when Kagome finally spoke, "So... how did you end up with Naraku as a master?"
She looked a little surprised at the question, but answered nevertheless, "I've always known him. Since I was a child. I guess you could say...I've always been the one who takes care of him when he doesn't take care of himself." She smiled, "Naru-kun doesn't always recognize his emotions, so I help him along in realizing what they are. When he gets all wrapped up in hating people, I smack him around a bit and bring him to his senses. I make sure he eats daily, and sleeps when he's supposed to. I keep him preoccupied when he's bored and would otherwise be off ruining lives...."
Kagome gaped at her, and burst into fits of giggles, "So...you're Naraku's care taker?" Laughter erupted from the other two girls and rang out all the way back to camp
"Yeah...I guess so. God only knows what would happen to him if I wasn't around to kick his ass into gear. But he's not all that bad. He's just been pummeled a little too much throughout his life...lives.... Well, whatever." She paused for a moment, and looked at the two of them then asked, "What did he do to you? To send you after him I mean?"
Kagome looked at Sango then at the water, but Sango answered without hesitation "He had my family and my village destroyed. And he now uses my little brother, Kohaku, as his minion against us..."
Kurai looked at her, a little smile across her face, "So you're the sister he talks about..." Kagome and Sango gaped at her, "He can barely remember you, but he does remember. He misses you."
Sango's eyes shimmered with tears for a moment, but she blinked them away, and Kagome changed the subject, "Come on...I think it's about time we go back. Miroku's probably going mad by now."
They returned to camp and retired. The next couple of days were long and wet, rain somehow finding it's way through the leaves of the trees often enough to have them soaked within the first ten minutes of their journey. They didn't talk much, and their conversations were limited to requests and answers. Shippou eventually gave up trying to cheer them up and resorted to hiding in Kagome's back pack with Kirara to keep warm and dry.
By the time the castle came into view they were all grumpy and water- logged. Kurai saw the castle and squealed with joy, "Last one there is the last to dry off!!!" She screamed as she bolted off towards the welcoming building
Everyone was running and smiling as they came up upon the castle, happy at the thought of finally being warm and dry. They all nearly fell over each other when they got inside, slipping on all the water they'd brought in with them. It was very quiet in the hall with the exception of the racket they made tripping over each other. Kurai found them each places to get warm and dry, and each had their own room to stay in. She had a dinner made for them and pulled Kagome aside just as they were cleaning up.
"Come on, I'll take you to Naraku's room now." She grabbed her arm and escorted her down a few empty passages before bringing her to a very large room and wandering off, "You can take care of it from here."
"But-"
"If you need anything, just call for me, okay? But I think everything you'll need is in there. Bye now!" She took off back down the hall towards Miroku and Sango, leaving Kagome all by herself to face Naraku.
She hesitated before Pulling open the door and walking inside. There was a fire lit at one end of the room and a table with a bowl of cool water and a rag beside the mass of blankets in the middle of the room. She walked over, very hesitantly, to where the bed was, kneeling down beside it. The aura he gave off was different. It seemed like he was a different person from before, and it seemed more helpless than she'd ever felt it.
She hesitated before pulling the blankets down away from his face... what if he was still trying to kill her even after his powers had been drained. She felt like there was something she hadn't been told... "Oh well, here goes..." She pulled the blankets off his face and gaped. He was completely human.
He looked like any other human man, a very handsome human man though. She shook those thoughts away his face was a little flushed with fever, so she dipped the rag in the water and wiped his face with it, absently brushing her hands through his hair while she did so. His hair's so soft...it's like silk... (A/n: Silk is gewd.~.~) He seemed to be struggling with getting used to his human form. She pulled back the blankets more and tugged his shirt off to rub some menthol on his chest. Her hands moved rhythmically with the up and down movements of his breathing. She stopped and wiped her hands on her skirt, watching him closely. She'd seen him shirtless once before, when he'd kidnapped Kikyo, but now that she saw him up close... Snap out of it! Get yourself together, this is Naraku you're talking about... She put a hand to his forehead, satisfied to find that the fever was already going down and his breathing was evening out.
She was just about to get up and leave when Naraku's eyes fluttered open. She sat very still for a moment, staring at him. He stared back at her for a long time before he sat bolt upright, scaring her and almost knocking her over.
"What are you doing here?!" he glared at her, but his eyes had lost the menace they had once had, and all she did was keep staring at him, "Well, wench?! Don't just sit there like a lump. Say something! Why are you in my room??"
Slap! She planted a nice firm smack right across his face, stood and walked out, completely ignoring the completely stunned Naraku. How dare she... He stood and yelled a few good profanities at her as she walked down the hall, then he got a shoe in his face and went back to sit on his bed and fume.
"That impudent little wench child." He hissed
He saw the menthol she'd rubbed on his chest and wiped it away in his anger, then he decided it might make him feel better to throw the bowl of water through the door. That was a stupid thing to do. The door opened right then and it clopped Kurai right over the head.
"What the HELLS is wrong with you?!?! You bloody ingrate!" She yelled, slamming her foot down on his chest, knocking him down and quite breathless, "You get turned into a helpless little human, and I go get you help. You're SO grateful that not ONLY do you piss off the help, but you THROW A BLOODY BOWL AT ME!!!!" She stomped on him a couple of times for effect then huffed, "What have you got to say for yourself?!"
He wheezed, trying desperately to fill his uncooperating lungs, "I...uh....oops?" He said pitifully, already ducking to avoid the fist that she swung at him only seconds after
*.*
Sabi:: *Pets Naru-kun on the head* Poor guy...always the victim, huh?
Naraku:: *Puppy dog eyes*
Sabi:: Well, that's about it for chapter three. Next chapter: A Change of Heart and Not Enough Bathrooms ^.^ Ciao. Sayonara. Bye now. *Cuddles Naraku*