"She must still be frightened from last night," he whispered aloud. "Perhaps I should go..." Still, no matter how far Naraku would get to the door, he could never leave. He must keep watching her, keeping her beauty locked away to himself. Naraku suddenly imagined his arms around Kikyo, and his heart filled with longing once more.
He slid close to her, and as he examined her from head to foot, he noticed that she had many more bruises besides the one on her knuckle. Kikyo was absolutely covered in bruises of dark blue, black, and purple. Small scratches occupied her lovely face, and the hand that Naraku had stepped on had ugly, blotchy cuts that had dried from the previous evening.
"What have I done?" he asked aloud. Then, Kikyo awoke. She gasped, and angry tears filled her eyes. She grabbed a knife from the armor behind her, and backed away from Naraku.
"Stay away, wretched half-demon!" she cried. "Have you not done enough?!" Naraku was speechless. "I...I..."
Kikyo shook her head, the knife shaking in her trembling, injured hand.
"ENOUGH!" Kikyo yelled, and lunged at Naraku. She sliced every part of him that she could reach, and cut every inch of his skin. Naraku's shirt tore open with the ferociousness of Kikyo's attack. She kicked and punched at Naraku with all her might, and tore at his hair and face.
Naraku could bear it no longer. He rolled over so that he was pinning Kikyo down. He sat on her waist, and grabbed the wrist that held the knife. He snatched it from her, and held it to her throat. "You have lovely hair, Kikyo. It's too long, though. Shall I cut it for you?"
Kikyo struggled, but she was only a pitiful woman compared to the man above her. Her breathing was hard, and full of fear. Small, frightened sounds escaped from her throat, but she tried her best to be strong.
Naraku felt an insane smile spread across his pale lips. "Your hair is longer than I thought. I'll have to start at the waist, and work my way up." Suddenly, Kikyo felt a warm liquid spread across her stomach. She looked down, and found the knife stuck inside of her waist. Naraku slowly worked sideways, practically sawing her in half.
Kikyo did the only thing she could do. She grabbed spiritual powder from inside her hakama and threw it in Naraku's face, blinding him temporarily. "You were really going to halve me at the waist, you foul beast! Burn in the depths of bloody, torturing hell!"
As Naraku began to regain his sight, he searched frantically for her. Kikyo was running out of the room, down the hallway as fast as her feet would carry her. Naraku bounded after her, his entire body full of concentration.
"You conniving little wench! How could I possibly fall in love with you?" he shouted as Kikyo got farther away.
Kikyo pulled at the wooden screen, but it wouldn't budge. Naraku was gaining, and Kikyo tore the screen open. She tore a hole only small enough for her to jump through. However, Naraku tore the whole door down with his venomous claws, and sprinted after Kikyo.
Kikyo sped across the veranda, jumping over cages and rocks as she dared. Naraku followed just as easily, his breathing hard and somewhat maniacal. The young priestess saw the gate ahead, and was just about to make her escape when she felt a sharp hand dig into her scalp as it grabbed her by the hair.
Naraku flicked the wrist of the hand that grasped her, and Kikyo cried out in pain. Naraku jerked her backward, and whispered into her ear as he pulled her head to his shoulder.
"You thought you could escape? I told you, priestess, you are my property. I own you now, just like I was supposed to."
Kikyo tried to kick and bite at Naraku, and realized that she had dropped the knife when he caught her. She struggled like a young captured bird, but Naraku was too strong. She slumped against him, and he hoisted her up over his shoulder. Kikyo bit into his shoulder as hard as her teeth could, and she felt Naraku's burning slap sting her face.
Exhausted, Kikyo fainted in his arms. Naraku carried her across the courtyard where Kanna sat. "Try the mirror," he demanded. Kanna held the mirror up to Kikyo's heart, but her soul was too large for the mirror's void.
"I cannot, Master. Her soul is like that girl, Kagome. I cannot snatch it." Naraku raised his eyebrows.
"Really...well, I'll just have to keep her, then."