A/N: Ok, sorry for the delay, but the next part is finally up. I dunno if any of you read my profile but I purchased a domain for my sites, so I'm busy moving everything over. But I'm trying to keep up with the story too. So thanks for your patience.

Ok, now the thank you's:

Sioned: You're my hero, I love your reviews. I like the name Kagura better too... I agree, poor Fluffy! And yup, Winds of Betrayal is my site. Glad you like it! I remember your site too! Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter, I hope you haven't combusted yet...
Jyde: Well, not a reincarnation, but close... You'll have to wait and see...
Doctor Kiba: Wow, you're almost dead on... Hopefully the confusion will clear up eventually XD
Name1: I agree, anything that has Sess/Kagu is good in my books! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Ok, now on to the story...

Sesshoumaru had never been one to fall into an enemies trap. As he Jaken, and Rin left Toutousai with the reforged Tenseiga, he knew he was being watched. Naraku's scent was distinctive, and one the tai-youkai would not soon forget. He was quite certain it was the detachment Byakuya, but Sesshoumaru did not intend to waste time on such nuisances. He had never been one to be swayed off his intended path, and so he continued forward, unrelenting in his pursuit.

Sesshoumaru lead his followers through the forest, towards a large clearing. Naraku's odor assaulted Sesshoumaru's senses, and he continued to follow in its direction. He had hoped it was the demon Moryoumaru, but as he neared closer the scent became more distinguishable. Sesshoumaru came to a halt, and Jaken crashed into his lord's leg, before falling backwards.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken began, as he noticed a troubled look on Sesshoumaru's face. "Why have we stopped, my lord? Do you-"

"Silence Jaken," Sesshoumaru ordered. "Stay with Rin."

"But my lord-" he protested, but Sesshoumaru was no longer listening. He stepped into the clearing, then turned to the trees on the far right, his expression one of obvious confusion.

It was impossible.

She was dead. He had been there himself. He had watched as the poison coursed through her and the life drained from her body.

But there was no mistaking that scent.

"Show yourself," Sesshoumaru ordered to the trees.

Naoko smiled coyly as she stepped into the clearing to face the youkai.

Had Sesshoumaru been the type, he was certain his jaw would have dropped and his heart would have skipped a beat. He was not, however, so instead he just stared. It was her. Or it looked just like her.

Well, maybe not just like her. Her face appeared slightly older. Or perhaps older was the wrong word. Rather it seemed wiser and more mature. Her hair was different, longer. She wore it down, tied loosely in the back. A few shorter wisps fell softly around her face, as if to frame it. Her kimono was different as well, a dark shade of crimson that truly complimented her eyes.

Ah, yes. Her eyes. If nothing else, Sesshoumaru was certain those were hers. They burned with fury and hatred, but if he looked a little deeper he was certain he saw a glimmer of softness.

"You must be Sesshoumaru," she said slyly, tapping her fan against her thigh. She smiled again. "You're quite a handsome man."

"You've got a fine face."

Sesshoumaru growled inwardly at her words. This meeting… It was nearly identical to his first encounter with Kagura. But this could not be her, he reasoned. It was impossible. And rather than allow some old memory trigger some sort of foolish emotion, Sesshoumaru did what he did best.

He attacked.

Before the woman had a chance to react his claws were around her neck, and he lifted her body off the ground.

Naoko gagged as Sesshoumaru's grip tightened around her throat. She cursed herself as her own hands frantically clawed at his hands, causing her to mistakenly drop her fan. Naoko glared at the inu-youkai. He was fast, there was no disputing that. And without her fan she was virtually helpless.

"Who are you?" Sesshoumaru demanded, "Why do you have Kagura's scent?"

"I don't know of any Kagura," Naoko answered. This obviously was not the answer he had desired because his grip on her neck became even tighter and the tips of his claws pierced into the soft flesh.

"Your scent is identical to hers," Sesshoumaru growled. "Who are you?"

"My name is Naoko," she spat. "I was born of Naraku's flesh."

Naoko? How was it possible? Sesshoumaru knew he had not misidentified her scent. But he was also certain that this woman was not lying.

"What is your business with this Sesshoumaru?"

"Naraku sent me," Naoko choked out, between desperate gasps. "I was intended to destroy you."

At this Sesshoumaru snorted in disgust.

"You are a fool to challenge me," Sesshoumaru said simply, before throwing the woman to the ground. "It would not be worth my time." At this Sesshoumaru turned his back to her, heading to collect his traveling companions.

Naoko glared at the demon's back as she slowly lifted herself off the ground. She smiled inwardly as she noticed she had landed mere inches from her fan.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance," Naoko yelled, as she opened her fan. "You'll regret it in the afterlife."

Sesshoumaru stopped, then turned back to face the woman.

"Dance of Flames!" she screamed, as a burst of fire erupted from her fan. Sesshoumaru jumped, just barely avoiding the flames. Naoko only smiled. "You cannot escape me! I control everything around you!"

Sesshoumaru scoffed as he landed in front of Naoko.

"You would be wise to leave now," Sesshoumaru said calmly. "Killing you would be a waste of my talents."

"Heh," Naoko sneered, raising her fan again. "I think you're just too cowardly to fight me. Dance of Blades!"

Sesshoumaru stood stunned for a moment, before leaping to safety. However the slight hesitation resulted in one of the blades piercing his arm. Again, the tai-youkai was confused. Not only did this woman have Kagura's scent and appearance, she also had her attacks?

"Humph," Naoko grumbled. "Killing you is going to be too easy. I don't know why Naraku wouldn't let me do it sooner."

At that, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. Of course.

This was Naraku's doing. He created this woman to somehow distract the great Sesshoumaru. It was the only logical explanation, and Sesshoumaru had always been one to trust logic over emotional speculation.

This Naoko was created to simply throw him off. Sesshoumaru growled, insulted that Naraku did not fully appreciate his strength and power. This Sesshoumaru would not be thrown off by the memory of a dead woman.

At this he reached for Tenseiga. Naoko did not seem threatened, however. Instead she laughed in Sesshoumaru's face. Insolent wench.

"You intend to attack me with that?" she spat. "A blade which cannot cut?"

Sesshoumaru half-smiled at her ignorance. Naraku must have told her the sword was not a threat.

"Silence woman," he said calmly, then raising the Tenseiga, he attacked. "Path of Darkness!"

Naoko laughed, as she felt nothing more than a slight gust of wind. She was about to open her mouth to speak, when she sensed something behind her. She turned to see a black crescent forming where the swords path had passed. She stared in fear as the crescent void began to come near. Frantically she raised her fan.

"Dance of the Earth!" she screamed. The ground around her began to shake and rumble, before lifting towards the air, forming a large cliff where Naoko stood. The crescent fissure continued on its path, crashing through the rock and dirt that had lifted Naoko. She watched in horror as the fissure passed through the boulder she had formed, leaving a gap in the solid mass. She screamed as she tumbled back down to the ground, landing among the rubble at Sesshoumaru's feet.

"How…" she groaned, lifting herself to her knees. "How is it possible?"

Sesshoumaru sheathed his Tenseiga. He was disappointed that she had dodged his blow, but he had to admit he was impressed with her ability to control the elements.

"Naraku did not tell you?" He asked, though it was really more of a statement than a question.

"He said the sword was useless!" she spat angrily.

"Odd," Sesshoumaru said again, his tone cold and uncaring. "I am certain that Byakuya would have informed him of the swords new ability."

Naoko growled. Was this true? Had Naraku lied? She shook her head. No, the dog was lying. Her lord would never willingly send her into harms way…

"I don't believe you," she spat. Sesshoumaru stood beside her, then roughly lifted her into his grasp. His hand once again gripped her throat as he pinned her back against his chest.

Naoko gasped, then shuddered slightly in his rough embrace. Only then did she realize how familiar he was to her. Being in his embrace, even while against her will, seemed to unlock something deep inside of her. As ifsome part of herhad been longing for this moment... She shook her head, then tried to pull away. She was being ridiculous. She struggled against him, but could not break away. His strength amazed her. How he was able to restrain her with only one arm… She was impressed in spite of herself.

Sesshoumaru held the struggling sorceress against him. What had tempted him to do so was beyond him. He loosened his grip on her neck, then slowly moved his hand down to her chest, stopping where her heart should be. Naoko struggled even harder at the violation.

"What are you doing to me?" she demanded, but Sesshoumaru ignored her question.

"You have no heart beat," he said simply. Why he did not kill her in that instant, he was unsure. For some incomprehensible reason he was unable to do so. So instead he threw her to the ground. Naoko glared at him, the fury burning in her crimson eyes.

"What of it?" she spat at him, standing to her feet.

"Naraku held Kagura's heart captive as well," he said, before turning away from her.

Naoko stared as he walked to the edge of the clearing.

"Who the hell is this Kagura?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Sesshoumaru did not turn around, nor did he answer. Naoko watched him leave with what was almost some sort of fascination.

She should have attacked him again. While his back was turned. She should have killed him like Naraku had ordered. But she couldn't.

Instead she watched him leave, almost mesmerized by the glimmer of silver dancing behind him.

A/N: Whew, that chapter was hard to write. I wanted Naoko and Sesshy's first meeting to havea lot of tension. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm not too sure about the fight scene though. From what I gathered in the manga, the Path of Darkness came from behind the person being attacked. I'm not sure what would happen if it hit an inanimate object, like the cliff, so I just assumed it would cause that to disappear as well. Anyways, review please!