The next morning was uneventful with the exception of Koga's departure, the usual argument between Kagome and Inuyasha, and Kagome taking off down the well in frustration.

It had been a week since. Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and Rose stayed at Kiade's. To pay them back for their kindness, Rose had offered to scan the area for signs of Naraku. The shard gave her great speed and stamina. While she searched for Naraku, she also kept an eye out for Sesshoumaru. It was late in the evening and the end of the week when Rose came across a large castle many miles away from the village.

'I thought I checked this area before,' she thought as she stepped through the open gates. Rose looked about. Sure enough, it matched Sango's discriptions as well as what Rose had seen in episodes back in her time. 'This has to be it.' Rose was about to leave, turning to go, when she came face-to-face with the wind sorceress.

"You are Rose?" Kagura asked, looking Rose up and down.

"I am," she replied. "What do you want, Kagura?" She kept a confident "leave me the hell alone" attitude in her voice as she place her hands on her full hips.

Kagura was taken aback for a moment by the fact that this stranger knew her name. With a shake of the head her shock was gone and her composure regained. "Naraku wishes to speak with you. You have no choice but to come."

Rose shurgged and decided to follow. Kagura led her through the maze like castle before they came to a doorway. "In here," Kagura said, gesturing to the beaded curtain that covered the doorway. Rose nodded then stepped in.

Naraku stood at a window at the back of the room, staring out it. It was really him, not some puppet, obvious by the fact that he wasn't wearing his baboon skin, only a pair of black pants. Rose took in the sight of his long, ebony hair falling over his scarred back and the sexy-ness of his firm abs and chest.

Naraku turned his red eyes to her, a smirk upon his thin lips. "Ah! The wolf demoness, Rose. Or maybe its the human called Rose under the disguise of a jewel shard?"

"How do you know who I am?" Rose tried her best to hide her shock, fear, and sudden feeling of helplessness.

"I have my ways." Naraku's eyes took in Rose's form as if enjoying it. "Show me your true form."

"Why should I?" The attitude in her voice was back.

"I trusted you enough to not send a puppet in my place didn't I? So why shouldn't you trust me?"

Rose eyed him. 'Good point, but still...' She didn't want to trust him, yet she did. Her morals said, 'No, this guy is evil.' Her logic said, 'Is he? Is he not ambitious? He did make a good point.' Rose was cursed with the ability to see things from both sides. Finally she agreed to do so.

She had learned to change between forms quite easily. It no longer pained her. So she did change back.

A light emited from her body, hiding it from view until it faded, and she stood before him in her orignal form and dress. Naraku smiled more and approched her. He was mere feet from her when he ran the back of his hand along her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. He continued to trace her form until his hand reached where the jewel resided. Rose jerked away from him, causing him to smirk again.

"You're not getting the shard if that's what you're thinking!" she accused.

"No, of course not, my dear. I have a deal for you." He let his hand fall to his side and stepped back, showing some respect.

"What kind of deal?" Rose stepped foreward again, showing she was interested.

"As you can see, I stand real within this castle." Naraku turned around once, his arms spread out at his sides as if to emphasis his words. He regained a business like manner, facing Rose again. "Inuyasha and his little friends are already on thier way here, following your scent. All I ask is that you stall them so I may set a trap and escape."

Rose quirked and eyebrow at him. "And what would make me do such a thing?"

"I will give you this." He held up a jewel shard. "It will raise your abilities and make you able to hold off Inuyasha. Kagura will be helping you as well. You can keep the shard afterwards, at least until I come for it again." Rose was about to point out that she had no interest in a second jewel shard, but Naraku continued on. "Also, when the poison miasma is activated, Kagura will get you out of here and take you to...Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru...the one person Rose wanted to see, the whole reason she was in this world. His image had been haunting her dreams as if urging her to find him. But would she agree to Naraku's terms? Fight Inuyasha and company, her newest companions, to protect Naraku in return for a new jewel shard and direct access to Sesshoumaru. Was it worth it to toss away these new friendships for power and aguy?