Quick Review: Kagura is being fondled by Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha is judo-kicking fish out of the way to get to Kagome, and Kagome is in the NUDE. Rock on.

A/N: I do not own Inuyasha, but in my dreams I dominate him.

Bolded text represents events from the past. Italicized text signifies the thoughts of the characters.

The clawed hand traveled up Kagura's neck like a spider, all five fingers separate legs that tickled her flesh. No one ever touched her. Every spot on her body was vulnerable flesh. The spider found her hair and released the pin that kept it wound in a bun. It slid down like a cascade of wavy ink. Then, the spider found her neck again, but it was clutching it too tightly. Her eyes flung open.

"Sessho-"

Her words were cut off. The hand was choking her. She reached up to the hand to release it, but he was much more powerful than she was. She imagined her heart in Naraku's palm now. It was shattering.

"Kagura… you really shouldn't be so obvious with your feelings. Vulnerabilities can get you into quite a bit of trouble, don't you think?"

Kagura shuddered and let out a whimper.

How could I have been so foolish?

The water beat down upon Kagome and rolled off of her every curve. She breathed in the scented air deeply, savoring every bead that touched her sore muscles and every bubble that cleansed her. Her fingers massaged shampoo into her hair so black, that it beamed blue in the light.

People forget how wonderful showers are. I can't believe Souta can be satisfied with a ten minute shower.

After minutes of the only sound in the tiny bathroom being the drum of water against Kagome's skin, she jumped at the sound of strong winds.

The window had opened.

The slap of a bare foot against the tile signaled an intruder. Kagome pressed her back against the wall of the shower, chest heaving up and down in fear. She could not make a sound, not even to call out to her mother. She looked above her where a basket of cleaning products hung from the shower head and looked back at the curtain. The shadow of a blurred figure was extracting his other leg from the window. Without removing her gaze, she reached up behind her and wrapped her pruned fingers around a pumice stick.

I'll beat him. He's unarmed. I'll beat the bastard to death for ever setting foot in this house.

The shadow on the other end of the curtain grew larger. He was coming toward her, something twitching on top of his head. She squinted at the figure.

What are those on his head? Wait… it couldn't be—

"Naraku," Kagura managed to whimper. He smiled behind her and strengthened his grip on her neck. She struggled against him.

"Clever girl. How did you know?" He released her neck, and she doubled over, taking in air in vast amounts. She stood up, tears glistening in her eyes, a shaking hand gently fingering her neck. He was changing forms again. Those golden spheres turned an abysmal black. Silver hair whipped in an illusionary wind to become as dark and twisted as night. Naraku returned to his human form.

"That's a nasty trick," she spat.

They're ears! Inuyasha?

Suddenly, a clawed hand pulled back the curtain and Kagome immediately began screaming. Inuyasha stood there, completely naked, gripping the curtain. He silently slid into the tub and quickly cupped his hand over her mouth. Kagome stopped screaming and stared at him, bewildered. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, embarrassed at her own nudity and perhaps even more embarrassed at her reaction to his. His sinewy muscles stretched over every inch of his body. He was sun-kissed from traveling by foot, and his tawny eyes were intense. The water was now wetting his silver hair, making it reflect the dim lights of the bathroom.

"Kagome! Kagome, are you all right in there?" her mother called from the other side of the door. Inuyasha looked down at Kagome and mouthed, "Just a spider."

"Ye- Yes, Mom. I'm fine. It was… just a spider," Kagome replied carefully, her eyes never leaving Inuyasha's. Creaking stairs signaled her mother's satisfied retreat.

Inuyasha's eyes left the door of the bathroom and met her own. He was searching her, and it made Kagome uncomfortable. She felt he was searching her for weakness. Inuyasha pressed himself against her and pinned her between himself and a wall.

"Inuyasha-"

Inuyasha silently pressed a finger to her lips and smirked.

"Inuyasha…?" she whispered. The heat of his body was overwhelming her. She was completely enveloped in his flesh, the hot water pounding on both of their bodies. She began to breathe more heavily, thinking she couldn't stand any longer. Inuyasha coiled his hands around her waist and tipped his head down to her neck. Eyes wide, Kagome kept her hands to her side, trapped, dropping the pumice stick. He flicked his tongue against the tender flesh of her neck and, despite all the heat, she shivered uncontrollably. His hands snaked to her sides and felt the indents of all her ribs with his claws. He was ever so gently rubbing up and down against her skin, their bodies slick with sweat and water. Kagome wanted to lose herself in this sensation, this touch that she craved. But something wasn't entirely right--

"This is my favorite new trick. I came across a demon that was transforming itself to replicate the image of a villager in order to forage for food. Ever since I had slain his body and absorbed his power, I seem to have adopted this 'nasty trick,'" Naraku mused. "This is how we are going to get the girl."

Kagura closed her eyes and laughed quietly.

"What?" Naraku snapped. His anger was fuel to Kagura's glee.

"There are a few major flaws in your plan," she said.

Something isn't right here… He seems…

This thought was cut short. Inuyasha had moved to her jawline, placing small kisses along the delicate bone. Kagome's head tilted back, and she tentatively moved her hands to his hips. This caused him to pull closer and reach one hand behind her, groping at her back.

He smells differently! And his breath is cold and harsh… is he sick?

Inuyasha began to play with the tendrils of her hair. His lips were moving up to the corners of her mouth.

He hasn't said one word to me. Something is wrong.

"Explain yourself," Naraku demanded. Kagura looked him in the eye and laughed defiantly. His nose curled in disgust, and he charged toward her, grasping her neck. "Explain yourself."

Kagura choked out her words.

"You underestimate the powers of this girl. Remember whose soul she harbors, Naraku," Kagura said. Naraku recoiled at the implication of Kikyou's name, allowing Kagura more room to speak.

"Your voice does not mimic those of the ones you imitate. Your breath is still cold, and you still reek of illness," Kagura said quietly. Naraku tilted his chin upwards, passively defying this statement. Kagura smiled.
"Feel free to try. But beware the powers of this miko."

"Inuyasha, this isn't right. Please-"

Inuyasha silenced her protests with his lips, firmly pressing his mouth against hers. She recalled the last time he had kissed her, after she had arrested his demon development. It felt nothing like this. There was anger in this kiss.

"Inuyasha, STOP!" She shoved the hanyou off of herself and stumbled out of the tub. Inuyasha did not frown disappointedly or show signs of hurt. His lips curled at the corners, a demonic smile playing on his lips. Kagome backed away helplessly. She looked out the open window toward the moon, and realized that it wasn't there.

"The new moon…" Kagome whispered. She looked back at the hanyou that was fast approaching her. His ears twitched upon his silver head.

"YOU'RE NOT INUYASHA!"