"Hai, I understand that." She finally managed. "I should probably try to get some sleep." Kagome was about to turn to go back, when Inuyasha stopped her. They were staring directly at each other, and Kagome felt her breath catch in her throat. Inuyasha slowly bent his lips close to hers and kissed her softly. Kagome's first reaction was surprise, and then she kissed back. After they'd broken it off, Inuyasha questioned Kagome. "
Why are jealous of Kikiyo?" Inuyasha asked.
Kagome decided it was now or never "Because, I love you Inuyasha." She felt like she'd just had a huge rock lifted off her chest. Inuyasha wouldn't admit this but this made him extremely happy.
"Aishiteru Kagome." Inuyasha said softly back. Kagome did one of her all too famous throwing her arms around him; the difference was he held her back this time.
Back to Sango and Miroku:
Sango awoke to find Kagome absent from her sleeping bag. Shippo was curled around the spot Kagome's head usually laid. She supposed Kagome had gone somewhere to have some private thinking time. Sango however was sneaking off for entirely different reasons. She was going near the hot springs to meet him. Miroku was there looking calm as he usually did when with the other of the shard hunters, this changed however when he spotted his beloved Sango. Miroku smiled and she fell into his arms. Miroku held her tightly a question weighting heavily on his mind.
"Sango I need to ask you something." Sango looked up at him curiously. "
What is it?" She asked. Miroku screwed up his courage.
"Sango, will you marry me?" Sango looked surprised. "You want to marry me? Miroku asked with a blush on his face.
"Honestly?" She smiled widely and clutched him tightly. "Yes I will." She replied a moment later. Miroku smiled happily and kissed her passionately. Most everyone had figured out their romance by now, so they no longer kept it hidden.
Back to Naraku's Castle:
Naraku was having a very strained conversation with a very angry Kikiyo.
"I am not your slave!" Kikiyo barked.
Naraku smirked "I brought you back from the dead, so henceforth I control you."
Kikiyo almost spat on Naraku. "I came to destroy the jewel shards before they cause more destruction! I won't stop till I send you to hell." Raven walked in, just as Naraku managed to restrain Kikiyo. Her eyes darted from Kikiyo to her love Naraku. "Is that Kikiyo?" Raven said wide-eyed.
Naraku held out his hand to her, which she took. "Yes I found her being her all righteous self in some village." She leaned into his shoulder. Naraku put his arm around her. "She's naturally angry at Inuyasha so I figure I'll just turn her lose." Naraku grinned. Raven planted herself in the warmth and comfort of his arms, she'd been here for nearly seven months, and they'd managed to throw off Inuyasha and company for a good while. She looked at him and decided it was time to tell him something she knew she was certain of.
"Naraku, aishiteru." Raven said sheepishly. Naraku had a genuine smile
"I love you to, I am certain of that much." He kissed her but Kikiyo stirred to break up the happy moment.
"Got yourself a harlot has you?" Kikiyo's eyes burned into the half-demon's. Naraku's eyes burned with rage. "She is not a harlot or anything near it. You will learn best to hold your tongue."
Kikiyo laughed bitterly. "Since when did I, a priestess, obey the likes of you?" Naraku growled and managed to torture Kikiyo into submission. "You will obey me. You will take Kohaku and kill Inuyasha and Kagome." Kikiyo's eyes were blank and lifeless, as she obeyed the order blindly. Kohaku's eyes held the same vacant and blank expression. His scythe was clutched in one hand, the jewel shard keeping him alive tightly embedded in his back. Raven held onto her love tightly, fear rising up in her chest. She had a bad feeling this meeting would come off the worst end. Kikiyo was thrown between of fits of consciousness and mind control. That's when Naraku's voice filled her eardrums, kill them, and make sure they will not threaten my mission. Kikiyo's eyes grew dull and she trudged forward through the wood, she knew Inuyasha very well, and could find him easily.
Back to camp with Inuyasha and Company:
Kagome was resting on Inuyasha's shoulder, and Inuyasha holding her protectively. He was always fully alert, even when he slept. That's when he heard a commotion in the distance. He could smell a familiar scent, Kikiyo? He gently placed Kagome in her sleeping bag
"Sorry Kagome." He apologized softly and headed off in the direction of the scent. Kagome's dreams were disturbed to say the least. The sight of Inuyasha lying dead and lifeless on the ground racked her body. She woke up to find Inuyasha had left. She looked puzzled, why would Inuyasha leave her? She sighed, he had his reasons, she supposed as she drifted back into an uneasy sleep.
Kikiyo stopped as she heard Inuyasha in the distance. "The others must be close by head that way." She commanded Kohaku whose mission was to kill Sango and Kagome both. Kohaku mindlessly obeyed and left just as Inuyasha arrived. Kikiyo reached for her arrows.
"KIKIYO WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" This was the panicked shout of Inuyasha.
"I am here to finish what I started and kill you." Kikiyo replied in am monotone. Kikiyo shot a sacred arrow at Inuyasha dodged it.
"Are you insane! You're under Naraku's control snap out of it!" He yelped.
Kikiyo gazed at him blankly. "I cannot stop until I have destroyed you!" She shot another arrow, which managed to graze Inuyasha's chest. Inuyasha winced slightly in pain and drew his sword for protection.
"Kikiyo stop this! We're not enemies! I can help you!" Inuyasha managed to grab her and shake her. "I CAN protect you!" Some fire appeared in her eyes as she kicked him off her.
"YOU will do well to learn to keep your hand off me!" She managed to pin Inuyasha to a tree and drew a small knife. "Now is the time for you to die Inuyasha." Inuyasha was fully prepared to feel a stab wound, when Kikiyo suddenly let out a yelp of pain.
"I don't think so Kikiyo!" Kagome's voice rang out. Kagome had shot a sacred arrow, which had struck her in the leg. Kikiyo shot an arrow and so did Kagome they hit mid air and exploded.
"So you are the girl they say looks like me and can detect jewel shards." Kikiyo directed this comment at Kagome.
Kagome's eyes burned. "I'm a lot different than you." She had the bow of her arrow cocked and Kikiyo smirked.
"You can never defeat me. I have powers beyond your imagination." Kikiyo laughed coldly.
Inuyasha had time to recover and grabbed Kikiyo. "Snap out of it!" Inuyasha shouted. Regardless of what Inuyasha was trying to do, Kagome felt a slight twinge of jealousy. Kikiyo finally regained her resurrected dead instead of mindless zombie look.
" Damn! I have fallen under Naraku's control!" She cursed loudly and Kagome narrowed her eyes in supreme dislike. Kohaku stood over Sango, his evil mission fresh in his head. His scythe was inches above her throat. Something in Kohaku snapped, what was he doing? This was his sister, Sango. He stopped before he could even cut her face, and was about to run to the forest when Sango awoke. "KOHAKU!" She cried as she spotted him. Her cries awoke Kirara who transformed. Miroku was instantly on guard, and picked up the slumbering Shippo. "Let's go after him." Miroku suggested. He jumped on Kirara's back and they all took off at a run.
"LET GO OF ME INUYASHA!" Kikiyo growled as she punched him hard in his wounded abdomen area. Kagome looked on in alarm and ran to his side. Kikiyo began taking off at light speed.
"We have to go after her." Inuyasha managed after some of the initial pain had subsided.
"But how, you can't carry me." Kagome wandered. Kagome managed to help Inuyasha stand up. That's when Kohaku passed by in a blaze of silver light. Sango managed to grab Inuyasha who in turn had Kagome.
"He's heading towards the east, we must keep up with him!" Sango commanded.
Back to Naraku's Castle:
Raven was sitting in Naraku's lap when Kikiyo came back looking bruised.
"You tricked me!" Kikiyo snarled. She shot an angry arrow, which Naraku blocked.
He hit her with a spell angrily. "You'll watch where you're aiming devil woman. I don't have time to deal with you right now." He put up an impenetrable border around his fortress. Raven shook, that arrow had almost hit her.
"It's alright, you're safe with me." Naraku consoled. She shifted back into the warm and comfortable safety of his arms.
"I know." Raven said. She snuggled close to his well-chiseled chest and held him tightly. He held her close to him, fearing these moments with her could well be his last.
"I want you to know how deeply I love you Raven." He sealed this proclamation with a kiss. She kissed back extremely passionately, clutching him tightly all the same.
"I love you Naraku-chan. IS this whole ordeal really necessary?" He touched her face gently, she closed her eyes, and it was truly a gentle caress.
"I'm afraid so." Naraku confirmed. With that they commenced holding one another tightly and kissing, as a cold, cool rain showered them.
Back to Inuyasha and Company on Kirara:
"Damn rain." Muttered Inuyasha as they were pelted with large raindrops. Kagome shivered slightly, her Japanese schoolgirl outfit wasn't exactly suited for cold weather. Inuyasha noticed this and draped his fire rat jacket around her shoulders.
"Here I don't want you freezing on me or anything." Inuyasha said gruffly. Kagome smiled, some things about Inuyasha never change.