Putting the Damage On

Chapter 10 :: Nightmare Returns

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Author's Note: Chapter 10! Eek, I realized that I had typed Chapter 10 last time! LOL! I don't know how I managed that. Ehh, anyway, this is Chapter 10. Hehe. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Warnings: Naraku's back, so you know… other than that there isn't really anything.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

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Sango stretched as she awoke two mornings later. She still felt renewed. After the encounter with Inuyasha and Miroku, seeing their faces had given her strength. But most of all, she had a purpose again. There was a reason to live. It gave her the strength to go on.

She had taken to sleeping in Kagura's quarters, since Naraku was currently in seclusion. The room, her room, her prison… only brought nightmares and she believed that she'd go mad in that room if she stayed any longer than possible inside its walls.

"Sango." It was Kagura. She was always awake before Sango. "I met with Inuyasha and Miroku earlier this morning. They wish to attack the castle tomorrow, when Kagome is scheduled to return to this era."

Sango nodded, a grin spreading across her face, "Kirara is with Kagome…"

"You'll need a weapon." Kagura said, grabbing a sheath that Sango had not noticed until Kagura reached for it, "I pilfered this for you. You're good with swords, right?"

Sango nodded. A echo of her father praising her for her swordsmanship flashed in her mind's eye and she looked away.

Kagura didn't seem to notice, or she pretended she hadn't anyway, "Good."

"What about Kanna?" Sango asked suddenly, "Will we be fighting against her or will she join us? I want to save her too, Kagura…"

"Who knows. She's very secretive. Or perhaps she doesn't even know yet. Kanna's enslavement runs a lot deeper than even mine. I… I doubt she will ever be able to disobey him." Kagura told Sango. Kagura placed the sword beneath the floor boards. She smiled at Sango, "This is my secret hiding place. We'll keep it there until tomorrow."

"Right." Sango agreed.

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He chuckled.

At last, Kagewaki's soul was almost completely locked inside of his mind now. It had taken him less time than he'd imagined. The prince was an unusually strong human, but he was human nonetheless and his soul was still weak. Naraku chuckled again. He slowly made his way towards Sango's quarters, itching to see the results of what he had accomplished.

He stopped. She was not there. Then where was she? He blinked, sensing for her spiritual energy.

She was with Kagura.

He smirked. It wasn't surprising that the two had developed a companionship. The look in their eyes was the same, resentment and anger, mixed with humiliation and pain. And a desire for revenge.

He stepped into Kagura's rooms, both had been silent for awhile, most assuredly had sensed his presence.

"Master Naraku, you've returned earlier than you predicted." Kagura said carefully, and then she stood and bowed, "Is there anything you need?"

"Leave." He ordered and Kagura stood staring at him for a moment. He noticed her eyes cut back to Sango, who barely moved. And then the sorceress left the room without a word.

"Its been some time, my dear Sango." Naraku said, sitting on Kagura's chair. He smiled at Sango, revealing his teeth. "You're looking well."

"I don't feel well," Sango said quietly, looking away from him.

"Is that so…" He whispered, moving from his seat towards the pallet Sango was sitting up on. Sango pulled the blankets up higher around at her and cut her narrowed eyes at him.

"Don't get so close, Naraku." Sango hissed. "You… are unbearable…"

He caught her face in his hand and dug his finger nails into her chin, "I'm sorry you feel that way…" And then he kissed her.

Sango dug her nails into his arms and growled against his lips, "I despise you Naraku… and I'll kill you for this…"

He only chuckled and pushed her to the ground.

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Inuyasha lifted his head towards the sky. They'd returned to Kaede's village (flying on Miroku's loyal little friend who's name Inuyasha couldn't quite remember at the moment) and were waiting for Kagome to return.

There was a lack of excitement inside of Inuyasha. All he could think about was his last meeting with Sango. Why had that fool done something so stupid? And why had he let her?

Inuyasha cursed under his breath and turned over. He was lying in a field, his arms behind his head. This was torture. The things she must be going through… Inuyasha's breath caught in his throat and he snarled. Naraku would pay with his life for this!

"Inuyasha…?"

"Hnn…?" Inuyasha turned towards Miroku, who had taken a seat beside him.

"Why do you think she went back?" It seemed Miroku's thoughts had been consumed with the last meeting as well.

"How should I know?" Inuyasha snapped, "I can't understand her!"

"But you did for a moment." Miroku said softly, staring past Inuyasha, "Didn't you? That's why you let her go."

"What?" Inuyasha asked, blinking, "What are you talking about?"

The houshi seemed to shake himself. Then he smiled good naturedly at Inuyasha, "It was nothing. When Kagome-sama arrives tomorrow, we'll head straight for Naraku's castle. Kagura said that the castle is surrounded and protected by a barrier. I'm not sure, but I think with Kaede-sama's help we should be able to penetrate it. I've contacted Kouga, and he said he'd help along with Ginta and Hakkaku. We should have a fair chance."

"Sango is our first priority." Inuyasha said softly, "Then we'll worry about Kagura and the others. I'll distract Naraku…"

Miroku nodded and the two sat in silence.

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Kagura cursed under her breath as she closed the doors behind her. That disgusting bastard! She growled. She caught sight of Kanna and Kagura followed her, catching the spiritless little girl by the shoulder, "Kanna. Promise you wont interfere with us tomorrow."

Kanna's dark eyes stared up at Kagura, "I can not promise."

"Don't throw your life away." Kagura said harshly, "The taijiya does not wish to kill you but I will if you try and stop me from gaining freedom. I will be free." Kagura said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "And so will Sango and Kohaku. You can be free as well. Doesn't that interest you at all?"

"I have no interest other than Naraku's." Kanna said solemnly, "I am his tool, his weapon, and that is all. You should realize this as well Kagura."

Kagura let go of the girl's shoulder and looked away, "I'll kill you quick and painless, Kanna." And then she walked away.

"And I would kill you painlessly as well, dear sister. But Naraku would never allow it." Kanna's face was blank.

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Whoo. The tenth chapter. Finally, huh? Tee hee, sorry everyone. ::bows head::

Well, Naraku's back. And now he wont be as soft or affectionate. Eh, bad news.

Inuyasha and Miroku…. Hehe X

Kanna's a hard character to work with. I've sort of gone down a little bit of a different path with her. She's not really interested in anything, and only concerns herself with Naraku. She likes Kagura, but she wont hesitate to kill Kagura if Naraku were to order it. She's embraced the fact that she is his tool, his weapon. That her existence is his amusement. Its sad. But she doesn't act sad. She's just there.

Its hard. I try not to make her sound too passionate, more cool and offhand. I don't know. I don't think its working. ::sighs:: I also wrote that part where she mumbles the word fun in an earlier chapter on purpose. It was to show that she's not completely unreachable. Its just gonna take someone more like Sango than Kanna's current company (Naraku: evil, Kagura: cold, Kikyo: lifeless, Kohaku: has no memories, and herself: soulless)Sango is more alive, more passionate.

Or so I think so anyway. I'm starting to ramble, so I'll end this. Later everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and would like to review to say so, hehe, anyway, it's over so I'll see you with the next chapter.