"Yo." Kagura stated and smiled smugly at the group. "I thought you should know that you're headed completely in the wrong direction. That is…" she paused. "if you are still searching for Naraku."

Miroku diplomatically stepped to the front of the group and attempted to ask Kagura what business she had with them. The monk knew Kagura's allegiance to Naraku was shaky at best and hoped to glean some much needed information from her.

He prided himself on his abilities to seduce others. This seduction would be about information of course, but the game of cat and mouse would still bring him pleasure. He caught Inuyasha's eye and could easily tell the hanyou was not in the mood for conversation. This could be tougher than he thought.

"Kagura!" Inuyasha shouted. "I don't know what you're trying to pull, and I really don't care!" He growled to add emphasis to his next words, "you're goin' down!"

"Inuyasha, wait!" Miroku chided as he stepped between them. He looked over at Kagome and she nodded to acknowledge her understanding. She knew what to do if Inuyasha persisted.

"What's you're problem, Miroku?" Inuyasha growled. He stepped back and looked back and forth at Kagome and Miroku, he could tell they were up to something.

"Inuyasha," Kagome interrupted, "give the monk a chance. Besides… you can always take Kagura down when she's done talking…" Kagome hoped Inuyasha would back down. She didn't want to have to sit him, he would just complain and then she'd sit him again and… the vicious circle sometimes had trouble coming to and end.

"Kagura, you did not answer my question." Miroku persisted, taking the opportunity to try and charm some information out of her. "What motivated you to cross our path today? What business do you have with us?"

Kagura glanced and him and continued to smirk. She knew what he was aiming at but she wouldn't be played for a fool. Besides, she had already met her objective. How surprised Naraku would be by her news… she couldn't wait to see his face.

"Wouldn't you like to know, monk!" Her lips curled as she snatched a magic feather out of her hair. A powerful gust of wind shot up around her and she continued to gloat. "Not today…" she cried as she made her escape.

"Well, she certainly looked like the cat that ate the canary." Sango marveled.

"or mouse…" Miroku replied.

> > > > > > > >

The sun was now setting and Kagome sat at the edge of the river alone. She had gone there to collect fresh water but got lost in her thoughts. 'That was a close call…' she thought to herself. She still hadn't told any of them about her fight with Naraku and how Sesshomaru had stepped in and saved her. Sesshomaru. The very thought of him made her blush and she continued to struggle though her conflicting emotions. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't get him out of her head. She was beginning to look forward to dreaming about him. Their secret battle with Naraku would not stay a secret forever, and she did not want her friends to feel betrayed.

She sighed deeply and tried to smile. The sky was so beautiful and here she was worrying about things that hadn't happened yet. She stood up with determination and made a silent promise to herself. She would tell them in the morning.

A figure stood in the distance and watched her head back to the camp. 'Alone again.' He pondered to himself, still unaware of her growing abilities. He may have thought she was alone but she knew better. She had sensed him standing in the shadows and felt safe under his protection. If she had known of his growing abilities she would not have pondered so much in his presence for he heard every thought.

Back at camp she prepared the group some "ninja" food for dinner. The conversation around the campfire was in that awkward stage that usually came after Inuyasha had been spending time with a certain dead priestess. Kagome didn't care tonight, she was eager to get to sleep.

"Good night everyone."

She nuzzled into her sleeping bag and hoped he would meet her in her dreams again.

She felt out of control. It was only way to describe it and it scared her. She was angry, hungry, exhausted, manic, and breathless. She had been running, no – chasing something. Or someone? Naraku! She could smell his disgusting scent and felt her blood coursing though her veins. She felt so wild. Her whole body seemed to be changing. She looked at her hands and her nails were long and sharp. They were dripping with green poison, like Sesshomaru's claws! She wanted to kill something and she didn't even care what it was – she just wanted blood.

And then she saw him standing some distance from her. An angelic figure in contrast to her increasingly demonic self. Instinctively she lunged toward him with surprising speed and agility.

"Control yourself!" he spat.

She looked up at him, eyes now brimming with tears. He had grabbed her arm in order to hold her back, but she would not remain still. She fought against him even as his claws penetrated her flesh. Blood trickled from the mall wounds but he wouldn't budge. It wasn't his intention to harm her, but she would not succumb to his grip.

Finally, her countenance changed and she was normal again. He released her and she fell onto his embrace and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Why?" she cried as she choked back more tears. "Why are you doing this to me?"

He looked down at her glimmering eyes and felt pity for her. He wanted to save her from this pain, from this struggle. "Why are you doing this to me?" he replied.

She looked up at him, confused at first. And then she saw it in his eyes. She saw herself. What she meant to him, and how he loved her – she saw everything. She wasn't alone.

She kissed him gently and smiled. "When you're near me… I can sense you there. Even when I don't see you…" she began.

He returned her kiss with a more passionate one. "I can hear you… your thoughts. I know your fears and your desires." He held her in his gaze and kissed her again.

"I… want… you… to… hear… me…" she whispered in-between each kiss.

"I… want… you… to… see… me…" he responded in the same manner. With each kiss deeper and more passionate than the last. Soon they were feverishly kissing each other and frantically exploring each other with their hands.

Her fingers tangled into the hair at the back of his neck and she pulled herself closer to him. He groaned in response and frantically removed his armor. It fell to the ground with a loud clank, interrupting their momentum. They stood and stared at each other in silence.

His golden eyes sparkled warmly at her, and she blushed. He pulled her close to him and whispered in her ear.

"Wake up."

Kagome's eyes flashed open and she sat up in pain. She looked down at her throbbing arm and gasped. Blood trickled from the fresh wound in her forearm.