Disclaimer: Yeah, I own Inuyasha...and Naruto...and the Empire Sate building...and the Internet. A cookie for all those who believe me...along with a nice white coat with long sleeves and straps... '

Chapter 6 "The Uses of a Slave"

"This is unacceptable!" Kagura protested. Naraku eyed his incarnation fiercely.

"And why do you think that, Kagura?" he asked smoothly. The youkai before him unfurled her fan and curled her hand, bringing it alongside her jaw in disapproval.

"Five years she's been here, Naraku!" Kagura snapped. "And where is this new Shikon jewel?" Naraku shifted where he sat across the dark room. Kagura, he knew, had no knowledge of what was happening between he and Kagome, but she was growing suspicious.

"Leave the worrying to me, Kagura," he nearly growled. "The shikon jewel is not your concern." The other flicked her fan in agitation.

"You're very defensive of her, Naraku," she angled. "Have you gone soft?" Naraku chuckled.

"On the contrary," he began, " in a way, I treat her worst of all." Kagura huffed.

"I don't see how," she argued.

"Kagura, I have a mission for you," Naraku stated in a business-like manner. The youkai listened silently. "I want you to go to the northern boarders. Find where Sesshomaru is, and report back here for further instruction." Kagura pulled a feather from her hair angrily and stormed out.

...Meanwhile...

"Down you go!" Kagome shouted, whipping her long staff around to trip Kohaku. The fit seventeen-year-old boy hit the ground hard, the end of the staff in front of his nose before he could do anything else. Kagome laughed. "Whadda you know, I finally beat you!" she grinned. "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you went easy on me today." Kohaku grinned, slapping away the staff and moving to sit up. His brown eyes seemed yellow as he sat in the sunlight.

"Nah, I'd never do anything like that," Kohaku responded sincerely. Kagome spun her staff and sat down beside him. The two looked off into the west and sighed as the sky painted itself red, pink, and gold. Kohaku fidgeted with his weapon, a question catching in his throat. What response would she give? Would she answer at all? He looked at Kagome, her high ponytail catching the light like onyx stone, yet floating in the wind like plumes. She had changed so much these last few years. She never cried or seemed cheery. She had exchanged her outgrown school uniform for a white kimono, and she always seemed to be wearing Naraku's haori over it. That's what he wanted to know about. "Kagome?"

"Yes, Kohaku?" her brown eyes were rusty red. Kohaku had forgotten exactly when that happened -it was some time ago for sure -but he never quite grew used to it. Kohaku hesitated, adverting his eyes downward.

"What happened to make you change?" Kohaku looked back up at her, seeing the question in her eyes. He hesitated again. "I -What I mean to say is -you..." Kohaku let out a sigh of defeat. "Sorry, Kagome," he managed, moving to stand, "Just forget I said anything." Kagome grabbed his wrist before his legs could straighten entirely. Kohaku sat back down. "Kagome, these last few years, you've become someone else."

"It was what needed to be done," she versed. "If I am to stay here," her eyes became soft suddenly. "I must forget everything." Kohaku looked out into the distance at the disappearing sun.

"It seems the longer I stay here," Kohaku said lowly. "The more my memory is jumbled. I know now who killed Sango and Miroku," he paused. "It was me, and it's all I can remember anymore. But that day, I had no idea." He hugged his legs to his chest. The sky more pink now than anything. "I don't know them. Who they were to me...I just remember..." he choked back his words.

"What?" Kagome asked softly. The boy beside her looked her full in the eyes.

"The way their blood seeped through my fingers," he answered solemnly. Kagome adverted her eyes to the shadowed walk way as if waiting for something. Kohaku sighed. "I know what's going on." The now twenty-year-old woman bowed her head away from him. "He does not love you, Kagome."

"Be silent," Kagome commanded lowly. "You don't know what you speak of." Kagome stood, spinning her staff twice. "Which is why you will speak of it to no one." She turned quickly, striking Kohaku harshly across the face with her staff. The boy caught himself on one arm, preventing his falling into the dust.

"So that's it, is it?" Kohaku asked, rubbing the side of his face as blood seeped from his bottom lip. "You're not the same anymore, Kagome. Neither of us are." Kagome gripped her staff tightly in her hand. She knew he was right.

"Kagome," called Naraku lowly from one of the castle's paper doors. The woman turned, finding his red eyes with her own, similar ones. He turned and went back inside, leaving the door open for Kagome. The woman looked upon Kohaku's disappointed, disapproving face once more before following.

...x...

"How did you fare this afternoon?" Naraku asked when Kagome caught up with him, though he really didn't care. Kagome pulled her hair loose, allowing it to cascade almost completely down her back before answering.

"Well, I won for once," she answered lowly. Naraku half smiled, looking over his shoulder at the prisoner who was slowly becoming his soldier. His eyes narrowed.

"Oh?" he responded, coming to a stop. Kagome stopped short of him. She was a bit bothered by what Kohaku told her. Naraku could see the panic in her masked expression. "Something troubles you, Kagome?" he told more than asked. She nodded.

"I can hide nothing from you, my lord," she responded. Naraku opened the door nearest him and ushered Kagome in. It was another living chamber, dusty; rarely used. The darker positioned himself in front of Kagome. His hand warm against her face. She leaned against it, laying her own hand on top.

"What burdens you, my Kagome?" he asked in a whisper. He leaned near her to scan her eyes. Kagome bridged the gap between them, resting her forehead against his own. She sighed, not knowing how to place her words.

"My lord, are you intentions for me the same?" she questioned. "Is the jewel still what you seek?" She ran her hand up his arm and rested it on his shoulder, looking desperately into his narrow eyes.

"It is so, Kagome," he confirmed. Kagome sighed inwardly, turning away. Naraku pulled her back gently. "This is what troubles you, Kagome? You've known all along what I've wanted of you."

"But I will die of it," she argued in a whisper. Naraku's arms tightened about her, holding her firmly against his chest.

"With the power I gain from it, I can restore you," he angled. Kagome looked up at him. Naraku's arms loosened. "There is no risk for you, Kagome. You will remain with me for all time." His hand tilted her face upward. Kagome brought her own hands to his face. She caressed the skin of his cheeks, eventually allowing her hands to run down to their place on his collar bone. She leaned closer, her lips brushing his own.

"Then die for you, I shall," she whispered just before she kissed him. Naraku kissed her back gently at first, but she continued to kiss him, the moment became steadily more aggressive. Their lips locked, Naraku lifted Kagome against him.

Author's Note: Sorry about the cliff hanger...well...not really! Hah! and you guys have to wait another week to see what happens! It occurred to me that I forgot to thank someone in my last chapter. Well, two people, actually. My silver friend, o0MissKaoru0o, for being so nice and patient and helping me out with my story. (If you have not read her Sesshy+Rin fic "Love Hurts" read it NOW!) and Luciado for being my first EVER reviewer. But most of all I thank YOU ALL for being so nice with your reviews, and Jason (aka JohnnyReb) if you are reading this:-P to you.

o0MissKaoru0o& Archangelina: YOU KNOW WE LOVE YOU!