1Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. That should be enough for you people! (Cries) (Archangelina's boyfriend walks in.)

DJ ":)"

Archangelina "/"

DJ "No:)"

Archangelina "Stop it! Someone will want to steal you from me!"

Chapter 10: "To Own her Soul" Part 2

"On your own again tonight, I see," said Jihon. Kagome nodded once and took a change of clothes from the frog gratefully. "Have a nice bath, Kagome-san."

"Thank you, I will," she bowed.

Kagome made her way down the bathhouse as though she owned the place. She had certainly been there enough to have owned it, that was for sure, but as far as the servants there were concerned...Well, let us just say she wouldn't gotten near as much respect had Naraku himself not commanded it. Presently, Kagome gently pulled open the door to her private room. The water was already waiting for her. Kagome took in the smell coming from the steaming tub before her and put a hand in to test the temperature.

"Perfect," she thought aloud. She walked back to the door and quietly closed it. Perhaps she could get away with a longer bath since Naraku was not there. An extra ten minutes couldn't hurt. She looked with satisfaction and pulled off Naraku's haori, followed by her white kimono and under garments. (She had to make these herself.) She stood there for a moments or so to remove her ponytail holder, and then she walked to the lip of the tub and sat.

Slowly, she slid herself into the soothing water, letting out a sigh of delight when she had completely situated herself. The water felt great against her aching muscles. She let out another sigh and closed her eyes. How great it was to be relaxing in the warmth of the bathhouse! If nothing else, it was like paradise after most days.

...meanwhile...

Naraku left his chambers a bit worse for the wear. He was short of breath for a moment or so, but even though it was only a brief happening, it did not go unnoticed. Kagura rounded a corner and saw him in his weakened state. Naturally, she had questions.

"What's wrong, Naraku?" she asked in that uncaring tone she always seemed to be flaunting. Naraku ignored her and continued on his way, leaving his incarnation to stare suspiciously. She waited for him to leave the area and peeked inside of his chamber. Several things had been thrown out of place, as though there was a fight. A trail of dark blood wound its way from a puddle on the floor to an open window. Kagura made her way to it and observed the landscape beyond. Sure enough, she saw a few of Naraku's poisonous insects in the distance. It was then she knew exactly what had happened.

Kagura left Naraku's quarters in a hurry to catch up with him. She caught him near the main hall.

"Naraku!" she shouted urgently. He looked back to her coldly. "What have you done!"

"Kagura," he stated dryly. "Does something bother you?" His incarnation stomped her foot and growled, pointing with her fan in the direction of his quarters.

"You released Onigumo!" she exclaimed more than asked. "You know what happened the last time." Naraku peered at her.

"Would you like to take his place?" he offered coldly. Kagura eased herself. "I did not think so."

...elsewhere...

"He's harder to track than I thought," Yoshi grumbled as he worked his way through the dense forest. He wondered how much longer it would take to pick up a better trail on him. He could see bits and pieces of Naraku's fading energy, but they were scarce, and the trail was easily lost. He'd already backtracked five or six times in the last three hours. "Stupid earthen youkai," he huffed.

"Hey, we've got feelings you know!" shouted the voice of a young demon, perhaps 14 years of age. He popped out of the underbrush and stood at his full height, falling only an inch short of Yoshi. "So take that back!" he jeered. Yoshi eyed the golden-brown haired demon.

"A fox, I see," he reasoned. He noted the garments the fox demon wore. "Dressed well for a forest youkai, aren't you?"

"Who are you, and why are you insulting the youkai of the earth?" the stranger demanded, ignoring Yoshi's question completely.

"I am Yoshi of the moon demon tribe, borne of the fiery chasm," he responded. The other took a step back, shivering with fear he didn't even try to mask.

"Y-y-you're a-a-a hell demon!" he stuttered. Yoshi half smiled and took a step toward the fox youkai.

"Boo." The stranger let out a shout of fear. Yoshi laughed. "Relax, I'm not going to harm you. I'm just passing through."

"I'm not afraid of you!" the fox boy suddenly declared with a new, strong voice. Yoshi's eyes narrowed on him, and the boy started.

"Like I said, I'm just passing through," he repeated wryly. "I've gotta find the castle of some demon who calls himself hell."

"Hell?"

"Well, not 'hell,'" Yoshi restated, beginning to walk away. He called over his shoulder, "Naraku." The fox boy jumped.

"But that's impossible!" shouted the boy. "Naraku is dead!" Yoshi stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"You're right, he was," Yoshi said smoothly. "I remember seeing him in hell." Yoshi looked ahead again and started to walk once more. "Guess he escaped when my tribe did. That's the only way he could have known about us, after all."

"Wait!" the fox boy demanded, running after Yoshi. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" Yoshi stopped a second time and waited for the stranger to join him. The two walked forward together.

"What's you're name, runt?" Yoshi asked as they made their way. "And how do you know Naraku?" The fox boy grimaced at the 'runt' comment.

"My name is Shippo, and Naraku is my enemy," he informed. "I don't think you can take him on alone."

"I'm not going to 'take him on,' Shippo," Yoshi remarked. "I'm making sure a certain prisoner of his doesn't die while with him." He half smiled. "Because of my stupidity, I guess I'm her guardian demon now."

...At Sesshomaru's castle...

"Kai-dono!"Rin shouted as she ran into the castle to Kai.

"What is it, Rin-chan?" he asked as calmly as he could. The girl looked up the staircase.

"The north wing," she informed. "The first is waking up now." Kai looked up the staircase.

"The first?" he repeated.

"Um-hum."

"We must tell lord Sesshomaru."

...x...

Kagome opened her eyes and stretched out her weary limbs beneath the still hot water. She was only in the tub for ten minutes, but she felt she was pushing her luck and began scrubbing her skin down. The soap and water tickled her arms a little more than normal. She didn't mind, though. A few moments later, she dunked herself underwater to get all the soap off.

She had just began to soap up her hair when she heard a soft noise behind her. She turned and looked to the door, but saw nothing. She discarded it as something of her imagination and turned back around. Her eyes met with Naraku's.

Kagome's heart caught in her throat from the surprise. At first she didn't believe her eyes, but he was there in the opposite side of the tub. He half smiled at her.

"Naraku-sama!" Kagome nearly choked. He didn't respond. "I was here too long?" Naraku let out a breath of a chuckle.

"Is that what you think?" he cooed. Kagome instinctively backed herself against the wall of the tub. "Why are you frightened, my Kagome? I've already told you I'm not going to harm you over petty things anymore."

"I don't understand, Naraku-sama," Kagome whimpered. Naraku reached over and took Kagome's hand. He gently pulled her toward him. Kagome was still shaken.

"I am just Naraku for now, my Kagome," he said gently while he brushed her bangs to the side with his free hand. Kagome furrowed her brow.

"You test me, my lord," she surmised, trying to back away from him. Naraku caught her again and coaxed her back toward him.

"I do no such thing," he assured. Kagome shook her head.

"But what about the shikon jewel?" she tried. Naraku put a hand on her cheek.

"It's not important anymore," he coaxed. "I realize I do not need it." He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Now is the time, my Kagome." The woman grew nervous. "Are you afraid?"

"I am," she said shakily. Naraku let out a breath of a chuckle, still near her ear.

"Then you lead," he suggested. Kagome pulled back and looked at Naraku as he straightened up.

"My lord, I..."

"Naraku," he interrupted. He leaned forward and tucked some of Kagome's hair behind her ear. "Just Naraku." Kagome hesitantly placed her hand atop her captor's. Her heart ached for him.

"Naraku," she repeated cautiously. He nodded, and guided her closer to him. Slowly she leaned in, spooked when Naraku tried to meet her a part of the way. She jumped back a little.

"Don't be afraid," Naraku breathed. Kagome closed her eyes and kissed him. One kiss became another, and another, and another. Each more violent than the last...

...Author's note below...

AN: You guys know what they're gunna do. Use your imaginations if you want to, and if you don't want to know the details, you don't have to. You don't have to because I don't write lemon. Sorryz to you who may have wanted to read it, but I just don't write in those kinda details. (They embarrass me!) Review, review if you want to!