Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in neither manga or anime form. Alas, the truth reveals.

Inuyasha peeked up at the dismal sky with a look of exasperated vengeance plastered on his face. Naraku had taken so much from him, caused so much damage, and ruined everything he's ever cared about. But now that bastard had crossed the line, taking Kagome away from him for his own personal gain. The thought made him sick.

First, his precious relationship with Kikyou, and the first woman he ever loved since his mother. And she was probably the only one to care for him as well since that auspicious day Izayoi crossed over. But fate had bit them both ironically, and the wicked half-demon Naraku pitted the lovers against each other and killed both in the process. Rather, in Inuyasha's case, had put him into a deep sleep for over 50 years.

When he woke again, a young girl, very similar to Kikyou had foolishly set him free. Mistaking him for his past lover he harassed her, but closer looks and deeper sniffs revealed that she was indeed a different person, with the face of the deceased miko. The shikon jewel that sprouted from her body was enough of a clue to Kaede, sibling of Kikyou, that this girl was the reincarnation of the priestess.

Stuck together due to the girl's clumsy aim, they were thrown into intertwined fates as they tried to reassemble the Shikon No Tama. And somehow, with friends at their side they had managed to develop some type of twisted relationship. And though Inuyasha had never really told her flat out, he did care about her more than he let on and the fact that someone else he loved was gone from him made his heart twinge with sharp electric stabs. Bouts of pain ten times worse than what he had felt for his past aficionada, because of the reality that he had let it happen again.

Shippou's whimpers snapped his amber eyes from the dull gray horizon that screamed a pitiable and rainy morning was ahead. He glanced over to the little kitsune who had become something like a son to him, more so, Kagome his mother for at times Shippou's knowledge surpassed even the hanyou himself as he cuddled into the bosom of the reincarnation; not a good trait for a father to have: being less intelligent than his son. Sometimes he had to admit he envied the little child, wanting to give anything for Kagome to hold him the way she held the fox child rather than tell him to sit anytime he threatened to hit the little youkai. It was unfair.

He rose to his feet and made his way over to the redhead, his body shifting under the lightweight of his robe of the fire rat. He frowned down at Shippou who tossed and turned uneasily, little yelps escaping his barely parted lips as if to hint he was having a nightmare. The hanyou had no idea how to handle this situation. Finally, Shippou's large green orbs snapped open and he looked about in a sort of frightened daze, obviously searching for something.

"Kagome?" he said in a flustered sort of whisper, searching for her frame somewhere across Sango and Miroku. Inuyasha's heart dropped as he stared down at him. So frail, confused and vulnerable… He did not remember Kagome was gone.

"Kid," Inuyasha whispered, taking a seat down next to him and sighing with his gaze cast to the floor, "Kagome's not here."

Shippou stared at him for mere moments then suddenly his eyes dulled as he seemingly recalled what had happened yesterday. He froze entirely, simply staring up at Inuyasha with a blank expression that made him resemble marble. Then finally his eyes sparked with accusation and tears began to form in puddles in his eyes before rolling down in slow, steady streams.

Inuyasha glowered slightly, rising to his feet and stomping over to Miroku and Sango, giving both a firm nudge with his foot. His arms tucked under each other as he gazed down at them with annoyance. Finally, they began to stir and groggily looked up at the hanyou as if he had woken them from a good dream. In all honesty they were having nightmares themselves, but any sleep that night was better than none at all.

"Get up." Inuyasha commanded in an almost too brisk tone, "We have to find Kagome. Get the brat he's crying."

He knew he sounded absolutely insensitive as Sango fretfully scurried over to Shippou and hugged him tight to her soft body in an attempt to comfort him. Even still, Inuyasha wasn't concerned with anything about them, more worried about whether or not Kagome was alive and well.

"Please," he whispered softly to himself as he sniffed the air for Naraku or Kagome's scent, "Please let her be alive."

Cracking her chocolate eyes open she searched the voided area from her spot on the floor, surrounded by absolute darkness despite the early morning that glittered outside. She felt the hard surface of her surroundings; never really moving from her laying position as she surveyed the area she was in. Of course, it was not much to look at even if she could see. It was a completely empty "room."

Somehow throughout the night, after tiring herself out from crying Kagome had managed to fall asleep. It took her a few moments to realize she was not in her room before she sighed heavily and felt the tears stinging at her eyes again. She knew she shouldn't waste time crying, rather she should be trying to find a way out, but it was obviously hopeless. Unless Inuyasha came to save her she was trapped in his half-sister Emi's body.

Finally she shuffled to her feet and stood in a lazy haze, yawning and stretching her arms behind her head to wake her stiff muscles. She sighed heavily, walking leisurely in the dark room as her eyes tried to adjust to the void.

Then a dull gray light peaked through what she had once assumed was windows and she knew immediately that Emi had woken. A sort of film seemed to play before her as she sat and watched the girl lift to her feet, moving around some sort of morbid room as she acted as any human being would. Stretching and yawning, the once deceased hanyou-girl shifted in robes Kagome did not recall. No, before she was wearing what resembled the robe of the fire rat, but now she wore something a soft and silky pink, the kind of robes a queen would wear to bed.

"Some kind of sick and twisted queen she turned out to be," Kagome mentally decided, struggling not to cry again.

Emi moved one hand out in front of her face as if to admire it, then waved, obviously trying to get some one's attention. Kagome knew who of course.

"You doing all right in there?" she asked with a false sweetness, "I can hear you moving around I know you're up."

Kagome tensed, her eyes narrowing as she watched the hand drop. She made no attempt at a reply, fearing she would release words she did not think suitable of a lady. Emi laughed easily, oily and thick like Naraku before making her way outside the room into a hallway. Moving with a grand ease she went into a grand room, covered with oak and dimly lit with candles everywhere. Obviously the morning light did not permit enough this dawn. It was almost like the sky was trapped in a room as well.

Emi stopped, letting out a sensual purr before giggling and turning around. Kagome balled her fist with slight trepidation, watching with an uneasy glare as Naraku made his way before the "screen." His smile was thin but cheesy, almost as if he didn't think he could smile anymore but he forced one anyway. His crimson red eyes glowed with malice and delight and the black strands of hair that separated like yarn was pulled back into a tight ponytail.

He was adorned in a regal outfit that was quite messily thrown together, with bits of green, purple, and gold flashing in places Kagome would not have stitched them. It was appalling the way it fit him too, long green cape cascading to the floor in rumples like a curtain and sleeve hanging way too low over his hands. The whole thing appeared the most rumpled sag she'd ever seen, and she could immediately conclude that the man-if you could call him that- had slept in that terrible thing.

Emi embraced him with a brief hug and he returned it half-heartedly before pushing away and looking her deep in the eyes.

"Is that damn priestess awake?" he asked, peering through the amber orbs as if he could see Kagome glaring nastily at him inside.

He scowled as Emi nodded yes, before turning over to a long oak table and taking a seat. He gestured to the opposite side of the extraordinarily long slab and Inuyasha's half-sister accepted the silent invitation and took her spot. Naraku seemed deep in thought and Emi watched him with an anxious curiosity as a little boy finally entered the room.

Carrying a plate of food, his eyes were a voided brown, handsome as the freckles dusted his nose but he seemed lost in a trance. Emi raised a silver-blue eyebrow at her lover but he made no notice of her as Kohaku set the plate down and left before the female could say a word. Kagome looked down at the food suddenly realizing how hungry she was and her stomach let out a soft grumble. Emi folded her hands in her lap.

"The girl is hungry."

Had she heard her stomach grumble so well? It could be expected because she was half-demon, but still it was morning. She should be human now.

Naraku waved his hand dismissively as he rose to his feet and began to walk away. Emi's bland, melancholy voice called out to him once more, "Where are you going?"

He did not reply as he raced out the door with a snake-like ease and his whole demeanor was the essence of evil to Kagome as she detested him so much she felt she could spit. Emi tapped at her lip in thought then finally sighed, lifting the fork up to her lips and blowing the heat of the rice away then swallowing.

Immediately Kagome could taste food within her mouth, munching on it involuntarily she could feel the sweet heat sliding down her throat, leaving a delicious path as it went. She hungered for more, savoring the taste and her stomach growled louder, begging for more saccharine salvation. And it came with one more scoop from Emi, and Kagome greedily gobbled that taste up as well, feeling as if she hadn't tasted anything so delicious and it was little more than rice.

She didn't think she'd ever eat again, and as spoonfuls continued to scoop its way magically inside both Emi and she, Higurashi savored each mouthful as if it'd be her last. Somehow, whatever caused her to be inside Emi's mind, also made sure they shared a stomach as well. She wondered what else they shared as the controlling girl took one last swallow of the meal before deciding she was thoroughly through. Kagome felt full as well, tucking her knees into her chest very satisfied. Some of her heightened fear managed to curve as she soon found she could think more clearly.

Thank Kami for breakfast.

Leaning back until she laid down once more her thoughts turned to Inuyasha and the others. She wondered how they were making due. She hoped everything was well with them. And still… She hoped they would come for her. A pang of fear struck her heart as she thought about staying here forever. She just couldn't.

She stared at the woman with disgust, her red eyes narrowing as she observed each etch of the beauty carved within her sight. She would not allow her to be here. Not now or ever. She would do away with her for sure. She walked away silently, heading to the door before flipping a feather into the sky. And she knew just how to do it.