The inky corridor yawned before her. Determined, Mizoshi didn't dare take her eyes of the dark moving stain that was the spider. Wherever it was going, its owner wasn't far away. If Naraku wouldn't come to her anymore, she would go to him.

Strangely, the huge spider seemed to be aware that another was behind it. Sometimes it stopped; legs outstretched for a full five or ten seconds before scuttling across the wooden planks again.

The black arachnid paused at several doors but took off once more almost immediately. After two minutes had gone by, she began to get nervous. This thing had led here through so many winding halls and twisting turns; she hadn't the slightest idea where she was presently.

Relying on blind faith, she continued following her guide, the periwinkle and pink kimono rustling about her bare feet. Eventually, the arachnid disappeared into a room at the end of a wide passage. Was he in there?

Gathering her courage, she stepped inside. The room was rooted in complete darkness. A gasp was heard. Later, a screen was pushed aside, letting silver moonlight illuminate the surrounding area. And there he was. She gasped herself when she saw him.

Naraku was sitting upon the floor; dressed in his cream and lavender yukata. His black, coiling hair swirled around him like a midnight cloud and those magnetic crimson eyes were currently fixed upon her, the intruder, angrily. "What the hell are you doing here?" he hissed. Apparently, he did not enjoy being surprised in his own chambers.

"Why haven't you visited?" she countered.

He growled and clenched his sharp teeth. "How did you find me?"

"Your pet," she replied nonchalantly. "I thought that you sent him to me. So, I followed willingly."

"My pet? Oh, you mean Kuro. Yes, he's fed this evening. After he feeds, he always returns to me. Although, on this occasion, it appears as if he's brought me back a present." Kuro. Black. An apt name. Smiling now, Naraku rose from his cozy corner by the wall. "So, may I ask what my lady wanted?"

A bit boldly, not knowing what to expect, she went up to the fiery-eyed hanyou. "I wished to see you, my lord."

Cupping her face in his hands, he smirked. "How much of me would you wish to see, Mizoshi?" Without further hesitation, he roughly kissed her lips; his hands automatically sliding down to her lower regions, but she didn't pull back. She couldn't. She had chased the spider to its own web and now she was to be entangled. But the web was so soft…

She ran her fingers through his waving strands and let the silky smoothness on their lips carry her off. Possessively, Naraku held her against him. Losing herself in his caresses completely, she hardly noticed he had untied her kimono in one fluid motion and had swept it off her shoulders. Mizoshi now stood naked under the pale rays of the moon. Panic involuntarily spread throughout her chest, but she quickly staunched it as Naraku took in her body. Blushing slightly, she glanced over at the eerily still half demon. She heard him whisper one single word, more to himself than to her. "Lovely."

Silently, he brought her nude form towards him and gently laid her on the bedding below. In spite of her trivial embarrassment, she tugged at his robes. She wanted him to become as naked as she. However, he automatically pinned her wandering hands to the mattress in response. Apparently he liked to be the partner in control.

Yet, eventually his yukata did peel away; revealing the glorious rippled body underneath, and when he covered it over her own, she at last knew heaven.

Mizoshi awoke later on the wide mattress in Naraku's arms. Daring a peek at him, she immediately saw he was in a deep sleep. She sighed, settling into his embrace; hoping the moment could last forever. She was now content.

The last two hours had been a flurry of passion. Unconsciously, she had moved her lips and body along with his. What a beautiful thing.

It had hurt, but the pleasure had admittedly exceeded the pain. Mizoshi was happy for the first time since she'd fled her village by the seashore. She felt neither cheapened nor diminished by the act of lovemaking even though she wasn't formally married. Alternatively, she had the profound sensation each and every shattered part of her psyche and spirit were coming together to form something truly transcendent. She hoped beyond hope he would feel the same.

When Mizoshi chanced to look over at her demon lover again, she saw that his crimson eyes were open and focused right on her. She gasped in surprise. "Naraku."

With a burning gaze, he wrapped his arms around her tighter. He appeared ready to lay claim to her right this moment and never let her leave his chambers again. The muscles in his arms were tense, as if she half expected her to leap out into the hall.

"Naraku?" she repeated questioningly. He chuckled. "I do remember you saying my name, quite forcefully I might add, a little while ago."

Mizoshi snuggled closer to him. "You're terrible."

Fondling her hair, he chortled louder. "Yes, and don't forget it."

Shivering, and not from cold, Mizoshi was suddenly on the pillows with Naraku looming above her. There was a frisky gleam in his eyes that asked an unspoken question.

"Now? But, Naraku, it's daybreak." She gestured to the azure morning light streaming through the window screen. Rays of sunshine would soon follow. And with the golden orb, came the sound of feet. Curious feet that enjoyed to dance.

He snorted. "Is the sunrise a problem for you?"

"No, but someone might hear us." In vain, Mizoshi tried to disguise the nervousness in her tone.

"Let them. Am I not the master here?" Not waiting for her to answer, his lips slowly began trailing down her neck. Relaxing, Mizoshi let her own hands explore the curves of his back. Peeping over her fingers at the flesh she was caressing, she noticed something she hadn't caught sight of before. In the velvet darkness, she hadn't made out the large, ragged, pink scar on Naraku's back. Upon closer examination, she identified it as a spider.

"Where did you get that mark on your back?" she asked concernedly. "Were you hurt?"

To her horror, Naraku's eyes literally glowed red with anger, but it dissipated quickly enough. "It was a deformity I was born with," he hissed. "Does that answer your many probing questions?"

She was startled at his outburst. Obviously, his affections and his wrath were in the same vein. Before she could reply, his mouth was on hers so that she could speak no more. Closing her eyes in surrender, she let the hot-blooded hanyou stroke her creamy body to new heights and melt into her once more.

Well, there it is! Lucky girl, lol. ;) Thanks to all who reviewed, but I heard many complaints that the last chapter was too short. It was supposed to be a sort of filler for the big, dramatic scene now, but I was in kind of a hurry in posting it. Actually, I thought there was more. Bowwowlover, you might have a point about all the thoughts and musings taking away the action in the story. Hopefully that won't be the case in later chapters because things in the castle are about to become topsy-turvy…