NOTE: Okay, many of you have complained about the cliffies. I've noticed that the majority of chapters have indeed ended with cliffhangers. Sorry about that. I originally thought it would add suspense to the story, but I can see how too much suspense can actually turn a reader off. So, I'm going to stop adding so many. Well, on with the fic!

Mizoshi's pulse throbbed louder. Her magical fever was building. "Oh? What about us?"

Naraku sighed, his crimson eyes growing deeper in some unknown emotion. "Let's just drop our guards, Mizoshi. It is time to talk seriously." She waited, frozen to the spot. Her hand was suspended over her teacup questioningly. In horrible anticipation, she waited for him to continue.

"I heard what you said last night, and I feel I must enlighten you." Naraku's face became grave. Her heart contracted painfully. The dark hanyou shook his head. "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid I'm incapable of love."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Why n-not?" she stammered.

The dark hanyou looked positively enraged. "Don't you know why? I'm not some benevolent being that saved you. Over the past few weeks, I've imprisoned you here to see if you could serve any of my purposes. I cannot love. I've never experienced love, and I never will."

It felt as if Mizoshi had just been slapped. "What are you saying?"

"I've said everything I needed to say," he hissed in reply.

It took considerable effort not to lose her temper. "But…we shared the same bed," she sputtered. "I gave myself to you. Does that make no difference?"

"It was purely lust for me."

She couldn't believe it. Searchingly, she gazed into his intense red eyes. Naraku smirked at her attempt. "Can't you see it, Mizoshi? Can you not fathom the truth of my words? Look into my eyes. What do you see?"

"A very lonely being," she whispered.

"I am composed of demons. Scores of demons inhabit my body," he warned her in a challenging tone. "Do I appear so lonely now?"

"Even more so."

Naraku heaved a long-suffering sigh. "If you stay here, something bad might happen to you. Do you understand?" Mizoshi could not distinguish if this was a precaution or a threat. Yet, her lips moved ahead before her brain could process it. "No, nothing will happen. You are the master here, and I know you won't let anything happen to me."

"You think this is about my incarnations?" Naraku's crimson orbs bore into her yellow ones. Ruby fire met golden flames. He leaned forward intently, causing his raven, curling hair to spill forward over his shoulders. "I am discussing myself," he went on. "You haven't even glimpsed my true nature."

"I have," she insisted, "and it doesn't frighten me."

Naraku sat back straighter, glaring with hostility at her. However, there was now mirth mixed in with the old malice. Mizoshi took this as a good sign. "Well, surely you don't want to spend the rest of your life here. Do you not miss the village life of your mortal world?" In truth, she abhorred it, but decided not even to give the matter mention. Alternatively, she played his game. "But, Naraku, you promised I would stay here for the winter. Will you break your own solemn oath?" she asked coyly.

The dark hanyou stood up from the table; glowering down at her with a fuming expression. She swore she saw twin embers spark in his vermillion eyes. With a gasp, Mizoshi stiffened in fear. Perhaps she had pushed him too far. Apprehensively, she braced herself. And yet, nothing happened. To her surprise, an unexpected grin slashed across his features. "Suicidal wench," he gently reprimanded her in a teasing tone. "I suppose I did make a promise, didn't I?" He held out his hand, and hesitantly, she grasped it. All at once, he set her on her feet in one sweeping motion. Mizoshi involuntarily blushed. "I will honor your promise," he stated. "But, that is the only promise I will keep."

Mizoshi found herself gazing into his stormy vermillion eyes. She couldn't break away from his penetrating gaze. There was anger, hostility, amusement, and…something else swirled in their depths. Understanding?

"Come," he ordered. "I wish to see what you have been working on."

Mizoshi was momentarily taken aback. "My paintings?"

"Yes."

Before another sound could be uttered, he literally dragged her through the doorway to the darkened corridor beyond. For the life of her, Mizoshi couldn't figure out Naraku's motivations. Their "serious talk" had completely evaporated into thin air. Now, he wanted to see her petty artwork. Had he really wanted to get rid of her? What had been the purpose behind it all? To test her loyalty? Her sole clue was Naraku's grip on her hand. He held it firmly yet softly. It seemed as if the dark hanyou never wanted to let go. Silently, he led her to her chambers, abruptly releasing her hand in the process. Naraku turned to her with a secretive smile played across his lips. "Well? May I see them?"

Tentatively, and unsure of what to expect, Mizoshi retrieved her finished works from under the mattress. She had grown accustomed to keeping her creations there while she slept; protecting the sheets of paper like a dragon guarding its gold. From now on, there was to be no hiding them anymore. Hesitantly, she presented all three of them for Naraku's viewing pleasure. Mizoshi had just grabbed them out of haste; not realizing what was actually illustrated on each one. Maybe she should've checked. The first was an innocent view of a traditional seashore that was directly modeled from the seaside of her own village. The second was of a delicate curved moon she had admired from the walled garden. Lastly, was a picture of Naraku himself. It was a faintly drawn rough sketch. She hadn't even had time to properly shade or color it.

Of course, it was this drawing that fascinated him the most. Intently, he studied the paper while Mizoshi watched uncomfortably. "I meant no disrespect," she explained carefully. "I…"

The stream of her words was cut off by Naraku's mouth. Giving into the sensation, she surrendered to the silky sweetness. This is what she liked best. Although he didn't speak the sentence she had longed to hear, she could still feel.

Eventually, he broke off the kiss with a triumphant look in his eyes. "It's perfect, Mizoshi. I was wrong before. You really have captured me."

Again, she couldn't decipher his true meaning. Had she captured his face, or had she captured something else? It was ironic. The spider had tried to expel the fly from its web, but the little green fly refused to move. It was an impossible, self-destructive relationship, but Mizoshi wouldn't dream of flying anywhere else.

She felt those sinfully smooth lips move down to her neck. She sighed. His arms were holding her so tightly. The world was perfect. For now.

He must care something for me, even though he didn't say so. These loving touches can't lie. To clarify this, she gazed into Naraku's eyes; searching for some sort of warm affection, but discovered they had merely turned black with passion. "It was purely lust for me." Mizoshi remembered this particular declaration distinctly.

He'll come around. He has to, she half-pleaded to herself.

Thanks for all the reviews, guys! All seventeen of them. Again, thanks a bunch!

Holly: I used to write on paper first, but now I just type the whole way through.

moonlitStarDestiny: Naraku will come to care for her, but he strikes me as a very difficult type to declare his love. It'll happen!

Sesshy's Lover: Sesshoumaru will be coming in around near the end of the story. No, Mizoshi will not be hurting or killing Kagura (though she deserves it). I don't want her to have too much power over another "official" character. (Except maybe Naraku). ;)

Bowwowlover: That's an interesting idea, but I don't think Mizoshi would be strong enough to go against Inuyasha. To be honest, I'm going to try not to add any of the Inu gang, so they don't take over the story.