"Please, no," she heard herself whimper. She had spied what had happened to Kagura when she had displeased Naraku and didn't want her beloved to apply the whip her back as well. Desperately, she searched for any sign of pity or compassion on Naraku's face, but ultimately glimpsed none. In fact, his smile simply widened.

"Come here," Naraku commanded quietly. "Don't make it worse on yourself."

Inhaling another sharp intake of breath, Mizoshi did the opposite and took a step backward. In her panic, her fingers loosened around the lantern; consequently causing it to crash to the ground. The light sputtered out. Still eerie blackness surrounded her. And, somewhere in it, was darkness incarnate. But, surprisingly enough, she could see precisely where Naraku was standing. His intense red eyes glowed like angry embers in the suffocating gloom.

"I know where you are, Mizoshi," Naraku's voice rasped, "and I shall find you. That trick with the lantern has only angered me further."

How plainly he intoned this statement. How evil he sounded. How much trouble Mizoshi was in.

Frantically, she backed away from him, knocking her back up against the wall in the process. That slight sound was enough to alert him. A mere second later, Naraku was moving swiftly towards her. Avoiding his sanguine eyes, Mizoshi focused her gaze somewhere on what she believed were the floorboards. Instinctively, she was attempting to protect herself, even though her overtaxed brain was incapable of understanding fully. She required a distraction, and she made one.

Half out of fear and half in defense, Mizoshi watched in horror as a sudden bright yellow flame materialized near Naraku's robes. In shock, he looked down at the burning fire that visibly had not issued from the broken lantern. Helplessly, Mizoshi closed her golden eyes. Her secret was out. Time passed, perhaps ten seconds or so. Finally, she couldn't stand the silence anymore. Opening her eyes a slit, she stole a peek at Naraku. The glow of the conflagration emanated just enough light to see by. Currently, the dark hanyou's head was bent down, surveying the bunch of flames in shock, momentarily oblivious to the fact that they were scorching a hole in the floor. "Put it out," he ordered tersely.

"I-I don't know h-how," Mizoshi blubbered. "I—"

"Go upstairs," he directed her in a gruff tone. "And don't sneak off. I'll take care of this."

She didn't need to be told twice. In spite of the inky blackness, Mizoshi fumbled for the steps and hauled herself up them. It wasn't long before she felt another presence behind her. Wordlessly, Naraku grabbed her arm and tugged her along towards the basement door. Apparently the fire had been taken "care of". "Where are you--"

"No talking!" he cut her off again. "Get into the hallway."

With a sense of impending doom, Mizoshi went limp and allowed Naraku to lead her to the dimly lit corridor of the castle itself. Once there, he viciously let go of her arm and slammed the basement door after them. Mizoshi had an inkling he would lock it if he could. After that action was performed, the dark hanyou spun around to face her, his eyes still smoldering. She stiffened in fear. Would he strike her? Mizoshi was quite aware of Naraku's wrath. He had slapped Kagura in this very same hallway. Clearly, he didn't tolerate disobedience.

Hesitantly, she tilted her head up to look into Naraku's eyes. The old anger was still simmering at present, but there was a new fascination crackling in their depths. "How?" he asked bluntly.

"I'm sorry?"

He rolled those magnetic eyes. "Must I elaborate?"

"You mean my power?" Mizoshi struggled to keep her tone pleasant, but for some reason, this infuriated him all the more.

"Yes! Your power. Don't play coy with me, girl," he warned in a low monotone. She decided it was best not to stall anymore. Yet, before she could open her mouth, he had already resumed speaking. "How long have you had this power? Did you purposefully keep it from me? Well?" he demanded. Naraku folded his arms over his chest; muscles taut.

"Certainly not!" she cried, her cheeks flushing in irritation. "I only recently discovered it two days ago." Naraku noticeably bristled at the rising pitch in her voice. Apparently, he did not like being lectured to, nor shouted at. But, in the end, all he did was interrogate her further. "When did this happen?"

Mizoshi was now flushing in embarrassment. "It w-was that one n-night."

"'That one night? '" he scoffed. "Which night? There were many, Mizoshi."

"The night where I confessed my…feelings f-for you," she managed to get out. She wouldn't say the word "love." He'd lost that right. Besides, she didn't think she could stand another silent rejection.

"How interesting," he commented, eyes glittering. "Well, that would explain the reason why you were bestowed with such a gift."

For a moment, she forgot her fear. "What reason?"

Those eyes glittered more fiercely. "Sometimes, there are powers present in a hanyou's body that have to activated. In your case, your power was activated by a strong emotion. Thus, it was your affection for me that sent that heat to the surface. Your love, Mizoshi. Your love for an evil demon." That smile curved into a cruelly superior smirk.

It wasn't long until a tear slipped down. Hastily, Mizoshi swiped it away; hoping Naraku wouldn't notice. Unfortunately, he did. "It's pointless to cry over," he told her almost kindly. Almost.

Questioningly, she gazed into his vermillion orbs. Mizoshi had the vague notion of kissing him, but held off. Now wasn't the time. It would never be the time.

"So…what are you going to do with me?" she forced herself to ask.

A glazed look had entered his eyes. "What?" He glared at her snappishly, presumably for disturbing his train of thought.

Mizoshi knew she would kick herself later for saying this. "How are you to discipline me, Naraku-sama?"

"Do you want to be disciplined?"

She was immediately taken aback. Her shock must have shown on her features. All the same, Naraku made a dismissive gesture with his hand.

"Never mind. No, you will not be disciplined. Originally, I was going to lock you in a cell for two nights, but matters have changed. Indeed, they have changed," he murmured. At last, the pensive look dissipated and awareness reappeared. Naraku took in her slightly trembling form, searching her face. "Tell me, Mizoshi. Why did you venture in the basement in the first place?"

"Rice," Mizoshi blurted out. "There was no more in the kitchen, so I went into the basement in search of some."

"You should've asked. I shall fetch Kanna and tell her to show you where it is."

He was going to go away again. Already, he was showing her his back. Instead of feeling relieved at escaping punishment, Mizoshi foolishly called out to him. "Naraku?"

He stopped in his tracks. "Yes?" There was a bored quality to his voice.

"Forgive me for asking, but what's so important about the basement?"

Naraku stiffened, but he continued speaking with his back to her. "It's not important to me now," he replied coldly, "but it will be in the future. There are things of mine below that are not to be seen. Even my incarnations know this. If you attempt to intrude my privacy again, I will be forced to take action."

And just like that he was gone. In a way, Mizoshi was thankful he didn't turn around to see her. Now he couldn't observe the two silvery streaks that coursed down her cheeks like twin rivers.

Thanks for reviewing, everyone! These last few chapters have been depressing, but in the next couple of chapters, Naraku will actually try to be "nice". (If that's possible.)

loves-winged-dark-angel: Honestly, I'm trying to keep Inu out of the mix. I'd like to keep it solely Naraku. (And a bit of Sesshy.)

crazyloverof boys: No, Mizoshi won't kill Kagura. I don't think she'd survive one Dance of Blades. (Cool power though.) The story should be around 50-60 chapters I'd guess.

jasmine: No, Kohaku was just taken away to a separate part of the castle because of his interest in Mizoshi. He'll be back soon for a chapter or two.