Many thanks to the saintly Shabopo whose helpful counsel and thoughtful questions resulted in the production of this chapter. I'm making up with this extra long chapter. The beginning may be confusing, just hang in there.

The lyrics are by Chevelle, "One Lonely Visitor" from the cd 'Wonder What's Next.'

Flashback

"Naru-kun…Naru-kun…" Kagome looked deeply into his eyes.

"Kahi-chan, you want to be with me right?"

"…Hai, of course I do! I love you Naru-kun!"

Kagome lifted up from her position on her back. Her hands pushed out behind her and put her lips firmly onto Naraku's. Her blue eyes shut tight hoping he'd only believe her. Naraku had broken up with her, but Kagome knew in her heart he truly still loved her. She would give anything to be with him. She would even give herself a second time if only to be near him.

Kagome lies back down upon the modernized futon that was elevated off the floor about a foot. The piece of furniture was currently laid out from its folded couch form. Every morning Naraku always set it up back to a couch to save space in his room. She sighed swallowing loudly as he settled back squarely between her spread legs. Kagome had had sex with Naraku once before, when they were still dating. They had been together for eight months, two weeks, and six days. Kagome was only fifteen, so it had been quite a shock when he asked to 'have' her. Kagome smiled at her initial response. Which was a tremendous blush and running from the room. She just couldn't believe it and when he actually said it out loud, Kagome was shocked. She didn't know how to respond, so she didn't.

Eventually, after thinking about it and the honest look Naraku gave her made her consent to it. When they actually did it, it hurt so horribly. Her insiders felt ripped, torn, and sore for days afterward. So, it was natural for her to refuse to do it again especially since Naraku asked the very next day and every day after that. It seemed as though he assumed they were now sexually active and would do it everyday. Kagome wasn't comfortable at that. She thought he would understand, but he didn't. He'd walked away from her and said she was inconsiderate of his needs, to just allow him the pleasure once and then take it away. Naraku said she was only toying with him and Kagome wanted to make him understand that that wasn't it. Kagome just wasn't ready for it, but if it meant losing him…maybe the second time wouldn't be so bad?

"Then you understand…my needs. If you're not comfortable fulfilling them, then I can go to someone else…"

"NO! …I mean…onegai, be gentle."

Naraku smiled at his little vixen of a girlfriend. Well, technically Kagome was his ex since they'd separated just a week ago. So, one can imagine his surprise when Kagome showed up on his doorstep at his grandparent's country house. It was summer now and the two had just passed away within a month of each other a couple of weeks ago. Naraku had gone to sort of their things, which he was doing only to get out of his house. Also he was able to get away from his parents while earning brownie points with them while under the guile of a good, helpful son.

They had been together for around nine months. Naraku had been stretched past his limits. He was a man, he had to satiate his own needs and he refused to do it himself anymore. It didn't matter who it was, but having a girlfriend just meant that sex was available whenever he wanted it. There was no need to go out and find some slut no one really cared about that could possibly infect him with diseases. No- Naraku wanted a virgin because then he knew she was clean. That's when Kagome fell into his lap, literally.

It had been a simple, sunny day with clear skies. It wasn't too cold or too hot. The wind had been blowing gently as he passed through the park near his high school. Naraku had decided to take a rest on one of the benches spread randomly around the fenced in area. The park was small and was only there for the residential kids to play in. The area was dominated by a swing set, slide, sand box, a jungle gym, and even a few benches for parents sit on while watching over their children. Naraku was abnormally early leaving his house that day.

His parents rarely noticed his presence anyways. They were simple people with blue collar jobs. The two were always working hard to support their large family of six. Naraku had three brothers and one sister. He was the middle child and the one everyone never saw. Only one of his brothers went to college and he worked to aide the family. His sister was the youngest and still in elementary school. His younger brother was in middle school and he was a senior in high school. The school was one of the best in the area. Naraku knew his parents were being killed to pay the tuition, but he didn't care. He didn't plan on 'supporting' his parents like his elder sibling. He wouldn't be weighed down by that responsibility. No- he would become something and would live as he pleased not weaving around the desires of others. Perhaps it was selfish and ungrateful of his, but Naraku didn't really care.

The sound of scuffing loafers to his right caught his attention briefly, but he ignored it. Instead he kept his eyes focused at the few trees left in the park that grew in the distance in front of him and to the left. However, there was a soft cry and as his head whipped to the right, he say a young girl falling towards him. Naraku couldn't act quickly enough to stop her trip completely and soon that girl had practically landed in his lap. Naraku had reached his arms around her small waist at the last second and pulled her close to him to redirect her from hitting the ground. One would think this was chivalrous, but in that one second where he saw her tripping, Naraku had noticed the sheer beauty of her face. Now that she was perched on his lap, the lightness and thinness of her body excited her.

A smirk had formed on his lips hidden by a lock of hair falling over his shoulder as a plan formulated in his mind. This would be the source of his enjoyment from now on. He would get this girl to love him and in return he would use her to satiate his own lust. So, as he turned to see her blushing cheeks Naraku put on an innocently worried façade. Inside, he laughed as her mouth fell open when she studied his handsome features, for Naraku knew they were.

Naraku drew his tongue down the curve of her neck, abandoning the thoughts of months previous. He loved the shiver coursing through her when he pressed his erection closer to her core. He knew she loved it, Kagome just felt ashamed which was stupid. It was only natural after all and the only purpose humans had on this earth. Well, technically that purpose was to reproduce, but it was the same thing to him. Just remembering that day, Naraku couldn't help, but congratulate himself. The plan had worked perfectly, but it took longer than he originally thought for the girl to descend to his whims. Oh, Kagome accepted his love soon enough, but it took too long to get her in bed.

Naraku slowly inserted his erection into the woman beneath his absorbing each mewl she exuded. Kagome would be addicted to him and then Naraku would throw her away. As for now, her body still aroused him, but when that folly was satisfied Naraku would no longer have any use of her. She would yearn for him as he did for her now, except he wouldn't be there to fulfill that need. Naraku smiled against her neck. He lifted his face to peer into her eyes. The soft smile on her lips once again showed him how naïve Kagome was. She misinterpreted that smile for a loving one instead of what it was. He lowered his head once again leading a trail of kisses to her chest, moving in a slow rhythm within her. A streak of sadism welled inside his being and Naraku suddenly had an urge. Perhaps Kagome could sate more than just his sexual desires?

Naraku's head went reeling at the thought of her agonized screams. How tortured would she be if the man she loved with all her heart destroyed her every hope? Naraku could only imagine what it would be like to break Kagome's indomitable spirit, the one that always surrounded the girl in an impenetrable happiness. Was this what brought on Naraku's arousal for Kagome? This was one experiment he could not ignore. Kagome would know pain: emotional, mental, and physical before she left this country house.

End Flashback-

Naraku swiveled in his desk chair. Thinking about the past seemed to be a habit as of late. Was it because of Kagome's presence once again in his life? Of course, pondering their past together was normal, but he was also remembering his childhood as well. Naraku hadn't seen his parents for three years. After graduating college, he stopped visiting. There was no point. He only visited because they were paying his college tuition. Naraku had risen in the Obaruka Company from a lower level CEO to president, shockingly in only three short years. Though those hellish years seemed like forever to him, but Naraku had bided his time gaining contacts in the black market. Eventually, he was able to overcome the previous owner and gain control.

The first thing he did was return home, ironically. He pulled up in the driveway in his black Porsche. His parents ran out the door with surprised happiness on their faces. Apparently they read about his overtaking in the newspaper. Naraku handed them a check that would cover his full college tuition, room and board, and any other expenses he had during that time. Naraku then left, he wouldn't owe anyone anything. Their confusion was the last vision he had of his parents.

Naraku looked out his window as rain continued to pelt the glass with a commendable ferocity. His thoughts than once again turned to Kagome and Kikyo as well. The two were so alike in appearance, but yet so completely different. Naraku also began to plan his re-teaching of the 'rules' to his Kahi-chan. As he did so, the smile couldn't be relinquished from his lips.

With Kagome-

Kagome awoke cold and empty. She frowned that is before laughing at herself. It was almost incomprehensible that she had just been dreaming of Sesshoumaru of all people. However, she couldn't deny the warmth her heart had gotten from just the memory of those visions. Her first dreams had been purely sexual, a craving her heart had conjured from an attraction Kagome felt for a real person. Now, those imaginings were softer with a tepid heat that was unlike the lava firing her frame from her other dreams. This one left her tingling all over with a residual joy clinging to her skin.

Kagome closed her eyes wishing to remember what it felt like to be loved for just a moment longer. Truth be told, she knew that it was impossible to occur in real life. This was all she had and Kagome would be sure to treasure it. Sesshoumaru, the real one, would never hold her with such tenderness in his eyes and a softness melting his face. His voice would never deepen with care and pull her against him with only the thought of holding her a bit longer.

If Sesshoumaru ever wanted her, it would be like every other man she'd ever met. It would be for sex or something else he could get from her.

"Like Naraku."

Kagome's soft voice echoed in the abyss of her consciousness as all else was voided from her thoughts. The tone was tinged with an unknown sadness and regret. There was a secret longing she'd felt over all the months she'd known Sesshoumaru that was now realized. She knew, from the rare breaches of his unemotional mask of calmness that he did feel something for her. Kagome knew that it wasn't what she wanted. She felt stupid for falling for yet another person that would only break her heart. Maybe this was what attracted her? Every relationship, she'd either felt nothing or something completely opposite of her partner. Inuyasha hadn't loved her as he said, only whom she resembled. Naraku wanted sex as would, most likely, Sesshoumaru if Kagome was to judge his intentions. Hojo had been too kind and god she loved him, but as an older brother.

Kagome rolled over on her side and curled her legs up close to her chest. Her arms wrapped around her middle as a song was recalled in her mind. The music played slowly and gently in her head. The beginning began as if being played in the very room where she laid. That was impossible for there were no speakers or electronics for that matter. However, at this moment, the girl reveled in the peace of her temporary room and sang along with the singer in her mind.

"Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?"

With an unprecedented melancholy lining her voice, Kagome sang the words. Her voice wasn't the best. Sometimes she was a tad out of tune being either too high or too low. Or her voice just plain gave out and instead would be whispered into the quiet of the room, but regardless tears fell for the first time she'd returned with Naraku.

"Knew you were here,

And beside the note,
You left on my bed
Where I held you so close.
Did you think I'd forget?
Couldn't be more of a mess,
For to breathe,
Used to be another way,
I'd take you in."

Kagome knew she forgot some of the words as her voice trembled with the quivering of her bottom lip. Tears slid down the corner of her eyes, stopping briefly while going around the end bulb of her nose, and eventually dripped into her mouth. Kagome closed her eyes forcing two and three more tears to slip down her cheeks.

"Well it's time to wake up,
And separate feelings
That I keep falling into.
Each seem like good reasons,
That I feel a break down,
I don't care if it shows up,
I'm praying this for you,
'Til it's answered I'll say."

She hurt so much right now. Perhaps, strength and courage were traits not contained within her heart? She always seemed to be the weak one. Kagome was the loving person who was seen as beautiful despite her clumsiness and quirky attitude. Her spirit was always complemented and no one would ever believe there was darkness in her heart. She's tried to explain it to Inuyasha once, but he remained convinced that she could do harm and was only a pure hearted person. Didn't they see that wasn't true? Could anyone see beyond the shallow beauty of her face and body to the depths below? Was her soul invisible? Or did it even matter at all?

"Now it seems there's a choice,
That began with a break,
So today,
Know that never again,
Will I know you that way."

Kagome continued on, her voice gaining strength as she went. Her thoughts only fueled the words as if they spoke from the tortured prison of her heart. She didn't want to feel this way. Kagome though that facing her past and dealing with this terror she had for it…would see her free. Kagome believed that for once, she could have hope again and the trust that not every man in the world was destined to hurt her. Kagome's body shook and her breath buckled. She sniffled as her nose ran with the emotional rise within her. Her arms wound tighter around her and she began to pant as a rivers fell down her chin to her neck.

"Well it's time to wake up,
And separate feelings
That I keep falling into.
Each seem like good reasons,
I'm gonna break down,
I don't care if it shows up,
I'm praying this for you,
'Til it's answered I'll say."

Kagome lifted her face on the pillow as the fabric became soaked. Her head was pounding as a pressure built in her cheeks and forehead. Her ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton and the only she could hear was that of her heart. She began to remember the past. The first painful thrusts to the last kick she'd received from that evil man. How could she had been so stupid? Kagome always thought she wasn't naïve, but here she did it again. She trusted that the same thing wouldn't happen again hadn't she? She may have convinced herself that she could take it even if it did, but that a lie. Kagome was scared and once again riddled with hopelessness. No one was going to save her. No one would notice the marks she left in the cabinet and no one was going to ever find her if they did. Kagome knew somewhere deep within her this was only self-pity taking its hold, but as despair circled her being it didn't matter anymore. Nothing did.

"Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?
Am I alone in here?

Kagome whispered, tension escalating. Her terror, sadness, confusion, and even a touch of anger that had been suppressed over the years spilled over her thoughts. Her mind sunk under the power of her heart and Kagome was lost beneath its weight. No longer could she stand this in silence. No longer could she bear this strain and act as if it was nothing.

"Am I alone in here!"

And Kagome screamed.

OKAY! I am such a schmuck, I know. (Using the words of a certain reviewer, lol) I WILL go back to my previous update schedule. Updating once a week has made me lazy and only instigates my writer's block. I will seriously try to keep that promise, since I've broken all the others…-.-

sigh I haven't heard from a lot of my usual reviewers, I fear I've lost you all with my stupidity. .