I'm really sorry I haven't updated in a while, people. I've been having a lot of problems lately...and school is getting really tough. It may be touch and go for a while as far as when I update my stories goes. But I promise you I will get it done. I appreciate your patience with me, although I'm sure you all want to smack me upside my head. Soulmate is currently on hiatus, because I just don't have the time to update it. But I do work on it a little while when I can.I will try to get the next chapter up by the end of February.I hope you enjoy what little I have written here, and I hope it is enough to satiate you.

Happy New Year to everyone and good luck with all of your ambitions!

CitrusSeverus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey! You bastards! What the hell did you do to her?" Inuyasha shouted as he watched Kagome fall into Sesshomaru's arms while Naraku kissed her gently on the forehead.

"I don't see why you care, little brother. You knew what tonight was all about, and yet you chose to bring your girlfriend and her entourage. It was your mistake. And you will regret it."

"What the hell is your problem, Sesshomaru! You know she has no idea about anything that happened!"

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, Inuyasha." Naraku spoke up, his voice dangerously low. His blood red eyes moved slowly from Kagome's face to Inuyasha's, flaring once they were focused on the hanyou's face.

"Wh…"

"She touched my hand, and that was all it took for her to recognize me. Her miko powers are astounding—especially in this life. And she has so much potential. All it takes is a little push…and she could join us, Inuyasha. And become the most powerful miko of her time."

"Don't you…"

"Half brother, I would not move if I were you. As much as I want to keep this…delectable wench as my own…I will not hesitate to sever her head from her body."

"Leave her alone! I'll give you anything you want! Just please….don't hurt her!"

"We already have what we want." Naraku snapped. "I have been searching for her for five centuries, and now that I've found her, I'm not going to wait any longer to have her. I'm growing quite impatient."

"As am I." Sesshomaru growled. "Now move, or I will force you to move."

"No!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Inuyasha…do something…don't let them take her!" Sango shouted from behind him.

"Wench, you'd do well to shut your mouth. You are dressed in a very compromising outfit, and while surrounded by youkai. You do know…that your ancestors…were youkai exterminators…" Sesshomaru spat.

"Huh?" Sango's eyes widened. "But…"

"Yes. And they killed many of our kind, taijiya!" A youkai spoke up from somewhere in the crowd.

"I shall leave you three to the wrath of the crowd." Sesshomaru hissed. "Or perhaps…Naraku would care to speak in your favor?"

Naraku merely raised his eyebrow.

"I suppose that is your answer."

"Damn it, Sesshomaru…" But before Inuyasha could finish, a white blur flew past him, and out of the room. A purple one followed, and soon, the only ones that were left were the youkai…and Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha.

"Miroku…" Sango whispered. "What…are we going to do?"

The group of youkai closed in on the trio.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"She is quite beautiful, is she not?" Naraku whispered seductively while looking at the unconscious Kagome, who currently was curled up in Sesshomaru's arms.

"Hai. Such exquisiteness."

"Wake her." Naraku whispered gently.

Sesshomaru rubbed part of Kagome's neck, and pressed down carefully. In seconds, her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped upon seeing the two youkai.

"Sess…homaru? Naraku? Where am I? Where is Inuyasha?"

"You are in a deeper part of the mansion, and Inuyasha and your friends have been…detained." Naraku spoke, his velvety voice sending a shiver down her spine.

She thought for a moment, suddenly remembering all that had happened in the ballroom.

'Youkai…hanyou…' She thought, panicking.

"There is no need to be frightened, Kagome. We will not harm you…much." Sesshomaru chuckled.

"What do you want with me?"

"Tonight. You remember what I told you, do you not?"

"Yes, Naraku, I do, but…"

"I am that youkai. And you…are the reincarnation of the miko that took my powers from me. I have searched five centuries for you, my dear."

"Wh…why?"

"The same reason I have." Sesshomaru lifted her chin with a clawed hand, her eyes meeting his amber orbs. "Your power. You have immense power, Kagome."

"…"

"You chose the miko costume for tonight's party. How interesting…considering the fact that your reincarnation was a miko. And you remember, don't you? You touched my hand…and you saw something. I could sense it." Naraku whispered.

"I…"

And all of a sudden, before Kagome could react, memories came flooding into her brain, causing her to fall into a trance-like state.

Flashback

"Kikyo…don't do this to me!"

"I can't be with you, Inuyasha!"

"I love you!"

"And I must destroy Naraku. You know I will not return."

"You will. You have to."

Scenes of a bloody battle ravaged their way through Kagome's mind, before she finally saw what Naraku had described…through the eyes of the miko Kikyo.

"Inuyasha…you were right…I did survive. And I will be with you now."

Tears filled the hanyou's eyes as he leaned in and kissed the beautiful miko.

Time moved forward, and Kagome found that she was lying in a futon, furs covering her body. She could hardly see, but she felt the presence of someone near her.

"Kikyo…I've brought Kaede. She is here to help you. Don't move, or the poison will…"

Another woman's voice was heard.

"I am afraid the poison has already done its job, young Inuyasha. There is nothing I can do. No herbs will be able to reverse the damage already done."

"No! You wench! There has to be something you can do!"

"I am afraid there is nothing. She is…not long…for this world."

Sobbing could be heard. And then…Kagome could feel her mouth opening.

"Kaede…I am sorry…to leave you…while you are so young. I always…thought the Shikon…would eventually be my downfall…but not…a…saimyosho…left over…from Naraku's…attacks. I don't…understand where…it came…from. One minute…I was…fine…and the next…I felt…pain…in my back…"

"Do not worry, sister of mine. The…pain…will be over soon…"

"Kikyo! Don't leave me! I'm begging you!"

"I…love you…Inuyasha…please…don't forget…me."

"KIKYO…!"

Kagome came crashing back into reality, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"You remember."

"Hai! You caused her to die!"

"It is not so. I was powerless, miko. But my saimyosho…survived after my downfall. They acted of their own free will."

"LIAR!"

"Shut your mouth, girl. You know nothing of what went on in the past, reincarnation or not." Sesshomaru hissed.

"Let me go, you asshole! I'm going to let Inuyasha know about all of this, and…"

"You think your precious Inuyasha can do anything for you? You are ours now."

"Wh…"

Before Kagome could even finish her sentence, she found herself on the floor, pinned down by Sesshomaru.

"You heard me, bitch. You belong to us."

"No…" Kagome whispered.

'Where is Inuyasha! What are they going to do to me?!' Kagome's mind screamed out as she felt Sesshomaru's lips descend on her own, causing a sharp intake of breath.

"Yes. And you will not fight us, or the consequences will be dire." Naraku snapped as he bend down and huskily whispered in Kagome's ear. "If you do not cooperate…I am sure Sesshomaru and I can find…other…ways to make you scream."

Kagome cried out as she felt Sesshomaru's clawed hand rake its way up her thigh, ripping her hakama. She could feel the blood dripping…feel the burning, searing sting of his scratch.

"Does that hurt? You are a miko. Heal yourself."

"I don't know what the hell you're saying! I don't know anything about healing!"

"What a shame." Sesshomaru's mouth spread into an evil grin, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth that made Kagome want to run screaming. But she could not move. She was still pinned beneath the powerful inuyoukai.

'What do I do?' She thought frantically as she felt Sesshomaru's hand move further north.

---------------------------------

A/N: Sorry for the cliffie. This is where I had to stop...there will be more next time. I promise!