Curse of the Witching Hour

Part 2

Kagome's night was restless. Upon entering her dorm room, she was unsettled. Her skin was crawling and she glowered at the sensation of being watched. Every time she turned, a shadow would cross the edges of her periphery and she would twist about in an attempt to catch it.

At first, she chalked it up to her nerves and then the alcohol.

Her system was still buzzing and she could see where she rode the fine line of totally conscious and slightly inebriated. Her movement was sluggish as she washed her face in the conjoined bathroom and her limbs were heavy. Guaranteed, it was on and off. When she was changing, she felt a pressure in her arms as she slipped out of her jeans and one against her back as she unhooked her bra. She never changed in such a hurry before in her life.

Once again, she shook her head to clear the jumbles of her mind.

However, as the minutes ticked by and the shadows flickered in her vision, she had the distinct idea she was being stalked. The wind was howling at her window, but she had kept the curtains closed to avoid spooking herself. Small groans in the hardwood floor had her pausing every step to check if it was her creating the noise.

Keeping her lights on, she finished shoving her clothes in the hamper before closing the bathroom door. Taking a few deep breaths, she gauged the empty room. She was alone, she told herself.

No one is here, but me. Kagome thought, sure to check each corner of her room. It's just your imagination.

Heading to the door, she triple checked the lock. Satisfied, she whipped around as a shadow passed by. Back pressed to the door, heart hammering, her hair stood on end. A chill ran down her spine.

"I'm all alone." She raged, though not entirely convincing herself.

Breathing heavily, she closed her eyes and counted to three. When a ghost of a hand touched her bare thigh, Kagome shot up straight on her tippy toes. Hands fisting the hem of her green sleep shirt, she tugged the hem down. Hyperventilating, she counted another three seconds before slamming her hand on the light switch.

Sprinting across the room to her bed, she jumped in, pulling the covers over head.

"I'm alone. I'm alone. I'm alone." She chanted, voice just above a whisper. "There's nothing here."

Shivering under the weight of her blanket, Kagome shut her eyes. Her fingers absentmindedly clutched the top of the blanket above her head and she paused in her chant to listen. Straining her ears, she opened a weary eye to stare at the blanket above her. Hearing nothing, but the wind at her closed window, her gaze darted to each side as if she could survey her room from her hiding spot.

Courage waning, Kagome listened to the thudding of her heart in her head before drawing her shoulders up. Like a turtle, she edged the top of the blanket down to peer at her ceiling. Seeing nothing but the darkness of her room, she grew braver albeit momentarily.

She lowered the covers further to pop her nose out and she turned her head. The covers rustled with the movement and she froze. When nothing else moved and the only noise reaching her was of her own erratic breathing, Kagome snorted.

"There's nothing here, Kags. Get it together." She chuckled, anxiety still pummeling her veins.

A thud near the window beside her had her screeching and ducking under the covers again. Trapped in the blankets, Kagome's hot breath fanned back on her as she pulled the blankets flush to her petite body, trying to lock herself securely in.

Like a mantra, she whispered to herself, "Nothing's here. Nothing's here."

Finally heaving after a few silent minutes which stretched for ages, she gathered her wits about her. Sitting up, she dragged her nails through her locks. "It was just a tree branch or something. Stop being such a baby!"

Another thud had her senses tingling in awareness and she moved to get out of bed in a small panic.

"That's it! I'm not going to bed."

Standing was a small task when she shot her legs over the edge of the bed and her limbs became ensnared in the blankets. Shifting to gain her foot, she tripped and fell to the floor in a disheveled heap. In her descent before her head knocked on her desk chair, she swore she heard,

"We shall see about that."


Groaning, Kagome sat up, hands fisting into soft lush grass. Rubbing her sore head, she moaned feeling a small knot. Opening her eyes took a moment, but when she heard the rustling of feet, they shot open.

Mouth falling open, eyes wildly trying to adjust to the sudden brightness, she held a hand up to block the sunlight at the approaching shadow. Her uncovered legs squeezed shut as she leaned back to keep the tall looming figure in her vision.

"Foolish mortal."

Kagome huffed, brows pulling together in a firm frown as her lips downturned.

"Excuse you?" She barked as the shadow drew closer.

The figure came closer and she studied his black boots until his white billowing hakamas blocked her vision. Head tilting back, she studied the yellow and navy sash at his waist to the strange breastplate. Scuffing at his odd attire, she kept her chin high as she looked at the fur draping opposite of his spiked shoulder plate.

What is that thing? A pelt? Kagome snorted.

A warm breeze blew by and she tilted her head to the side studying the silver strands of hair as they laid against the white pelt.

"That's a lot of hair dye, buddy." She remarked.

The resounding snarl had her head snapping fully upwards at the man. She inhaled sharply through her nose at the astounding sight he made. His chiseled jaw was decorated with magenta stripes angled to thin lips parted to reveal sharp fangs. His defined nose was settled perfectly between narrowed eyes framed with matching magenta lids. His bangs were parted evenly as if he were a beautiful painting to display a crescent moon.

"Um, I didn't mean-" Kagome choked on her answer as his intimidating stance came closer to loom over her. "I'm sorry?"

His thin lips parted further into a sneer and his gleaming fangs poked out dangerously at her. Her mouth grew dry and she sat further back to encompass the stranger's near presence.

"You dare summon a demon such as myself to gawk and insult me. If you had such a death wish, then you went quite a lengths to do so."

She was gawking at the width of his broad shoulders and his lean stature, but as his cool words registered with her, heat inflamed her cheeks and her chest.

"What? No! What are you even talking about?" Kagome scuffed, hands fisting in the grass beside her. "I wouldn't summon some arrogant jerk like you!"

The man's sneer shifted into a deadly smirk and her breath lodged in her throat. "You called me by name, woman."

Kagome grew silent as she tried to piece together the little information he gave, but she became distracted as he brought his hand up to inspect his long claws.

"Foolish mortal, you don't know what you've done."

"Obviously not, so out with it." Kagome snarled at his condescending tone.

His boots crunched in front of her and she swallowed as he suddenly was directly above her. His clawed hand ensnared her chin and her blue eyes clashed with his golden gaze. His breath fanned her face as he chuckled, the sound low and vibrating around her. Her tongue slipped past her lips to wet them. His gaze shifted downwards to follow the motion.

"So brave for something so fragile." He remarked slowly.

Her core clenched as her own gaze drifted down to his smirking mouth. Attempting to pull back, she growled as he held fast on her face. Her hand shot up to his hard breastplate to shove at him. He didn't move and she growled again.

This time he released her and she collapsed in a heap at his feet. He stood over her and she let her arms splay beside her head. Breathing hard, her face puckered into a sneer. Fear crept into her limbs though when he adjusted himself so his feet were plastered on either side of her hips.

He crouched over her, his arms resting on his knees. His sharp claws of his right hand dragged lazily from her waist up her ticklish ribs. Kagome squirmed at the touch, but froze when his stoic face bore into her. His claws traced nonsensical patterns up her ribs and across her chest. Her breath hitched in her chest as his nails dipped to trace the outline of her breast to travel up her sternum.

Heat pooled low in her abdomen and her lips parted as his hand continued its path up to rest at the apex of her throat. He leaned forward, his weight shifting as his other hand rested next to her head.

"Foolish creature, indeed."

"It's Kagome." She whispered entranced by his golden globes.

His silver hair spilled over his shoulder and he drew closer. "So I've heard."

Locked in a pregnant pause, Kagome was unable to feel her tired limbs as her body became hot. Her thighs rubbed together eliciting a shiver from her as his claws drummed along the column of her throat.

"You have unwittingly summoned myself," he began, liquid pools freezing her in place. "And have placed yourself in danger in the process."

"From you?" She muttered.

His fang poked out at the corner of his mouth. "I am an apex predator, woman. Any and everyone would be in great danger with this one."

Kagome couldn't deny this fact as she herself could feel the immense strength in his sharp claws as they continued to drum at her throat. His energy was like a molten fire and she was swarmed by it, almost consumed in his presence alone.

"But not from me."

He was suddenly standing over her, hand resting on a hilt of a sword she didn't notice before. He stood firmly, facing ahead, and she twisted her head back to attempt to peer into the direction he stared in.

Where he had come from a blinding light, there behind her was a raging darkness, sweeping across the land in a violent purple miasma. Another figure came dressed in a baboon pelt. She could hear a buzzing ring in her ears and the hair on her arms stood on end. Kagome shifted onto her forearms and fully twisted to look over her shoulder at the approaching form.

A chuckle rang in the clearing and she frowned trying to study the force. The figure stopped just ahead, the blue face of the baboon blocking their features, but a masculine voice escaped the figure in waves of charismatic tones.

"An apex predator, no doubt, but one who could not stand against me."

The baboon figure came several feet closer and Kagome turned onto her side from beneath the demon. Her nerves were on edge again, instinct thumping under her skin, but she was unsure if she should run from this man or the demon hovering over her.

"Leave her, demon." The man cooed, and pale hand lifting from his pelt to beckon her. "Come, I'll protect you."

Kagome frowned, but the aura around her became heavy and she found herself pressed to pant as the energy crackled.

"Don't be deceived." The demon above her stepped over her, his white hakamas blocking her vision momentarily as he leapt.

His arm drew back his sword and she gasped as he lodged an attack at the newcomer. She scrambled to her feet as the man in the baboon pelt dodged, his cackling laughter echoed in the clearing. Knees shaking and arms weak, Kagome shifted, unsure of where to go.

The men danced about the clearing quicker than her eyes could register and she felt herself backing away, fear curling her toes.

"Yes, don't be fooled by this demon, Kagome." The man in the baboon pelt demanded as he leapt away. "See how he attacks me with no warning!"

"I need no warning." The demon sprang forth again, claws green with acid.

"See how he attempts to kill me." The man dared to coax, waving his pale arm towards her. "Who would say he wouldn't do the same to you?"

"And I will succeed again. Your second death will be another victory for me." The silver haired demon gloated, silver locks whisking over his back.

Scared and shaken, Kagome's vision swam as she became overwhelmed. Kagome shook her head, drawing her hands up to her chest. Shouting, she demanded, "Stop this fighting! What's this even about?"

The duo paused. The silver hair demon remained stoic as the man in the baboon pelt dropped his arm back into the material.

"You've summoned us, have you not?"

Kagome.

Kagome froze, sweat dripping down her neck and she stood confused. Her arms grew weak and her legs caved. She fell into a heap, kicking up dirt and grass, as her gaze remained locked on the duo. The men turned toward her as she heard her name being called.

Kagome.

She shivered, confused and anxious as the duo focused on her.

"What are you talking about?" Kagome muttered.

"Foolish mortal."

"Kagome!"

She jolted upright, black spots swirling in her sight and her head throbbed. She clutched onto the warmth around her as her limbs disentangled from the blanket. Head falling against the feminine body beside her, she sighed recognizing the voice.

"Kagome, are you alright?"

Sango's familiar voice soothed her and Kagome felt tears prick. "Yes, yes. I must have fallen asleep. I was having a nightmare, I think."

Sango's worried brown orbs frowned at her and Kagome squirmed to sit up. Realizing her place on the floor, she grumbled. Rubbing her palms over her friend's arms, she shushed the fretting girl.

"Sango, I'm ok." Kagome gushed. "I must have fallen off the bed last night."

The brown haired girl helped Kagome stand and they sat on the bed together. The overhead lights were bright and glaring at her. Feeling the effects of a hangover, she rubbed her sore head. Her friend, clearly reading the signs, handed her some ibuprofen and a bottle of water.

"You sure? I knocked trying to let you know I was back, but you didn't answer, so I came in through the bathroom door." The girl pressed and Kagome felt relief for having such a devoted friend.

"Yeah. I had a lot to drink with Eri and them." At Sango's frown, she attempted to ease the girl. "It's ok. Nothing happened."

"If you say so, just be careful. I was worried." Sango stood, helping to put the blankets back on the bed.

"Thank you." Kagome whispered.

"Hey, I've been meaning to tell you, but I'm going to be out of town for awhile. I have to head back home for a couple weeks." The girl awkwardly shuffled, wrapping her arms over her abdomen.

Kagome swallowed the ibuprofen with a large gulp and opted to cradle the empty bottle. Watching the girl draw inward, she reached a hand out to hold her friend's wrist.

"Everything ok?" Kagome asked, sensing her friend's inner turmoil.

Worry encased her, and she watched her friend's defense crumple.

"My dad passed away and I need to help Kohaku." Sango murmured, eyes watering.

Kagome tugged her friend back down and the two sat together. Sango's sobs were muffled as Kagome hugged her friend dearly. They sat for a while like this and Kagome cried with her. Rubbing her back and cooing gently, she coaxed the girl to share the details of the event with her.

"You want me to go with you?" Kagome tried.

"No, Miroku is going to take me. I'll be back in a few weeks once things are settled."

"You have such a good boyfriend. Call if you need anything, ok?" Kagome helped her friend stand and the two whipped each other's faces. "I'll come if you need me."

Smiling, she let Sango go through the adjacent shared bathroom. Murmuring her encouragement, she watched her friend leave and Kagome flopped back onto her bed. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she glanced at the clock on her desk. It was still early enough in the morning to close her eyes for a bit longer. Sobering up, she rubbed the knot on her head tenderly.

What a weird dream, she thought.

Shutting her eyes was easier this time and she fell into a dreamless slumber.


When she awoke, she found most of the day gone with enough time to do laundry. As she flitted about her chores, she subconsciously kept track of all the dimly lit hallways and corners. Half expecting to encounter a ghost or a ghoul, she shook off the sneaking suspicion of being followed.

Coming up with her basket, she waved to her departing friend, Sango who was wrapped in the loving arms of her boyfriend. Watching the two grab Sango's bags, she waved politely to Miroku who returned a small smile. Sighing, she entered her dorm. Attempting to close the door, she struggled to balance her folded laundry and kicked the door. It barely moved from the odd angle she was at, and she scuffed.

Entering further to set her basket down in the middle of the room, she then turned to find the door completely shut. Humming in her throat, she went to the door and opened it. Seeing no one in the hall, she closed it. Hand on the knob, she waited another second before repeating the motion.

"I swore I didn't close it." Kagome muttered.

"You just did, didn't you?"

Spinning around, she flattened herself to the door. She stared into the empty room and scurried when she heard a chuckle. She left the room and stood in the hall. When she heard nothing, she entered the room again cautiously. Kagome opened the closet, checked under the bed and even behind her curtains. Opening the bathroom, she flicked on the lights.

Finding nothing was just as scary as hearing something, she found.

"What the fuck?" Kagome whispered, closing the bathroom door out of habit.

Shaking it off as still being disturbed from her eventful evening, she went about putting away her laundry. The rest of the night was quiet as she finished writing a report and clearing out her homework. Taking a small break, she opened a drawer to pull out some chocolate.

Nibbling on it, she put on her headphones to listen to an audio book. As the narrator described a murder scene, she felt the air grow heavy. Sucking on the piece of chocolate, she decided it was the narrator's vivid description; however, when her hair shifted on the nape of her neck and a cool touch drifted over her, she jumped.

Flinging off the headphones and clutching her chocolate, Kagome whirled.

Nothing stood in her room.

Backing her butt to the edge of the desk, she felt the wood beneath her fingers as she searched for her phone. When she was unable to find it, the raven haired girl took a split second to search the floor for it. Turning up empty handed, she whirled around on instinct to a corner of the room as though she could feel someone there.

Kagome shuffled backwards, bumping her leg into the chair and thus falling back into it. The chair slipped back and she fell onto her small area rug. In the process, she grabbed the blanket off her bed and it, with her pillows, came tumbling down on her.

"Ugh!" Kagome snarled, flinging the pillows off her and flailing to rid herself of the blanket.

Once sitting up, she nearly cried at her smushed chocolate bar. "I'm so over this."

Shoving the chocolate bar back into the wrapper and tossing it out, she set about getting ready for bed. She quickly reset the bed and grabbed her clothes to change into. Moving to the bathroom, she made quick work of washing her face and brushing her teeth. Closing the door, she combed her hair and hummed to herself.

Looking at the clock and wearily sucking on her bottom lip, she noted how quickly she was drained. Finding her phone was easy enough once she looked under her desk. Setting an alarm for her morning class, she worked herself up to getting into bed.

Kagome flicked the lights off and darted into bed again. Her stomach was in knots as she buried herself in the blankets and hid under the covers as the wind howled outside her window.

Falling asleep proved to be less difficult as her eyes drooped and her body drifted. She hummed in her throat as she was lulled into a fitful sleep.

The dream was quiet.

Kagome was relaxing in a field of flowers. The night sky was dark with no moon, but the vivid stars lighting the field. She ran her hand over the flowers beside her repeatedly and hummed to herself a childhood nursery rhyme.

Something called her to open her eyes and as she did, she felt awareness tingle the edge of her senses. Sitting up, she brushed her hair over her shoulder and adjusted her tank top to cover her midriff. A cool breeze slipped by and she tugged her navy cardigan over her exposed shoulders. Standing, she took to roaming the field until she reached a small path.

Following it, she curiously let her hands brush the bark of the few trees lingering beside the path. Winding down, she scuffed her boots on the dirt as she came up to a dark shiro. The wood was stained a rich cherry and the sliding doors were trimmed in black. She spied a wrap around porch and curiously called out.

When there was no response, she called again a tad louder. "Hello?"

A burst of lanterns lit on one side of the shiro. Taking it as a sign, she stepped up onto the wooden porch and followed the lighting lanterns. They sparked as she approached, leading her around the shiro until they lit a path inwards. Hesitantly, Kagome attempted to find someone, but hearing nothing but a small buzzing, she continued on.

"I hope I wasn't supposed to take off my shoes." Kagome mumbled as her fingers traced the shiro doors.

The lanterns lit another path towards a small outdoor garden where she stumbled upon a gorgeous pond surrounded by a patch of flowers and a small sand garden. Near the pond sat a man with his back to her. His long, wavy black hair spanned his back. She gasped as he turned his strong backside to face her.

Glowing red eyes pierced her and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"I'm sorry! I hope I'm not interrupting!" Kagome gushed as his handsome features lit into a closed smile.

"No, please, join me." He waved with a well manicured hand.

Curiously, she shuffled in place until he nodded to the space beside him again.

Blushing, she stepped off the porch into the garden to weave closer to him. Clearing her throat, she sat on her knees a polite distance away from him. Leaning to look into the pond, she watched the koi swim lazily.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. I didn't hear or see anyone when I came in." Kagome blushed, folding her hands anxiously in her lap.

The red eyed man studied her and she felt herself flush hotter as his lips turned further upwards.

"No need to apologize. Guests are always welcome with me." He responded.

He finally looked away from her and she took the opportunity to study him. His strong jaw was set and framed by his wavy black hair. His eyes were a brilliant red and shadowed with pale blue on his lids. Staring at the contrast his eyes and hair were to his skin, Kagome startled as he lifted his gaze to her again.

Caught openly staring, Kagome awkwardly laughed to look at the pond. The man reached out, a flower plucked from the garden in his grasp. Blinking at it, Kagome shyly glanced at him.

"For me?" She whispered.

His chuckle had her flushing. "Yes, if you would."

"Thank you." Kagome muttered, leaning forward to take it from him.

Their fingers brushed momentarily and she felt herself grow hot in embarrassment. Get a grip, girl. Bringing up to her nose, she sniffed it. Smelling the sweet perfume, she sighed in content.

"Sweet, isn't it?" The man asked with arched brows.

"Mm, yes, it is." Kagome's lids grew heavy and she peeked up at the man.

He drew closer, dragging his cool fingers over her grip to draw the flower close to his own nose. Dipping down, he took a long whiff, eyes focused solely on her.

"I would have to agree." He mumbled, dragging her arm closer to him to bridge the distance.

She allowed herself to be dragged to him and she shyly found herself unable to resist. Their knees knocked together and her hand fisted in his purple vest to steady herself. His navy kimono and hakamas brushed her own clothes, the rustling seemingly loud in the quiet garden. With her free hand, he handed the flower back to her and brought it back to her nose. Inhaling sharply, the sweet perfume tickled her nostrils.

His large hands cupped her shoulders as he stared into features, and her breath hitched. He massaged her shoulders and he sat straighter practically hovering over her. Staring through half closed lids, Kagome sighed as his fingers dug into her shoulder.

"Who are you?" She stammered while heavily sucking in air.

He chuckled, hot breath brushing her bangs as his hands slid her cardigan off her shoulders. His blazing red eyes caused her to flush as he leaned impossibly closer.

"You know my name," he whispered hotly. "You summoned me, remember?"

His bangs brushed her cheek as he leaned over to her ear. His hands were cold trails over her hot skin as he pushed the cardigan down her biceps.

"What are you talking about?" Kagome's head tipped back as his lips curled around her earlobe, his mouth blowing cool wind to the column of her neck.

His chuckled enveloped her and his sharp nails grazed the bare skin of her arms.

"Kagome, say my name." He urged, planting open mouthed kisses to her neck.

"Mm," she moaned, mind drawing a blank. "How do you know my name?"

His grip on her biceps grew tight and she gasped as his mouth dipped to her clavicle. No man had ever touched her as intimately as he was. Hojo was her first boyfriend and he barely kissed or touched her. She shivered as her hands grabbed at his shoulders to steady herself.

"My name, Kagome, say it."

"I don't know it." She stammered.

"Say it."

His hands flexed on her and she snorted, anger finally setting in. Jerking her head back to stare at his blistering gaze, she squirmed to release herself of his grasp, but he held firm.

"I don't know it." Kagome huffed as his mouth skimmed her throat, his wet tongue caressing the underside of her jaw.

"You'll remember it soon enough." He chuckled.

Suddenly her body jerked and her eyes shot open.

Staring up at the ceiling, she panted. She was sweating, her night shirt clinging to her chest and back. Heart hammering, Kagome sat up. Sliding the blanket down her legs to get some cool air, she shifted to sit against the headboard.

"Foolish girl."

Hearing the familiar voice, she grabbed at her pillow to hold to her chest. Searching the darkness of her room, she noted the three o'clock hour on her clock. Breathlessly, she shook her head.

"This isn't real." Kagome heaved, protectively holding her pillow to her. "Definitely not real."

When she received no answer, she tried to calm herself. Her skin was sticky and her womanhood was throbbing violently between her closed legs. Groaning, she wiped her brow and glanced about the room again. Nothing was amiss and she happily shrunk into her mattress. When her womanhood continued to throb, she groaned.

Pushing herself up, she trudged through the darkness into the bathroom. The light came on and she cursed it as she closed the bathroom door behind her. Tugging off the night shirt, she kicked off her panties and turned on the shower, pulling aside the shower curtain.

Sango and her shared a full bathroom with a tub and showerhead, and knowing her friend wasn't there meant she didn't have to worry about hogging the shower. Twisting the knob, she let the water heat before she entered under the spray. Closing the shower curtain behind her, she stretched slowly under the stream. Wetting her hair fully, she stroked the strands back and sighed. The warm water did little to ease the tension in her core, but it relaxed her tense shoulders.

Grabbing her loofa, she wet it and drenched it in herbal scented body wash. Rubbing her skin, she scrubbed hoping it would ease her mind. Kagome however couldn't shake the dream from her. She rested on the tiles and let the water spray the front of her body.

"What was his name?" Kagome muttered.

Thinking about his transfixing red eyes, she allowed herself to daydream. Her hand came up to caress her throat reminiscing on how that man's mouth skirted over her flesh.

She had seen those eyes somewhere before. She knew it, but where-

The lights flickered and Kagome jumped. Dropping the loofa and slipping on it as she pulled the shower curtain aside, she fell. Her scream was swallowed by the sound of the water tapping harshly on the shower curtain as the shower curtain rod came loose.

"God damn it!"

Kagome fumed, staring at the light which no longer flickered.

"Ugh!"

Shoving the shower curtain aside, she managed to drag herself out of the shower. Throwing the loofa into the sink, she turned the shower off and pulled a towel off the shelf next to the vanity. Drying herself and wrapping her hair, she exited the bathroom to grab a new set of panties and another sleep shirt.

She glanced at the time, noticing how she barely had four hours before her alarm went off. Kagome silently fumed as she crawled back into bed to attempt sleep again.


Her morning did not go so well. She slept past her alarm and proceeded to run late to her first class. When she finally sprang into the classroom, she had managed to thoroughly embarrass herself by tripping over someone's book bag and flashing her undergarments when she fell, her skirt flying up.

Kagome then decided to skip the rest of the lecture.

The rest of her day was miraculously boring in comparison and she was entirely grateful. When her afternoon rolled around, she ran into her fellow classmate who followed up with her on her previous evening's escapade. She reassured the young woman that she was not being chased and that nothing had occurred.

Her gut told her otherwise as she thought about the mysterious noises and presences she had encountered over the previous evening.

Deciding to skip a class, she sat in the cafeteria sipping a cup of coffee. As she opened a book to study, Eri came running up to her.

"Hey Kagome!" The chipper girl called with a wave.

"Hey Eri." Kagome called from over her cup.

The girl sat across from her and she watched her settle in.

"I heard what happened this morning." Eri began, plucking a fuzzy from Kagome's sleeve.

Kagome deflated instantly, her face turning beat red. "Please don't tell me."

"Kagome, these things happen all the time! Remember, Sakura did the same thing a couple weeks ago!"

Kagome dropped her head into her arms, coffee forgotten. She groaned.

"Kagome, I don't mean to upset you further, but Hojo is heading directly this way." Eri mumbled, shaking Kagome's arms.

Electricity shot through her arm and Kagome shot up. "Cover me!"

Eri's mumbled response was not encouraging. "Too late."

Kagome grabbed her things, stuffing her books in her bag and whisking it over her shoulders. Grabbing her coffee, she hissed at Eri to distract him. Eri nodded, but began to protest as Kagome darted off.

Kagome ran as quick as she could across campus, slamming open the door to the building to run into the Autumn breeze.

"Sorry!" Kagome shouted, nearly knocking over a group of students.

Dippping through the crowd, she trudged towards the library to hide out. Entering the empty building, she waved in greeting to the attendant before stalking upstairs. She weaved to the history section, the seemingly most forgotten area in the library and she set up camp there. Taking a whole table, she grabbed a chair and dumped her belongings on the table.

"Phew. I dodged that bullet." Kagome whispered to herself, taking a long sip of her coffee.

Pouting at the now cold liquid, she decided to scope the shelves. Thinking of the other night, she hummed in the back of her throat. Her grandfather had a knack for folklore and she had a strange sensation that the man she dreamed of was strangely familiar to her.

"Even that one demon."

She thumbed through the shelves until she found a section on folklore and myths. Grabbing a few books, she headed back to her belongings to attempt to jog her memory. She shuffled through a few texts, all materials on vampires or werewolves. Throwing those books down, she trudged back to grab demon mythology and ancient Japanese folklore.

Before long, she found herself reading the familiar text, albeit without demons, on the tale of the Shikon Jewel. She smiled, touching the necklace around her neck. Reading through the story, she stroked the pages absentmindedly. Coming across a few painted pictures in the text, she murmured her thoughts aloud.

"So which picture is of this guy?" Kagome ran a finger over the black haired figure in the picture beside the text. "Sesshomaru?"

She felt a warmth at her back and scratched at the material of her shirt thinking it scraped her back when she adjusted her seated position.

"I don't think he looks like a 'Sesshomaru'." Kagome sniffed.

Reading further in the text, she finally got to the section on the villian.

"Naraku then?" She whispered, bringing the book to her nose as she read the caption beneath the picture. "That's what he looked like?"

A cool rush of air passed over her naked legs, and she tugged the hem of her skirt down. Grabbing her coffee, she finished it in one gulp. Thinking of the man in her dream, he had similar hair to the picture, but the picture didn't paint him with red eyes. Clicking her tongue on the back of her teeth, she heard a bell chime three times.

Setting the book down, she gathered her things and put the books back on their respective shelf. Deciding to take this particular book, she went to the front to check out. The librarian smiled politely and even extended the checkout date for Kagome. She thanked the woman and set about to head back to her dorm.

The sun dipped down as evening set in, and Kagome held the book close to her chest. Setting a brisk pace, she cursed herself for forgetting her jacket in her haste to leave the cafeteria.

I hope Eri took it. Kagome cursed herself again.

Coming up to her building, dread swam in her veins, and she shrugged off the feeling. Darting in, she stopped to wait patiently for the elevator. While she waited, she heard a chorus of laughter and turned in time to see Hojo holding the door open for a laughing girl.

Swallowing, Kagome turned away and took off for the stairs. Bolting up them, she counted the flights, remembering that girl was on the same floor as her. She dipped in and quickly unlocked her dorm room, slamming it closed behind her as she heard the chiming of the elevator. The girl's laughter mixed with Hojo's rang through the door as they passed down her hallway.

"So much for girl's only." Kagome bitterly mumbled, throwing her book bag down beside her desk.

Tossing the book on her desk, she flopped onto the bed face first. Groaning at the fact that she was trapped in her room, at least until he left, she pounded the mattress. Flailing her legs, she yelled into the pillow. A thump on her door had her throwing a pillow in the direction and she sniffled back hot tears.

"Boys are so stupid."

Turning to look at the door, she listened to ensure no one was actually knocking. Hearing nothing, she relaxed into her mattress until she heard the girl's laughter again in the hall. Growling, Kagome pulled a pillow over her head and closed her eyes.

"Human."

She shifted, lulled in her comfortable position. Burying her face further, she inhaled a masculine scent. Pressing closer to it and the source of heat, she snuggled it with her face.

"Woman."

Kagome huffed, swatting the mass beneath her to get just slightly more comfortable.

"You will cease touching this one in such a manner."

Raising her brows, she slapped the moving body under her. She startled when the mass flipped her over, her lungs squashed under a heavy weight. Kagome blinked up into the face of the silver haired demon. Squeaking, she squirmed to push him off, but he was immovable. His body pressed into hers, hips jamming into her own, his massive thighs encasing either side of hers, and her face smearing against his solid chest.

Her hands found purchase at his strong abdomen, where he wore no breastplate. She felt the ripple of his muscles bunch as she pressed her fingernails into him. Her breath came out in a whoosh as she accidentally bucked into his hips as he pressed his lower half of his body more firmly into her.

"Cease your movement, woman."

Kagome froze.

Lifting her chin, she fought his golden gaze and inhaled sharply as he bared his fangs. She unconsciously squirmed beneath him as his features darkened, but froze when his manhood bucked against her core.

"I said cease or else you'll pay a price you may not wish to give."

Kagome flushed prettily beneath him and gulped. His predatory gaze flickered to the movement of her throat and his hair tickled her face as he leaned in closer.

"Is this why you've summoned me?" He practically purred, his chest rumbling into hers. "You seek to deflower yourself as an offering to this demon lord?"

Kagome's mouth opened, to retort in anger, to fight off her affliction, or to ask for clarification on her still intact virginity, she was unsure; however, her words couldn't find purchase as she stared into his face.

"You've called my name, but in the wrong hour. What do you seek?" The demon demanded, the muscles of his neck bulging as he turned his head to peer down at her.

"What are you talking about?" Kagome fumbled to keep a straight coherent thought as she grew more and more consciously aware of his hard manhood pressing into her.

"So you remain unprivy to the circumstances then." He snarled, fangs gleaming. "Then I shall make you aware."

Kagome swallowed, attempting to keep herself from openly salivating as the demon specimen dropped more of his body onto her.

"You have summoned myself and another demon in the bewitching hour. You must say the name three times before the completion of the final witching hour on Hallow's Eve to fully summon the demon you chose."

Kagome frowned, unsure of his directions. "But I didn't-"

The deadly glare the demon above her had her pausing.

"Woman-"

"Kagome." She injected.

"You spoke my name in summoning and have trapped me in a plane of existence without my body. You must either expel me to the plane of the dead or complete summoning me."

"So you're telling me that I accidentally made you a ghost?" Kagome frowned, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Yes," he growled, baring his fangs as he dropped his face beside hers. "Now you have five more nights to determine your answer."

Kagome fumbled with the material of his kimono, the silk fine in her hands. She stopped though as he growled in her ear, the sound vibrating down his chest like an animal. The notion simultaneously scared her and heated the pits of her abdomen.

"You're essentially haunting me currently?" Kagome reasoned, trying to ignore the slickness growing between her thighs.

"Not just I," the demon supplied, his face burying into her locks. "But also the other you've summoned."

"You mean, the man in the baboon pelt. He's a demon too?" Kagome whispered. "Does he have red eyes?"

The demon crowding her, hotly blew into her ear. "Yes."

"What are your names?" Kagome pressed as his nose traced her cheek.

"I cannot share that." He snarled. "Stipulations on curses."

"So you can't tell me your names, but I have to say it three times if I wish to summon you entirely before the end of the three o'clock hour on Halloween?" Kagome flinched as his body rocked into hers.

"Yes."

"How do I know which to finish summoning?" Kagome blurted, face flushing as his strong, lithe body cradled hers.

"That is your choice, but the choice is clear." The demon selfishly snorted, boredom crossing his features as he drew back to look at her.

"But aren't all demons bad?" Kagome asked, confused as to how this conversation came to be.

The silver demon snorted, predatory globes studying her before he leaned back in. "Wise for a mortal, but even demons have moral codes. This one happens to enforce them."

His mouth descended upon her flesh and he breathed carelessly on her exposed skin. She squirmed, fingers scraping his clothed abdomen, sending his muscles to bunch under her appendages. He growled, a warning that echoed in her skull, and he grounded her with a sharp nip.

Kagome moaned as his fang caught on the edge of her jaw. "How do I send you both back?"

The demon ended his ministrations on her jaw to drop his body on her. The wind knocked out of her and her hands trapped, she couldn't fight as his mouth descended to her throat. His mouth was burning a trail to her pulse where his hot tongue slipped out and pressed flatly to it. Her body arched into his.

"Don't say our names." He spoke harshly.

"So which are you- Naraku or-"

The demon stopped above her and she gulped. His hands fisted in the material of her shirt and his burning eyes focused on her.

"Foolish mortal, did I not tell you to avoid saying our names?" He growled, fangs bared.

A chuckled startled Kagome awake and she hotly twisted over in her bed. Glancing at her clock and reading 3:17, she cursed herself. Fitting to sit up, she found herself unable to. Her body was paralyzed in fear as an apparition of the red eyed man stared down at her. He stood at the foot of her bed, wicked smile gracing his features.

"You've called my name, it seems." The ghost began to move, his limbs pressing seamlessly into her mattress, indenting the blanket as he crawled up.

Kagome gasped, eyes practically bulging out of her head and the apparition glided up. As his body slid over hers, she jerked at the coldness seeping into her skin.

"You should know the words he speaks are true. Say my name one more time and I shall be fully summoned." He beckoned with a deceiving smile.

Kagome stared agape. Her mouth dropped open and she felt herself go faint.


When she came too, her alarm was blaring and her curtains were drawn aside to let in the sunlight. She scrambled out of bed and quickly slammed the alarm off. Shuddering, she made quick work of cleaning herself up and ignoring the persistent feeling of being watched. She managed to flit about the morning, but odd occurrences would happen.

First, when she spied Hojo coming out of the woman's room, she noticed how when they made eye contact he seemed to slip. He fell flat on his face and the girl's echoing laughter distracted him enough to allow Kagome to dart away.

Second, when a girl cut Kagome in the coffee line, she watched as the girl's wallet 'disappeared'. Kagome seamlessly attempted to avoid laughing when the girl swore she had it in her purse 'just a second ago' to the unamused cashier.

Third, Kagome had been given a pop quiz in history. She had looked over the multiple choice quiz, but in her distressed state was unable to remember the answers. Her hand, on its own, began to move and a cool presence guided her hand to the answers. When her quiz came back with one hundred percent, she celebrated.

Maybe this ghost thing isn't that bad, she inwardly laughed.

The day wore on and night came. She carefully put on her pajamas, sure to include pants this time, and set about getting ready for bed. Anxiously, she thumbed her bedding unsure if she should wait to see if the apparition would appear again. Kagome waited awhile, but when nothing happened she clamored into bed.

The night was void of any dreams or occurrences, so when she awoke to her alarm, she was surprised and slightly disappointed. Her instinct said something was wrong, but her Wednesday proceeded as it normally would. She finished her courses for the day in no time and even met up with her girl friends. Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka were talking about a story they had heard.

"You mean, Hojo really fell down the stairs yesterday?" Yuka gasped.

Kagome, inhaling her coffee, refocused her attention on the gossiping girls.

"Yeah! He was leaving Ayame's room yesterday evening and apparently fell down the stairs. Broke his leg and all!"

"Ayame? The girl that's down the hall from you, Kagome?" Eri asked.

Kagome leaned forward, shaking her head. "He sees her a lot, but I try to avoid them. He stays almost every night with her."

"That's ballsy of him." Yuka snapped. "He deserved it for cheating on you."

Kagome frowned. "He cheated on me?"

The group ended the conversation quickly and Kagome gathered her things.

"Kagome, I'm sorry. We meant to tell you." Ayumi blurted.

No longer in the mood for company, Kagome bid them good night and steered back to her dorm. Tirelessly thinking, she reminded herself of the absence of the demons the night before. As she wound herself down for bed, she plucked the book she borrowed from her desk.

Flipping open to the picture of the black haired demon, she scowled.

"You did this, didn't you?" Kagome hissed.

There was no answer outside of the curtain drifting closed. She threw the book back on her desk too angry to care for any haunting events this evening. Digging through her drawer, she opened a container of melatonin and swallowed a few pills. Shutting off the lights. Her dream was plagued with the same shiro.

She found herself in the field again. The evening sky was the same as her first encounter with Naraku. Kagome made quick work of heading towards the shiro where the lanterns lit to guide her to the garden. This time the garden was empty and she sat by the pond alone.

Eager and angry, she waited.

Before long, she was squashing the flowers near the pond in her frustration.

"Why so angry?"

Whirling her head around, she squared the demon with her best glare. Lifting her chin, she hissed at him as she flattened another flower.

"You hurt Hojo, didn't you?"

The man chuckled, his tone deep and rich as he lightly stepped foot into the garden. He trekked to her and she peered up at him. Naraku sat behind her, forcing her in place with his hands on her shoulders to hold her down. Kagome tried to shrug off his hands, but he held firmly.

"He hurt you. Why would I not?"

Kagome glared over her shoulder. "He didn't physically hurt me and I'd never want anyone to hurt on my behalf."

"That wasn't your choice, was it?" He cooed in her ear.

"Stop." Kagome snapped, moving to get away.

His hands slid down her arms to reach around her. He pressed into her backside, reaching for a flower unaffected by her destruction. He brought it up to her nose and she turned away. He chuckled again, grabbing her chin in his free hand and forcing her to turn to the flower. She fought him, but his strength was too much.

Kagome attempted to hold her breath, jerking her body away from him. He hummed behind her, his black hair spilling over her shoulder as he leaned to her side to better view her. Forcefully, he dragged her into his lap, his legs securing her place. Naraku's hand found purchase on her breast covered only by the thin night shirt she wore.

He overcame her easily and she inhaled sharply as he harshly groped her breast. The perfume of the flower lulled her and she slumped into him. His cackle rang in her ears, and she tried to push his hand away. He groped harder, his nails biting into her soft mound and the other hand holding the flower under her nose.

She felt her lids droop and her body begin to grow lax. He chuckled, dropping the flower beside her.

"You shouldn't have said my name then." He murmured into her hair, hand tangling in the locks at the base of her head.

Snapping her head back, she was unable to stop his mouth from enclosing around her ear. Shaking her head, she tried to dislodge him, but he sucked harder eliciting a cry from her as his fang pierced her skin.

Kagome fought the fog growing in her mind long enough to murmur, "Sesshomaru."

Suddenly, the shiro disappeared and Naraku froze. Her stomach knotted as his hand tightened in her hair. She gasped as he dropped her body. She crumpled in a heap and coughed a few times as a wave of miasma escaped from beneath Naraku's clothes.

"Curse you, woman." Naraku hissed, retreating from her.

Her eyes squeezed shut as a particularly harsh cough hit her. When she finished coughing, she could hear boots crunching the remaining flowers of the pond.

She blinked up and watched as the silver haired demon approached, the miasma disappearing in his wake. His claws were green, acid dripping and burning the scene around them.

His golden gaze pierced her and she attempted to smile at the demon, but was too weak to do so.

"Foolish, huh?" Kagome chuckled, her laughter turning into a coughing fit.

The silver haired demon, Sesshomaru, snorted. He peered down his nose at her as he stepped in front of her, effectively shielding her from the demon known as Naraku.

"Indeed." He answered.

When she awoke, she spotted the apparition of Sesshomaru seated casually on her desk, his leg dangling as he picked his claws. The clock beside him read 3:43.


A.N: Friendly reminder that I do not own the characters or the Inuyasha storyline.

Also want to apologize for the delay on my short Halloween story. This is a 3 part story and I wanted to deposit the two parts I have written out. I have the third part mapped out, just need to type it is all. Expect that within a day or so. Happy reading! And Happy Belated Halloween!