Chapter 4: The Greatest Power

Title: A Spider's Poison

Author: LightningRose

He could tell the others were upset with his choice of bringing Kikyo into the group, but what else was he supposed to do? Kagome had left him, all he had was Kikyo now. When he woke up on the forest floor he was confused on where he was and what happened. The only one there was sitting next to him, Kikyo told Inuyasha what transpired leaving him saddened and somewhat relieved. He couldn't blame the two women for choosing for him, he probably never would of if they left it up to him. He just hoped Kagome would still be his friend. He had that thought in mind when he and Kikyo made their way back to the village but Kagome was not there when they arrived, and she wasn't in her own time either.

"What do you mean she never came back ?" Inuyasha looked at the monk in front of him confused and angry, she just left without so much as a goodbye, she could be anywhere.

"Inuyasha please you must calm down. I'm sure Kagome just wants to be alone right now somewhere, a lot has happened that she needs to think about. We can send Sango to the nearby spring in search of her when it gets dark out." Miroku patted the hanyou on the back giving him a reassuring smile before turning back towards the others.

"Yes Inuyasha, you know how Kagome can be. She is probably just wanting to be alone, if she doesn't return by night fall I shall go and look for her." Even though Sango smiled at the angry half-demon she was in no way happy with him. She didn't understand why Kagome would give up her right to Inuyasha to the dead priestess. Sango felt her heart go out to her friend, who she knew must be hurting right now.

After the sun had set and still no Kagome, Sango walked off in the direction of the hot spring. But when she got there, the spring was empty, Kagome was not in sight. Rushing back to the village where her friends were waiting for her and Kagome's return she told them she was not there. And so their journey for their friend began. It wasn't until the next day did they find out that Naraku had Kagome, they came across the clearing she ran to the night before, her big yellow bag leaning up against a tree and her clothes on the bank of the hot spring nearby. A blush ran its way across Sango's face at the idea of her friend being naked with Naraku.

"SHE'S NAKED WITH THAT EVIL SHIT?" Inuyasha to say the least was beyond furious, the mere thought of his innocent Kagome naked in front of another man set him off. But the fact that Naraku was that other man was just too much.

"Kikyo tell me where his castle is, we have to save her!" Kikyo was confused on why Naraku would steal the young girl and even more while she was naked. Looking at Inuyasha she thought about whether or not she should tell him. It took her a long time to understand the feelings Inuyasha had for the girl but she finally came to realize that while he may love them both, his bond with both of them were completely different. While she was his first love who he would never be able to forget, Kagome was the one who showed him the meaning of friendship and thats what she would always be. Kikyo understood that Inuyasha loved Kagome in a way he could never love her, she was the woman he loved, and Kagome was the friend he loved.

"I will show you the way to Naraku, and then we will finish this journey of yours." Turning her back on everyone she began to walk off leaving them all to just follow hoping Kagome was ok and still alive.

"Love...I can not give you love." His gaze was unwavering, he didn't understand her need to be loved. This miko...she had such great power and she wanted to be loved. It made him want to laugh and yet he didn't. She truly was intriguing, so unlike Kikyo who was so predictable. But not Kagome, no with her she shocked him and confused him, his interest in her growing with every second he spent with her. But love...she was such a foolish girl to want love.

"Why would I want love from you anyway! Your unable to love, your everything that is evil...evil can not love...I can't live without love, love from a family member, from a friend...from a man." Her voice was so strong at first, but it slowly softened as she spoke the last word. Yet as she nearly whispered the last word he heard it...oh he heard it alright. How dare she yell at him, telling him he could not do something, he was Naraku...if he wished to do something then it would be done.

"Watch your tongue girl, I will not have you stepping out of your place. You are unable to love as well, don't you see? You gave up your love when you left Inuyasha...you are nothing but a shell of power, a keeper of the most powerful jewel ever to be formed. Why can't you just be satisfied with that knowledge, that you are the most powerful miko of this time and the next." He stood up now hovering over her small frame as she looked at the floor where her small hands steadied herself against the floor. Her hair shielding herself from him as it draped down her shoulders hiding her face.

"I would give up everything for love. All my power, the shikon jewel...everything for just one moment of true love." He couldn't move, he knew she was serious, he could hear it in her voice, from the tears he saw dropping to the floor. She would actually give up the shikon Jewel and all her miko powers for this love, for someone else to tell her they loved her back.

"Love is the greatest power Naraku...it was love that formed the jewel, and it is love that gives a miko her power. Don't you understand ? The power your wanting to gain will only be destroyed by love." He didn't want to hear anymore, he knew the history of the Jewel, he knew how Midoriko sacrificed herself for others...was that love? He didn't like being confused and that is what this girl did to him...shocked and confused him.

"That is ENOUGH! If love is so powerful and so wonderful...then why does it cause so much heartache and pain? Why do you cry over that stupid Inuyasha all the time, because he does not love you back...and that pains you. What is the point of love if the one you love does not feel the same?" He was heading towards the door now glad that he had the last word, that he had crushed her dreams of love. Now that she saw the truth behind "love" she could think about better things...like joining him. He was almost to the door ready to open it when he heard her soft voice.

"Because when you do find the one who does love you back...it is the most wonderful feeling you could ever imagine...nothing can ever take your love away, and at least I can love." Kagome loved Inuyasha, but sitting here in this room with Naraku, hearing him try to destroy her reason for leaving him only made her that much more happier with her decision. She would be able to move on and find another to share her heart, but Inuyasha had already gave his heart away, there was only room for her as a friend and she was ok with that.

"Inuyasha loves Kikyo...I can deal with that. I will find someone else, I can give my love to another and can only hope they will feel the same." She smiled softly to herself before staring into the eyes of the man before her.

"No you are wrong, you came with me and so you are mine...no other is allowed to posses your power...or your love, I will NOT allow it." satisfied with the pain he saw in her eyes he turned and left the room. Leaving her alone to cry.