Chapter 6: Feelings Evolving

Kagome and Kagura had returned from another long day searching for shards, they had retrieved two shards. Kagome was finally beginning to feel somewhat comfortable in her new 'home'. She knew she was safe, at least until the Shikon no Tama was complete. She knew that Naraku needed her, so she began doing things how she pleased. She began refusing to go out on days that she just wanted to relax. She began thinking about Naraku's threat toward her friends; she realized he wouldn't harm them because if he did, then he would have nothing on her. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Naraku at the end of the long hallway, he was staring at her something he'd been doing a lot of lately. "I'm going for a walk, I'll be back later this evening. Don't send those damned spies of yours, they're getting on my nerves," Kagome flipped her hair and glided down the hallway. Another change that she had grown used to was her new attire.

*FLASHBACK*

"I can't have you walking around in those clothes, you need to look as though you belong here," Naraku pointed at Kagome's school uniform. He walked over to some shelves and pulled out a box, "Each of these boxes has a kimono, they are all yours. You will wear them." He opened the box and pulled out a gorgeous, silk kimono. It was a dark, navy blue and it had emerald green peacock feathers as the design. Violet swirls were mixed into the design.

Kagome was taken aback; she'd never seen anything so beautiful in her life, "It's amazing. Um-," Kagome's voice grew to a whisper, "thank you." Naraku had left her in what was now her room. She immediately changed into the kimono and gazed at herself in the mirror which hung on the wall. She felt that she was too plain for this kimono; she wanted to fix her hair a little and maybe put on some makeup. She looked around the room and found some rough for her lips and charcoal for her eyes. She couldn't find anything for her hair, so she left it. She stepped out of her room and wandered down the hall and out into the courtyard. She found Naraku sitting out under a sakura tree drinking sake. He looked up at her and was awe struck.

*END FLASHBACK*

Kagome looked over her shoulder a few times before she was confident that no one was following her. She looked around trying to sense InuYasha's shards. She looked to her right, there, he was in that direction. She looked around one more time to make sure she was alone and then began to run as fast as she could. It wasn't long before she entered a clearing. She froze, all of her friends were sitting around a small fire, all seemingly lost in thought. She approached them ever so slowly, "Inu-InuYasha? Sango, Miroku," she kept walking, "Shippo. I'm here."

InuYasha's ears twitched and he turned to face Kagome. He just stared at her for a moment, as did everyone else. No one was able to talk; it was as though their voices just left them. All InuYasha could do was smile. Kagome then ran to him, he opened his arms to embrace her. Sango still staring in amazement began to cry.

"I missed you all so much," Kagome finally broke the silence.

"Kagome," InuYasha was lost in her eyes, "I love you so much."

This comment had thrown Kagome off, but inside it felt like a million butterflies just trying to escape, "I love you too." She lifted herself onto her tip toes as InuYasha leaned down to kiss her. As his lips touched hers, she felt like all of her had just melted, there were no more butterflies; they'd been freed; now it was just her and InuYasha in complete ecstasy.

They finally broke apart after a long while. Kagome looked over at her other friends, her face turned a deep red. She walked over to Sango and hugged her tightly, "Sango I missed you so much."

"Oh Kagome, I missed you too. But how did you escape? Will Naraku come back for you?" Sango looked at her friend with questioning eyes.

Kagome looked down at her feet then back up at all of her friends, "I can't stay here with you for much longer. The only reason I am able to be here now is because he didn't send anyone to follow me. That's why I haven't sought you out before now, I've always been followed. I couldn't risk it; I couldn't risk putting you in harm's way."

"So you're going back to him," InuYasha said in a grim voice.

Kagome looked away again, "I'm sorry everyone. I have to go now. Please tell my mom, Souta and Gramps I love them. Good bye!" tears poured from her eyes as she ran back into the darkness. InuYasha turned to go after her, but Miroku stopped him.

"No don't, if you follow her and Naraku learns that she came here-"Miroku's voice trailed off, "she won't ever be able to come back."

"You're right. Damn that Naraku!" InuYasha ran in the opposite direction of Kagome.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Sango called after InuYasha.

"I'm going to talk to Kagome's family!" with that he disappeared.

-Meanwhile-

Naraku was pacing in his room, deep in thought. He kept looking up at his open door and looking across the way to Kagome's empty room. "I don't understand, what is this that I am feeling? There is some kind of force, a powerful force, it's pulling me toward that woman. I don't understand though. What the hell is this! Damnit, why do I feel this way? What is it about her that makes me feel like this?" Naraku's thoughts were racing through his mind.

Kagura had crept into his room without even being noticed. She looked at Naraku as he stared at Kagome's room again. "You are falling in love with that human woman," she laughed.

"Kagura, when did you get in here?" Naraku was startled by her presence.

"I've been here for a while name, but you didn't even noticed. You're so lost in thought and you keep looking up at her room," she pointed across the hall, "it's so pathetic that it is almost humorous. Actually, it is very comical. You didn't even realize you were falling in love with her." Kagura just laughed again.

"What the hell are you talking about? There is no way I would ever love a filthy human, especially not that wench."

"You sure about that? You still have the heart of the thief Onigumo. And Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, the woman he fell in love with. Naraku, you're so oblivious," Kagura laughed one more time before exiting the room. She began thinking to herself, thinking of Naraku's new found weakness that he was unaware of. "This can be used to my advantage. I may finally have my freedom," Kagura smiled to herself.

Naraku was still frozen in place after Kagura left. He shook himself back into reality and began questioning what Kagura had said. "Could it be? Could I really have unknowingly developed feelings for Kagome?" Naraku spoke out loud to himself. He sat down and continued staring into the empty room that was Kagome's, "I suppose it would explain all these emotions I feel when I see her. Damn that woman."

Kagome had reached the castle, still teary eyed. She straightened herself up and wiped away her tears. She walked quickly up the steps and tried to hide her face from the guards. She finally reached the hallway that led to her room. She slowly walked down the long, narrow hall, hoping Naraku wasn't in his room. As luck would have it, he was still sitting there. He looked up at Kagome when she reached her room.

"Why were you gone for so long?"

"None of your business. I told you I was going on a walk, I have a lot on my mind. Is it so wrong that I need to be alone so I can let everything out! Damn!" Kagome began to cry again and ran into her room slamming the sliding door. Naraku just sat there wide eyed.

"I do love her," he spoke in realization. He stood up and walked across over to Kagome's door. He tapped gently on the wood, "Kagome, please open up."

Kagome slung the door open and stood in front of Naraku, "What do you want?" Her eyes were puffy, she'd been crying long before she came back to the castle. She looked at him, he was just staring at her. "Why do you keep staring at me? You just look at me, what is going through your mind? Am I becoming useless to you? Is that it? Are you planning on disposing of me? Stop staring at me like that damnit! It's scaring me!" Kagome was slowly backing away from Naraku.

With each step back she took, he'd take a step closer to her. "Kagome," he continued to close the distance between them. Kagome went to take another step back, but was unsuccessful, she'd already reached the corner; Naraku literally had her cornered.

"What's your deal, back off," she was beginning to worry now, and it showed on her face.

Naraku was now inches from her, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Their faces were inches apart. Kagome's mind was racing, "What is he doing, oh my god. Is this the end, is he going to kill me now? InuYasha, help me," she closed her eyes letting a single tear escape. Naraku closed the remaining distance between the two, Kagome's eyes flew wide open.