Okay, here you have it, the next segment to my tale. Geesh, I'm really starting to get sick of these little comments at the beginning of every chapter, but alas, it is something I find I must do.

Disclaimer: Yo no poseo Inuyasha.

Meeting with the Devil

Smiling as she waved off the group of young women, Kagome went on her way once more, heading in the direction of the nearest shard. She doubted that she would arrive before nightfall and planned on setting up camp once she found a suitable setting, preferably one by a body of water.

The dusk found her in a small, mossy clearing, one that was situated not far from a hot spring. Building a neat little fire, she caught a small bushel of fish and set to work skinning them, removing the bones as she went before placing them over the fire on the small cooking rack she had packed. While the fish browned, she slipped into her bathing suit and waded into the water, taking her seat on a large, flat rock.

Washing out her hair, she proceeded to rub herself down with soap, hands dipping inside her bikini to wash her more private areas. She sighed at her lack of sense while packing.

Sure she was going back into a time where lusty demons ran rampant around every corner, and sure she had weapons and mystic power coming out the yin-yang, but did she have enough sense to pack a decent one piece? No… she had gone and packed a skimpy little red bikini, one that practically screamed 'Rape me!' It wouldn't have been so bad two or three years ago when she was still underdeveloped. Now, because she had failed to try it on to make sure it still fit, she was practically spilling out of the top, the bottoms covering little of her ass due to the recent broadening of her hips.

'Smart move, Kagome,' she mumbled inwardly as she slid off the rock and into the water, rinsing herself thoroughly.

At that moment, she swore that the air seemed to thicken, an odd smell wafting across her nose. Brushing it off as the heat from the spring and the stink from the fish, she rinsed out her now clean hair one last time before wading onto the shore. 'Well,' she sighed, 'at least nobody came while I was bathing.'

"Ah, so nice to see you again, little miko."

'Perhaps I spoke too soon,' she mused as the oily smooth voice that haunted her nightmares reverberated eerily through the thicket.

"Naraku," she greeted with mock enthusiasm, "I though I smelled your noxious scent."

Placing a hand over his chest, the devious hanyou stepped into the clearing, droning, "You wound me, my dear."

Lifting a brow as she resumed walking onto shore, Kagome completely disregarded the fact that her worst enemy was standing only a few feet away and grabbed her towel from an overhead branch, moving next to the fire to turn her fish. "Perhaps I wouldn't find the need to poke fun at your smell if you retracted that disgusting miasma once and awhile. It isn't very pleasant smelling and, since I can purify it the second it comes anywhere near me, I suggest you stop releasing it into the atmosphere."

Chuckling a little, Naraku pulled the thick purple mist back into his body, slowly drifting closer to the little miko as she sat calmly beside her fire. "Hn," he quipped, eying what she had on, "Another of your scanty outfits, miko?"

Kagome actually laughed at that, leaning back on her arms as she looked indolently into the crackling flame. "It isn't really an outfit, per say. It's a bathing garment. That way I can wash without having to worry about perverse men ogling my goodies." She shot him a pointed look.

Lips quirking into a half smile, he sat next to her, legs crossed regally before him. "I see you have not forgotten our last little encounter then?"

"Nor will I ever, regrettably," she bit back, her tone harsh.

Snickering darkly, he informed her, "I had no intention of raping you on this particular occasion, miko, though the idea does seem rather appealing now. Perhaps another time?"

Snorting, she mimicked, "Perhaps."

"No, I had merely come to rip off your little head and relieve you of your jewel shards," he retorted nonchalantly, as if speaking of the weather. "I was rather surprised to come across your scent in the first place, I had thought you dead."

"Charming as ever," she ground out sarcastically. Kagome silently regarded him from the corner of her eye, noticing that he had chosen not to wear his disgusting baboon pelt for this encounter. Noticing the faint smell of rain, she leaned over a tad and inhaled the masculine smell, laughing faintly before commenting, "That's much better. You actually smell somewhat appealing underneath that putrid cloud of acidic gas."

It was Naraku's turn to laugh at her unexpected forwardness, the rumbling in his chest filling the quaint little set up Kagome had prepared. His eyes were upon her once again as she rose to take the fish from the rack, placing the strips on a plate beside the fire. "You have changed much, in more ways than one."

"Have I?" she asked dryly.

"Indeed," he cooed, crimson gaze scrapping over her exposed flesh, lingering on the promising swells and curves covered by her little white towel, "You have become a beautiful young woman. Your power, I can practically taste it. Seems the simpering wench I once knew has grown up, no longer a mere shadow… but rather, exceeding her other one hundred times over." He tasted the air yet again, sampling her lovely smell.

"Don't go and get all flattering on me, Naraku. We are enemies after all," Kagome warned.

"And yet we sit here and converse as though we are not trying to kill one another. Funny thing: our hatred for each other."

"Indeed," Kagome commented in a bored tone, getting rather fed up with his presence.

"It's a shame really; you and I would make such a wonderful pair."

She looked over at him in surprise, neither missing nor enjoying the lust she found swelling in his blood red eyes. Frowning, she leaned away as he crept nearer, his fingers moving to caress her cheek. "Enough," she told him roughly, "I think you have worn out your welcome."

Shifting backward in shock, Naraku asked calmly, "Why so hostile all of a sudden? We were enjoying one another's company just seconds ago."

"Enjoying?" she questioned with a chuckle, rising to her feet and moving toward her bag, "Tolerating is more of the word… and the only reason I am tolerating you at all is because I owe you my thanks."

"Whatever for?" he inquired, having moved to stand directly behind her.

Kagome, unnerved by how close he now was and how he had gotten there without her sensing it, stumbled forward a little, spinning on her heels to face the handsome devil that stood before her. "As surprising as it might seem, I owe the success of my power to you, hanyou. By forcing Inuyasha to choose between Kikyo and I, you not only opened my eyes to what Inuyasha truly is, but you provided me with the opportunity to discover my power. Had I not taken that fall, had I not come close to death, I would have never realized the source of my power." The uneasy frown she wore was replaced by a smirk. "All in all, hanyou, your stupid attempt to break me might just lead to your own demise."

Naraku's cool expression wavered, a snarl curling his pale lips for only a second before it slipped back into a cruel smile. "You overestimate your own power, miko, and underestimate mine. Though I sense a great change in you, I too have excelled since you last saw me. I am doubtful that you will end my life."

Shrugging, Kagome waved her hand and droned, "Well either way, you should go. My patience with you is wearing thin. The only reason I allowed you to live this time is because it was you who created the new and improved Kagome. You should consider yourself lucky."

"It is you who should feel lucky, miko," Naraku hissed, angry that she was dismissing him. No one ignored Naraku, especially not some curvy little wench. "I will allow you to keep your shards this time. I will not attempt to gather any of the other pieces either. That way, you can collect them for me and when the time comes, I won't have to go hunting for them. I'll know exactly where to go."

Lifting a brow, Kagome turned and walked up to him, the top of her towel held tightly in her fingers. Standing on her tiptoes so she could get in his face, she snarled back, "Is that so, filth? Hm, well in that case, be gone, your presence is making me sick. Do not let our friendly visit go to your head. The next time we meet, whether I have all the shards or not, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Stepping back, furious that she would dare do such a thing, Naraku clenched his fists, his frame trembling. How he would have loved to smack the smug look off her sensual features, to throw her down and ravage her ripe little body until she bled… until she came. Taking a deep breath to still the thundering of his heart as well as the beginnings of an erection, Naraku chastised himself, 'All in due time. Once the jewel is in our possession we will have our wish. The world will be ours, and the miko will be our consolation prize.' With that thought in mind, he snickered and bid her farewell. "Until next time, my charming miko."

"Of course, you unsavory bastard." She shot back with a cruel smirk that rivaled his.

With a swirl of blackish miasma he disappeared, leaving her alone once again.

Sighing as the air became less tense, she quickly changed into the cute little sleeping gown she had bought for herself during her trip back. Though her pajama bottoms were adjustable in the hips, they were too short in the leg, and the matching t-shirts and tank tops were simply too small for her bust. 'Besides,' she mentally noted as she slid on the mid thigh length, emerald gown, 'it's too hot for cotton pajamas. This is much cooler.' Trailing her hands over the silk of her little nightgown, she smiled, liking the way it slid so nicely against her skin. Snuffing out the fire with some dirt, she called upon her miko powers to create a stable barrier around the clearing, allowing none to enter. Hunkering down, she rolled out her sleeping bag and quickly hopped in, closing her eyes as a heavy blanket of sleep overrode her senses.

So, Naraku decided to pay the little priestess a visit. I realize that their meeting was somewhat unorthodox, but let me assure you, Kagome and Naraku are in no way 'buddy-buddy'. Kagome despises Naraku and Naraku… well; let's just say he's a sick, sick man with a twisted obsession for the young miko and her power.

Personally, I find Naraku to be rather yummy, though I doubt many of you share my opinion. But honestly, think about this: once you look past the whole evil bit and the psychotic 'try to rule the world' deal, he's a gorgeous male. And that voice… good Lord it's orgasmic! Mmm… it's as smooth and dark as chocolate. Could you imagine having that voice whisper naughty things in your ear? I wouldn't mind stripping that sexy hunk of man meat down and pouring chocolate across the broad plains of his chest… okay I'm stopping.

You will have to ignore my infatuation with Naraku… I have a thing for bad boys. I'm just as terrible with Sesshomaru. Honestly, if they were real it would be heaven. It would be like eating a piece of cheesecake while getting a massage. Oh baby…

Ahem… review please.