A/N Ok, so I know it's a little weird that Naraku is not a rapist. Well, judging by the anime, he is an insane psychopathic killer, and despite the many times he's had his hands on Kagome, Kikyou, and Kagura, he hasn't once acted perverted. (Tentacles are perverted by nature, just cause of their shape and texture, so despite that being the main means of grabbing, it doesn't mean he's a pervert.) He is acting a little ooc, but a psycho doesn't usually act the same when they are around people they want to 'obtain'. (I live with a mild sociopath, so I have a vague idea of Naraku's mind works.) Anyways, back to story.

Do you call it Liberty?

Kagome woke to the cold feeling of sleeping alone, Naraku's mild warmth and soft pelt gone. Shivering she looked around, confirming that she was alone. As she thought about what she had done the night before, she smacked herself a good one, rubbing her stinging cheek. She almost giggled as she thought, I kind of feel bad for Miroku, Sango has a stronger arm than me. What the hell had she been thinking, not only touching Naraku of her own free will, but letting him sleep next to her!

Guilt washed through her as she saw the disapproving glances her friends would give her if they found out. But her heart clenched at the memory of the aura he had shown last night. It had been so confused and lost, so lonely. She hated Naraku, but she pitied him as well. She heard Kohaku knock on her door before coming in, bleary eyed and groggy. Her fists tightened at the sweet sight as he made his way over and cuddled up to her, smiling and asking to hear tales of his mighty sister.

As she obliged, she had to refrain from screaming at herself. He had ruined this poor child's life. He had murdered without mercy, without reason. He had destroyed all of her friends' lives. As her eyes and her heart slowly hardened, her determination to hate him grew. She would play his game for now, but once Kohaku was gone and safe, the fight would be on. She would hold nothing back.

She wondered vaguely why the thought seemed to sadden her.

~o~o~o~o~o~O~o~o~o~o~o~

Blood. It dripped from his fingers, stained his hands, made his eyes glow like burning embers. His claws tore their way through intestines, ripping through skin and muscle, his fingers snapped bones like twigs. More! The demons within him cried out for more, for the pain and anguish to increase. They roared and begged for the blood of those who knew only happiness and fulfillment, to take vengeance against the pitiless humanity who created the monster he was. He turned on the hordes of mindless demons and beasts. They craved his power, the touch of the nearly complete Shikon jewel.

"You want it? Then you shall have it." Naraku, covered by his baboon pelt, raised his arms slightly as the mass of tentacles and moving flesh burst forth to devour the screaming demons. He breathed heavily, eyes shut tight as he inhaled the blood and fear and rage into his lungs. The screams of the demons raged on in his head, feeding off of his memories, demanding blind vengeance against any and all. He was scenting the air around him, wondering where next he could feast on the terror of others. He was brought out of his musings by a feeble, helpless cry of fear and desperation. He turned his glowing eyes onto a tiny, insignificant little ball of black fur.

He made a slight sound of dismissal and made to turn away, when a tiny, pale hand tugged on his pelt, and the small cry rose again. He turned back, and there stood a girl, only a foot tall, but the appearance of a child around ten years of age. She was in miko garb, and had rich black waves down to her ankles. But, thanks to a black mask similar to those of a kitsune mask, the only facial features he could see were big, bright green eyes. She had two black, fluffy ears atop her head and two, smooth tails. A Bake-Neko, he realized. A ghost cat, one of blackest fur and with the brightest eyes. She must have been a child who was murdered, with a cat who loved her dearly.

His interest peaked, he leaned down to observe the tiny figure. "You saw my deeds, just now." The Bake-Neko nodded. "Yet you would seek me for help." She mewed, her hand tugging on the pelt once more. With the strange chittering noise cats made, she lifted a part of his pelt, sniffing it and handing it back again. That's when he understood. Kagome's scent was still on his pelt, and the Bake-Neko wanted her, the one whose scent was so soothing. He stood, wondering awhile. A gift would confuse and bemuse the miko, and even better it was something alive. That meant he could use it against her if and when the time came that she tried to fight him. With a characteristically sadistic smirk, hidden behind his baboon skull, he asked, "Your name?"

With a curious quirk of her head and flicking of her tails, she closed her eyes and seemed to think for a while. Finally, she held her hands up, motioning to his. Slowly, he reached down, and she traced her name into his palm. "Kanashimi no Uta." He smiled, Song of Sorrow, it was a fitting name. Turning away, he waited until he felt little claws making their way up his back and onto his shoulder. When he felt the kitten's fluffy fur and twitching ears against his neck, he lifted off of the ground and took off towards his palace.

The innocent deaths of humans could wait for the morrow.

~o~o~o~o~o~O~o~o~o~o~o~

Naraku sat in the snow covered gardens, ignoring the icy wind as his hand idly scratched at the kitten's head. Kanashimi no Uta was a strangely fearless little thing, despite the obvious fear in her cry when she had first called to him. But here she was, purring contentedly away as she kneaded the fur pelt covering his lap. His own claws ran through her onyx fur, scratching behind her ears, and he wondered what it would feel like to dig his claw into the little creature. What cries would she make then? Would fear, hate and betrayal enter her eyes, just as it had any other being he had deceived?

He heard the soft steps of Kagome and his servant as they came closer, and he smelt the spike in her nervousness and anger. He raised a brow, his amused face hidden again by the skull. Ah, so she had remembered just who she had been so kind to, and was regretting it. He scowled. How typical of a human. He stood, setting the kitten beneath his pelt before turning to her. Her nervousness rose another notch, and he wondered if the baboon skull disgruntled her. Then, as she took in his appearance, her eyes narrowed, and he knew she had somehow sensed his activities.

"You're aura is tainted by adrenaline and blood. How many innocent people did you kill this time, Naraku?" The fire danced in her eyes once more, and his name from her lips dripped with venom.

"I merely absorbed inconsequential youkai, to add to my powers for when I destroy your friends, my dear miko." He mimicked her tone when he said friends. "Can you even call them such?" He smiled when her eyes darkened and she readied a retort, but he continued. "The monk and Taijya, they have no love towards you. You are merely a means to an end, and an amiable source of conversation. The fox kit, he needs a mother figure from whom to glean knowledge and comfort, and you were readily available. The demon lord knows you are necessary to my defeat, and so sought to hurry along your training in order to be rid of a persistent nuisance." He grinned as he moved closer, not at all missing the way she clamped her eyes and mouth shut as he talked, slowly raising her hands to her ears. He moved forward slowly, urging the still hidden Kanashima no Uta to cling to his vest before snatching Kagome's wrists. He held her arms away from her ears as his deep, rich voice continued its soft torture.

"And Inuyasha? The boy you love so dearly?" He smiled as he let go of one hand to push away his baboon skull, allowing his garnet orbs to burn into her deep chocolate glare. His now free hand cupped her cheek, moving down to wrap loosely around her throat. "You're a shard detector, a temporary replacement to Kikyou, his true love. Every time he looks at you with kindness, with affection, with longing, he sees her, not you. You hold no importance in their lives."

To say he was surprised when he saw her tears and heard her soft cry of distress was to say that Hell was warm and the Atlantic Ocean was damp. He had expected denial, undying devotion and trust in her friends. He had expected her to curse him, fight, scratch kick and bite. Not for her to believe him so easily. Her moaning sobs and the way she slumped, the fight leaving her, had his attention on the fact that he was now using his own strength to keep her from the snow. His hands which were curled around her wrist and shoulder drank in the heat her skin emitted, and he let go slowly. With a small hiss he reached back into his pelt, picked up the tiny kitten by her scruff and dangled her in front of Kagome.

"All you need is a creature like this. Pet's like this hold unconditional affection and dependence upon their masters, never once questioning their actions. She will love you, the way no human nor boy can." The scent of her despair tickled his nose, and he dropped the kitten onto her shoulder. When still she would not answer or move, he decided she needed a good scare. With almost gentle fingers, he used his finger and thumb to grab her chin and lift her face to his. Her intake of breath and wide eyes were the only response when his lips crashed onto hers forcefully, his tongue pushing past lips and teeth to invade the sweet, warm cavern of her mouth. He moved his head in a nuzzling motion so that he could position himself to delve in further, and he found himself enjoying her taste and feel, the unbelievable softness and warmth, the sweetness. His hands moved to tangle in her blue onyx locks, pressing against the back of her head to force her closer. He felt her hands beat against his shoulders and chest, her nails dig into the flesh on his neck, but he only growled into her mouth. Her answering whimpers nearly drove him insane. He drew back, his crimson gaze filled with heat and near madness.

He moved to press his lips against her ear, so she could feel them move as he spoke. "And remember, I am not human, and I am not a boy. I am a hanyou, and a man. I am no innocent, nervous babe, nor a fragile and short lived being." His desire to taste her grew, and he began nipping her neck, just below her ear, and she gasped. He could smell her, the scent of warm vanilla taking on the spice of cinnamon. He grinned evilly down at her as he drew back, only to raise a brow at her when her hand met his cheek with a resounding crack.

The servant who had remained quiet and unobtrusive through the whole thing gasped in shock and terror as she stumbled back. Kagome showed no such sign of fear. Only hatred, and in the back of her eyes, where she hoped to hide it, lust. He smirked as he pulled her hand from his face, his eyes holding a deadly promise as he nipped her fingers one at a time, stopping to lick her index finger and kiss the sensitive center of her palm. "That is the miko I kidnapped. Remember that this will be the only time you will escape unpunished for striking me, miko." With that he let go and walked away, calm as you please, while she fumed and nearly screamed in frustration.

A little sound drew her attention away from the retreating figure, and he stopped as well. "I almost forgot. Her name is Kanashima no Uta, she's yours." Kagome watched as he continued on his way, hate and ice creeping back into her eyes.

~o~o~o~o~o~O~o~o~o~o~o~

Naraku once again sat in his empty room, the light of the candle dancing and casting his shadow in strange shapes as incense danced about in the air. He looked at his hand, feeling her warmth still lingering in his skin. He should be unaffected; he should not have any reactions to any woman, let alone the reincarnation of Kikyou. At the thought of that woman, he stopped. He had removed Onigumo's heart, he had no such weakness anymore. Was it really some lingering effect of Onigumo's lust for Kikyou?

…No, it is not. As I think of Kikyou, nothing but disgust for the treacherous viper fills me. But as he turned his thoughts to Kagome, his clamoring thoughts and the voices of the demons within him calmed, becoming a distant, dull roar. Her scent seemed to wrap itself around him in a cocoon, and he could still feel her aura as it flowed, pulsing with the heartbeat of the earth. Suddenly, his drooping eyes snapped open, and he stood quickly. Rage filled snarls filled his throat, and he nearly tore into the walls of his room

He did not feel a thing for the miko. She was a distraction from the chaos that was his life, his hobby. She was like a pet…! No… a pet loved it's master unconditionally… Again he snarled as the thought conjured unbidden images of chains and a certain miko smiling a certain way while she watched him do certain things to… With a shout that was heard through out the castle, he drew his blade.

~o~o~o~o~o~O~o~o~o~o~o~

Kagome was in the middle of meditating, as Sesshoumaru had taught her to do. She was doing her damndest to restore her reiki and get herself and Kohaku the hell out of this fortress/castle. She had been focusing on her hatred and fear of him, her utter disgust that he had touched her, and found that the only thing that succeeded in doing was sending out little purification sparks and scaring the poor kitten. She turned her eyes on Kanashima, apologizing. She was met with flicking tails and a small, purring mew before she was again ignored in favor of the string Kohaku was teasing her with.

Kagome found herself smiling at the site of the clumsy little kitten, tails and ears flicking, jumping and chasing the string. Nothing was cuter than a tiny kitten trying to act like a grown tiger. Shaking her head she returned to meditating, and found herself thinking of how cute little Kanashima had looked when she had dangled from Naraku's fingers. She inhaled, her reiki grew, and she exhaled, her reiki settling around her in a firm barrier. She remembered the event that had happened after he had presented the kit to her. His fingers on her skin, his demanding kiss, the way he had demanded and obtained entrance into her mouth.

Kohaku looked up at his newest hero figure in surprise. Her spiritual aura was glowing brighter than ever, and her power was actually strong enough to toss her kimono and hair, as if there was a strong wind. The only problem however, is he didn't feel a thing, not even a slight breeze. Kagome focused on the fleeting look that had been in Naraku's eyes when she had started crying. Surprise, pride, and then… panic, as if he didn't know what to do with her tears. He was as confusing to her as a mannequin was to a mosquito, and as frustrating as a yoyo was to midget. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her lashes lifting away to reveal eyes that swirled between brown and blue, and back to brown again. She gasped when she noticed she was a lot closer to the ceiling than she had been a moment ago, and she looked down to notice that she had stood up while meditating. That would have made sense as to why the ceiling was closer, but what didn't make sense was that her toes didn't touch the ground.

Kohaku was staring at her with wide eyes, and she stared right back. Collecting her panicking mind she slowly lowered herself to the ground again. How in the name of Jigoku (hell), she mentally giggled as she thought 'naraku' (also means hell) would fit as well, had she done that? She couldn't do it when she was focusing on her hatred and the reason she needed her reiki, but once she had calmed down she had summoned more than she ever thought she even had. A priestess was supposed to be pure, she thought, their powers used for protection and… healing… For healing.

Her own words, uttered on the night she had reached out to Naraku, returned to haunt her. Let me help you… She was startled by the slight pulsing coming from the jewel shards around her neck. Oh no. Oh hell no her life did NOT just get more confusing, complicated and twisted. Were the jewel shards telling her what she had to do? And that what she needed to do had something to do with helping instead of killing Naraku? THE incarnation of evil himself? Her jewel shard pulsed.

She narrowed her eyes, deciding to test something. Holding the glass container in her hand she said, "Kill Naraku."

The shards were quiet.

Her eyes narrowed more. "Help him."

The shards pulsed. Her eye twitched.

"Destroy him."

Again, silence.

"Heal him."

They pulsed more. Smirking, she decided she wanted to screw with the shards. Crazy? Bat shit crazy, but hell, she was communicating with them as it was, wasn't she? "Love him."

The little bastards pulsed so hard and fast they burned her hand, and she yelped.

Poor Kohaku was sitting there, confused as hell and wondering what kind of demon had possessed her. Kanashima's eyes were bright with amusement. Kagome was about to smack her head against a wall when a soft, bell-like jingle caught her attention. She turned to look at Kanashima, but instead found her in her tiny, humanoid form. She moved forward with an elegance and grace that was a complete opposite to her kitten form, and her ageless green eyes focused on Kagome's. She held up her tiny, doll like hands, mewing at Kagome.

Kagome, dazed and awed, lifted her, cradling her close and inspecting the intricate black mask. Under and above the eye holes were silver swirls representing elegant eyelashes, and the cheeks had two, slightly curved lines for whiskers. In her flowing ebony hair, tiny bells had been tied onto two opposite locks. Her twin tails flicked and her ears pricked forward. Using her tiny hands to lift herself higher, she pressed the nose of her mask to Kagome's forehead. Kagome was silent after Kanashima drew back to mew at her. Well wasn't that the cutest thing, she had to smile at the tiny bake-neko.

They all jumped at the sound of someone shouting in anger and pain. Kagome's eyes widened, recognizing the voice at once. Kanashima jumped from her arms, nimble and quick as she darted through the shoji screen. She ran like most spirits did, feet barely touching the ground and arms remaining gracefully at her sides. Kagome followed quickly, trusting Kanashima to find Naraku's quarters.

The minute she opened the shoji screen to his large room, she nearly retched. Pieces of his own skin were strewn across the floor, blood staining his back, hands and blade. He was digging the blade into his back, oblivious to his horrified audience as he desperately dug at the reappearing spider mark upon his back. How many times had he tried to remove the damned thing? He'd lost count. Somewhere in his mind he heard her cry out, and he turned blazing red eyes on her. "What are you doing here, miko?" The words were soft, but held steel and flame and obvious rage.

"What the hell are you doing, Naraku! Stop it!" She charged forward, but was buffeted by his demonic aura, sending her skidding back. "Naraku!" tears welled in her eyes, and for the first time his name was said without venom or fear or hatred. His breath hitched, she reached out a hand, and he lifted his sword from his back, and she watched in fascinated horror as it healed almost immediately. Her eyes turned back to his, worry and questions dancing in her clear, warm eyes.

He turned to her, almost took a step forward, but suddenly he snarled at her again. "Run, miko. Run or I will break my promise to you." His low voice was filled with menace and made shivers run down her spine.

"Naraku…!" She made to step forward, but as his lips started to lift into another snarl, Kanashima tugged on her kimono and yowled. With a last look of worry and fear, Kagome ran. Naraku breathed raggedly, and a low, moaning yell escaped him as he slammed his fists against a wall, pressing his forehead against the wall. His shoulders shook with his ragged breathing. He had wanted her to touch him, wanted to feel her small hands in his hair, on his skin. He wanted her to silence the constant screaming of the demons in his head that demanded blood be spilled, the demons who coveted more and more power, ever unsatisfied.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt two small hands lay on his shoulders, then gently pull him away from the wall. The demons in his head were silenced, his skin cooled, and feeling pitiful he allowed the tiny miko to pull him down and onto her lap. He shivered as her fingers ran through his hair, her blunt nails scraping his scalp and sending little shocks down his neck. He turned on his back and stared up at her as she rubbed his head and combed his length of wild onyx waves. "Kagome…"

She was nearly shocked as he reached up to touch her face almost reverently, eyes wide and lips parted as he panted. He had never said her name since she had arrived in his castle. "Kagome… Sing something… for me." She looked hesitant and his eye took on the gleam that said he would not take no for an answer. "I will set the boy free if you do. Entertain me, miko." His fingers locked in her hair, tugging softly, insistently. She took in a deep breath, unsure as to what to sing, but she remembered a song she had heard a long time ago. It had been so strange and compelling that she had memorized the words. She began softly.

"You are here, alone again,

In your sweet insanity

All too calm, you hide yourself

From reality

Do you call it solitude?

Do you call it liberty?

When all the world

turns away to leave you lonely?

All the fields are filled with desires,

All voices crying for freedom,

But all in vain they will fade away

There's only you

To answer you

Forever…

In blinded mind you are singing

A glorious hallelujah,

The distant flutter of angels

They're all too far,

Too far to reach for you

I am here alone again,

In my sweet serenity

Hoping you will ever find me in any place

I will call it solitude

When all my songs fade in vain

Fly my voice, into eternity…

Naraku had closed his eyes, drinking in her voice and words. The words resonated in his mind and soul, and slightly he felt himself twinge. The word lonliness chased itself around and around in his head. He sighed, and as her fingers fluttered over his face he snatched her wrists. "The boy goes free." His voice was laced with a kind of venom she hadn't heard before. Her eyes widened as his claws traced over the pulse in her wrists and his blood red gaze sharpened and heated. "But now, a new game begins."

"A game?" her eyes widened and she blanched, but he only smirked. Suddenly, as he moved in a blur of speed and strength, she yelped, lashing out and snatching fistfuls of his soft hair.

He had her pinned beneath him, his hands on her shoulders and claws dug into the wood beneath her. She was breathing quickly, in fear and in shock. This man had some serious bipolar issues. He leaned down to place an almost tender kiss on her neck, biting with a small growl. "Yes. You should have run when you had the chance." He leaned back, letting her go, pleased when she didn't move, but merely stared up at him. "Now, I will chase you, and I will make you want me. You will stay of your own will, and even if you leave, you will return."

She gave him a look that clearly said 'yeah fricken right', but that was replaced by the 'oh shit' expression as she felt cold fingers running down her side, then slipping into the parting of her kimono. His cold fingers touched her bare thigh and she shivered. He leaned down, his lips very close to hers, but not touching. Naraku smiled, a smile that would send shivers down any woman's spine, as she went completely still beneath him. His lids were lowered in a burning gaze, his lips turned up in a grin as his large, calloused hand started to knead the flesh of her outer thigh. Her breath hitched, and his grin widened, showing off a set of predatory white teeth. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face from him as he started a low chuckle.

"You will want me." He stood and walked away, opening the shoji screen that led outside. Kagome wasn't sure if it was relief or disappointment that washed through her as she scrambled up and out, hearing his laughter chasing her.

But kamis why did they make a villain as sexy as him?

A/N: ... I want to do a Thrax/O.C. pairing now, thanks to xovers of him and disney girls... The song is The World, by Yuki Kajiura. This chappie was dedicated to a certain someone who accused Naraku of going "soft"...

Naraku:: Calm evil gaze "..." smirk "Really..." Chains, tentacles and other good stuff suddenly appear.

Me: O.o "Unless you're sure youre goingto enjoy what he has in mind I suggest you run. Now."