Author Notes: Sorry for the long wait, but my dadwas messing with the stupid computer and totally screwed it up. All my work that I had saved on it went -poof!- and was gone! I was really pissed, but I managed to save some stuff... though not all of it, which included my finished version of this chapter, so I had to go back and re-finish it all and then re-edit it and... yeah... I have a headache...
So here I am rewriting this chap... having no absolute clue as to where I am going... but that's okay, I never do... yup, a really annoying headache...
rating: R Right now, it's probably more of a PG-13 but later there will be more blood, gore, violence etc... and probably for sexual situations in later chapters so... yeah. Don't like, don't read. Simple, really.
disclaimer: Nope.
pairing: Naraku/Kagome Yay!
Err... I think that's it...
-blinks- Whoa... -looks around- Eleven! Eleven reviews! Whoa! I love you guys! I'm so happy! A big thanx to all my wonderful reviewers! I love you guys. -coughs- Err... arigatou!
Reviews:
Shinobi-chan: Oh, thanx so much! And I plan to so I hope you keep reading:)
NarakuYugureHimitsu: Awe, thanx so much and you are so right! There are really so few NarKag fics out there, hehe. I'm glad my first chap interested ppl:P
lady sakura: Thanx a bunches:)
YamiEmmy: Really! Me:looks around: My fic! On a favorites list! Yay! Thanx and I'm glad you decided to find a NarKag fic (mine!) and liked it! I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thanx for reviewing:D
DarkAngelBabe: Hey, thanx:)
Elfy Archer: Heh, thanx a bunches! I'm happy you think the emotions are portrayed well! I have always tried to convey emotions that go deeper than normal. :D
Sano999: Heh, me too. Thanx! ;)
Naraku's Dark Soul: Oh, don't worry they will... eventually... when I get around to it... who knows when that will be... Hehe. Thanx a lot for reviewing:D
Ookami Jinx: Heh, sorry I couldn't update sooner, but hey, I finally did! Thanx a bunches for reviewing:)
DarkinsidetheLight: Awe, thanx so much! Hehe... 'beautiful'... heh, never heard that before, hmm... sounds good... I hope my fic stays that way and doesn't turn into one of the bad ones, ne? Thanx:P
Elementsofmine: Hee! I read your fic 'Stained Red' and thought it was so awesome! I'm so happy that you like mine! Thanx a bunches! NarKag does rule!
Wow! So many reviews! Yipee! Thank you so much to all the ppl who reviewed! Arigatou! Arigatou! Arigatou!
Heh... okay... err... yeah... without further ado...
Thy Soul of Sin
By: DarkRoseBlood
Chapter Two
As Dawn Becomes Deceiving Night
When the first glittering sparks of awareness filtered back into the young girl's mind, it was well into the premature twilight. The brilliant sun, which had shined through the open doors and painted windows upon her form in the early morning, was currently sinking slowly behind the mountains in the east on the other side of the Shrine. Its brilliant gaze now cast a spectacle of hazy pinks, reds, and yellows across the pleasantly silent land.
Her dark sapphire eyes flickered open as she softly moaned, steadily sitting up. However, this was perhaps not the best course of action, for when she fully sat up her eyes met the shadowed ones of brownish-red. And they certainly did not belong to Izumi for Izumi was no where in sight.
With a sharp gasp, she held the pale blue blankets close to her chest and stared at the Lord who sat beside her bed. She continued to stare at him unable to break away from his intense gaze yet... some part of her did not wish to.
"Why is it that you fear me, miko?" the raven-haired Lord spoke, his voice like a velvet ocean upon her ears. A wicked, wicked ocean.
"I–I'm a miko?" she asked, gazing at the Lord with wide eyes. Why did she get such a wicked feeling from him... yet a pleasant one at the same time? How could that be?
"Hai, you are," he softly said, his eyes somewhat amused. "You do not remember?"
"Well, it's not my fault," she said indignantly. How dare he be amused at her memory loss!
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared huffily at him.
He softly laughed, which caught the young girl by surprise. "Now, that is the stubborn miko I remember."
"You kn–know me?" she asked, looking at him questioningly.
"Hai," he said, eyes still filled with amusement, "I know much about you."
She looked down at her lap slightly ashamed. After all, Izumi had said he had saved her from some awful situation she had been in and brought her here. But still... there was something about him, which filled her with apprehension.
"You said my name was K–Kagome," she murmured, slowly gazing up at him, "but how do you know me?"
He just silently gazed at her, amusement and some other indecipherable emotions swirling in his deep brown eyes tinged with a dark red hue.
"And... and why do I get this feeling of something..." she said, narrowing her eyes a bit, "something... wicked... from you."
She turned to face him fully and stared straight into his eyes that seemed slightly redder at the present.
"Something... inhuman... that Izumi does not realize and I do because..." she shivered slightly as she recalled her earlier flashes, "because of these flashes... when I look at you... and I can also sense it..."
Finally he spoke, the corner of his mouth curving into a slight smirk, "Always the observant one, miko. And such fire for a miko, as well."
She stared at him, trying to see through his game. Yes, she remembered that he enjoyed playing games with... people and their minds and hearts.
"What happened?" she cautiously said. "I remember a battle... and blood... lots of it... and I remember... feeling betrayed... and I remember your eyes... they were a scarlet red... and how I hated them..."
The raven-haired Lord laughed, a pleased smile on his lips. "Is that so? Tell me, Kagome, is that all you remember about me?"
She looked at him, apprehension indeed filling her. She knew he was dangerous, and he had the upper hand in this twisted little game he played. He knew who she was, and what had happened. She did not. But still... something about him... a feeling... she found pleasant. And she definitely did not like that.
Who was he? What did he know?
"Something evil..." she murmured, scrutinizing his face," something I despise... something vile and wicked... yet..."
She did not want to say the last. She really did not wish to say something... warm... something pleasant... something safe...
"Tell me, Kagome, do you fear me?" he asked, his velvet voice taunting her.
Kagome... she thought, Is that even my true name or just another sick game of his...
"Do I have a reason to?" she questioned back, glaring at him. She did not like his games.
He watched her with appraising gaze, a slightly foreboding smirk present on his face. His eyes silently surveyed each curve along her face, each indention and scar as the soft candlelight played across each pale feature. The sunset's last rays shined behind her through the swaying blue cloth, circling her form in a delicate glow of pink, orange, and yellow, further enriching her fiery appearance.
A sharp gasp sounded through the silent room as the Lord gracefully lunged at her like icy liquid and easily pinned her to the elegant futon.
Her eyes squeezed shut as the pain from her injuries coursed along each nerve, setting every cell on scorching fire. When the pain had subsided, she opened her to eyes to find herself staring into dark pools of blazing blood red. Her chest heaved with each sharp intake of breath as she gazed into the scarlet eyes she remembered.
"Who are you?" she murmured, staring up at the Lord's face that was only an inch or two from hers. Her arms were pinned to her sides, and silent but warm breath sprayed across her face as ruby eyes glittered down at her. Waves of midnight black hair flowed around her in rich cascades.
A smirk that would have chilled anybody else besides the miko smiled down upon her helpless form. "I am Naraku."
Visions of blood... death... destruction... screams... and betrayal... flashed before her eyes blocking the fierce gaze for but a moment, before they ceased once more.
"Naraku... Iie, I do not fear you..." she said, her breath slightly ragged. He was so close to her. A little too close for her liking. Damn him.
He studied her with that ever-present smirk upon his face. A soft laugh reached her ears. "We have yet to see if that is wise, still... I cannot have my miko fearing her master."
"I belong to no one, Naraku," she spit out, her sapphire eyes ablaze with anger.
Another laugh. "Do you know that you said the same exact thing to me not too long ago, Kagome?"
"Shut up!"
"Why?" he taunted, his voice like a silky embrace upon her ears.
She was silent, glaring into his mocking red eyes of a demon. Wait... demon... demon... but...
"Naraku..." she started, her anger having dissipated as curiosity replaced it, "you are only a half demon, are you not?"
He cocked his head, midnight hair shifting slightly as looked upon her with those damn ruby eyes of his.
"This is a quality of yours that intrigues me, Kagome. ...You change your emotions so quickly. Forgetting the anger you held just moments ago... Hai, my miko," he smirked, sadism entwining with sickly amusement and delight in scarlet orbs.
Kagome sighed, closed her eyes, and relaxed her head against on the comfortable pale azure pillow. "I do not remember who I am... but I remember flashes of you and other... things. And I–, Naraku, I was your enemy... so why did you save me when I was betrayed... by..."
Golden eyes.
Naraku studied the miko below him. Such a strange woman to have high opinions and beliefs of which she strongly clung to as if were she to let them go, everything around her would crumble and fall beneath her very feet. Of course, that was what had first caught his attention besides the fact she was the priestess Kikyo's reincarnation. And to put up with that hanyou, Inuyasha, was a feat in itself.
Yet... despite her loyal and zealous grasp on her beloved beliefs her pitiful life was already collapsing upon its own paradoxical basis.
Inuyasha... Naraku inwardly laughed.
Even this miko's downfall had originated from her love for that arrogant half-breed's... just like her incarnate, the priestess Kikyo's had been.
However... this miko had truly been betrayed by the inu hanyou and not because of anything Naraku had done.
A thought Naraku actually found rather amusing. And all this pain for such a foolish thing: love.
Truly foolish.
The ever-taunting irony of it all.
Naraku languidly raised a claw and dragged his sharp nails across the miko's pale cheek. Her eyes snapped open to look into the glittering blood ruby of the half demon Naraku.
"Golden eyes..." she murmured. "And your eyes are not gold..."
"Another correct observation from you, miko," Naraku drawled, wickedness glowing in scarlet sparkles.
"So why did you save me, Naraku?" she wondered aloud.
Naraku smirked and added a tad more pressure as he dragged his claws across her scarred cheek. She felt a trickle of warm blood travel down her jaw in a jagged path.
"So I might control your power, miko," Naraku drawled somewhat idly.
She examined every aspect of the half demon above her. Each curve of his smooth, flawless face and every glint of his scarlet eyes she mentally memorized, drinking up his dark features. He was indeed beautiful, but there was something dark and undeniably evil about the beauty he held.
And he had saved her... though he was supposed to be her enemy. Yet... those golden eyes... she had cared about them deeply... and they had betrayed... her...
And she did not even know who she was... a miko named Kagome...
She watched as he raised his claw. A drop of blood dripped from the razor sharp nail on his index finger. It seemed like forever as Kagome watched it fall; the flickering light of a candle's hazy flame blinking across the surface.
The sun had all but sunk behind the looming mountains in the east and only a few glimmers of its departing light leaked into the large, fair-sized room. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, and flickering candlelight played with dim shadows across the walls.
She did not know her past... but Naraku did...
And according to him she was some kind of miko whose power he wanted.
"Hai, your power," Naraku's silk-like voice broke through her thoughts, "but you are entirely useful, in spite of this, my miko."
Opps, did I say that aloud? she wondered, startled for a moment.
"What?"
A chillingly wicked laugh surrounded her but she found that she rather... liked it. It was soft and made of velvet like his voice. It caressed her senses amid its icy embrace; however, she found it to be quite pleasant. So very enticing...
The burgundy-eyed hanyou leisurely lowered his claw and pressed the bloodstained nail to her pale lips. He gently followed the curve of her bottom lip as if fascinated by it. His wine red gaze regarded the blood that was left in his claw's wake as it trailed across the miko's lip.
Blood. Her blood. Her ningen blood.
Interesting...
He slowly loosened his hold on her weak form and gracefully went back to his original position by her blue-shaded futon. Crossing his legs, he lazily held her in his smoldering scarlet gaze, not bothering to answer her question. He smirked as he observed that she refused to be the one to back down first. Even while the small cut from his claw still bled and her lips were smudged with the crimson stain of her own blood.
A path of wine red jaggedly trickled down her cheek, lazily dripping onto the various blue blankets.
Finally, she blinked and turned her head to watch the faint swirls of smoke drift from the incense pot in an erratic course.
"Did I ever do something?" she muttered, transfixed on the line of smoke as it traveled in curving arcs and unnatural swirls.
Naraku continued to gaze at her, musing as to what direction she was taking this... conversation, now.
Not even looking at the half demon beside her but maintaining her dark sapphire gaze on the twirls and swirls of the ashen smoke, she elaborated, "Did I ever do something ever so wrong and vile to deserve the life, I cannot even recall, but still have been thrust into? Can you tell me that at least... since you say you know so much about me?"
Naraku was silent for a moment, contemplating her words with a sadistically amused expression dancing in his still ruby eyes.
"Have you forgotten that I am the embodiment of all that is wicked and evil, Kagome?"
"Kagome..." she murmured and then did something unexpected: she laughed.
"Oh, of course you are the great half demon Naraku that enjoys the suffering and torture of others," she smiled, and Naraku was somewhat amazed once again.
And... pleased. Yes, this miko was indeed very worthy of his attention. After all, she was one of the key elements in his defeat at the last battle against the inu hanyou's ragtag group.
And now... she was his.
"Naraku, will you tell me about my past?" she asked, her gaze still following the silent wisps of curling smoke.
He paused, his interest spiking. "And why would I do such a thing?"
She shrugged innocently, sending him a brilliant smile.
A truly amusing yet intriguing women.
"You say I'm a miko and I remember to some people I was, but still... everything is trapped behind a haze I can't seem to get through. I can remember certain things but not everything..." she trailed off, "Kagome... I don't even recall my own name or any family I might have had or my friends... except for those eyes the color of molten golden and... those eyes... somehow... betrayed me."
She was silent for a moment and then abruptly turned to look at him.
"Can you tell who deceived me and how or why?" Her usually innocently sweet, caring voice was suddenly icy and cold as a winter night. Anger burned in her midnight blue eyes like a swirling storm that beguiled Naraku with its hollow sincerity.
Naraku smirked, thoroughly pleased by this.
"Hai..." Naraku drawled, already beginning to enjoy the anguish he was going to inflict, "You were betrayed by a hanyou, named Inuyasha, an... enemy of mine, and someone you loved." He sneered slightly at the last word.
The miko faintly flinched but the hard, cold expression stayed in her dark cerulean eyes.
"You are the reincarnation of his past lover and he repeatedly saw her when he gazed upon you for you look like her twin. Perhaps that is why he deceived you," Naraku's velvet voice was laced with mockery and disdain.
Unexpectedly, a surge of icy pain seemed to crash down upon the miko's mind, appearing from absolutely nowhere. She gasped as if drowning amongst the rolling waves as they slowly receded only to come crashing back down on her mind once again.
Flashes. Sparks. Slashes.
Inuyasha...those golden eyes... she could see them... through the burning fire that surrounded the blood-filled field... rain poured... blood ran... her friends... gone... golden eyes... not golden anymore... red... crimson red... not Naraku's... more vile... more hateful... a voice demanding for her to give it the jewel... golden eyes... not golden anymore... crimson eyes... Kagome... slash... stab... by... him... betrayed... golden... such treachery... by him... stabbed... killed... by... him... the one she loved... pain...
Kagome jolted, gasping for breath. A million lights came before her eyes and then disappeared. She clutched the wrapped abdomen wound underneath her blue yukata.
Kagome steadied her breathing as she stared at the red droplets blotting her blue blanket. She kept seeing visions and flashes that she could not understand. Yes, some revelations she could comprehend, but most of it was vivid gibberish that she could not retain the smallest amount of sense from.
"Naraku," she murmured, looking at him, "I still do not remember much... but..." She hesitated.
"He, whoever he is, is not who he was before... when I did love him..." she slowly said, trying to understand her own words. What a pain it was to have such feelings and emotions of such events or things when spoken about, but not to remember those exact events or things as they happened.
"I know you play games and at the moment I'm am just a pawn in some twisted game of yours... most likely revenge... but..." Kagome looked down at her injuries, her brow slightly furrowed.
Naraku smirked. He almost had her in his claws. Perfect.
Standing up with natural grace—his elegant clothes rippling soundlessly—he looked down at her crouched form; his eyes glittered a vibrant blood red.
He could taste it in his mouth: her submission or as much as submission he could get from her at this point... for now, at least. And revenge. Delicious revenge.
Idiotic fool Inuyasha to leave one such as her... to be captured within my claws.
"You are Kagome Higurashi, a miko from the unknown," spoke Naraku, his alluring voice lined velvet temptation, "and I plan on shaping you into one who will conquer and rule this pitiful land with higher supremacy."
She stared at her injuries—each wound a nameless memory—then slowly shifted her gaze to the dark wine red droplets staining the pale blue blanket and finally stopped at the curling swirls of pallid smoke. Her blood had been spilt by the half demon Naraku many times, but it had never hurt as much as the betrayal of one she could not even remember.
Oh, and that was the damned problem. She could remember very little but feel every pain and anguish she had ever endured. She felt and sensed every little lie and every deceit thrown at her by people she had loved and trusted. People that were not supposed to turn their backs on her and leave her to the twisted claws of fate. People that she could not even recall familiar faces for... yet...
Why did they leave her to be saved by Naraku?
Naraku...
Naraku... he had never lied to her. Yes... he would not tell her things and withhold information, but he had never necessarily lied to her since she had woken up. He had even saved her. Her supposed enemy... had saved her life.
For Kagome knew she would have inevitably died if her injuries had not been tended too. And he was not exactly an enemy. He was the enemy of her love—no the hanyou, Inuyasha. After all, she could not call him her 'love' when she could not even remember him or his face—except for the anger she felt towards him for his betrayal to her.
And again, Naraku had not at this point in time ever lied to her. He'd actually been rather brutally honest. Something she greatly appreciated.
And since he was not directly her enemy though she knew she despised him in her past, however...
Wasn't there the saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Kagome mused.
So... if that were true...
A bright smile lit up the face of the miko as she broke her gaze from the spellbinding coils of ashen smoke.
A smile that resembled Naraku's to the tiniest bit of extent.
Kagome turned her head to look directly into the scarlet irises of Naraku; her ebony locks gently swayed at the abrupt movement.
"I will not be your naive pawn, but it is my duty to correct what has been done so..." she paused, taking a deep breath, "I will accept your offer, Naraku."
Her voice was soft, however in spite of this, the innocence—which had always overwhelmed her sapphire eyes—was at the present overshadowed with the darkness the taunting world had thrust upon her.
As she took the sharp claw extended towards her, so sealed the fate of vast lands of the Sengoku Jidai. The Feudal Era of Japan would learn that to betray the miko Kagome Higurashi would shift the thin line the between evil and good. And it would always shift to the young one's liking.
Everything inferior and ultimately evil would fall down to their knees before her and cry for mercy. It was just the question of whether mercy would be given...
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
And a hanyou named Inuyasha had become the enemy.
End Notes: So what'd ya think? Hope I didn't disappoint anyone. Yeah, I know the last bit was a tad melodramatic, but eh... what can I do? Plz, pretty, pretty pleez leave a review and tell me. I always enjoy anything you guys leave, though fare warning, flames will get you absolutely no where but anything else I totally adore!
Constructive criticism, comments questions, mistakes, etc... I love it all!
Yeah... sorry 'bout any grammar/spelling mistakes...
Umm... that's about it...
Erm... until next time... arigatou and bye-bye for now...
(: DarkRoseBlood
(edit : 9.8.06 : some quick format editing and removal of irritating fangirl japanese)