Author Notes: Awe, yes, I know. Gomen, gomen, I'm lazy, but I do have several reasons for not updating sooner, all of which you have probably heard before and could care less… you just want to read the next chap, ne? Hehe. Okay, but first a few quick little notes. Yes, yes, I hear the groans already. Just bear with me for a sec…
Umm… this chapter might seem a tad different from my others, just a tad. My writing styles constantly change, and I've been recently working with my absolutely awesome English teacher on my writing skills, so I believe my writing style is slightly different from previous chaps. Anyways, I'm kinda experimenting with my writing so this chap has a bit more over flowery-ish language, at least, I think so. But I did make it extra long (over 4000 words not counting my overly long a/n's) just for you guys! Hope you enjoy!
disclaimer: Nope. Trust me, ppl wouldn't want me to own it…
notes:
Jou-chan – Kinda like: little girl; honey (though the way Kagura says it, it is in a mocking/deriding tone.)
Oh, yes, thanx so much for all the wonderful reviews! They are truly what keeps me going! Responses at the bottom! Arigatou!
Without further ado...
Thy Soul of Sin
By: DarkRoseBlood
Chapter Four
Before Dawn
She was lost.
Forsaken by her very own memories…
Twisted in her mind, she possessed no past, no duties that callously bound her to icy, rusting chains, no obligations that scornfully ensnared her in wretched, deformed tentacles; yet still, her pitiful existence was governed by unknown treacheries of a past long misplaced beneath the wintry fog residing in her mind.
One of which, forgotten and trapped within jeering, hostile depths of an endless mist, possessed a fabricated reality. Perhaps, deep into the dreary slumbers of night, some hope peeped swiftly and silently from the foreboding white mist, which practically screamed depraved and cruel death to those who dared wander in its ashen-white fog. Yes, perhaps once in a full moon, could she almost reach, almost stroke her forlorn memories; yet alas, each time the hopeful miko became within a bare inch of the blinding lights that were her lonesome memories they hastily scampered back into the swirling haze of ashen smog that lingered tauntingly at the back her mind, languidly, deliberately, shrouding everything from her.
Haunting, black-ash clouds which mocked her, spitefully amused at her own disgraceful helplessness. Her own past.
And to be honest, Kagome wouldn't have minded not remembering the shocking, horrific deeds of the blood-filled past she had just barely glimpsed in the speeding flashes that often plagued her aching mind. Yet she could not live a normal life, for damned obligations to the damned world held her back, gagged her with a slimy cloth swathed in burgundy blood, chained her down to the duties she could not even remember.
Starlit eyes overflowing with unanswered questions, Kagome gazed at the inky black sky alit with twinkling balls of burning fire scattered across the dark night like glittering fireflies. Fireflies that deemed it necessary to madden her with the omniscient brilliance. Disdainfully, they sneered at her with their overwhelming superiority, flaunting it high over her trivial existence.
With their fiery radiance, they retained a past. Deriding those inferior to their omnipotent luster, the taunting stars possessed a meaning, a purpose. They saw all things that played out across the small sphere made of burning rock called Earth. Merely an insignificant mass of volcanic rock that languidly floated in space and time—so immaterial to the blazing star of fire and gas that if this feeble planet were to come close enough to its ulterior rays, the dominant star would burn the pitiful thing dubbed Earth to a blackened crisp.
Not that it would waste its time with something as trifling as a planet.
With a wishful sigh, Kagome leaned against the wooden panel that bordered the small doorway from her room to the scenic courtyard.
She felt so… so minuscule, so inconsequential beneath the raging gazes of the millions of fiery stars that placidly dotted the midnight sky.
So trivial… like she, herself, held no meaning… no purpose…
And even the moon—which was barely one-third the size of Earth—seemed to shine with untold luminance. Merely a mortal being of flesh and blood, she paled greatly in comparison. Hell, she wasn't even in the same league.
Though wasn't it ironic how… if… if… she just… simply stretched—stretched out her hand toward the sky very, very slowly, she could seemingly capture the reflective orb of pallid light within her unearthly pale palm.
Oh, what she would give to be able to reach out into the black night sky and grab a hold of such beautiful radiance! Oh, such lovely ascendancy…
Such exquisite and lovely ascendancy to hold and perhaps even own… for just… for just a mere moment of pure, dazzling Heaven…
In abrupt haste, Kagome instanly drew her hand back as she realized it was outstretched in futile hope, indeed, to capture the glimmering moon within her palm.
Such a silly, childish thing to do, really.
Hope, when there seemed to be no hope present.
But alas, that was who she was—well… perhaps that wasn't entirely true either, for she really didn't know who she was…
Just another trvial existance occupying precious space in the eternal universe… no meaning… no purpose… no obligations…
…however, if that were true than why did she feel shackled down by the hurtful and acerbic chains of unknown obligations to a past she held no recognition of…
And it all comes crashing back to that ever-present thought of 'Who was she?'
As the raven-haired miko stepped farther out onto the stone veranda, cool and quiet wind blew soothingly around her ankles and thin blue yukata, like a fainst whisper of cool breath.
Had she ever gazed at the pale almighty moon with such fascination before? Had she ever wished upon a fallen star for some childish dream, which had an immense probability of never coming to pass? Had she ever simply stared off into the black void of time and space, becoming entrapped within its cosmic nothingness?
Had she ever laughed and giggled along with her friends amongst an extensive field of freshly bloomed wildflowers? Or had she ever frolicked carelessly amid their vibrant splashes of lively petals? Or had she, perhaps, purely lounged blissfully in their grassy confines, watching the day go by, while trying to discern the numerous different animals and objects in the fluffy white clouds above?
Could someone residing somewhere in this sweeping land even tell her? Had she? Had she a blessed life with loved ones to share her special secrets with?
No… she supposed not… after all, she was a miko.
A miko who remembered nothing except for blood, screams, and death.
Vile red blood that vividly stained her mind in a treacherous concord of never-ending screams and merciless death.
What taunting irony: a miko who no one cared about enough to worry where she was or how she was doing. A miko who cared for everyone, but whom no one cared for personally.
Well, except for possibly Naraku…
Ironic wasn't it, how the scarlet-eyed hanyou was the only person she had contact with, so far, of whom she actually remembered, and he, at least, seemed to show the slightest bit of care for her.
Slightest, mind you.
And another satirical thought, as well: the only thing she really remembered about him is his haunting, devious eyes the exact hue of sinful blood…
So twisted. So wicked. So… beautiful…
Every single detail was warped in a perfidious vortex that swirled around her amid blaring winds of darkness, though she stood perfectly still in the center untouched by the relentless spirals. Simply watching the world continue to exist without her, she remained entrapped within the heart of it all.
Entangled, merely watching… watching… unable to do anything, caught in a loop…
Time stood perfectly still. Growing neither older nor younger for her—she simply remained, ever observing as the world carried on… and she…
She solely halted in a standstill, in the eye of the raging storm, having neither a past to cling nor any future to hope for—no dream to childishly base her life on…
Nothing. Nothingness.
So ultimately warped…
What did she have left in the world to believe?
Hope.
Faith.
Courage.
Trust.
Love…
What did all these damned emotions, these damned things—these fucking words truly mean to her?
What? What! WHAT!
For that was what they were: merely words that held no true meaning to her.
Merely words—merely wet ink staining crisp white paper…
Nothing was able to hold any meaning for her because she, herself, held no meaning…
Nothing… nothing… she was nothing…
Simply a miko who had seen too much of the bloody fucking world and held no desire to see anymore of its vile corruption.
At least, that was she believed… after all, she still did not know who she was…
To have no memory, no purpose, no reason to fight… no reason to give her life for… no loved one to die for…
Though she somehow, she had a feeling… her life was not her own to give…
Melodiously, a mocking whisper murmured tenderly in her head that she existed to correct a mistake she could not remember—that the young priestess remained alive and not brutally mutilated beneath some lush green berry bush because, and only because, she had a duty to fulfill and a mistake to correct.
A mistake named Inuyasha…
Who was this mysterious hanyou, Inuyasha, that made her heart burn with fiery passion of loathing and disgust? Who was this Inuyasha to make her heart cry out in terrible ache and agony—agony of a love forever lost? Who?
Who was this wretched Inuyasha who could topple everything she had barely begun to rebuild with just one single thought of his name? Who?
…When she could not even recall his face…
Kagome gazed at the gorgeous moon so mysterious in all its luminous superiority. She wished to fly as high as the midnight skies, high as the glossy, ghost-like moon.
But what an entirely silly notion that was.
Really…
Her scornful laugh echoed softly into the black night saturated with bitter irony.
Inuyasha… Inuyasha…
Who are you?
In mystifying puzzlement, a perplexed frown crossed Kagome's pale features.
Either way, whoever this Inuyasha was, the sapphire-eyed miko would make sure he fucking burned in the flaming depths of the seven Hells.
She would make sure he fucking burned for eternity. Burned until he was a blackened hanyou crisp.
Then she would restart it all over and make him burn again… or perhaps drown him within the frigid depths of the raging, icy seas of his own lies and deceit.
Yes… indeed… then she could go on living in this world free as the stunning moon; her rebirth would come with the blackened ashes of this damned hanyou, Inuyasha.
At that time, possibly, she would indeed dominate this cursed land and destroy all those who dared oppose her, like Naraku-sama suggested. It was a tempting idea: to rid this wretched yet beautiful land of such creaturesthat had ever dared to scorn her, damage her, burn her.
And perhaps, afterward, the fraudulent whispers would stop their tormenting hum. Perhaps…
Senses suddenly spiking on full alert, Kagome froze.
Someone was near, hovering in the room exactly behind her, elegantly painted with pale blue and silver Sakura blossoms.
Slowly, the young miko released a low raspy breath as she tried to prevent the violent shudder that wished to ripple down her spine in great waves.
Eyes narrowed in hostile awareness, Kagome swiftly turned around to gaze at the creature that had intruded on her quiet peace… well, perhaps not precisely peace with all her frustrating thoughts but still…
In violent clash of colors and stubbornness, the miko's azure orbs met those of a bright, vibrant red that easily glittered through the dark, shadowed room. Intense ruby eyes that seemed oddly familiar to Kagome… perhaps similar to Naraku's. Minus the fact that no flashing, black pupils stared back at Kagome in mockery.
Simply red. Dangerous red-an-red eyes that held no deceiving black. Dark blood-red created the pupil with a lighter ruby shade for the iris encircling it, though the difference between the two reds was hardly noticeable. Completely prideful eyes that sparkled with devious mystery.
A precarious mystery that puzzled Kagome.
This woman… this demoness that stood across the Sakura-painted room with an obvious foreboding poise—wariness flared in Kagome's mind as the demoness's sharp features instantly contorted in a menacing snarl as her livid garnet gaze swept over the silent miko.
Soft words saturated with utter malice drifted from the black-haired woman's crimson lips, drifting through the still air that occupied the room: "Inuyasha's wench."
Those words sprang at Kagome's mind with biting force, threatening to sweep the earth from beneath her feet that very moment. Biting and spitting, laughing and taunting… devour… devour…
Wench? …Inuyasha's… wench? …who… me? No, she's lying… Rapidly angered, the near-seething miko glared at the demoness before her with a bitter gaze of ice . Liar—the demoness, clothed in garments of those with noble blood, had to be lying!
She was nobody's wench! …Right?
"Shut updemoness," Kagome viciously retorted, maintaining her fierce glare on the ebony-haired woman. "You know nothing!"
At her words, the demoness paused for a second, surprise and confusion flickering suspiciously in her narrowed, red-on-red eyes.
What was wrong with the miko-child?
Cherry lips still curved in a slight snarl, the skeptical demoness stared at the miko with a completive look; shadows played across her pale features, intensifying her sharp ruby eyes. With a graceful, clawed hand she raised a sealed fan to her pale face, lightly tapping the black edge on her chin.
"I know nothing, Inuyasha's wench?" she sneered, quirking a thin, black eyebrow in question.
"I am no one's wench, especially to that wretched hanyou, Inuyasha," the silently enraged miko sneered back.
For a moment, the moon's silver light shined through the fluttering blue cloth and slithered over the young priestess's lithe form, causing her to appear as something that flowed ethereal radiance… and malicious menace if you were to even dare threaten her power.
Absurd, the ebony-haired demoness mentally scoffedat the preposterous thought; however, there was indeed something different about the miko, who spoke the name Inuyasha as if it were a vile blasphemy.
Something icily cold… calm… something forbiddingly precarious… hostile even, yet the miko had always been rather aggressive towards the Wind Sorceress but now… bitter disdain shrouded any innocence the miko had previously held…
With a sudden crack that swiftly sliced through the stagnant air like an assassin's blade, the Wind Sorceress snapped open her pink and red fan, startling the motionless miko who heatedly glared at the demoness with voluminous contempt.
In elegant precise movements, the ebony-haired demoness flung out her sharpened claw, which held the multicolored fan, and a swift gust of find flowed across the room, binding the miko in her position.
Kagome softly gasped as she felt the chilled wind soar around her, easily passing through the delicate blue yukata the fluttered wildly amid the icy breeze. Her bones radiated burning frost as she became rooted to the spot she stood; white fire spread through her veins like a lethal disease, promptly slowing down the blood flow as it turned to harsh, biting ice. Soon, the onna's breath was ragged and harsh while smoky white clouds emerged with each coarse gasp.
Alarmed sapphire eyes stared startled at the dark-haired demoness who leisurely approached the immobile priestess with effortless grace.
Kagome's heart pounded in her ears; her mind screamed in panic. And the wind… the relentless wind stormed around Kagome in a flurry of stinging panic.
"Who are you!" hissed Kagome between labored gasps. Though the chilled miko knew she could move if she really willed herself, it was as if her mind could not completely comprehend the notion.
Pitch-black bangs that hung low over glowing crimson eyes swayed to a stop as the wordless demoness paused two feet away from the frozen miko, carefully surveying the headstrong onnanoko that always followed the hanyou, Inuyasha, everywhere. Casually, a light pink blade of her still unfastened fan lay lightly on the demoness's chin.
Something had happened to the miko, the scrutinizing demoness observed. Something that had effected her memory.
And… something else as well… the Wind Sorceress reflected, Something that tore away her usual irritating, cheery self… replacing it with a resentful and lost shadow that haunts ruthlessly… interesting…
Crimson-on-crimson eyes wondered what Naraku had schemed up this time, if he had Inuyasha's wench in his possession…
No, not Inuyasha's wench, according to the ningen miko.
The Wind Sorceress mentally growled as she pondered these sudden discoveries. She had indeed missed a great many things during her absence into freedom…
Damn it.
Damn it all.
"Do you not know who I am, miko?" the demoness evenly said, her garnet pupils examining the young onna intently.
"No!" she replied irately between wheezy gasps before quieting abruptly as an unsure look appeared on her face. "Am… am I supposed to?" she whispered desolately, a faraway stare glazing over her dark cerulean eyes.
With a slight sneer, the Wind Sorceress grabbed a hold of the Shrine maiden's ice-cold jaw and jerked it to the side. Unpleasant chills shot thornily down Kagome's spine as a clawed thumbnail trailed nonchalantly down the ruby cut blemishing the miko's pale white cheek.
"Do you know, miko, Naraku's half-breed scent shrouds your ningen stench?" sneered the red-on-red eyed demoness, her pupils fixed on the scar.
"Huh…" stuttered the miko, "What about Lord Naraku?"
Lord Naraku? the Wind Sorceress pondered somewhat surprised once again… and amused…
Oh, how Naraku played his malevolent game. No matter how utterly despicable and twisted Naraku's games were, the Wind Sorceress knew the wretched hanyou could indeed play his games well…
"Lord Naraku, is it, jou-chan?" scoffed the Wind Sorceress, releasing her grip on the perplexed, raven-haired girl; the moon's replicated light glittered mockingly in the demoness's bloody gaze.
"Pathetic, miko. Utterly pitiful."
Another sharp snap of her precious fan reverberated through the quiet night like a deadly knife, unleashing the wind's icy hold on the miko. Pale pink robes flailed casually as the swirling wind receded from the miko and drifted back to its mistress.
Burning lungs screamed for air as the young priestess gasped for air, stumbling slightly as her bones were once more able to move. Wide sapphire eyes stared blankly at the tatami mats beneath her bare feet with obscured comprehension.
Raven-black locks of lustrous wavy hair swayed with a sudden ripple as Kagome's sapphire eyes lifted up from the tatami floor to stare at the demoness standing impassively—except for the dark sparkle of mischievous garnet that glittered sardonically in her eyes—before her.
"I suppose I should introduce myself then, miko-child?" Another stabbing snap and a nearly invisible vortex of light purple wind appeared around the smirking demoness as she brought her pink and red fan in a wide, curving arc. "I am Kagura the Wind Sorceress."
Another sharp snap as Kagura brusquely snapped shut her bi-colored fan; the whirling wind swimming throughout the room instantly became still.
Kagome continued to stare at the Wind Sorceress, blinding flashes speeding through her mind, though only a few words flittered through her head. Words that she could comprehend, anyways…
Kagura… the Wind Sorceress…
Kagura of the Wind…
Kagome recognized that name… from somewhere far, far away… almost in an exclusively separate reality, it seemed like…
A world she had no memory of…
Oh, the pain…
"I… I kn–know… you," she whispered, her narrowed eyes glazing over with something mysterious… as if a forgotten dream, "…from somewhere… somewhere… I don't know…"
Kagura gazed at the pathetic onnanoko who now clutched the wooden doorframe as if it were her lifeline. A gentle breeze wafted in from the mountains, fluttering the light blue curtains around the miko.
"Don't you, ningen?" inquired the demoness of the Wind, more of a challenging tone lacing her acidic words than a deriding one. "What is that you truly know? Lord Naraku, you call that hanyou… but why? Think carefully, jou-chan…"
Kagome suddenly lifted her head in a single, fluid movement, startling Kagura for a bare second. Empty, emotionless eyes stared blankly at the Wind Sorceress, not a flicker of sapphire revealing their untold secrets except for a burning iciness that dared to send a shiver down Kagura's spine for a bare moment.
"Perhaps, Wind Sorceress," whispered the vacant voice of the miko, "…The endless yearning for freedom. Perhaps, I know as much as you do. Perhaps, neither of us knows anything at all."
With a sharp swish of cloth and a low sneer, Kagura noiselessly exited the Sakura-painted room, leaving the miko to deal with her own demons. Or possibly, for Kagura to leave and not face those same demons the mindless miko had implied they shared. How preposterous… how preposterous that the stupid wench had indeed hit something in Kagura with her mystifying words.
Eyes narrowed and dark, the Wind Sorceress swiftly padded down the dark corridor in search of her sister Kanna, a silent growl upon her lips. What numerous things, the ebony-haired Wind Sorceress had to tell her sister. Yes, numerous things indeed.
She paused for a moment in the shadowed corridor as a wayward thought unexpectedly flittered through the demoness's mind.
Perhaps… just perhaps… the miko is not as pathetic as before…
As she disappeared into the silent hallways' looming shadows, Kagura wondered briefly if Naraku had any idea of how well his new victim could play his twisted game. For Kagura did believe the miko could play Naraku's game better than most.
Briefly, subconsciously, the Wind Sorceress wondered who was indeed the pawn and the player.
The predator and the prey.
She wondered if the young miko actually knew how much power she, in fact, held.
And, possibly, just for the briefest of moments, Kagura would pity the miko's destruction as she fell entangled within Naraku's despicable corruption.
.
. ... .
.
Honeyed kisses upon her pale milk-white skin—feather-like as they trailed down her neck, biting, nipping, teasing, with silken lips.
Touch. Breathe. Scream.
Silk petals teased her sensitive flesh with playful licks and pointed, razor sharp fangs grazed her weak, easily scarred skin with such delicate precision, never once scraping so brutally as to stain the luminous pale whiteness of her skin in bloody burgundy.
Gasping, moaning, her back arched.
Clawed hands trailed down her spine, taunting, provoking, eliciting pleading whimpers from her pale white throat of which such sounds had never emerged before.
Crave. Need. Desire.
She longed for these new-found sensations to continue for eternity as she drowned beneath divine addicting kisses woven from the flowing strands of untainted silk. Enwrapping, trapping, devouring, the endless kisses of heavenly cleanliness dared to attempt to purify her corrupted existence. Her soiled being, which surged with everything contaminated and poisoned.
Poisoned by wretched, unholy memories, which lurked sneeringly in some far corner of her mind.
Rose petal lips caressed her own in inconceivable rapture.
Savor. Taste. Ravage.
She knew it. She was impure. She was sullied. She was tarnished. No longer did her bright and unbothered soul sparkle with shimmering integrity.
Tainted was her coal black spirit, yet still, the silken rose petal lips deemed her chaste enough to bless her with their sacred kisses, gliding slowly, deliberately, over her soiled being with such forgiveness for her imperfections. Nimble razor-sharp claws performed a fluid, elegant ballet upon her fair snow-white skin, dragging through rich raven locks.
Sweet, sweet silken kisses upon her rosy virgin lips, eyelids, cheek, neck… relishing, consuming, conquering…
Breathless, a scream erupted from her silent rosy lips. And how she fell, sunk, obscured beneath the ocean of vivid, deep burgundy blood, which flowed with ethereal grace over her unearthly white skin.
Laughing, smiling, throwing her head back in sheer elation as pointed, razor-sharp fangs dug violently into her milky shoulder, cleansing her soul of unknown sins. Her dirty, foul blood painted the silken rose petal lips of her godly savior.
Purity. Ecstasy. Untainted.
Taunting smirk of her fanged savior gazed upon her with malicious serendipity.
Perhaps, her soul could be saved…
Honeyed, sweet, rose petal kisses…
Touch. Breathe. Scream.
Vile blackness obscured her glittering sapphire vision as Kagome abruptly sat upright, gorgeous raven locks flinging wildly at the sudden movement. Trembling pale hands clutched the snug azure blankets held close to her chest and her mouth was slightly parted as if a miserable scream had been upon her rosy pink lips prior to her brusque awakening as the bewildered miko pondered said awakening.
Night. It was black night—the following night of her strange meeting with the Wind Sorceress. Yes, she remembered that… but what had she been dreaming? Her intensely dark sapphire blue eyes, which sparkled dangerously in the night, narrowed in frustration.
As if trapped behind some hazy veil, Kagome could not recall the previous dream, which had caused her heart to beat so rapidly against her ribcage like a feral storm. Vastly similar to her unknown memories, her mesmeric dream seemed to pulse with hidden life securely behind the hazy, ashen-white fog of which her mind could even begin to venture through lest it become warped among the icy smoke swirls. Sending a fierce shudder down her spine, the alluring sensations of silken rose petals tingled over her unnatural pale skin, but, alas, that was all she recalled from her preceding dream.
Quieting her harsh, rapid breathing, Kagome once again settled among her many cozy indigo coverlets and drifted into her own pleasant little dream world once more. She would muse over her recent unknown dream with its silken rose petals tomorrow.
Speedily becoming lost in the harmonious white clouds of deep sleep, the drowsy priestess—exhuasted from Izumi's constant nurturing earlier that day—noticed neither the dark burgundy blotch soaked into her light blue yukata above the fading bite of razor fangs upon her milky white shoulder, nor the peculiar ghost-like figure silhouetted against the shoji door as it noiselessly slipped out of the silent bedchambers bathed in sinister night with inhuman grace, scarlet eyes glimmering in the motionless darkness.
How amusing it was to taunt and play with his chaste little miko. Amusing indeed.
Though dreams can be deceiving,
like faces are to hearts,
they serve for sweet relieving,
when fantasy and reality lie too far apart.
– anonymous –
End Notes: Hmm... bad, bad Naraku, but he shouldn't underestimate dear Kagome, now should he:snickers: He really shouldn't. Heh, the last part hadn't actually been in the first draft of this chap, but I decided to add it 'cause I said I would have Naraku in this chap. And, I know, I still have a bad habit of drawing things out for way too long, heh. Hope you enjoyed anyways!
Erm… I'm not exactly sure when I'll update next… sometime soon hopefully, heh. And for those who are wondering about my other fic,'Of a Betrayed Lust…' well, that's kinda on hiatus for awhile 'cause it's horribly written and organized, and I need to rewrite it, but I'm lazy… feh. Gomen!
Now, plz, plz REVIEW! Constructive criticism, mistakes, comments... I'd really appreciate it! I'd want to know what you thought! Tell me! Tell me! Plz! Tell me, if you think this chap or ppl were turning a little too OOC or something and drifting off in Lala Land. Plz!
Arigatou!
Reviews:
crypticgoddess: Thanx! Tired? Heh, me too. :P
Sano99: I know, I know, I'm evil for ending it there, but hopefully you enjoyed what happened in this chap! Thanx a bunches:)
Loopypants: Hm, interesting name. :P Thanx!
Skitzoflame: Mmm, hope this chap answered your question… or probably brought up more questions, heh. Thanx:)
Naraku's Dark Soul: Hee, thanx a bunches:pouts: Not too much of Naraku in this chap, but hopefully you enjoyed it anyways! And he'll be in the next chap a lot more! Yay:D
ingra-of-mordor: Thanx! Umm, well, at least somebody noticed that, but I was trying to hint at Inuyasha's eyes being crimson (though sometimes I refer to Kagura's eyes as crimson, also) and referring to Naraku's eyes as scarlet so I don't confuse ppl, which I know I did anyway despite my attempts, hehe. Mmm… just have to wait to find out why:P
Zena: Awe, thanx! I will! Heh. :)
Jasmine Fields: Heh, thanx a bunches! Hopefully this chap still kept you hooked:P
shadows-insanity: Thanx:)
Steph: :blushes: Awe, thanx so much! I've really tried to keep everybody IC and it's not an easy job, but hopefully I still did it! You are definitely right, I can't stand it either when Kagome is portrayed as weak and helpless! It's so… so… argh! I just dislike it… a lot. Heh, hopefully I didn't disappoint you and you liked this chap just as much:D
Inuyasha's Princess17: You'll find out soon what happened between Inu and Kag and the others, well, hopefully soon. I'm not sure when yet, heh. Yeah, I first read NarKag for something different, but then I found out I loved the pairing, heh. Hopefully, I kept close enough IC for you to keep enjoying it. I really try to keep them IC 'cause I dislike it when they're not. Thanx a bunches:P
Emerald-Eyed-Faye: Thanx:)
neon-animefan: Really, you're too kind. :blushes: Tch, and I really hadn't thought my beginning was that good! Hehe, no worries! Naraku's back, erm, sorta. Nothing too bad happening yet, 'cept for Naraku being his usual sadistic self, teh. Bad, bad Naraku. Hope you enjoyed. Thanx a bunches:D
Wolfwoods: Hehe, funny how I was updating my fic and then saw your review appear like on the same day. Heh, thanx! And I did! lol. :P
Mmm, okay, thanx so much to all my wonderful reviewers! Love ya guys!
Arigatou and Happy Holidays!
(: DarkRoseBlood
(edit : 9.8.06 : some quick format editing and removal of irritating fangirl japanese)