Since Laying Eyes Upon Her

Chapter 3: Into the Dragon's Den

Of course Synrakku would be Naraku's incarnation. Nothing could ever be simple, oh no kami forbid she be faced with an easy decision. Either there was a woman between her and the one she wanted, or there was an evil villain plotting the death of her friends and perhaps even herself. Woo-freaking-hoo.

Kagome's eyes narrowed and she glared angrily up at the ex-hanyou, but couldn't bring herself to loose the arrow. By all the gods she wanted to loose the arrow, to watch it pierce his horrible heart and have him writh upon the earth while the purifying magics took effect, but something held her in check. Something undefinable, something like magic.

The miko's eyes widened for a moment as her brain began to wrap around such a notion. Could Naraku have her under a spell? It would explain how fast she and Synrakku had gone at it, so to speak. The idea made sense, if she were in love with him or his incarnation, or both, she would not be able to bring herself to kill him. This was common knowledge. All at once Kagome shook herself for displaying such weakness, and hardened her resolve once more. She would not crack under the weight of her love.

But just as she was about to finally let the arrow fly into that black, sadistic heart of his, a small pain shot across her own heart, causing the muscle to ache with desperation and desire. Her newly re-hardned resolve sank once more.

"What type of spell have you put on me this time, Naraku." Snarled the young woman as she lowered her bow, useless against him she realized. The youkai leered pure malice at the young woman, causing her heart to falter for an instant.

"Spell? My dear Kagome, I have not bespelled you." His feral grin slipped to a frown, "much rather, it is you who have bewitched me." His dark eyes softened for an instant and Kagome felt herself being pulled to him, that gentle haziness entering her mind as she took a step toward the ex-hanyou. Suddenly the miko realized what she was doing, and pulled her scattered senses together, retreating from the form of her mortal enemy, and oddly enough, flaming passion.

"Leave." It took all her willpower to snarl that one word with such venom, and she felt herself going pale the longer she resisted the urge to go to Naraku. If he stayed much longer, only God knew what she would do. But oh how her heart constricted at the thought of his leaving. Kagome shook herself out of it. This was a spell, if not by Naraku's hand than by another's for some sick twisted amusement. And she would have none of it.

She did not, could not and would not love Naraku, not ever.

Not even under the guise of a dark angel.

Naraku laughed out loud at the guile this woman showed him. Something that would have only earned anyone else an instant death. The demon knew then that he had to have this girl by his side. That he could not live without the fiery priestess next to him, in the stead of opposing him. The malacious grin upon his features widened as he hatched yet another of his devious plots.

This girl would do anything for her friends, especially for the loathful hanyou he now had impailed upon his tentacles. A pact could undoubtedly be made between the two of them. Or rather, he could force her to bend to his will by hodling the lives of her friends in jeapardy until she complied to his wishes.

"I'll make you a deal, my dear Kagome." His eyes held that glint of anticipation within them like a viper about to strike its prey, and Kagome was instantly on gaurd.

"I don't know if I trust your type of 'deals' Naraku." The miko sent an uneasy glance over her shoulder at his incarnation, only to find that he had not moved, and held a distant look which vaugley reminded her of Sesshoumaru... at once the young woman realized her mind was wandering and she shook herself back into reality, her attention again focused on the enemy.

"I will leave, as you wish it, and I will leave without harming anymore of your 'friends'." He paused, knowing that she would realize there was a catch. That was another thing which stirred him, both in a negative and positive way, she always knew he was not to be trusted, no matter what. At times it filled him with a pride at her wit, and at other times it filled him with a hurt so deep it felt like a chasm had opened up within his nonexistant heart.

"What do you want in return." Her voice was hard, as were her eyes. The ex-hanyou almost flinched, such a look did not befit the usually passionate and lively woman. Naraku's trademark evil smirk dissapeared, and he rounded his attention soley on Kagome, attempting to soften his own eyes to communicate the raw emotion which dwelt within him.

"In return you must come to my fortress, and stay for as long as I wish it." His crimson eyes burned into her and she felt her anger rising.

She could not very well accept this! He did not actually expect her to go with him after all he had done, did he? How could this dispicable villain expect her to beleive that he actually felt for her. This had to be his worst scheme yet, it was so transparent. There was not even a snowball's chance in hell that she was going to willingly go with him to Kami knew where.

Kagome was silently debating with herself, the hanyou could tell that the side in his favor was loosing. Badly. And so, he let his impatience get the better of him, and began to squeeze the hanyou in his grasp, eliciting a strained moan from the inu. Kagome's palor paled instantly and she seemed sick to her stomach as she deflated slightly. Naraku supressed a smirk. She would be safe in his arms by the nights end.

"..fine..." The young woman finally managed to squeak. The ex-hanyou squeezed the inu-hanyou harder, venting his pent up frustration with the beast.

"I can't quite hear you." Crooned the demon.

"I said I'll go! Now, let Inuyasha down." Her voice was still as determined as ever and Naraku felt the passion in his heart grow. She was so bold.

"Perfect." Purred the villain, dropping the hanyou roughly to the ground and grabbing up his prize in his many tenticles. With a flash of light he was back in humanoid form, and flying the trembling miko away from everything safe, dear, and loved, and into the dragons den.

A.N.

Ahhh it feels good to be back in Inuyasha land, or Naraku land as the case may be. I would like to take this time to thank those of you who reviewed and also to thank my friend whos constant nagging finally birthed this chapter..which I hope is to your liking. I'm thinking about making it a bit darker and deeper, maybe a bit more violence between the pair. Tell me what you think.