Author's Note: So I took a bit of a break there, huh? Sorry it took so long to update. I didn't take much time editing this because I really wanted to get it up for y'all to read. But I was having massive writer's block. Let me know what you guys think!

Something is wrong. Something is different. It's the same dream, the same dress, the same beach, the same. There is something itching at her consciousness. Should she be awake? And where is Naraku? He should have shown up by now so she could wake up and find comfort in her demon lord.

"MY demon lord? Goodness what is wrong with me?" Kagome thinks to herself, which nearly rouses her awake.

Suddenly, a bluish orb, much like a soul, appears in her line of sight. It is hovering over the black waters, mesmerizing her. This is definitely different. Right? No. Yes.

Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrow to slits as Kagome disappears from his view, turning his wrath to the arrow holding him. He wills his arm to move. Maybe a finger. But nothing happens. How can he wake them?

He clears his mind and considers his options. He can wait until the group starts to awaken. This is not possible. That is still hours away. And Naraku can easily kill Kagome in that amount of time.

At that thought, his some lurches and he can taste something sour in the back of his throat. Kagome's vibrant, chocolate eyes enter his mind. Her smile, her scent, her laugh. Her eyes turn toward him again, only to suddenly turn dull and lifeless. His heart clenches at the thought. This will not occur.

Kagome knows she's moving. She knows she isn't lying down any longer. She can almost feel her legs moving. But this dream...it holds her, like a thick fog in her head unwilling to let her go. She suddenly growls in frustration.

"Was that me? In the dream? Or in real life? Does it matter? This isn't real! Wake up, stupid! This shouldn't be happening!" Kagome's dream mind screams at herself.

With a burst of spiritual power coming from deep inside her, she clears the fog out of her mind, the dream fading slowly. She blinks a few times and takes in her surroundings. She's walking through a mountain passage, a blue orb floating in front of her.

She attempts to stop walking, only realizing she can't. Her eyes turn downward and she notices her skin has a layer of blue light surrounding it. She glares, knowing who is behind this. She pushes back at the oppressive force in her mind.

"Kikyo." Her voice croaks.

Silence.

"Kikyo I know it's you." She says through clenched teeth, still walking

Silence.

"I know you tried...to tell me. I'm sorry."

"Foolish girl." Comes the icy tone of the dead priestess.

"Where is Inuyasha?"

"He is none of your concern."

"What have you done, Kikyo?" Kagome asks softly.

Suddenly, a scene enters her mind. Kikyo must be sharing. A large cherry blossom tree, green grass, a still pond. She can see red. The robe of the fire rat. Inuyasha. He turns and looks toward where she is standing. Kikyo then walks past her and up to Inuyasha. She reaches out to him, her fingertip tracing his jaw line. Kagome wants to look away, but finds herself unable.

"My dear, sweet, Inuyasha." Kikyo murmurs.

"Where have you been? I smell Naraku all over you!"

"I struck a deal."

"What?"
"He just wants my reincarnation. I told him I will deliver her to him."

"What?" Inuyasha's face begins to contort with rage.

Kagome watches, rage filling her. How could she? Kikyo tried to warn her, had she not? Was it all just a ruse? Just as her rage is about to boil over, a second Kikyo enters her line of vision. Kagome's mouth drops open and turns her eyes to where the first Kikyo and Inuyasha stand. He doesn't see her.

"Kagome."

"What is going on?" Kagome asks of the new Kikyo.

"This is my subconscious mind reaching out to you. It was where your dreams came from. Naraku has taken hold of the souls inside of me, his dirty, malignant fingers changing them into bitter, angry and restless souls. I can not control them. They control me."

"Kikyo-"

"Regardless of what you may think of me, I would have never turned you over to Naraku. Inuyasha knows something is wrong," She says, referring to the on-going scene behind her where the pair are arguing, "But he will follow along. He doesn't wish to lose me."

"That's fantastic, I don't really care." Kagome spits out.

"I know what he did. I know he hurt you. I know he can't control himself. I must work with him if we make it through this mess. His demon blood has become far too strong."

Kagome tries to make sense of all of this new information. She turns her attention back to the Kikyo in front of Inuyasha, noticing a slight purple glimmer in her eyes. Inuyasha clearly missed it. Inuyasha. She stares at him, looking at the curve of his jaw, his pointed eyebrows, down to his hands. The same hands he raised against her.

"What do I do?" Kagome asks.

"There is not much to do right now. Naraku has us in his claws. I don't know how he accomplished this."

"How...I mean you're the strongest priestess I know...I just can't imagine what could have happened." Kagome says softly, watching as the vision of Kikyo and Inuyasha swirls and fades.

"He tainted my soul collectors. They knew to only capture pure souls to sustain me. Naraku entered a battle with me, weakened me, then used some sort of magic to taint the collectors. They brought devious, evil souls to me. The souls took over my body, my powers. I am helpless now, bending to Naraku's every whim."

"And...Inuyasha?"

"Naraku has him. He is alive for the time being. And furious."

"I could imagine."

"I must release you now. Naraku will become aware."

"So that's it? We just...what? Let him have his way? I refuse!"

"Good. We will need your fiery soul to have any sort of hope. As long as your will stays your own."

With that, Kagome finds herself back in the mountain passage. She has been walking this entire time as it seems she's reaching the end. She looks ahead, seeing the purple miasma floating and curling around on the ground part way for her to step. She feels sweat dripping off the back of her neck, her long hair sticking to it. The massive demonic aura prickles her skin. Naraku. He's here.

Sesshomaru has been practicing to no avail for the past 20 minutes to focus his demonic energy at the arrow in his shoulder. It's as if he is just a shell, nothing inside. His will broken and stolen. He looks on as the members for the group sleep peacefully. Rage builds inside of him. Well, at least he can still be angry. Anger. Maybe he can use this.

Closing his eyes, he summons thoughts of his Miko. Her face turning down, cheeks emblazoned with a fierce blush. Her eyes, gazing up into his, relief that he is with her present in her eyes. Her long legs, elegant fingers, pouty lips. Maybe those things aren't best to be thought of right now.

A imagine of Kagome, eyes vacant much like Kohaku's, enters his mind. Her body still and rigid. Naraku stepping close to her, bringing his lips to her ear, whispering, controlling her. His filthy, half-breed hands touching her.

A growl emanates deep within him, his best rousing to the image. Naraku's hands. On his Miko. With that, Sesshomaru pulls forward against the arrow, snarling loudly. The arrow snaps in two, half still inside of his shoulder. He barely registers the fact that the other members are awakening. His Miko. She needs him. And he will come. He will descend upon Naraku. And rain down unholy hell upon his head.