To Know The Man

by OnyxIvyStone

Can we ever really know someone? Is there a way to see into their hearts and minds and pasts and understand what has made them who they are? Kagome is going to learn that the key to Sesshomaru's soul is what rests in the shades of what came before.

21. Chapter 21

I do not own Inuyasha. Not mine. Never will be.

Only a Look and a Voice

(From "The Builers")

All are architects of Fate,

Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great,

Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;

Each thing in its place is best;

And what seems but idle show

Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise,

Time is with materials filled;

Our to-days and yesterdays

Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these;

Leave no yawning gaps between;

Think not, because no man sees,

Such things will remain unseen.

… … … … …

Else our lives are incomplete,

Standing in these walls of Time,

Broken stairways, where the feet

Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,

With a firm and ample base;

And ascending and secure

Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain

To those turrets, where the eye

Sees the world as one vast plain,

And one boundless reach of sky.

Longfellow

The pulse, the tick of their heartbeat, measures each life. In each pulse, a memory is formed. A decision is made. A life is shaped. Sometimes, if love is strong enough and hearts are close enough, their pulses beat time as one. They are connected by one heart they move in response to. They shape destiny together for the sake of that one life. Without that heart, they have no pulse. Without that life, they have no strength. Without that one, there is nothing but space and the staggering beat of their own, lonely pulse, hollow and echoing in the vast nothingness of time.

She had followed him up the steep pathway through the gates of his castle fortress. He had invited her as if she were an old friend coming over for a meal after a long absence. Both knew that this wasn't the case, but Naraku took perverse delight in his little game and Kagome, more interested in buying time than denying the evil hanyou his pleasures, allowed him to continue with his farce. Upon entering the gate, her eyes fell on the slight, raven-haired girl who, as if in a daze, followed two clay golems toward Naraku.

"Rin…" She breathed as the girl approached. Her eyes were glazed and her face was vacant as Naraku reached out and caressed her cheek. She looked up at him but did not see him.

"You should not try to wake her. If you do, she will be afraid. She might scream or fight me and then I would have to harm her. You do not want me to harm her, do you Kagome?"

His voice was like acid and putrescence in her ears. She trembled. "No. Leave her be. You have no reason to hurt her."

"Have I ever needed a reason to do harm to innocence?" He slipped his bloody gaze back onto the miko only a few paces behind him. "You should know that if you cross me, I would take very great pleasure in hurting her. I will take even more pleasure in ripping her innocence away and leaving her broken at your mate's feet. You see, I know very well that there is more than one way to break him. Now there are three and I hold all of them very close to me."

"That is why I'm here. To protect him."

He laughed cruelly. "You cannot protect him and yourself and your children. There are simply not enough of you. I believe you have made a very dangerous mistake."

"Perhaps I have. We will see."

He smirked and looked to the raven-haired girl whose cheek he was still cradling. "Put her with the she-wolf. I will deal with the two of them later."

Kagome watched as her daughter was guided away and out of her sight. When Naraku turned back to meet her gaze, she smirked crookedly at him. "So now it's time to deal with me."

"Precisely." He chuckled and motioned as he walked toward another part of the castle fort. "I would like you to see something I've been preparing for you."

"Would this have something to do with Enju?" She asked casually and took faint delight when the hanyou's shoulders tensed. "Oh, was that a part of the surprise?"

"You are humoring yourself at my expense, Kagome. With your daughter's life so tightly in my grasp, you have to ask yourself whether playing such a dangerous game is such a good idea."

She smiled faintly. "You have a point. However you do like to play games, Naraku, and I know how much you like to talk. Haven't you ever wanted someone around who can at least provide you a challenge?"

He chuckled. The sound of his laughter was like the feeling of bile rising in her throat. "That is why you are still conscious, sweet Kagome. You know, I really don't want to kill you. I intend to win, you know, and I would so enjoy having you to play with once the final battle is won. I know you'd never willingly agree, which is why I ensnared Enju. You can't blame the poor girl. I threatened her meager existence and the ultimate end of her soul, thrusting her into an eternity of pain and torture."

"I don't blame her, Naraku, I blame you."

"So long as we know who is the cause for the ultimate end. I don't want any of the hatred you hold within you given to someone undeserving. Especially when the hatred belongs entirely to me."

As they approached the small outcropping of buildings, Kagome's eyes fell on two figures standing and cloaked in black. Nearby was Enju guarded by several golems. Kagome frowned slightly as Naraku walked to the two cloaked figures and caressed them fervently. "What did you force her to create, Naraku?"

"They are masterpieces, really. Enju's greatest works born from my vision." He pulled back the hood of the first cloaked figure that was veiling their face. Kagome trembled as she saw the visage of her previous incarnation, Kikyo, formed of living flesh and bone. Every organ, every pulse was alive, but her eyes were dull. She had no soul. Naraku sneered and kissed the living doll's cheek. "She is so nearly perfect that, if you could not sense the presence of her soul, you would simply think her dazed or drugged. But she is nearly perfect, not completely. I have found that no matter how Onigumo loved her, obsessed upon her, that I have found another by far more perfect." He turned and removed the veiled hood from the other figure. Kagome shuddered and looked away as she came face to face with her own mirror. "Oh, Kagome… Are you not even going to appreciate your own beauty? I ensured that she is your exact mirror." His voice sounded of sin and evil. It made her feel ill as it wrapped around her mind. "I even made sure this version smelled exactly the same and… Tasted the same. Now all they need is the spark of life you possess and they will be exactly what I require to win."

"You will never get it."

"Oh, Kagome… I most certainly will. I will because if you do not give me what I want, I will ensure that your daughter and that pitiful she-wolf wish they were dead a thousand times over before I finish with them. I will give them agonies both spiritual and physical that you could never dream. You will comply or I will make good on my threats. You will do as I tell you or I will ensure that every shred of sanity and joy is ripped so fully away from them that not even the warmth and brilliance of your newly discovered light will guide them back from the darkness I will place them in." He approached and touched her face. She winced, but did not flinch from his fingertips as he guided her face so their gazes met, blood for blue. "Don't make me do it, Kagome. We both know that it will break your spirit and I would not be the only man who would mourn that. Don't fight me. You came here to save your daughter, not let her be destroyed. You said yourself we needed to stop playing games and we both know exactly what the other is and is not capable of."

Her pulse was pounding in her ears and she trembled at his touch. She reached out to Sesshomaru and sent him love and hope and apology along their tenuous bond stretched nearly to its limit. She followed her instincts. The thrum of logic and morals she forced into the back of her mind and allowed that knowledge, that understanding of her own capabilities to take over. She allowed the base of what it was to be Kagome overtake everything else and, to anyone who did not live in the rhythm of her heartbeat, it might have seemed she folded to the dark hanyou's will. It seemed that she gave up. "I will do as you ask. For Rin. For her sake."

Naraku smiled darkly and kissed the little miko's brow fervently. Her slight form shuddered and folded as his dark energy overwhelmed her and forced her into unconsciousness. He caught her easily with his tentacles, cradling her against him. "Good girl."

Enju trembled as she watched Naraku carry the girl to one of the slabs she had formed the two living dolls of flesh upon. His eyes turned to her after he had smoothed the miko's clothing and hair. "Finish, Enju, and then return to your cell until I have need of you again. Remember, if you fail at this last portion of your task, I will place your soul in a hell you cannot possibly imagine."

The clay woman nodded and approached the unconscious miko. First she sought out the portion of her soul that was still Kikyo. That fracture of her soul had become so completely fused and healed, it was almost as if Enju had to shatter the girl once more to remove it. She placed the energy into the flesh doll and fused the fracture completely along her charkas. The flesh doll writhed and fell to her knees, crying out as she was torn back into life.

Kikyo looked up and stood slowly. Her powers returned slowly, pooling in her belly where they had always rested. She turned and looked at the flesh doll of Kagome, then to Naraku. "What game are you playing now, Naraku?"

"A game where you finally are able to kill Inuyasha. You have a new life now, given to you by me. All I ask in repayment is that you stand at my side and fight for me in one battle. You never need feed on souls again in your new form. Your life is yours."

"Why would I ever help you, Naraku?"

"If not for the sake of your own freedom and a chance to kill the hanyou who chose to stand at the side of your reincarnation instead of yours?"

"I have made peace with that, Naraku."

He smiled wickedly and placed his hand over the small swell at Kagome's belly. "Then perhaps to ensure that the child she carries is never harmed. You see, I will win this battle and I will raise her and Sesshomaru's son as my own with the help of the girl who stands near you. Part of Kagome's soul and spirit will be fractured off along with her innocence to animate the mirror standing beside you. She will not remember me nor have access to her spiritual powers, but she will be mother to the boy. You could be his protector and ensure I do not taint him… Too badly, that is."

"What will you do with what is left of her? That will remain in that body?" Kikyo asked, raising her brow, hiding her true emotions skillfully. She had been at peace. Her soul had been at rest and her anger dashed completely. She had forgiven Inuyasha, taken comfort in his slow recovery from the aspect of Kagome's soul where she rested and felt joy with Kagome in her new life at the Taiyoukai's side. She had not been separate. She was Kagome and now she was Kikyo again and she was not happy about it in the slightest. His threat to Kagome's son was a threat to her own son, but Kikyo was nothing if not controlled. She hid the truth very well.

"I am not certain yet… At one time I was going to give her to Kouga as a peace offering, but now… Now maybe I will make her my own toy. I simply don't know yet. We shall have to see… But what is your answer, Kikyo? Would you like your revenge and a new purpose defending the infant boy this girl carries? Or shall I kill you? Or perhaps him?"

"Don't threaten me, Naraku." She spit out, frowning deeply at the dark hanyou. "You know better. I will fight by your side for both of those reasons. The son she carries is as much my own as he is hers."

She held her breath, hoping he wouldn't question her. She hardened her gaze, hoping beyond her first hope that he would believe her. When he laughed, she knew. She knew he believed. "Very good. A guard will show you to the armory where you may dress and equip yourself."

She nodded and watched for a moment as he looked back onto the miko's face, caressing her hair in an almost repulsive manner. She turned when a guard came to lead her away. Don't be afraid, sister. I won't let him harm our son. Or our mate. Or our brothers. Rest and ready yourself and know that I am on your side.

Once Kikyo had been led away, he looked back to Enju. "One more task. I wish for you to do as I originally planned, but I would like you to add one more aspect of her soul. I want her innocence, her purity, that part of her spirit as well, but I also want you to put in a portion of her fire. That aspect of her soul that defies me, but not enough that she will not bend to me. If that is not within the doll you have made, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha will not believe and, frankly, I would harm her. Without fire, she is only a child meant to be broken."

Enju nodded and swallowed back her distaste for the task. Kagome was such a beautiful soul. So pure and warm and powerful. Splitting her again, fracturing her so completely felt like the greatest sin against nature, and so, as she stared at the soul before her, Enju paused. A soft surge of warmth and forgiveness came from the light she could see in her mind's eye. It was Kagome, giving her permission. But she couldn't, even with her permission. Even knowing that the miko would allow it. Kagome, I can't… It isn't right. We must fight him.

We will fight him. Trust me, Enju. Do as he asks and trust me. It will be all right. Everything will be alright.

Enju trembled physically and completed her task with some trepidation. She didn't know why, but she trusted the miko. She had to. There was something so calming and entirely powerful about her spirit and soul. Especially her soul. Even after fracturing her twice, Kagome was more bright and stronger than most souls ever were. Enju then animated Kagome's mirror. The flesh doll also cried out, falling to her hands and knees, shaking almost violently.

Naraku left the miko's side and approached the girl who was weeping into the earth, frightened. He touched her shoulders gently and she leaned into his touch. "There, there, little one. You're alright."

"Wh-where am I? Who am I?" Her voice was shaking and breathless as Naraku helped her stand. The girl leaned against him.

"You are safe with me in my castle and your name… Your name is Kagome." He did not let the girl turn to where the miko lay, still unconscious. "I am going to send you to a room where you will be bathed and dressed. In a while, I will be bringing a baby to you. You will be his mother, do you understand?"

"I understand what you say, but… But am I its mother? I don't remember anything… What is your name?"

"My name is Naraku and you will be his mother. I will help you remember in time, but for the moment, you must trust me. Trust me, Kagome. Know I would never harm you or your child."

She listened to his words. They seemed strange to her, but she said nothing. She did not voice her lack of trust or her fear of him. She would do as he said and protect the child he would bring to her. In time she would understand, she was certain of it. "Yes, Naraku. I trust you."

He chuckled darkly and kissed her cheek as the guard approached. "Very good. I will see you again soon." He murmured and watched her walk away. Once she was gone, he looked back to the miko who still lay unconscious. He returned to her side and caressed her face almost lovingly. "You are so beautiful. What will I do with the last fragment of you once I have taken your son? I suppose I will have to decide that when the battle with your beloveds is ended. Until then, I have the perfect place where you, the she-wolf and your daughter can watch as I tear them into the next world. I've been preparing it for a while now."

Enju watched Naraku and felt her self become physically ill. He raised his gaze to her and she bowed faintly before returning to her quarters. Her heart twisted, but she forced herself to trust the miko. She was strong. Much stronger than Naraku knew. Hopefully it would be his undoing.

Once Enju had gone, Naraku picked up the miko carefully and carried her to his quarters where Kanna waited with her mirror and the three priests she had gathered for him. They were magically bound within the room and terrified of the dark hanyou's wrath. Naraku smiled darkly as he laid the miko on his bed. "Kanna, you will go and watch for the Taiyoukai and his band of warriors come to save Kagome. Ensure that others are watching elsewhere in case Sesshomaru has decided to gather an army that will attack from another direction so we can be ready."

Kanna nodded and left the room, her black, voided eyes devoid of emotion, thought or will. Naraku looked to the three priests and smirked. "Your duty will be to ensure that the miko's powers advance her pregnancy and she delivers her son without complication. Know that if you fail and either her or her son are damaged in any way that I will send pain, death and wrath onto your villages and temples and then I will slowly end all of you. You have, at the most, a day to complete your task."

"But, Lord Naraku… What you ask is nearly impossible, even for the birth of a hanyou child." Said one of the elder priests.

Naraku's laughter sent chills through their bodies. "Then I suggest you make it possible. You see I do not accept failure, as I made plain to you." He turned toward the door, leaving the priests to their tedious and dangerous task.

The evil hanyou walked through his castle and found his way to the cell where the child, Rin, and the she-wolf, Ayame were being kept. As he opened the door, he smiled darkly as his gaze fell upon the two vacant eyed women. "Come." He said simply and the two followed him out of the castle fort, further up the desolate path to a cliff where three crosses made in the shape of an ex had been placed overlooking the castle fort and the road that led up to it where the final stand, no doubt, would be made. With Kohaku's shard, his powers had increased greatly. He had managed to create shackles that would absorb the energy of both youkai and miko that were fused with the thick wood of the crosses. He lifted up each female into their crosses, securing each limb before he released them from his mind control. He left the center cross open, ready for the miko who would be, in a short time, giving birth to her son. He smiled as both the she-wolf and woman-child looked at him in horror.

"I know, you remember exactly what has happened over the course of the time that you have been within my clutches. No doubt you remember your captures…"

"What did you do to Kohaku!?" She cried out before she could stop herself. She had thought that her vision wouldn't have come true. She thought that the crosses would remain empty. She thought… She thought there would be a happily ever after. All she remembered was Kohaku fighting off the clay golems and then the blackness as they overtook him and claimed her.

"Ahhh, Sango's brother. Yes. He should be dead by now since I reclaimed his shard."

"No!"

"How sweet! Sesshomaru's little brat fell in love with the boy. Oh, this only becomes more and more wonderful. I can't wait to see your face when your dear mother is placed beside you."

"Kagome… No, she wouldn't…"

"But she has. She's given herself up. It looks as if she loves you enough to sacrifice herself and her son."

Rin began to shake, pressing her eyes closed. Tears streamed down her face. Try as she might, she could not reach out to her senses. She could not tell if he was lying or not. "Two raven, one red… Nothing has changed. It will all come to pass and everything I love… Everyone will die."

Naraku chuckled and sighed in vague disappointment. "I wanted to break you myself, but it seems that it was all too easy. So I will settle for you, Ayame." He looked to the she-wolf who was currently snarling at him. "You see, when Kouga comes to save Kagome, and he will, I will take very great pleasure in disarming him with the both of you and then killing him slowly, painfully in front of you."

"Kouga's stronger than that! He won't let you hurt him!" Her faith in him was so strong, nothing could ebb it.

Naraku chuckled and tore the flower from her hair, crushing it, laughing at her protests. "Kouga is a man in love. Both of you hold places in his heart and he will happily sacrifice himself for the two of you. Believe me. He will. He'll make himself a martyr. Believe that he won't if you wish, but know that if he does decide to fight, it simply means that he doesn't love you enough to sacrifice him self. That the love you thought he held for you was false. Either way, pretty Ayame, you lose and I win."

He turned from them and chuckled as he heard the gasp from the girl. Oh, he would take such pleasure in breaking her. Such perverse, happy pleasure in watching her fall. Perhaps he would extend all of their pain. Perhaps all three women would become his toys. Yes. That would definitely be a joy he could get used to.

As she felt the energies of her aura and her child's aura manipulated and moved, she curled even tighter around her son both physically and mentally. She held herself in a fetal knot and within her mind; she wrapped around her son and calmed him. Whoever it was that was causing the shift in her power were not causing harm to her son and so her instinctual power was allowing them to continue, causing his tiny form to grow dramatically within her. The energy was not tainted or evil, so whoever was forcing her son to grow so dramatically quickly was not one of Naraku's incarnations, however they most certainly were being controlled by Naraku's will.

She could not sense the passing of time while she rested in her mind, but she could measure it in a way by the growth of her son. In her mind, a black energy had been transferred to her from Naraku and was interfering with her coming to consciousness, however she was not fighting anything. The only thing she was doing currently was ensuring her son was safe, calm and growing healthily while those in the waking world caused her aura to flare and force his growth.

Dawn touched the castle when Naraku finally went to check on the miko and her progress. He smiled viciously as he saw her curled around her large swell. The priests were readying her for labor and, from the line across her brow; no doubt she was on some level feeling the pangs course through her. He sat on the bed and sat her up in his lap, caressing her face tenderly. It caused her to frown only more. A husky chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"No sign of your lover or your friends yet, sweet Kagome. They must have forgotten you… No… Perhaps they are gathering their forces for an attack. Surely that is the reason. The Taiyoukai would not abandon his mate or his heir." He looked up to the priests who were readying her to give birth. Stress creased their brows. "Would it ease your worry if she were awake?"

Instant relief touched their faces to which he laughed. "I cannot give you full consciousness. She would become… Difficult, no doubt. But I can urge her through the energies I have placed in her mind. Tell me what you need and I will whisper it to her."

They nodded and continued. Soft, mewing whispers escaped the girl as her contractions began and clear, pinkish liquid poured from her. As the priests urged her to push, Naraku whispered the command to her, reaching her mind in her deep unconsciousness. The miko would not fight him, he knew. The life of her son was in danger if she fought him on any level. By the time the sun had fully risen, Kanna's matching mirror, which Naraku had kept close, focused on the vision of the band of men as they approached the front. Naraku laughed. The sound was soon joined by the squall of the tiny boy being born. His short silver hair and ears lay flat onto his head as the priests cleaned him and his mother, cutting his chord and wrapping his fiercely red flesh in a soft blanket. Naraku laid the child's mother back onto his bed and took the tiny boy, still bright scarlet with rage and looked down into his squalling countenance. His tiny eyes opened to reveal piercing azure orbs that mirrored his mothers that soon formed an angry scowl at the onyx haired hanyou who held him.

Naraku tisked in disapproval. "Now, now. Enough of that. You don't even know me and you look at me like you hate me." He looked up to the priests. "Ready her and ensure she is not harmed even slightly. I will return in a few moments to deal with her." When they nodded, he turned away and knocked upon the door to the room where Kikyo had retired. The miko answered the door and raised a brow at the tiny boy Naraku held. She put out her arms and he shook his head. "No, no. Not for you. I wish for you to come with me and stay with the young Kagome who will be tending the baby until I return for the three of you to face the boy's father and uncle. They are approaching the gate."

Kikyo nodded and followed Naraku to the door of the young girl, Kagome. She answered and her eyes lit up as they fell onto the baby she was handed. She held him close and he instantly ended his whimpering, snuggling into her embrace. She caressed the baby gently and her voice trembled when she spoke. "He is mine… He belongs to me, I feel it."

Naraku smiled and kissed her cheek gently. "Protect him with your life, Kagome. You should give him a name."

"I feel… Like I should ask someone's opinion first… His father."

"His father doesn't care. You may ask my permission if you like."

She paused, and then looked up at him with innocent curiosity. "Could I name him… Sesshomaru?"

Naraku scowled. "Any name but that."

"Oh… Souta, then." She murmured, looking back to the tiny boy, kissing his smooth brow.

"Souta is fine… This is Kikyo. She is your sister and will be keeping you company for a short while until I come to fetch you. Always remain at my side once we go to the gates. We will be meeting some rather unsavory characters and they must see that you are with me as well as your son and that you will not be leaving my side. Do you understand, Kagome?"

She nodded and smiled softly. "I do."

"Very good." He looked to Kikyo and nodded, then left as the elder miko closed the door to Kagome's room.

Kikyo looked at Kagome and then at the child. She sighed and leaned, kissing his brow. "You are so important. We will protect you, little one, until your mother is returned to you." She whispered once she knew Naraku was far away. The baby cooed and Kikyo smiled. She looked up and met Kagome's eyes. "You realize he is not to be trusted?"

The girl nodded. Even her innocent, naïve gaze held complete understanding. "The child… Is mine, but not mine. I do not trust Naraku, but I know I can trust you. You are… More than my sister, are you not?"

"We were once parts of another woman named Kagome. This baby's mother. She released us from her because she knew that we would protect him while she could not. We have very real purpose today. Trust your instincts. You will see two men soon with silver hair much like the child's. The warrior with the crescent moon of midnight and markings of crimson is the boy's father and the other who has ears like the boy is his uncle. You must not show that you do not trust Naraku until the last possible moment. Then you must escape his reach quickly. When I call your name, you must move. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Kikyo… But may I ask who Sesshomaru is? The name… The name is more than familiar."

Kikyo smiled and sighed, running her fingers through the girl's long ebony tresses. "He is the boy's father and he loves us very much. Trust him. Trust his brother, Inuyasha. They love us and would rather die than see harm come to us."

Naraku approached his room and opened the door. Time was a factor, so he had not stayed to listen to the two women as he might have normally. He needed to deal with the unconscious miko before her mate and brethren arrived. The priests had finished their work with her. Naraku snarled and sent out his tentacles, impaling all three, killing them instantly. As they fell, he cradled Kagome in his arms and kissed her brow again to begin the slow release from her deep slumber. He wanted to see the pain and fear in her eyes once she realized how helpless she was.

He climbed up to the cliff-side where Rin and Ayame were already shackled. Her eyes began to open as he shackled her wrists. "Ahhh, she begins to awaken. Look dear girls, you have company."

"Momma!" Rin called out, tears falling freely down her face. Panic rose in her throat as she realized that the baby, her brother had been taken. "Momma, my brother, where is he?"

"Rin?" She whimpered, trembling. Her body ached still from giving birth even though she had not been conscious during it.

"Kagome, are you alright? Your clothing is covered in blood!" Ayame said with a wavering voice.

As Naraku finished shackling her legs, he rose up and kissed the miko fiercely. She whimpered and writhed weakly, feeling her miko powers drained away from her. He chuckled as he pulled away, dragging his hands over her form. "This is rather familiar, is it not? You're not untouched, but I don't mind. I won't take any less pleasure in defiling you once I have finished slaughtering your lover and your friends and family. And once I have finished with them, I will very slowly kill the she-wolf and woman-child in front of you to show you how very helpless you really are. Will you like that, Kagome? Will you enjoy that?"

As he turned to kiss her again, she bit down hard into the side of his lips and cheek where the juncture came together, drawing black blood into her mouth. He howled and thrashed, then back handed her hard enough to make her see jagged streaks of light in her vision. One hand went to his cheek, holding it in place as it healed. He growled and pulled her head up by her hair, meeting her eyes. She smiled crookedly, spitting his blood into his face. "You tell me, Naraku. Will I enjoy that?"

He sneered as he realized the change in her. "So this is what you look like without your warmth and innocence. You remind me very much of Kikyo after she was first brought back. All wrath, hatred and spite. Yes. I will definitely enjoy breaking you. More, perhaps than you would like to acknowledge. But until then, let me weigh this on your conscience."

He turned sharply and thrust two tentacles through Ayame, ripping through major organs before pulling them from her. The she-wolf didn't even scream. Blood poured from her mouth as her eyes widened in shock, then dulled as her life left her. He looked back to Kagome and chuckled at her furious gaze. "Think on your actions, miko, or else I will take your daughter now rather than later."

She bit her tongue and silenced. He turned from her and began his trek back down to collect Kikyo and the innocent girl, Kagome with his hand still held tightly to his cheek as it finished healing. "Good girl. You learn fast."

Once he was out of hearing range, Kagome looked to her daughter who was weeping. "Shhh, sweet baby. It's all right. You aren't alone."

"He's going to kill us and he has my brother…"

"No, your brother is safe and is being taken care of some very trustworthy people, alright. It would take too much time to explain, Rin, but you must trust me. I am here to make sure you are safe."

"The shackles dampen your power, though. We can't possibly escape."

"They dampen my miko power, not the other power. The light I control. Naraku didn't realize I'd learn to control it so quickly. No doubt he has worked very long to control his own powers…"

"What powers?"

"For every kind of power, there is it's opposite. Mine is of light. His is of darkness. Light and darkness are not necessarily good or evil. But, because of their natures, they are in complete opposition. He can dampen my miko powers, but he cannot dampen the light. However, we will have to wait for the correct moment or else he will sense what is happening too soon and stop me before I can protect you. You must be calm."

She nodded and tried to fight back her tears. "What about Ayame?"

Kagome looked to the red headed she-wolf with a heavy heart and trembled. "I can't save her… There isn't time… Not enough time to save my daughter and my son… I'm sorry Rin… Ayame, I'm so sorry… I have to choose my children."

Rin trembled and closed her eyes to fight away the image of Ayame's broken body, but it followed her to the black of her hooded gaze. "Is… Kohaku dead?"

Kagome looked back to her daughter and smiled faintly, sadly. "No, he isn't, Rin. He's alive and, most likely approaching Naraku's castle with your father. It isn't going to be a perfect happy ending like the fairy tales I told you… But it will be all right. Trust me, Rin. Just trust me."

"I trust you, Momma… I trust you." She whispered, but did not open her eyes. She did not have the strength to open her eyes.

Can I just say… EWE. I always feel dirty after I write Naraku. He's so slimey. Bleh. I'm giving fair warning that the next two chapters will also be cliffhangers. I'm either pure evil or a slave to my art and it just so happens that, by the nature of the chapters and how I know they are going to work out, they will not leave much breathing room. I'm right in the middle of the big confrontation, so, yeah. Cliffhangers. OK. Hope you all enjoyed.

Ivy