Naraku's mind games

An unexpected twist

"That. Look, where is it coming from?" Kagome cocked her head towards Sesshomaru; who was now staring at the fading beam of light.

"do you...?"

"demonic energy?"

"worse."

"dark energy?"

"dark power."

The small conversation between the members of the group told them what they needed to know.

"oh shit." Kagome cursed under her breath as they raced toward the origin of the beam of light. She had broke out running and almost leaped onto Inuyasha's back in the hurry. Kilala was once again a mighty demon, and carried Sango and Miroku. Kouga was a tornado; again, while Sorai just ran.

Sesshomaru took a flying leap towards the general mass of humans and demons and landed gracefully on his toes.

He grimaced at the still rushing hoard and said, "Brace yourself."

Without those words he closed his eyes, as if concentrating and a puffy scarlet red cloud began to conjure around their feet, startling them enough to stop.

There was much swearing, and uttering incoherent words, as well as curiosity at this new style of traveling, as they rose up.

Sesshomaru was silent, with his eyes closed, until they all were above him in the air. Then he took a second graceful leap and landed on the cloud, surprisingly managing to keep his balance on the fluffy surface. He looked at Inuyasha with Kagome squeezing his back and holding on for dear life, almost choking him, and muttered "God, you people weigh a ton!"

Kagome was white as a sheet. She was used to Kilala; sure, no problem, but this...was a little disturbing at the very least. Being able to see through the thing that kept you soaring and was the only curtain from falling to your untimely demise, did not sit well with her.

She felt a sickly feeling in the depth of her stomach. It wasn't a gut feeling, telling her right from wrong, it was a feeling telling her that whatever happened next wasn't gonna be pretty.

Oh, god, she was getting sick. And now of all inappropriate times! She felt like crying if she didn't think it would worsen her sickness.

She clutched Inuyasha tighter, her fingernails almost digging in his shoulder flesh through his haori.

"uh...Kagome?" he turned to see her almost passed out.

"holy crap Kagome!" he yelled as Miroku attempted to calm him down.

Kagome was now lying with her head in Sango's lap while Inuyasha sat by her muttering "oh no Kagome...don't pass out on me...not here not now...please...Kagome...don't get sick..."

Sesshomaru, previously at the front of the cloud, paced over to Kagome.

Casting her a glance, he thought,

Why must humans be so weak?

Not funny Sesshomaru.

I certainly don't think so either. We are about to arrive in five...ten minutes tops; pull yourself together.

You think I not trying?!

Nevertheless, you are not succeeding.

Your stupid cloud just HAD to be semi-transparent.

So you are getting sick at the sight of this height?

Well, yeah! Keh, what did you think?

I thought-never mind. If it helps any, console yourself with the fact that this Sesshomaru would not allow you to fall from his cloud.

A smile flickered across her lips. Thanks.

You are mine to kill for the many injustices you have done to my pride.

Yeah right! She scoffed. Injustices? Who do you think you're trying to kid here? You deserved every last thing.

Whatever. you mine to kill. But until then, I will not allow you to die, especially not falling off my cloud.

"she's at it again!" Sorai complained, now tired of waving her hand in front of the girls eyes.

"maybe him too?" Kouga asked as he began to wave his hand inches from a certain Inu-lord's nose. No response. Kouga made to turn to Sorai to tell her this, but he screwed up while turning, and his hand banged straight into the Inu-youkai's ever so delicate and sensitive nose.

You could have seen him flinch from a mile away. Without a telescope. It was so much of a flinch, that it exceeded the boundaries for one. It was a violent jump about three feet in the air, accompanied by a yelp, watery eyes and a very soon-to-be-dead wolf frantically searching for a place to hide.

Meanwhile, Kagome, despite trying to console herself that she couldn't fall, decided she needed some pills.

"Sango?" she asked.

A face looked down at her. "yes, Kagome? Do you need something?"

She smiled a bit and answered. "yes, I want the medicine case from my bag, could you—" her smile froze as she realized what she had just done.

She wasn't the only one though.

"Ahhhh! KAGOME!" his scream echoed as Inuyasha jumped off the cloud, in hopes of grabbing him and jumping to safety.

Inuyasha floated down, hair flying up, but he saw no Kouga. He didn't see any falling figure, nor brown tornado. In fact the scent was getting weaker here too. Maybe he's already on ground...or fallen to his doom? He mused.

Above him, Kagome and the others could still hear Kouga's screams. That is, until, Sorai, and Sesshomaru got up, together, and kicked a brown figure, still on the cloud, in the side; from both sides. He overturned. "hey, what was that for?"

Sorai chuckled. "you aren't falling, if you've failed to notice."

Sesshomaru yawned as Kouga turned a beetroot red and grinned sheepishly.

Kagome was looking over the edge for Inuyasha. It made her feel even more woozy, and dizzy, but she had to find Inuyasha.

She barely heard a thought from below. It was light, but because she was concentrating on Inuyasha, despite not being able to see him, she heard it.

Ha! That wimpy wolf is probably still up there, that idiot! I bet I'll get there before them! And finish off Naraku BEFORE they even think about fighting him!

Sesshomaru shook his head, as if saying 'oh boy, my poor, egotistical brother and his fantasies' and then smirked a bit.

If Inuyasha wanted to run, then let him. He would make it a point to get there before he did, just for the pure plain fun of bringing his brother's overgrown ego down from the clouds.

Kagome leaned back weakly. All that looking down from a height hadn't done her any good. Without caring who she was leaning on, she grabbed someone's hand and stood up, precautious. She mumbled to someone, "I think I'm gonna be sick..." and proceeded to throw up. A bit on the person, a bit below, a bit on the cloud. She looked up, her face white, to thank that person for letting her hold on to them, when she was confronted by gold eyes. Widened gold eyes, that looked thoroughly surprised.

Inuyasha? She thought fuzzily before thinking, I don't like heights...

And she passed out, falling back off the cloud in the process.

A hand grabbed her elbow and she was, unconsciously hauled to safety.

Sango could barely control her giggles. Kagome had thrown up, barfed on Sesshomaru, of all people! Anyone else and they would have forgiven her, even Inuyasha, wouldn't make that much of a fuss, but Sesshomaru! And now he's 'tsk'ing at his clothes like a fussy old grandmother!

Too bad for her, Sesshomaru could hear every one of her thoughts. And he didn't like them.

I don't suppose the miko did it on purpose, but still. She threw up on my clothes, she would pay. She was passed out now, but for later...he hated how humans were so weak! A little height and she threw up and passed out. Pathetic! He snorted.

Right now, he would clean himself before going anywhere.

The cloud dropped sharply, startling everyone, but before they could comment, Sesshomaru had grabbed Kagome and Sango by the shoulders and was currently walking of to a nearby water source with Sango struggling.

"put me down!" she said and glared. If she didn't have Kagome in her arms she would given him a piece of her mind.

"very well." He dropped Sango on her feet, and carrying Kagome.

Over by the pond, he said, "Cleanse her of this...filthy smell. Hurry. We do not have time to waste."

Sango simply splashed a bit of water on Kagome's face, and she woke up, eyes wide.

Sango covered her mouth. "Shh... just concentrate on making yourself a little less smelly for the person you threw up on." She threw a dirty glance at Sesshomaru, who was staring intently at a red speck in the distance.

Kagome nodded and washed her face, hands, feet and legs by the time the red speck proved to be Inuyasha.

"Oi! ARE YOU OK?" he asked Kagome, skidding to a halt her, worry written across his face.

She nodded. He picked her and Sango up and raced back to the cloud. He leaped on the cloud, to see Sesshomaru follow after him a few seconds later miraculously clean.

Don't think you're off the hook, miko. He threatened.

Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to throw up on you.

Then why did you?

I told you, your cloud is almost transparent.

And by the way, how did you get clean so fast?

Cleaning themselves quickly is an art that most males are fluent in.

Yeah right! Gramps takes hours in the shower...

"We are here. Now everyone, quiet." He announced as they dropped slowly.

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He lay there, in his room, on the thing which you could graciously call a bed. It wasn't a room. It was a goddamn cell. And he was prisoner. So did anyone say damn? Again?

Naraku sighed for the hundredth time as he surveyed the bracelet that kept him in place. Nothing too fancy, nothing that his mother, the enchantress, would worry about. If only he had gotten around to his mother teaching him magic, a bit. Only a bit would have made all the difference. He could have found a loophole in the magic, and set himself free.

But then there was no use dwelling on things he could not have; or the past.

There were so many wishes he wanted fulfilled, so many things he was desperate enough to do to get him out of here. Killing was no biggie. Humph, sure. Killing others that is. That was something Naraku was used to all the time.

But for the first time in his sinful life the thought of suicide flickered across his mind, which was still frustrated by his weakness, and refusing to believe that he was here. In these circumstances. Alone. Without hope.

Hope. He had always thought it to be such a fickle word, giving solace to the weak, and pitiful. And here he was, dwelling on the word, finding its way into his wishes.

I hope that I break out of here soon...

I hope that someone noticed me missing by now...

I hope I survive this...

I hope I get to see kohaku again...

I hope the pain will fade soon...

I hope that son of a b hakudoushi dies in his sleep!

It hurt him, how foolish he had been; his remorse for not putting up stronger guard was raw.

He sensed someone approaching. Not by the platter of footsteps, but rather by the slight drop in temperature and a mysterious aura.

A swirl of grey, and Hakudoushi appeared.

He smirked at the broken figure before him.

It had been so easy to break Naraku's spirit. But now, his revenge was to take place.

He had waited so many years for this moment, when all his planning and pain would be put to use. In an eternity of pain and suffering for Naraku.

He rose, the figure before him. Pitiful, still. He slumped, and avoided Hakudoushi's gaze.

Hakudoushi started. "Do you know why you're here, Naraku?"

Naraku spat, "Because your a fat a son of a b&, and cowardly retard who gets his cheap thrills this way!" he spat on Hakudoushi's face.

Hakudoushi smirked and dodged. Before Naraku could comprehend where he was, a hand held his neck.

"Feisty, aren't we?"

He let out a low whistle and his wrist once again turned that sickly black color.

Naraku collapsed, once again, and tears sprung up to his the side of his eyes, clenched tightly shut. No. he would not give up. He was Naraku. Undefeatable. He would die trying, but he would not follow the commands of this son of a &.

Naraku leapt up, sliding his feet under Hakudoushi's, effectively knocking him off his feet. But Hakudoushi didn't fall. He just hovered there, and grimaced menacingly.

"You have some spirit Naraku. Too bad I'm gonna break it." He continued as Naraku squirmed on the floor. "Do you know why I'm here? To torture you. Why? Good question. But I should be the one asking you that. Why did you slaughter my family, and village?"

"you're...here...for revenge?" Naraku managed weakly. He didn't remember all the villages he had slaughtered! How was he supposed to recall? Naraku thought as another whip of pain spread under his skin.

"Yes Naraku. For revenge, I am here, I have called forth the demons to turn me into a half demon like yourself, for revenge I have toiled away for years!" Hakudoushi's voice raised. He had turned himself half demon by the same method Naraku had, just to get back at him. The only reason he was living was to get back at Naraku. Sure, he looked eleven, that was when he had called forth the demons, but in reality he was only slightly younger then Naraku himself.

"mother..." Naraku whispered to himself, biting his lip in effort not to scream out and do the pain that was lavish in his body, justice.

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When the ride was over, Inuyasha leaped from the cloud stealthily and came upon...nothing. A queer scent...of a woman?...and more of that dark aura.

Inuyasha was disturbed by Sesshomaru who whispered, "Naraku."

Inuyasha grinned and flexed his knuckles. Just what he wanted to hear.

"Disguised as a woman?"

Inuyasha froze. He had no idea, nor intention to hear that.

"AH! Too much info!" and he closed his ears.

Sango asked, "Cross dresser?"

Miroku gave a horse laugh and nervously said, "I don't know..."

Inuyasha, removing his hands off his ears, asked "Sesshomaru, what the hell are you saying?"

"I'm saying what I smell. You smell a woman, right? And I smell Naraku's poorly masked scent. That means..."

"He was trying to mask as a woman. Fine. Done. Disgusting, but ok." Kagome completed. "But why?"

Kouga shrugged. "don't look at me! How the hell am I supposed to know?" he blurted out as gazes turned his way. But they were really looking at Sesshomaru who had grabbed Sorai's hand and fled into the woods, behind Kouga.

Miroku got a perverted smile. "they could have waited for a more appropriate time, you know..."

Kouga raised his nose in the air, cursed, and followed them.

Inuyasha raced off next.

Sango was still glaring at Miroku, but was cut off from killing him as Kagome who had suddenly proclaimed that they go after him. In truth she was conversing with Sesshomaru mentally.

Kagome, tell everyone to follow after us. No questions. Just do it!

What the?

JUST DO IT MIKO!

We're on our way. Now tell me, what the hell is happening?

I smelled Naraku's poorly masked scent leading here. We are going to investigate. Be ready with your weapons.

Okay.

She tensed on Kilala, with Sango in front of her and Miroku behind her. They had now caught up with Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Sorai and Kouga. They were whizzing by the shady trees so fast they were a blur. It was all green and grey in this forest. She couldn't even see the sky. It was all green and grey. More green and shady grey, god this was getting annoying. She concentrated on Sango's slayer uniform instead of the irritating scenery around her.

Surprisingly, Miroku was acting solemn while behind them. An improvement, definitely, she thought as she stroked Shippo's hair.

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Boom!

The wall exploded in the prison, to reveal Naraku on the ground, drenched in cold sweat, and a certain demon lord with his fist out.

He took one survey of the surroundings and snarled, "my kill." In a murderously deep voice.

Hakudoushi immediately took into his sense that this was not a very safe place for him to be right now, smirked, and vanished into the same type of swirling dark energy he had appeared from, his hair the last to fade away into the portal.

Kagome jumped off Kilala and skidded to a halt by Sorai.

She readied an arrow. "you die today, Naraku." She said valiantly.

She pointed it a struggling figure on the ground.

Sango couldn't wait any longer. Kohaku's and her village's blood pounded in her veins, forcing her to take the impulse. She threw a dagger at Naraku while he was fighting his limbs to get up. It hit straight on target, in his stomach. He did a double take, but instead of retaliating, what they all were anxiously pausing for, he smiled and pulled the dagger out of his gut.

Kagome started to inch closer with her arrow, and Inuyasha with Tetsuiga.

"stay back!" he said in a shrill voice, that commanded them not in a shadowy way, daring them to defy, but rather, pleading and humiliated.

Kagome stepped a step closer. "don't." Was all Naraku could manage in a weak voice that made Kagome and the others freeze in their tracks out of shock if nothing else.

With horror stricken eyes, Kagome watched as Naraku took hold of Sango's dagger and, holding out his arm, plunged the tip into his skin. Blood dropped to the ground. Once, again, and again. By this time Naraku was visibly sweating and was biting his bottom lip so hard that faint specks of blood was shown there too.

Sorai took a closer look at the man before her. His skin was unnaturally pale, as if sick, with dark bags under his eyes, and hair spread around him in an unnerving way, his blood red eyes peering wildly from under the tresses falling on his face.

Her eyes then traced to the wrist he was continuously plunging the danger at.

It was bleeding profusely, there was a small trickle of blood constantly flowing through his robes and onto the ground where it dampened the cold stone floor.

His wrist was now glowing black, the same type of beam they had been following on Sesshomaru's cloud, appearing and jetting out in all directions.

Naraku fell to his knees as he experienced the whip of burning pain that chewed away at his sanity. He bit his lip harder, but the tears were inevitable.

He wiped them away with one sleeve, then with the other, only succeeding in getting blood smeared on his face.

What happened to all my pride, and honor? He thought hazily as tears flowed down his cheeks abundantly. Here I am, crying my soul out in front of my worst enemies, and unable to stop myself.

His face downcast, he continued to take shots at his wrist in hopes of shattering the stone that had lodged itself in his flesh.

Naraku had cut away at most of the flesh to the bone, and the stone could be seen there, glowing back, the burning sensation now reaching every inch of his skin. He was on fire from this kind of pain. He couldn't stand it. Summoning every drop of energy and courage he had, Naraku had struck the metal on the stone. He shuddered as it gave one final terrible powerful burning energy wave through his body, then shattered into a million tiny shards, fallen in his stream of blood.

He glanced down at the shards and the blood, and then at his own hand. He could not take this anymore.

His lost consciousness without any further thoughts.

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Kagome rushed foreword to gently prod the fallen body. For the first time ever, out the many times Kagome had seen Naraku, this was the first time he seemed small, pitiful.

She neared him, ignoring her friends cry's of, 'stay away' and 'it might be a trap'.

She knew she was far too trusting, to the point of it being a vice, but she couldn't control herself at this point. As she gently prodded his shoulder, she felt her nerves, he entire body screaming to purify him into extinction, but she didn't. Instead, she let her pity's whims take control, and picked him up by the shoulder.

Her friends looked at her as if she were crazy. She was helping enemy. An enemy that had done many injustices to them, and tried to kill them at least five hundred times by now, no less. She caught them staring and gaped back at them as if she were the one doing something natural and they were protesting something so morally right.

"Well?" she snapped. "are you going to help me or not?"

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Whoooo! DRAMA QUEEN! MUHAHWAH!

I bet i have half of you thanking kagome for saving naraku and the other cursing her for doing so...find out what happens in the next chapter!

Sorry it took a bit long, and wasn't funny at all, but i hope you cant endure one or two chapters! After that, i'll make your stomach hurt with laughing so hard!

Is it just me or has my writing style changed d bait since the earlier chapters?

Anyway,

I kinda had a writers block in this entire chapter, and it was quite had to write it, but reading the reviews did encourage me quite a lot!

Airpeeps:- yeah, you are right! This story Is FAR from over just yet…..anyway, glad you liked my previous chapter.

Iloveinuyashasomuch:- thanks! Glad you liked both of my stories, but I don't think I'll write more of the oneshot. This, will keep rolling, and keep making you laughing (hopefully)!

Kagome-loves-kouga:- yeah, I know who hakudoushi is, but this IS a fanfic! I like going slightly off track…. Ok, anyway glad you liked the race. Keep reviewing!

Yashie-and-kags-forever:- uh…really sorry……but I told you before, I cant write fluff. It comes out cheesy. And there is NOTHING I hate more then cheesy fluff. Maybe you could give me a few pointers to start with? This is my first ff after all….

Thanx!