"Naraku."

The voice answered with a weird twinge of amusement. Ryoga stiffened; this was the one person everyone they'd meet seemed to be after.

"I'm sure you've heard of me." The voice continued unperturbed and in the same laughing tone. There was definitely something off about him, Ryoga decided.

"Yeah, I have." The martial artist answered, but didn't go into detail. "What do you want with me?"

"Only to talk, you seem to be thinking hard about something." Ryoga's eyes narrowed.

"That is my problem, so if that's it…"

"You miss her right?" Naraku interrupted him gleefully. Ryoga opened his mouth to protest, but the half-demon wasn't done. "You feel like your betraying her by just being here."

Ryoga closed his mouth again, he wanted to say something, but Naraku was speaking the truth. There was nothing for him to say, the other continued.

"I could send you back, you know, to be with Akane, without Ranma." At these words Ryoga couldn't help the images that flooded his mind, the usual daydreams of a world where Ranma didn't exist and he was happy with Akane, alone…

Then, as suddenly as the first came, more recent images came.

Ranma tilting her head down at him… "Do you know who I am?"

Ranma jumping in front of him, risking her life for his.

Ranma's face, cold and pale.

Ranma laughing with him.

Ranma looking down at his cursed form for the first time and smiling… "Ryoga... That was so cool!"

These and more memories from the last few days, and even from the past of a pigtailed boy leading him home from school every day so that he wouldn't get lost, flooded his mind, pushing out any images of the other dark-haired girl. Ryoga tried to push them away and brought Akane back. He didn't need Ranma, he needed Akane.

"What would I have to do?" Ryoga's voice was rough from trying to suppress the memories of the red-headed girl, but Naraku didn't seem to notice.

"I was hoping you would ask that, actually." The malicious glee in his tone had grown to be almost tangible in the air. "It's just a small thing…"

Ryoga could hear the smile in his voice.

"I want the girl."

Those four little words seemed to both pierce and grab at Ryoga; there was no mistaking what girl he was talking about. This could be his one chance, to be with Akane… but at the sacrifice of Ranma. He tried to pull up all those time when Ranma had fought and teased him, and succeeded, the piercing numbed into a sting in his chest.

This was about the point when a third voice broke into his reverie.

"Ryoga, you idiot! You wanna know how much everyone's been worryin' about you!" Ryoga turned slowly to meet the indigo eyes flashing with something that couldn't possibly be concern… and the dam on his emotions almost broke. But his mind was made up; he straitened and turned so he wasn't looking at Ranma.

"So… there she is, take her." His voice only wavered a little.

"Huh, Ryoga what're you-" Her voice lost all its force and ended in a sharp gasp. Ryoga heard the rustle that meant this Naraku had landed in the clearing. "Ryoga run! That's Naraku, he'll kill you!" He blocked her out and didn't move.

"Oh I won't be killing him, you see, this young man just did me a great favor."

"No way! Ryoga'd never help YOU!" Ranma sounded so sure, indignant at the very idea. "Right Ryo-"

"Enough." There was more rustling, but Ryoga didn't turn.

"Oi, leggo of me, Ryoga, get help!" The boy left on the ground saw the half-breed wrap Ranma in tentacle like appendages, while she struggled futilely, and pull her toward him whilst taking to the air. She was still struggling when he spoke.

"There now you have what you want…" He had to stop and clear his throat. "Now hold up your side of it."

Ryoga forced himself to look up and take in Ranma's reaction, but she didn't start screaming at him like he expected… it was much worse. Her eyes seemed to deaden as the emotion drained away and her struggles ceased as it sunk in.

Then Naraku laughed.

"You stupid boy, you actually believe I'd send you back? So you could be free?" His mocking voice ran through Ryoga like a knife with every word.

"Even if I could, a person who would give up his comrades like this doesn't really deserve it. "Don't you think?" He posed this last question down at the unresponsive girl in his position, followed by a ringing laugh. Ranma didn't answer but turned to Ryoga, her eyes were dry.

"Friends…" Her mouth barely moved but they both heard her. "Not comrades, friends."

Naraku started to move away through the air as the second sentence faded.

"We were FRIENDS!" Ranma screamed, never taking her eyes off of Ryoga. Then they were gone.

This was really the first time Ryoga ever wanted to kill himself… But then, he'd never seen Ranma cry before either.

XXXXXXXX

Kagura was another 'child' of Naraku, though she'd like to think otherwise. Musing more on this, she was interrupted by the sudden arrival of her creator, carrying a girl… who wasn't Kikyo? This pricked at her curiosity, and judging by the expression on Naraku's face this girl was special in some way. That's when he noticed her, of course.

"Kagura."

Hate seething through her, Kagura bowed her head in feigned respect.

"Yes, Naraku?"

He smirked in a way that made her stomach crawl at Kagura's fake obedience; they both knew it did her no good.

"Watch this girl, get Kanna as well." Kagura's lip curled, but she went to do as told, until his voice halted her.

"And Kagura, if you should fail…" Her eyes hardened as he took the dark-red lump from his pelt the beat faster against his palm in response, then gave it a light, almost experimental squeeze. Even though she expected it by now, Kagura could barely keep herself standing and was unable to suppress the gasp the tiny squeezing of her heart by her 'father' gave her. "Your life is forfeit."

The wind-witch allowed herself to fall onto her knees as his malicious laugh faded down the hall way of the once lively castle and couldn't help once again wishing for the impossible…

'Free like the wind…'

Haha I was gonna make this longer but I'm going on a trip today so… well maybe the next one will be longer :D

1,077 words