Naraku's aura smothered the room, as did his scent of wet evergreen tress. Chains rested on the side of her bed, and a flickering torch sat in a tray on the wall.
Her eyes lowered to her attire, widening at the site of Naraku's outer kimono layer. "How did I get here? No. That doesn't matter. I jstu have to get out." She eased out of the bed, wincing at the sizzling pain in her wound. 'Did he do that?' She looked out of the window before climbing out.
"That stupid Naraku. How dare he? And Inuyasha-" She halted in her tracks. "Inuyasha." Tears welled in her eyes, and she took off again. "You just let me die, like I didn't mean anything to you. You stupid jerk."
She looked up above her when she heard howls and growls. "Oh Kami." Surrounding the entire castle was a tainted pink barrier, and surrounding that were thousands of demons. "If I go out there...I'll die. But that was what Inuyasha wanted, wasn't it? If it will make him happy, then I'll give my soul to Kikyo." Concentrating her energy into her hand, she pushed against Naraku's barrier, smiling slightly when it broke.
-x-
Naraku gritted his teeth when he felt his barrier shatter. Kagura smirked, looking up at him, "The little wench broke out?"
Hakudoshi snarled, "Shut up, Kagura. For someone with such a strong will to live, you are damning yourself."
"No one asked you, kid."
"Master Naraku, should I retrieve her?" Kanna asked softly.
"No. I will capture and punish the wench myself. It should prove entertaining." Smirking to himself, he disappeared in a mist of miasma, reappearing outside not far from where Kagome laid, slowly being devoured by the demons.
Sensing Naraku approaching, the youkai fled as quickly as possible, none wanting to face the wrath of the hanyou. "Ignorant Miko."
Kagome turned her head slightly to face him. "What the hell do you want, Naraku?"
"Watch your tongue, wench, or I will watch it for you."
"Why won't you let me die? I'm unneeded. Inuyasha made that known." She muttered. "So why won't you let me die, you bastard?!" Instantly, she was lifted into the air, Naraku's hands clutching her forearms.
"It seems you need to be taught manners girl." Lifting her into his arms, he proceeded back towards the castle.
Kagome writhed in his grip. "Release me! Let go, damn you to Hell!"
Naraku grinned crookedly. "Hell? Yes, what a lovely vacation spot that was. I shall have to take you there some time, miko." He carried her into his room, dropping her on the bed. "Now, what shall I do with you?"
"Kill me."
"No. That will not work." He watched her closely, then sat on the futon, his eyes closed. "You've managed to pushed to tainted part of yourself back."
She stopped struggling for a moment. "T-tainted part? I-I'm not tainted."
"How could this have happened? I'm sure I gave you the correct amount of blood."
Kagome coughed. "Wait! You mean I have your blood inside me!"
"Yes. Now be silent!"
"No way! I-" Her eyes opened wide when he straddled her waist, covering her mouth.
"I demand silence, girl." He gazed into her eyes. 'Once upon a time, I believe that they were brown. And they were crimson just yesterday. Why have they become blue?' He arched a brow when Kagome's eyes fluttered shut. "Miko." He moved his hand from her mouth.
Kagome sucked in a deep breath, then sighed. "Naraku, why am I here?"
He rolled his eyes in annoyance. "That is none of your concern. Now, stay still." Leaning down, the hanyou ran his tiny fangs over her shoulder, growling softly when she moved. "Stay still!" He dragged a claw down her neck.
"Unh." Kagome whimpered, driving her nails into his back.
Naraku inhaled the scent of her blood, then sank his fangs into her shoulder.
"Uahhh." Kagome groaned out, swallowing her first instinct to scream.
Thanks to the venoumous snake youkai he'd observed weeks before, he was able to send his blood into her easily. Licking up the remainder of her blood, he collapsed on top of her. 'Perhaps I gave the miko too much blood.'
She smiled softly, opening crimson eyes. "Any excuse to touch me, eh, Naraku?"
His eyebrows furrowed. "Sleep, girl."
"Whatever."
-x-
"Inuyasha, where are we going?" Shippo inquired.
"Just through here." Inuyasha mumbled to himself after scenting the air. He and his companions stepped into the clearing to find Sesshomaru's tachi, sitting around a fire.
"Inuyasha! What are you doing here?!" Jaken squawked. "Rin, get behind me!"
Rin nodded a little. "Okay, Jaken." But once she got behind the imp, she noticed something off, "Where is Kagome?"
Inuyasha flinched, clenching his fists. 'Calm down, the girl doesn't know.' His head snapped up when he felt Sesshomaru enter the clearing.
"Halfbreed, explain your being in This Sesshomaru's presence." His eyes swept over the rag tag group. "Your miko is missing."
"I know." He looked away. "Naraku killed her."
"So you failed to protect another miko, not only that, but one who assisted you in the search for the jewel."
It took all Inuyasha had not to yell at him. "Yeah. I did."
Sesshomaru gave an inperceivable nod. "And why does that concern this Sesshomaru? Did you wish for me to revive her?"
Miroku nodded, touching his friend's shoulder. "Yes, Inuyasha. What does Sesshomaru have to do with this?"
"You can't revive her. It's too late." He took a deep breath, then looked his brother in the eyes, uttering some of the hardest words he'd ever had to say, "I want to join you, Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened considerably.
Jaken hmphed. "As if the mighty Lord Sesshomaru would allow a lowly hanyou to-awk!" He screamed when Sesshomaru kicked him. "Lord Sesshomaruuuu!" He sobbed into his hands. "Why?"
Sesshomaru set narrowed eyes on Inuyasha. "And why, little brother, would you want that?"
"I can't defeat Naraku on my own. And I want him to pay, for killing Kagome, for killing Kikyo. He has to pay for everything he's done. And Kagome told me, about two weeks ago, that she wanted me to join forces with you, claiming we'd be invincible. I want to try, for her."
"And why should I comply? You miko is of no consequence to me."
"I will beg if I have to, Sesshomaru."
While the others gasped, Sesshomaru smirked. "You cared greatly for the girl." His face became impassive again. "Very well. Until the hanyou is killed, you may join me. But I warn you now, if your presence, or that of your friends, begins to annoy me, I will not hesitate to kill anyone." He turned away from him.
Inuyasha smiled a little. "Thank you, onlder brother."
"Hn."
"How sweet. Two brothers joining together for vengeance." Naraku chuckled, emerging from the shadows.
"Naraku." Both brother's growled, unsheathing their swords.
Sesshomaru cast a glance over his shoulder, "Jaken, take and protect Rin."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru."
Inuyasha lunged at Naraku, brash as ever. "I'll kill you!" He swung, snarling when Naraku dodged.
Sesshomaru flew at the evil half demon next, his sword cutting straight through Naraku's middle.
Naraku smiled as he fused his body back together. "Fools." He batted Inuyasha away with one of his tentacles, dodging Sango's hiraikotsu. "You are lost without your miko. The monk cannot use his wind tunnel because of my saimyo (sp?). The slayer is defenseless, her boomerang caught in a tree. And you, hanyou, you are no where near the challenge you are with her here. Lord Sesshomaru...there is nothing more to be said."
"Stop your blabbin' and-" Inuyasha sniffed. "W-wait. Why do you smell like Kagome?"
"You said that the miko was dead." Sesshomaru commented, monotonously.
"She was. But I've revived her. She graced my bed just last night." Naraku teased.
Inuyasha growled. "What the hell do you mean?! I saw you kill her! I buried her!"
Naraku shook his head. "And you haven't bothered to check on her body since. Tsk tsk tsk, dear Inuyasha. You should be ashamed."
"If you have Kagome, prove it!" Sango yelled at him.
"Prove it? Ah, I'm more than willing." Lifting his arms as though he were holding something, he chuckled villainously as her sleeping body appeared in his arms. "Is this what you required?"
Inuyasha dropped his sword. "Kagome. Sh-she's alive. Kagome!"
"Shh. You'll wake her." Naraku chuckled again.
"Give me my Kagome!!" His eyes flickered red, his beast begging for release.
"Hm. She's awakening. Let's see if she willingly comes to you."
A whimper escaped Kagome's lips, and her lids lifted slightly, then completely. "I could have sworn we were at the castle when I slept."
Naraku smiled evilly. "Your 'friends' summoned you here."
"Friends?" Kagome closed her eyes as Naraku let her down on the growned. Slowly she opened them, staring at Inuyasha with crimson eyes. "Inu...yasha."
"Kagome. Naraku, what have you done to Kagome?"
"Nothing. You did this to her, choosing that dead priestess over her."
Kagome's fists clenched. "He did."
Inuyasha was at a lost of words. Kagome looked so different. Se was acting so differently. What had happened?
"He decieved you."
Kagome's hair flew around her. "You did. I loved you, and you let me die!"
"K-Kagome I-"
"Kill him, miko." Naraku demanded.
Inuyasha frowned. "Kagome, don't listen to him.."
"Kill the one who decieved you!"
"Kagome, listen, I didn't decieve you! I wanted to save you!"
"He lies! Destroy him now, miko!"
"ENOUGH!" Kagome screamed, breathing heavily as her power flared around her. "Inuyasha, you will pay for what you did. I will have your head." Her powers flared again, her eyes melting into a soft brown. "I don't want to kill you, Inuyasha." She smiled, stepping toward him.
Naraku's eyes narrowed when he saw her place a hand on the other hanyou's cheek. "Miko, who's blood runs within you?"
Kagome smirked, her fangs glinting, her eyes resuming their crimson hue. She ripped her claws at Inuyasha's cheek. "Just because you put your blood in me, Naraku, doesn't mean that I want it there."
"Damned miko." Naraku approached her, grabbing her roughly by the neck. He snarled when he noticed Inuyasha and his combanions moving. "Attack, and she dies again." Smirking, he looked back to Kagome, "You should show respect to the man who gave you life."
"When I did not want it. When death claimed me, I was satisfied. Know this, I will not become like yours and Inuyasha's beloved, Kikyo. My soul will not be condemned."
He chuckled, then out right laughed in her face. "You fool. It already is." He released her neck.
Kagome ran her fingers through his hair. "Sweet, ignorant Naraku. Though the part of my soul that does not include you is as pure as it ever was, I will find away to control it."
"Of course you will." He struck her across the face, catching her body before it hit the ground.
"NARAKU!" Inuyasha howled. "Let her go."
"You are in no position to make demands. Kagura." When everyone turned to face the wind witch, Naraku took the chance to escape.
Kagura smirked, grabbing Rin by the arm. "Say goodbye to your girl, Sesshomaru." She took to the air.
Eyes narrowed, Sesshomaru jumped into the air, narrowly missing the wench. "Jaken, you were told to protect her."
"Forgive me, my lord."
Sesshomaru turned on his heels. "Halfbreed, if you are coming, come." He sprinted after Kagura, his half brother on his heels.
-x-
"Miko."
Kagome didn't bother to look up from the pond. She'd been analyzing the bruise on her cheek. "Go away, Naraku, unless you wish to die."
He smirked, kneeling beside her. "You got what you deserved. You are never to badmouth you master in public."
"You don't own me."
"Ah, but I do." He ran his fingers up and down her shoulders, his lips settled on the back of her neck. "I own all of you, and I will do with you what I please."
"Stop touching me that way."
He laughed. "You obviously haven't heard a word I've said."
Kagome growled, her spine vibrating with the intensity of it. "What have you come for?"
"Ah, that. Child." He called out.
Rin tiptoed out from behind a bush fearfully. "K-kagome, are you alright?"
"Rin." She smiled brightly. "I'm fine."
Naraku rose. "You are to take care of the girl."
Kagome jumped up. "You kidnapped her."
"Hai."
"You didn't hurt her, did you?"
"Hm. Your purity is pushing forward again. We'll have to fix that tonight. As I said, dearest, watch over the human child." Pressing his thin lips to hers, he gave her a firm kiss, leaving swiftly when she attempted to slap him.
Kagome bit her tongue to keep from cursing in front of Rin, who immediately ran to hug the older girl. "I was so afraid, Kagome."
She knelt, hugging the little girl to her. "It's okay. I won't let him hurt you."
"Sesshomaru-sama will come for us, won't he?"
"Us?"
Rin frowned, confused. "He's holding you here too, right?"
Kagome lowered her eyes. "I'm not sure. I think so."
"Don't you want to go back to Inuyasha?"
"No. Never back to him."
"Oh. Then you can come with me, to Lord Sesshomaru."
Kagome sighed. 'Inuyasha has joined Sesshomaru, according to Naraku.' "What do you say we pick some flowers?"
Rin's eyes lit up. "He has flowers?"
"He probably doesn't know. They're really far from the castle. I'll take you." Grinning, she felt her pure self emerging, and did nothing to stop it.