Kagome looked up at the sound of Kohaku's dull voice. Seeing his face, her eyes faded from their bloodlust red, to a solid white, lacking all but her cornea(sp?). She whimpered.
"That woman will be with them, won't she? Who is she?" He watched Kagome for a long while when no answer came to him. "Naraku should not have done this to you. I'm not sure his motives, but it seems that he might be afraid."
Kagome only stared at him.
He reached over to her, setting a bowl of rice on the ground. "Naraku would be angry if he knew about this. I find joy in that."
She gestured for him to hold his hand out. Once he had, she rubbed her face against it, sighing softly after a period of purring.
He smiled slightly, dull eyes flickering. "Don't worry, Kagome. You'll be your regular self in no time. I have to go now. Eat up, and remember where I told you to hide the bowl."
Kagome purred in reply, watching sadly as he left. Sighing, she sank into a corner, heating the rice with the fire she produced from her hand. 'Naraku.'
~*~
"Halfbreed."
Inuyasha's eyes twitched, turning to his brother though his eyes stayed on Naraku's castle. It only made sense for one to be tense within the ominous and menacing barrier of your enemy.
"If you wish for my ward and your wench to return safely, I suggest you not be brash as you always are." Without speaking again, he started toward the castle, Jaken following fearfully at his heels.
Though his elder brother's words frustrated him, Inuyasha knew that what he had said was true. Naraku wouldn't hesitate to hurt Kagome if he just lunged at him, swinging his sword blindly.
Obeditiently, he stalked after his brother, his own companions following suit. They all froze, bodies stiff as Naraku appeared in the middle of the soon-to-be battlefield.
Naraku's lips curled into a smirk. "You're all here. Welcome to my humble abode. Forgive me for the mess." He gestured to the corpses sitting around him. "Good help is so hard to come by."
"Silence." Sesshomaru commanded. "My ward."
"And Kagome." Inuyasha demanded just behind.
"Ah yes, how rude of me. Your ward, Lord Sesshomaru," He waved a hand towards his castle.
Kagura walked to stand behind Naraku, her hand clasped around Rin's. Shivers ran down her spine as she watched Sesshomaru. 'He's so beautiful with that damn cold face of his.'
Inuyasha looked at the little girl for a second, notcing the glare she was directing at Naraku. Quickly, he brushed her from his mind. "Naraku, where is Kagome?"
"Kohaku, Hakudoshi, bring her out." He smiled cruelly, but there was something strange behind it that no one could decipher.
Kohaku and Hakudoshi wheeled the cage out into the open, and Inuyasha and his companions gasped. "Kagome."
She sat in the cage, her wrist and ankles chained together. Her bangs had grown, shielding her eyes and mot of her face from view. Her once pristine kimono was soaked through with blood in a number of places. And yet, she appeared to be smiling.
"K-kagome? Naraku, what did you do to her?"
"Nothing that she did not bring upon herself." He cast a cold glare her way. "Kohaku, let her out."
Nodding, the amnesiac opened the cage, coaxing Kagome out. "Kagome-sama, come out. It's alright."
Rising carefully, she walked out of the cage, cautious not to walk to quickly for fear of tripping. Smirking, Naraku grabbed her chin. "Let your friends see your face, dearest." Snatching away from him, she started to walk again. Glaring, Naraku stuck his foot out to trip her.
Kagome gasped as she crashed to the ground, dirt flying up into her face.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha moved to help her up, freezing in shock with he saw her eyes grow a ferocious red, fangs protruding from her mouth, black stripes clinging to her cheeks. "What did he do to you?"
"You don't like it?" Naraku sighed. "Well, I, for one, love your new look, pet."
With the acquired speed of a demon, Kagome jumped from the ground, launching herself at Naraku, who dodged and caught the end of the chain that binded her wrists. "Tsk tsk tsk, pet. Show the company the things I've taught you."
Kagome growled loudly, causing the ground beneath her feet to rattle. She jerked at her restraints.
Naraku jerked the chain one swift time, chuckling as it wrapped around Kagome, bringing her closer to him each time it wound around her. When he finally had her close enough, he wrapped his arms around her. "What a terrible fate for a miko, to become a demon. You're dirty now, little one."
"Grrr." She froze when she heard a scream.
"Kagome-sama! You meanie, you let her go!" It was Rin. She yanked away from Kagura and ran at Kagome and Naraku.
"Foolish girl." Naraku glared, then he smirked again, releasing Kagome. "Go to her."
Though unsure, Kagome turned, eyes now white again, and knelt before Rin, who was crying silently.
"Oh, Kagome-sama!" She stroked the woman's cheeks, then glared at Kagome. "You hurt her! You bruised my Kagome-sama! How dare you?!" She was about to attempt to attack him when Kagome leaned toward her, purring softly. "K-kagome-sama?"
Kagome cleared her throat, speaking hoarsely, "Rin, don't."
"B-but, K-kagome-sama, he-"
"Do you disobey, Rin?" Kagome asked lowly.
Sesshomaru watched the interaction between the two with fascination, though his face did not show such emotion. When had the miko and his warn formed a relationship like this?
Rin shook her head, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kagome-sama. It just isn't fair. He shouldn't have hurt you." She tossed her arms around the woman.
Sighing, Kagome nuzzled the girl, growling lowly to calm her. "Be calm, my child." She grinned brightly.
"Enough." Naraku sighed. "That proved unamusing. Kagome, return."
The woman rose as commanded. Rin shook her head, gripping Kagome's sleeves. "Don't leave me!"
Kagome nudged the child aside, starting back to Naraku.
"Don't leave me, okaa-san!"
Time froze for Kagome. Her aura raged around her. "Wh-what's happened?" She glared at Rin suddenly. "You-what did you do?!"
Rin stared with wide eyes. "I-I didn't do anything!"
"You had to have done someth- Augh!" She cried out, falling to the ground.
Inuyasha started to race forward, but Miroku held him back. "What are you-"
"Hold on. She is doing something."
Kagome's aura engulfed her, and when it faded, there stood two Kagomes.
Kagura stepped back. "What just happened?"
Both Kagomes pushed themselves off the ground, not looking at one another until they were standing.
"So, all I have to do to get you out is make you overly emotional, eh, Junsei?" One Kagome sneered.
"Shut it, Ashi."
Inuyasha lowered Tetsusaiga. "I don't understand, Miroku."
The monk stroked his chin. "It seems that Kagome's pure side has severed from the bad, not fully though." Suddenly, his eyes grew wide. "There are two Kagome's! Thank you, Kami!" He ran at one, groping her behind.
Spotting the opposite Kagome lifting her claws to Miroku's neck, she jumped at him, pushing him to the ground just in time to save him from the deadly claws.
Ashi, evil, rolled her eyes. "Now, now, you never let me have any fun."
"You can't kill my friends, you psycho!" She stiffened, blushing when she felt a hand on her behind. "Dear Kami, I'm straddling Miroku! You hentai!" She shrieked, jumping off of him.
"You should have let me kill the bastard."
Junsei, pure, grimaced, "What the hell?! He doesn't deserve death! I should purify you to hell!"
Ashi grabbed a a handful of Junsei's kimono, jerking her to her. "Listen, you fool, don't even propose such an idea that you could possibly do me any bodily harm."
"You think I can't."
"I know you can't."
"Shut up!"
"You're such a child!"
Junsei grimaced, looking around. She snatched the sword from her side, raising it. "I'll cut you down!" Swinging the sword with skill she hadn't had before, Junsei frowned when her sword met Ashi's with a loud clang.
Ashi chuckled. "You actually thought I'd let you hit me? Get real."
Inuyasha looked away from the battle Kagome was having with herself to look at Sesshomaru, who he found was already battling Naraku. "Hey, Miroku, I-"
"Busy!" Miroku shouted, absorbing demons into the void in his hand.
"Sango?"
Sango caught her boomerang with a grunt. "Also busy! Hiraikotsu!" She tossed it at Kagura again.
One glance at Shippo had him realizing that everyone was in a fight but him. The little tike was running away from Hakudoshi, Jaken at his side using the staff of two heads.
Growling, Inuyasha threw himself into the fight with Naraku. "Windscar!"
The corrupted hanyou turned an eyes to the other half demon, grimacing as he narrowly escaped the attack.
Sesshomaru glanced at his brother, but said nothing, save, "Dragon stirke!"
Naraku's eyes widened as the attack came at him, giving him no time to move. 'Kagura, get the girl! That child! Kill her!'
Kagura nodded to herself, leaving Kohaku as a distraction. She took off after Rin.
The young child backed away fearfully. "Kagome-sama!" Neither Kagomes listened. "Kagome-sama!"
Kagura drew closer. "Dances of blades!"
"Okaa-san!"
Both Kagome's turned at the call, their eyes bleeding red as they fromed into one quickly. At top speed, Kagome ran at the girl. "Rin!" She froze as the scent of blood hit her nose. "No."
The battle scene froze, all attention turning to Kagome and Rin.
'Rin.' Sesshomaru thought.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha nearly dropped his sword.
"Okaa-san." Rin whispered. "Okaa-san!" She embraced the woman tightly, careful of the wounds that were caused by her. "Okaa-san, are you alright?"
Kagome dropped to her knees in pain. "I'm fine." She muttered.
'Kagura.' Naraku growled mentally.
'She interfered!' Kagura replied.
"Rin, I want you to run to Sesshomaru with i cound to three okay?" When Rin nodded, she smiled softly, "Ichi, ni, san. Go!" Her eyes bled red, and she pushed Rin away, laughing as she leaped toward Kagura.
'What the hell just happened?!' Kagura wondered as she found herself flying backward.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin hugged his leg. "Sesshomaru-sama, I missed you."
Sesshomaru didn't reply, his eyes on the miko.
Naraku glared. "If you pathetic carnations will fail, I will capture her myself."
Kagome dashed in Naraku's direction as he moved toward Rin and Sesshomaru. She wrapped her arms around the hanyou, pressing her lips to his.
"Kagome." Inuyasha whispered.
"Take Rin and run! Agh!" She cried out as Naraku chomped down on her shoulder, his claws raking down her back. "Get away now!"
She clenched her eyes shut as the area filled with miasma. They were traveling, that much she knew, but how and where to were still a mystery. When her eyes reopened, she could tell that they were not in the same area that they once were. And she found herself staring into Naraku's angry eyes. "N-naraku."
He growled. "Give me one good reason not to kill you, wench."
'Take over.' Junsei thought to Ashi.
'What for?'
'He needs you.'
'I don't care. Let him kill you.'
'If I die, you die."
'...Fine.'
Ashi pushed forward, smirking deviously. "Because, dearest Naraku, you can't go on without me. Besides, wouldn't you rather take me than kill me?"
Naraku smirked slightly. "Take you."
"Then what are you waiting for, aijin (lover)." She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly. Chuckling, Naraku kissed her back, harder and much more wildly.
~*~
"Do you think we should have left Kagome that way?" Sango whispered, wiping her eyes as she stared at the fire.
Inuyasha sat reclined against a tree. "I'm not sure."
Miroku looked over at Rin, who was sniffing as she sat around the fire. "Rin?"
"Hm?"
"Why did you call Kagome your mother?"
"She took care of me." She started to cry again. "Even when that mean Naraku kicked her, hit her, starved her. He put her in a cage. He hurt her so much, and she just smiled and took care of me."
Sango pulled the child into her lap. "It's okay, honey. It's alright."
She shook her head. "I want my okaa-san, my Kagome-sama! He'll only hurt her more."
"Calm down, kid. We'll get her back, and soon." Inuysha answered. "I promise."
"Rin, if you can answer, why did Kagome decide to take care of you?"
Rin smiled a little. "I don't know. She just told me one day that she'd give anything to see me safe." Her smiled faded, and suddenly, she said, "I think Naraku touched her."
Inuyasha's eyes opened. "What do you mean?"
Rin shrugged. "You know, how men touch ladies, lke Monk-sama touched my okaa-san."
"That way?" Sango asked with wide eyes.
"Dear Kami, Kagome." Miroku whispered, then he looked over to Shippo, who slept snuggled in Kagome's sleeping bag. "Okay, Rin, don't let Shippo know." 'He's starting to get possessive of her.'
"Okay." She yawned. "Sango-san?"
"Hm?"
"Can I sleep with Shippo-san? Okaa-san's scent is all over that sack thingy."
Sango smiled. "Go ahead, Rin." She waited until the girl was asleep before speaking. "We have to get Kagome back now. He could molest her or worse."
Inuyasha nodded, fighting a growl. "Yeah." He looked to his brother. "Got any ideas?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, then closed them. "Hn."
"Keh, whatever. Let's just turn in. We'll know something tomorrow."
Sesshomaru watched boredly as the people around him all fell asleep. 'The miko has protected and taken care of my ward. I am in her debt, and I will not stop until I am no longer.'