Kagome awoke with a sense of dread, like something unwelcome was invading her mind.

"KAGOME!" Naraku's voice screamed in her ear. Her eyes snapped open. The shout had come from her palm. She flicked the link open.

"What, Naraku?" she shouted back, annoyed at the interruption to her rest.

"Come out here right now."

"I'm busy," she mumbled without thinking.

"Busy? You've been shut in there for a full day now. You're not even eating. What are you up to?"

"Nothing! I'm... sick."

"I don't care if you're dying. Get downstairs in twenty minutes for dinner or I will bring my concern to your mother. And you may not like how I communicate it." Kagome sat up with a start, causing the tiny fox demon that had been laying on her stomach to tumble to the side with an adorable shriek. She was momentarily startled, then remembered the bond she had tried the night before. It seemed to have worked. She could feel their connection. But... had she fainted? Naraku said dinner. Was it really evening? She glanced out of the window to see the gathering darkness of dusk in the sky.

"Inuyasha!" she screamed. Instantly, he bounded through the door, worry etched across his features.

"What's wrong?" he asked anxiously.

"It's evening," she said menacingly.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you wake me? I was planning on at least making an appearance today to keep suspicion off a little longer. But Naraku's already noticed my absence and he's already threatening my mom! We need to go! Now! He said dinner in twenty minutes, and I need to be wearing different clothes." She gestured idly at her garish dress. It was dirty now, but it was still just as tasteless as when she first put it on. Thankfully, no one had commented on it, but who knows what they've been thinking.

Inuyasha looked like he was about to protest, but ultimately just nodded solemnly.

"Where are you going?" Shippo asked, wide-eyed. She scooped him up for a quick hug.

"I'll be right back, ok? And then you and I can get to know each other. I promise." She set him down, hoping that the promise would be sufficient, but knowing she didn't have time to deal with it if it wasn't. "Inuyasha?"

He nodded again, grimly, then scooped her up in his arms. Before she knew it, they were flinging themselves off of the cliff face and free-falling into the forest below. She clung to Inuyasha's clothing and buried her face in his chest, taking comfort in his warmth and nearness. They landed much more softly than she would have thought possible, then bounded quickly through the trees until they were back at her window, leaping through it with easy grace.

She ran to her closet as soon as Inuyasha set her down, blindly grabbing at fabric and coming out with a modest green dress.

"Turn around, Inuyasha," she said quickly, not looking to see if he complied. There was no time. She shimmied out of the red dress and started burrowing her way into the green one before she was even completely out of it. Then she swept her hair into a bun to hide the fact that it wasn't brushed and rubbed the dirt she could see off of her face and arms.

"Ready?" she asked, turning to see that Inuyasha had indeed had the courtesy to look the other way. He grunted his acknowledgment as he faced her again, blushing slightly. "Ok, then let's go."

She crossed to the door and pushed through it, steeling herself for whatever fate she may face below.

When they reached the bottom of the staircase, Kagome curtsied slightly to acknowledge her father and mother seated at the table waiting for her. Neither reacted, and she went to take her seat. Inuyasha, as usual, stood behind her.

"Feeling better?" Naraku sneered.

"No, actually. I'm extremely nauseous right now," Kagome responded, wishing she could say the words with a biting tone. Instead, her tone was mild and polite, as if she really were only updating her parents on the status of her illness.

Slaves came around with bowls of soup for the first course. When they retreated, Kagome took a bite, but barely tasted what she was eating. She was too busy studying Naraku. Did he really just want her there for dinner, or was he planning something?

Several minutes went by, and still no one said a word. Kagome felt Inuyasha shifting uncomfortably behind her, and tried not to do the same. It was well into the meat course before she decided to take a chance.

"Mother... could I have a moment alone with you after dinner?"

"I don't think that will be possible," Naraku said quickly, before her mother could respond.

"With all due respect, I was addressing my mother," Kagome replied, still straining to keep her tone light.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear. I don't think I can," her mother said distractedly. Kagome pushed her disappointment down so it wouldn't show on her face.

"If you don't mind, though," Naraku continued. "Perhaps you and I could have a moment alone instead?"

"No," Inuyasha said firmly behind her.

Naraku's voice contorted with rage and he stood, slamming his hands on the table. "Slaves do not speak for their owners," he hissed.

"My slave is authorized to," Kagome responded forcefully. "And had I spoken for myself, the answer would have been the same."

"You dare refuse me?" Naraku asked in a deadly whisper, inclining his head meaningfully to his wife.

Kagome's shoulders slumped. "No... of course not."

"The hell we aren't!" Inuyasha exclaimed furiously.

"Inuyasha, it's fine."

"No," he replied, eyes burning into hers. "It's not."

She broke the eye contact and looked at the floor instead before slowly rising. "I'm done with my dinner now, Naraku. We can meet if you would like." He smirked, satisfied, and moved to follow her.

Suddenly, she was slammed back into the wall and Inuyasha stood in front of her, flexing his claws and growling ferociously at the man across the table. "Try it," he threatened.

Kagome began to panic. "Inuyasha, please. Don't."

"Contain your slave. Now," Naraku seethed.

"Inuyasha, just let me go! It's not worth it!"

"Of course it is," Inuyasha snapped. "You are always worth it."

"You're pushing me now, Kagome."

"Mom!" Kagome cried. "Run! Please."

"Whatever for, dear?" her mother asked, still seeming dazed. How was it that she was not even alarmed by what was happening right in front of her?

"Five seconds."

"Inuyasha!"

"Four."

"Let me go!"

"Three!"

Kagome pushed desperately at Inuyasha's back.

"Two..."

Inuyasha leaped across the room and stood between Naraku and Kagome's mother. "You can't hurt her, either," he snarled.

"One," Naraku finished. Then he took a small flute out of his pocket and swiftly broke it in half.

For a second nothing happened. Then, as if a wind swept across her body, Kagome's mother began to sway. Her hair stood on end and her skin started to look like it was puckering. Then, in an instant, her whole form crumbled, leaving nothing but a pile of dust and clothing. A small wooden doll lay in the midst of it.

Kagome stared, trying to register what had just happened. Then she began to scream.