Chapter 7

Most nights were peaceful, the silence of the countryside acting as a blissful lullaby. And like most nights, Kagome wouldn't have any issue sleeping, but tonight was different.

A growing pressure began to weigh on her chest, each breath a struggle, slowly rousing her from sleep. Each breath brought with it a fragment of awareness and her heart raced, because she could feel him. She had to fight against her own mind, dragging her body from the midst of her rem cycle.

The panic is what finally pulled her from her sleep. Her eyes snapped open as she gasped, her body lurching from the bed, but was forced back down by a hand at her throat.

Glowing red irises stared down at her, Yuji's face twisted into a wicked grin full of fangs.

"Sukuna." His name came as a whisper, soft and surprised despite her anger. Something about him left her feeling drugged, her senses and mind seemingly shrouded by fog. Even now, she was fighting back against whatever power this creature had over her.

"Hello, Miko." His voice sent shivers down her spine, his smirk almost glowing within the darkness of her room.

"What are you doing with Yuji's body?" Kagome growled.

His grin widened as his hand tightened to the point his nails dug into the flesh of her neck. "You should be worrying about yourself."

"What do you want?" Despite her fear, she glared back at him. Neither her reiryoku nor juryoku was responsive to her request, her energy just as sluggish as her mind. Something about Sukuna's presence made it almost impossible to fight; it was like his power was trying to consume her.

"Make a pact with me."

She blinked before a laugh erupted from her throat. "What?" It came out as a laugh, smiling despite him, and the glare pinning her down.

"Make a pact with me. I won't kill you, and you'll tell me why I can feel the Shikon No Tama coming from you."

Her laughter died just as her blood ran cold. "What? I already told you it doesn't exist."

He squeezed. "You're lying." She clawed at his hand, her lungs burned, and her vision blurred. And then he let go, his hand leaving her throat, and he stepped away. "You don't know." His laugh was terrifying.

Kagome doubled over, her body shaking as she coughed, each breath burning her throat. She glared at Sukuna.

"Let's make a different deal." He leaned in, hand caressing her cheek. It was so gentle in comparison to nearly strangling her a minute prior. His energy completely changed, the killing intent faded, and now she was drowning, feeling drunk off his power and touch.

She weakly hit at his hand, unable to muster the strength to fight him, let alone draw forth her own energies.

He smiled gently in a way that should be illegal. "I won't kill you. I can't kill you." He said it so low that Kagome could barely hear him, sure she had misheard his mumbling. Sukuna's eyes glowed in the dark of her room. The look in his eyes was hauntingly gentle. It was as if Yuji was slipping through with his simple charm and genuineness. She barely knew Yuji, and yet she could already tell the striking difference between the two.

"What do you suggest?" She asked softly.

"You tell me what I want to know, and I'll tell you everything I know." He offered.

"You won't kill my friends, my family?"

He rolled his eyes as he did his neck with a heavy sigh before looking at her. "Do we have a deal?"

She looked around the room, desperate to get away and out from under his intense stare. But there was nothing and no way for her to fight him and win; he'd be able to stop her before she could even remove the covers.

She had no choice. Looking up, she stared hard into Sukuna's glowing gaze. Kagome had looked down many an enemy but never had one looked at her the way he did. It was terrifying.

"Is that all?" Kagome asked quietly. A binding vow wasn't something she ever considered doing, yet what he offered her was too good to be true. "No ulterior motive? No, tricks?"

"You need only tell me what I want to know when I ask. And I will do the same, and of course, I won't kill your friends or family." He explained before grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. His red eyes bored into hers. "Make the vow." He demanded, but his voice was soft in his urgency, his thumb caressing her bottom lip.

Kagome didn't really have a choice. "You have a deal."

He smiled before pulling her closer, his lips falling to hers. Her body seemed to burn, heat rising in her veins. His energy washed over her, calling her own forth as they intertwined in a mix of colors and warmth.

The kiss was over as soon as it happened. Sukuna pulled back with a victorious smirk. Kagome could only stare back in shock, still trying to process what just happened.

"Sorry to cut this short, but the brat's waking up." He flashed her a grin that was all teeth. "Until next time, Kagome." He was at her window, the curtains billowing from the cool breeze when he looked back at her. "And next time, I expect to know what's in the box."

Kagome stared at him, confused, before remembering the message she'd gotten the night before. He was gone by the time she jumped up from her bed. She rushed to the window, leaning out to see the package that had been promised to her just below.

Without Sukuna in her room, her senses came back with a sharp snap, the feeling almost overwhelming as she could feel the hint of youki surrounding the box.

She looked around, trying to see if Sukuna had left or if he was still lurking just outside her field of vision, but she felt nothing, only the youki from the box.

Grabbing the box, Kagome brought it into her room, where she quickly put it under her bed. She'd have to wait to see what was in the box after she put up some sutras so that she wouldn't be surprised by Sukuna's next visit.

She shivered, unsure if she were scared, or if she was looking forward to it.

wolfYLady: Many people said that not enough had happened in the last chapter, so I thought I would remedy that. I am sorry it's short, but I hope everyone enjoyed it.

Thank you for reading, and please review!