InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Halves ❯ Drastic Beginning ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Halves

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and I do not make money from writing this story.

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A/N: Okay, this chapter is pretty steamy, I think.

There's no real warning for this one, except a battle scene, but it's not too graphic.

It's not graphic at all, actually.

Enjoy and please review :)

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Droplets of rain trickled down the roofs, Kagome could hear them thump loudly. Her heart was pounding, she could hear that too. What had she been thinking when she'd accepted Miroku's suggestion? And she hadn't even accepted it truly, she'd just… remained silent. Why would she ever want him to help her win Inuyasha? As if she wanted to hurt Kikyou… no, she had to stop this nonsense. But how could she now? The Emperor's Nephew was in an important meeting, he was a very diplomatic young man, it seemed.

What would her mother say? What would her brother think about her? But what puzzled her most was the fact that deep down she knew she desperately wanted Miroku's help. Was it wrong?

She would wait a few more hours and then she would go tell him what she'd had no courage to earlier.

That's what I get for being stupid. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Her head hurt, but she already knew the cause. Her concentration was slipping. Lately, there was nothing much she could do, she just had too much on her mind. When would Inuyasha disappear from her thoughts? She always felt like gulping deeply whenever she wondered whether this would go on forever.

To think about him forever… Kami-sama, no.

She liked Inuyasha's wife, she was jealous of her, yes, but she liked her, too. How could she ever face her again? Even if she did convince Miroku to drop the idea, how could she look Kikyou in the eyes and have a normal conversation with her when she knew what she'd nearly done?

Biting her lower lip, Kagome knelt in the middle of the room and closed her eyes tightly, praying she could reach that deep lever of concentration she required for a normal meditation.

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He felt dirty for doing this to the both of them. Kikyou was his wife, his first, his love, he couldn't leave her. Not now, no, he couldn't. But Kagome, what was Kagome to him? To a certain extent, she meant more than that, and he hated their bond for it. He knew that he was experiencing undesired feelings because she was his Half, but he couldn't help any of them, either. And it was what made him feel dirty.

He was using them, wasn't he? He didn't want Kikyou to leave, he didn't want to leave her, but he didn't really want a life without Kagome in it, did he?

That was certainly bad. Bad bad bad bad bad.

And what did Miroku want anyway? Why would he call Inuyasha to his room, why would he continue his meditation, why would he leave Inuyasha watching him? The half demon could tell Miroku would be done soon, but still, his cousin was so weird. What did he have in mind? He'd skipped the very important meeting the Emperor had arranged, but for what? It was intriguing, Inuyasha could never understand the way Miroku's mind worked. Perhaps it was what made him call him a best friend.

“I suppose you are confused,” Miroku said, smiling cleverly. What did he know and Inuyasha didn't?

“You don't have to say that twice,” the demon scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “What are we doing here?”

“I know everything,” Miroku said calmly, evenly, and Inuyasha inhaled sharply. What exactly did he know? Then the monk decided to answer for him, “You'll know what I'm talking about when you meet someone I intend to bring here.”

“Bring here?” the hanyou echoed. Even though it shouldn't, why did that sound like such, such a bad idea?

“I've sent for that person just a while ago.” Just a while ago. Miroku was surely one to do this kind of things. He'd go and plan something deft that would bring only trouble for Inuyasha. Sometimes it ended bad, really bad. Somehow, he knew Miroku was to make a mess of things.

To change the subject, naturally, then monk sighed slightly, “How are things going with your wife, Inuyasha?”

Said hanyou gulped almost loudly. The guilt returned with full force and it settled in the pit of his stomach, he felt sick. Being with her, sleeping with her had been so hard, and he felt guilty for it, because a small, small part of him had wanted Kagome in Kikyou's place. He'd tried to push it away, he'd kept his thoughts away from Kagome while in Kikyou's bare arms, but he hadn't been able to banish the burning ache to have his Half like that, to possess her like he did Kikyou. It was downright immoral.

“Is this `person' going to come or can I leave?” Inuyasha snapped suddenly. He was tired of playing Miroku's games, there were never any rules. Besides, he didn't even want to know who he'd invited.

“I'm afraid you're going to have to stay. Stay, Inuyasha.”

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When they put the request like that, she couldn't refuse. How could she refuse to meet Miroku when it was the first thing she'd planned on doing? For some reason, it seemed, the meeting had been cancelled. No, she wouldn't think about it.

Yet her instincts were trying to warn her about something. It felt distant, vague, it felt really odd. She didn't know what would happen, she had no idea that she would find Inuyasha there. She had no way of knowing that Miroku would set them up, she couldn't guess that this would be a milestone for her future. There was no way she could guess how much her relationship with Inuyasha would change.

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Kikyou didn't want to think about anything that would upset her further. Last night, it had been okay, it had been.

No, she hadn't enjoyed it. He'd been hanyou, but he hadn't brought her the pleasure he always did. He'd seemed hesitant, unsure. Was that what his demonic blood gave him? Why was he a demon in the first place?

All her life she had been taught to avoid demons, yet she had fallen in love with one. One that was slowly changing under her very eyes. But what could she do? She had no way of knowing what went on in his head, he kept everything to himself. Perhaps he was entirely too secretive. Maybe he didn't like the fact that she meddled with his affairs so much, even though she wouldn't call it much. A wife had the right to know what her husband did, right? No, she corrected herself, no, the wives had no such right. They were meant to bear children, yet she couldn't do even that. Wives were meant to stay quiet and worship and adore their husbands, that she did. But sometimes, sometimes she just couldn't handle it.

What was worse was the fact that he'd become very different lately. He could no longer meet her eyes, and that was a very disturbing fact. Something was happening. She vowed she would find out.

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“What the heck Miroku?” the angry half demon asked. He was pacing furiously, he was alone in the room. He'd tried them all, all the methods: his claws, his Tessaiga. Fists and kicks were already overrated. Whatever the monk's trick had been, it had paid off, because he just couldn't get out.

“You're going to be skinned alive when I get out of here, I swear.”

Yes, that… it would be such a sweet revenge, he'd relish it. Even if the funny monk was his best friend and cousin, he couldn't care less. Who knew what the damned man had in mind? For all he knew, he was planning to kill him. But that was a stupid thought. Still, why had Miroku left his room and enchanted it so Inuyasha couldn't get out? Where was he going with this?

Just before a dreadfully familiar scent reached his nose, Miroku's cryptic words fumbled through his mind, “I know everything.”

Then his world twisted and coiled until it couldn't anymore. The shoji doors opened and before he could take the chance and dash outside, his breath stopped dead in his chest. The scent hit him first and then there were her eyes. They were sad, determined, Kagome was so beautiful. Inuyasha's heart skipped a few beats, he was getting used to it by now. Her hair wasn't pulled in a fancy up-do as Kikyou's always had to be, she just let it flow about, increasing her natural, innocent beauty. Why was it that her deep eyes enchanted him so? They seemed to have the power to render him speechless and useless at the same time. His ability to speak would always wither at the sight of her.

Luckily, the woman seemed as dumbstruck as he was. In the blink of an eye, she tried to get out, only to realize she couldn't. That was strange, because she was a miko. She should be able to undo whatever Miroku had cast, and yet she wasn't.

It was vaguely amusing, the way she kept screaming at whoever was outside to come and open the doors. It was pretty ineffective, too, but she kept doing it. Again and again and again.

They had yet to say a word. Inuyasha's eyes were misty, he could barely see. Their eyes were suddenly locked, they couldn't look away. It was an understanding of sorts as they both struggled for their sanity. The knowledge that their Half stood right in front of one another didn't sit well in their stomachs.

Kagome's heart ached knowing that she couldn't have him, could never have him. He was another's, what could she do? What she'd planned was to tell Miroku not to go on with his plan.

She gasped, her eyes widening. Inuyasha must have been surprised by the sudden way she averted her eyes when he asked, “What's wrong?”

No, no no no no… no! It can't be! Is it? Miroku, you fool. If this is your doing, I swear… oh, Kami-sama…

Kagome almost fell to her knees, she almost lost herself in the dread her thoughts brought, but something happened. Something that changed her, something that showed her it was pointless to fight a lost battle. She could never win, would never triumph. As his arms suddenly supported her body and his head rested on the top of her head, her lips parted. She listened to his alert heartbeats, listened to him breathing. It was slow, soothing, she'd never felt something similar. There was a light, nearly untraceable glow around them and the twosome gasped loudly.

What in the world was that?

Inuyasha, with all his knowledge about Halves, didn't know what that meant. He'd already confirmed that his bond with Kagome was rather… special, but what was this? He felt as if his soul was indestructibly connected with hers - as if they had entwined and were now one.

It was what he'd feared - would he be able to let her go now? She felt wonderful in his arms, as if he was supposed to protect her like that. Tessaiga gave mad pulses, almost thrashing for its master to wield it, but Inuyasha purposefully ignored it. Who knew what could come out of it? Instead, he brought a trembling hand to Kagome's nape, pulling her closer. Somewhere deep in his mind he wondered why she was so calm, why she allowed him to do these things.

Distancing himself a few inches, Inuyasha risked talking, “Are you okay?” It was a proper question - he could deal with it. Rather neutral, too. He showed neither too much concern nor indifference. It was a safe question.

Yet somehow he couldn't help the shiver that traveled down his body, didn't look away when her beautiful, dark eyes clashed with his, didn't dare breathe when her eyes misted over and she lifted herself on her toes just a little bit. He swallowed. No, there was no denying it, they both realized, as Inuyasha's fang drew blood from his lower lip right before he claimed hers. His hand traced the side of her face, her neck, it traced her hot skin and she allowed it. Perhaps it was wrong, but it felt good. It felt too good to be true. Why did it hurt?

“Stop,” she wanted to say, “don't.” Yet the words never left her lips, they never made it past her throat. How could she speak when his skilled tongue danced across her teeth, engaging hers in a wonderful ritual, something that made her blood boil? It was foreign, new, it tasted so good.

The logical part of their minds screamed at them to stop, their conscience forbade what was happening, but they couldn't listen with anything but with their hearts. Everything was filtered, even the dim light. It wasn't even evening yet.

At that pace, they would end up tangled on Miroku's bed sheets in no time, bound to regret it later. How could they ever undo this evil?

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The rain had stopped.

Miroku chuckled. How wonderful it was to be in the arms of one's loved one. A warm smile crossed his lips when Sango stirred in his tight embrace. He didn't feel guilty, no. He'd missed the meeting and he was bound to pay for it later, he'd set up both Kagome and Inuyasha and, again, was bound to pay for it later. He'd had Sango once again, which calmed his thoughts. Honestly, he couldn't get enough of this woman. Her sweaty skin glistened prettily, she always seemed so strong, so composed, yet when she was his she was so innocent, hesitant. He loved this side of her, it made him feel powerful.

She disguised her true self by acting all tough, and that reminded him of the beautiful priestess that was surely naked and in Inuyasha's arms by now. Chuckling to himself, Miroku allowed images of the twosome to flood his mind. He could picture Inuyasha's surprised face as Kagome came into view - oh, how he liked this feeling. Kikyou was a wonderful woman, yet he didn't feel bad for doing this. Kikyou would surely give his cousin up, she would surely find something or someone better. He didn't doubt it for a second.

The beauty in his arms suddenly stirred, scrunching her nose as if something had died right under it. He felt her shiver first-hand, as a reaction to his subtle caress on her naked skin.

“Mi…roku?”

Her voice was so cute, so heavy.

“Yes?”

“Mmm…” then came an entire suite of mumbles he didn't understand, and only after a few minutes, when he heard her steady breathing did he realize that she was asleep again.

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The heart was the problem. It was a personal possession he had relinquished when he'd sold his soul to the devouring demons that gave him another chance. Yet… now with Onigumo's stubbornness ever-persistent, he couldn't help but have conflicting feelings. On the one hand, he lusted after Kikyou, desired her body, and on the other hand, he couldn't help but feel fatherly affection for her. Even for a twisted person such as him, it was disgusting.

Trying to carve out his heart was not an option; he wasn't keen on dying. Trying to get it out of his body by other, preferably undeadly methods, however, sounded very reasonable.

Naraku felt as if he was gradually losing his identity, things were slipping from his grasp. He couldn't have that, he couldn't have it at all. Unfortunately, his not-so-loyal slave had noticed it, as well, and he knew what a smart woman Kagura was. If this kept up, she would surely find a way to defeat him. He hated that his weakness was out in the open for everyone to find, he'd have to change that.

It was the last quarter of the moon, wasn't it? Then he could have some fun.

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“What is it?” his voice was so gentle, so caring, he almost fooled himself. Their lips had untangled, he was panting heavily now and she was no better. If he looked past her abused lips, past her moist eyes, he could see a tattered soul, a torn heart. He knew, because he felt it, too. He felt everything she felt, and once again, questions flooded his mind, because it was not supposed to feel like this. This was too much. Their bond was… too much.

“Nothing,” Kagome replied just as breathlessly. She wanted to leap out of his arms, to slap him for taking advantage of her, but she knew better. She'd allowed it, she'd taken part in it. Now she had to sleep in the bed she'd made.

She thought he said, “Alright,” but perhaps it had been her imagination? Perhaps she had wanted him to say that. But none of that really mattered now, when his lips descended on hers again, when his mouth coaxed hers open, allowing his tricky tongue to enter and wreak havoc. Her senses was showered with too much information all at once, she felt slightly dizzy. He must have sensed her weakness, because, unpredictably, he lowered them on Miroku's futon.

Her pretext was that it suddenly felt so hot that she saw fit to frantically untie her obi and let it fall only to tug at her own yukata. She was startled when Inuyasha's hand stopped her movements, but her breathing returned to normal as his lips worked over hers when he started undressing her himself.

They were both an entwined mess of stumbling souls, oblivious to the real world that was unraveling itself before their very eyes. Instincts were hotter than fire, brighter than the sun, they couldn't resist. Passion lit invisible matches that exploded under their eyelids as the kisses became more intense, less likely to be controlled. The overwhelming feeling started at the base of their napes and traveled downwards with threatening speed - it was leaving them hazy with desire.

Kagome distantly registered the fact that she was no longer dressed and that Inuyasha wasn't, either, her mind was foggy. Inuyasha trailed his claws on her unmarred skin, she was so gorgeous. Her pale skin was smooth to the touch, it amazed him that she seemed willing to give herself to him entirely. Wasn't it what he wanted? His mind as soul agreed for once, the woman before him was his and now he would make her his in every sense of the word. Even his youkai side was thrilled with the prospect, he wanted Kagome so much.

Releasing a short sigh, Inuyasha caught one of her nipples between his blunt teeth, careful of his fangs, he couldn't risk hurting her. Her unexpected gasp excited him immensely, tingles of pride climbing up and down his entire body. It was such an intense, unbelievable feeling that it was almost eerie.

Fucking incredible…

Kagome's eyes closed in rapture, she was a virgin, he reminded himself. Yes, he would be her first. The mere thought left him grinning stupidly for some reason, was this not supposed to be only sex? No, he concluded, it was so much more. It would be so much more.

“Inu… yasha…”

His name rolled off her tongue perfectly, like it was meant to stumble off her lips. He knew he couldn't last much longer, though. He was hard beyond measure and he had to be inside her soon. Grunting to keep his composure, the hanyou kept her gaze as his lips trailed a burning path down her body only to rest above her short curls. He heard her breath intake, smelled the spike in her arousal, which only served to increase his.

Watching her face and her heaving chest, he flicked her clit with his tongue slowly, slowly, relishing her pleasure-filled spasm as his rough tongue caressed skin that had not been touched by another. He reveled in the knowledge, yet this was no time for such cocky remarks.

“Inu… Inuyasha!” Kagome's mouth hung open in a silent scream of pleasure when his skilled tongue caressed her inner lips as his fingers kept them open for his ministrations. Her moisture trickled down his tongue, he loved her taste. Fortunately, he could feast on her until he grew bored, which was not going to happen to soon. He nipped and nibbled, and she thrust her hips forward, silently begging him for more. He complied, of course, of course, he liked it… so much.

He felt her impending orgasm, he prided in the knowledge that he was making her experience it. The long-awaited climax came faster than he'd expected and she let herself go with the feeling, thrusting her hips wantonly against his face, tangling her hands in his hair and tugging to keep him close. As if he could run away…

She reached the peak and descended. It was redemption then reality. Heaven, then Earth. Yet she wasn't allowed to dwell on that thought any longer, as she felt something warm and hard against her inner thigh. Suddenly nervous, she searched Inuyasha's amber orbs and waited for him to reassure her, to caress her worries away, to kiss her tears off her cheeks. Something so wrong shouldn't feel this right. Something so treacherous shouldn't feel so amazing.

She saw her Half bite his lip as the head of his shaft poked at her entrance. Gods, it felt so good as he grasped his hardness and rubbed it in circles against her dripping folds, she was so wet, he was so warm. Sighing in amazement, Kagome let her fingers trace his back, his spine, she wanted to know every bit of his body, yet she knew she'd never be allowed to do more than this.

Her lips were graced with a small smile when she heard his harsh inhale and saw his eyes roll back into his head for a few seconds, he groaned. Satisfied, Kagome moved her body so it was aiding him to create that delicious friction that had their blood ablaze.

A moment of the unknown always changed fates. Kagome closed her eyes tightly when she felt Inuyasha still his moments and realized that the unthinkable would happen. Breathing deeply, the hanyou pulled backwards so he could enter quickly, but a loud, screeching sound stopped him from moving. Wide eyes, he hurried to get dressed and distantly realized Kagome was doing the same thing when the shoji doors opened, revealing a very disturbed, soon-to-be-dead monk.

Inuyasha wanted to gut him at a snail's pace for the trick he'd played. He risked a glance out of the corner of his eye at Kagome, who had already got dressed and was trying to discover what the problem was.

Yet there was something that stopped Inuyasha from saying anything. The monk didn't seem to be able to find his words, he was… horrified. If his wide eyes didn't show it, then his trembling hands surely did. “K-Kouga,” he panted,” Hakkaku and Ginta, and Souta… Higurashi…”

Kagome froze. Her brother?

“What?!” she demanded desperately, forgetting manners and shaking the monk to hasten his answer.

“Higurashi Souta was taken along with Ginta-san; Kouga and Hakkaku went after them. Inuyasha, you-”

He spoke to the wind. Inuyasha was already gone.

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“We're missing something, aren't we?” Kagome asked almost silently, surprised at how… still the monk was. He couldn't seem to blink, was he in a state of shock? But why? Kouga was his cousin, well, his adopted cousin, and Ginta and Hakkaku were Kouga's followers. Souta was her little brother, so nothing should have him this worried, right? That meant, “There's something you didn't tell us.”

A par of lifeless, dull eyes found hers and she gasped, knowing what he'd say even without hearing it from him.

“Sango,” he said lowly, “was taken… right from my arms.”

Oh, no. No no no. She knew. Somehow, she knew Naraku had everything to do with this and she felt guilty, immensely guilty. While she'd been toying around with her Ha-with Inuyasha, Sango had been kidnapped when it was she that should have been in her place. She knew it, she knew it. Naraku only wanted her, the rest were to satisfy his hunger. She couldn't help the disgusted shiver that settled between her shoulder blades.

What would he do to her? Would he kill Sango? Would he… rape her? Or did he have more efficient ways to compromise her sanity?

“Oh, Kami-sama!” Kagome whined, “so why didn't you say anything? Let's go! Let's find her!”

“No,” Miroku said harshly, it felt as if he was mocking her, “Your brother is taken, as well.” Yes, it was true, Kami-sama, it hurt to think of Souta taken away, but he was strong, he was in the Imperial Army.

Did Miroku understand the implications? Did he realize that it was more than likely that Naraku was behind all this and it was all Kagome's fault for releasing him? Was that why he was suddenly so bitter? She hoped not, “I don't care. I don't. Inuyasha'll find him, I trust him. Come on, Sango's in danger.”

Just for good measure, she tugged at his sleeves. Her relief was grand when he sighed in relief and followed her steps. They would find Sango without any trace of doubt, she just… hoped they wouldn't be too late.

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“It's a trap!” Kouga yelled, but he was too late. He had no choice but to watch Hakkaku being impaled with an oddly long tentacle - it was a puppet, he knew it was, but Hakkaku had never been strong. Now Ginta and Hakkaku were out of his reach, it felt so frustrating.

“You bitch!” he shouted at the retreating figure, vowing that he'd kill her one day. Kouga didn't have a name, didn't know anything about her, but he did have a face, and he'd remember it forever.

His head snapped to the side when he felt a usually disturbing presence, but now he was relieved, so relieved. “Inuyasha?” Maybe his cousin was a trick, but he had could only trust that he wasn't. It felt like Inuyasha, it was angry like Inuyasha. There should be no doubt that he was Inuyasha.

“Fucking prick,” Inuyasha called, “you can't take care of your own, can you?”

They always fought. Even if Kouga was Inuyasha's adopted cousin who was also a couple of hundred years older, that didn't mean that they had to stand each other. The only cousin Inuyasha accepted and considered a friend was Miroku, even if the monk wasn't his true cousin, either. Though now he wanted nothing but to kill the pesky hentai who'd tricked him into almost taking Kagome. How wrong would that have been? He grunted in frustration.

He wanted to yell at Kouga to vent his annoyance, but there was no time for their usual quarrel, they both knew it, “You take him from the right, I'll take the left. Let's send this fucking piece of shit home, where he belongs.”

Souta was there, farther, hurt and barely living. He'd fought, it was obvious, but he was no match against a demon, even if it was a puppet. Sending Kouga an intent look, Inuyasha flashed his index finger and his thumb and Kouga nodded. It was a sign they'd set when they were younger and training together.

The puppet had been oddly quiet by now, he seemed to be waiting. Naraku looked so ugly in his true form, he was disgusting. Nothing but a mass of burnt flesh and slimy tentacles and overgrown bones.

The cousins rushed to the demon puppet from the sides and saw Naraku smirk as two tentacles shot from his body in their directions. But of course, it had been part of the plan and Inuyasha praised himself shortly for coming up with such a good idea. He'd known that talking aloud about their intentions would give Naraku an advantage, that's why he'd changed the strategy for Kouga to attack from above and he from the front.

Easily evading the danger, Inuyasha thrust his claws deep inside Naraku's stomach and he had only an instant to get away as Kouga's leg snapped the puppet's head. The end was pretty pathetic, the gory flesh crumbled. In a flash, he disappeared.

Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief and looked around to check the damage. Kouga's left leg was hurt, and he really couldn't help it, “What, mangy wolf? Couldn't dodge the tentacles? Pretty pathetic if you ask me.”

The wolf demon scowled, but he had no time to deal with this. Grunting, he was at Ginta and Hakkaku's side in a flash. Luckily, luckily they were both alive, but not for long. From the corner of his eye he saw Inuyasha pick up the other boy, that Higurashi Souta. He didn't care much about him, Ginta and Hakkaku were most important now. He could only hope they'd live.

And he'd noticed something odd. Inuyasha seemed to have known the demon.

“Who was it, d'you know?” Kouga asked as he picked up his comrades and threw them over his shoulders as if they were weightless.

“Naraku.” Inuyasha's answer was short, acidic.

“He was Naraku?” Kouga had heard of him, Hell, everyone had. It was an emergency situation now that Naraku had decided to attack.

“No, idiot, he was a puppet,” Inuyasha mocked.

“I know that, fleabag, I meant to ask if the puppet's master was Naraku.”

Yes, that was true, “Yeah, pretty much so.”

That was really, really bad in many ways, “Damn…”

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Naraku was proud of how he managed to do things. Kagura had been truly helpful in this situation, and what was even better was that Kagome herself was heading his way. He had no idea how the little miko knew where he was, but he wasn't about to complain. He shot a cruel look at the naked, tattered body in the corner and licked his lips hungrily. The girl was so delicious, her blood was even more so. He'd missed this, the rush of adrenaline, the knowledge that he was hurting a soul, that he was drinking a vital essence.

That definitely showed Kagura what he was capable of, he'd made her watch the whole ritual. It was probably gross for others, but oh, so funny for him. So entertaining. He felt refreshed.

It was really not long until Kagome and the monk would arrive, but they were both distressed, and seeing their precious friend and lover like this would surely darken their mood and concentration. He couldn't wait.

He hadn't meant to, but he'd lured Kagome right to a trap. He had Kagura to thank for this. Naraku had only asked her to bring him a young woman that had a lover, she'd found this one. It didn't matter that he didn't know her name, it was irrelevant. He could call her whatever, it was not like she cared anymore.

He saw her hand twitch, but she made no other indication that she was awake. As far as he knew, she'd fallen unconscious after what he deemed a delicious torture. Kagome would endure much, much worse, he promised.