InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ A Sense of Security ( Chapter 22 )

AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE READ! I'm really sorry for the length between updates and the shorter chapter. I know a lot of people ask me to update and I decided to just leave this chapter Kagome/Naraku and leave the other stuff I had planned for the next chapter.

 

I'll do my best to work on the story again soon but I've been pretty sick lately and on Wednesday (September 21) I'm having surgery to have a lymph node removed so it can be checked for Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) We're really hoping that I just have an infection that needs treated but we have to make sure. So please bear with me if my next update doesn't come for awhile. I promise I won't forget the story; it just might take me some time to get to feeling better and get back to writing. Thank you to everyone that's supported me so far!

 

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Chapter Twenty:

A Sense of Security

 

 

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Kagome stood and went to the window of the familiar room. It was beautiful outside, barely a cloud to offend the night sky. However, she couldn't ignore the fact that, once again, she was at Naraku's castle.

 

`What if Kikyo went to InuYasha and told him everything?' She had known her friends would find out eventually but, she had hoped to be there to explain herself. They would hate her; probably never speak to her again and rightly so. She had betrayed them all.

 

She hung her head, unsure of herself now; she knew she should at least thank Naraku. He certainly hadn't been obligated to protect her, let alone bring her with him. Her friends weren't expecting her back yet and after having Kikyo's enchantment on her, she would have been left there helpless even if the priestess hadn't returned.

 

Her thoughts wandered back to what had happened. Why had Naraku been there? Why hadn't InuYasha come for her? He always picked up her scent when she came through the well, not to mention that Kikyo had been there.

 

The girl gave a sigh and stared up at the bright moon and again InuYasha crossed her mind. Her feelings for him had changed at some point. She still cared for him dearly but she was beginning to feel as though what they had shared was actually quite immature, more of a crush than anything that could have amounted to a relationship.

 

Besides, could she have ever fully given her heart to someone that always thought of a past love when he looked at her? That fact had never left the back of her mind in all the time she had known him. She was Kikyo's reincarnation, her replacement; never quite as good as the original but there nonetheless.

 

`Complaining about it isn't doing you any good,' she chastised herself and turned back towards the futon. A soft smile graced her lips as she saw the baboon pelt still lying there. She hadn't been fully coherent when Kikyo left but she could remember Naraku looking down at her, seemingly contemplating what to do. After that, she mostly remembered feeling warm and safe. For a brief second he had reminded her of InuYasha, the way he had always protected her. The only difference was that, InuYasha had never held her like that.

 

Her hand gently caressed the pelt then she picked it up.

 

`For such a strong demon he certainly likes soft, feminine clothes,' she mused as she walked towards the door. The least she could do was return it to him and say thank you for what he had done. She quickly found that he was not in his own room or any of the others rooms he generally used. She then turned and headed outside. It seemed almost every time she spoke with him, it had been in the gardens. And it was a beautiful night anyway, so it wouldn't exactly be a wasted trip if he wasn't there.

 

Lucky for her finding him wasn't a chore. He was standing silently amongst the sakura and plum trees, apparently deep in thought. She nearly turned to leave him when the sound of his voice stopped her.

 

“You are prepared to leave?” He had certainly not been expecting to bring her here again and her sudden appearance in the garden told him that she most likely wanted to be returned so that her comrades wouldn't find out what had happened.

 

He slowly turned to face her, prepared to see her back to the well, when she offered him a smile.

 

“I actually came to give this to you,” she motioned down to the pelt that was draped over her arm, “…and to thank you for what you did.” He glanced at the pelt then back to her.

 

“You believe I would have allowed Kikyo to kill you?”

 

She stepped further into the garden and handed him his pelt. She had spent more than enough time around InuYasha to know demons such as them didn't accept compliments or gratitude well so she didn't attempt to pursue it any further. Rather, she remained silent for a moment until she could keep her curiosity at bay no longer.

 

“How did you know about Kikyo?” Silence followed the question. She watched him for a moment and then sighed.

 

“It's ok, I was just wondering, that's all. I think I'll go get some sleep. It's been a long day,” she turned and started to make her way from the garden but stopped again when his voice caught up with her.

 

“I was watching you,” she turned back and gave him a questioning look so he continued.

 

“I watch you often, Priestess.” Those almost sinister words coming from Naraku should have terrified her. Yet she really wasn't that surprised and nearly shocked herself when she realized that it didn't particularly upset her. She walked back into the garden and simply watched him for a moment. What could she possibly say?

 

Finally he looked down at her. Seeing her harmed again on his behalf had stirred emotions in him. For truly, had he not brought her into his world and taken advantage of her innocence, Kikyo never would have attacked her nor would the enchantment have worked. Right now the demons in him just weren't strong enough to silence him.

“I desire you, Kagome,” she gave him a knowing look then let her eyes flick back to the moon. She didn't understand. She believed that he merely wanted her in his bed again, and though he couldn't deny that to be true, it was not what he meant.

 

Never before had he needed another person. And right now he needed her. He needed her to want him. He needed her to need him. The idea of such a thing almost left him paralyzed. His need for her to understand was almost consuming him, while the darker part wanted him to push her away. Take her back to the well and forget her for he should never want anyone in such a way.

 

“I desire more than simply the use of your body,” he said in a low voice.

 

Kagome looked back up at him. Though his demeanor was the same as always there was something in the way he was he spoke those words that convinced her that this wasn't only a ploy to use her.

 

`More? What more could Naraku possibly want?' The idea that he, Naraku, could want anything more than her body was almost unfathomable to her. And yet…somewhere deep inside her, she understood it more clearly than words could ever express. They were one in the same, though very different. Both mere reminders of another's life, neither really belonging here.

 

He accepted her silence. He had known that she, a priestess with such a gentle, innocent nature, could never truly need or want him. It had merely been her kindness accompanied by his weakness that had caused such an outlandish desire to grow within him. Deep inside him; laid a human heart even before she had purified him, but the rest was nothing more than twisted obsession and dangerous demons.

 

“I will return you in the morning,” even in his uncertain state his voice was nearly hypnotic to her. She looked away from him not sure how she felt. Could she ever give him more than her body? Naraku was her enemy, the most evil being she had ever encountered.

 

`He's done so many terrible things, yet…' She felt herself near tears. She had given herself to him already, in so many ways.

 

She was trying desperately to come up with something to say when he turned and began walking towards the castle.

 

“Kikyo's enchantment has no doubt drained you. You will rest,” the coldness in his voice nearly made her wince. It had been awhile since he had spoken to her in such a reserved tone.

 

“Wait, I-” `have no idea what to say,' She just stared at him when he turned to her. That piercing look of his that always unnerved her now left her curious.

 

She stepped closer to him, letting her gaze fall on the pelt he was holding. The only thing she could think about was being wrapped in it and held close to him so that she would be safe. Almost subconsciously her hand reached for it, letting her fingers gently caress the fur.

 

`This is Naraku, I should run away. Go back to my friends and never come back here,' she then sighed lightly and looked up at him. She liked it here

 

Almost immediately his lips were upon hers, kissing her feverishly. She couldn't help but kiss him back, which seemed to have a subduing effect on him. Almost as though he had been desperate and her response was all he had needed. The baboon pelt slipped to the ground between them but neither seemed to notice or really care.

 

Naraku continued to savor the taste and softness of her lips before letting his mouth travel to her throat. The irony that he had to forfeit his senses to truly experience them was not lost on him. She seemed so much sweeter than she had before. Perhaps because she was not merely InuYasha's companion now. He let his hand slowly run up her back and into her hair while his mouth continued to explore her neck and throat. Everything about her felt new, different and yet so familiar to him. Again he found himself questioning why she would allow someone such as him to touch her. It was something he needed to know.

 

“Kagome?” The girl gave almost a soft whimper. The sound of his deep voice and his breath on her neck was the most sensual thing she had ever experienced. When she didn't answer he looked at her with those intense eyes again. She could still feel a dark aura in him. It was simply part of who he was. It no longer felt evil though; at least not right now, which only added to her confusion.

 

Rather than answering him, she kissed him again, letting her hands rest on his chest gently. It was a soft kiss, one that demonstrated just how inexperienced she truly was. Suddenly, it felt wrong for him to be touching her. He had used this gentle girl, taken something from her that could never be given back. And yet, she trusted him.

 

He pulled away from her, prepared to take her back. To tell her to stay away from him, for both would be far better off. But before he could utter the words she smiled softly at him then reached down and picked up the fur that had fallen.

 

“You know, I sleep outside all the time. It's actually really nice. The air's so fresh here. At home I can't do that unless I get out of the city,” the dark lord smirked, for so often she seemed to forget that he knew nothing of her world and began talking as though he weren't even there. No other being dared this, for they feared him.

 

He stood silently as the girl spread his pelt onto the grass and then sat on it.

 

`How quickly she can go from an alluring woman to an innocent girl,' he thought as he watched her. After a moment he sat beside her, still fighting an inner battle with himself. Again he felt the need to know why she trusted him. Why she could speak to him freely. Even during his life as a human, he had no one that showed him such kindness and he had certainly never felt as though he deserved it.

 

`Perhaps that is why Onigumo began to desire Kikyo,' the idea floated through his mind. However, Kikyo had helped Onigumo out of obligation. She was a priestess and a priestess was to help those in need. She had felt nothing for the dying thief. He sat refusing to look at the girl. She was, in essence, Kikyo and he Onigumo. Was that the reason she had saved him? The reason she opened up to him? Out of obligation or pity?

 

“Why is it that you do not fear me, Kagome?” The question caught her completely off guard.

 

`Fear him? Why don't I fear him? He's done so many terrible things.'

 

“It's because you don't make me fear you, I guess,” she really couldn't give him a logical answer. He had never caused her direct harm; in fact he had protected her. But she was aware of the many things he had done to others.

 

“Why don't you make me fear you?” She studied his profile while he seemed to ask himself the same question mentally and wait for his own answer.

 

“Your fear is not something that I desire,” he answered honestly without looking at her. She gave a nod and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.

 

“Yeah, I could kinda tell,” she smiled a little. Naraku looked over at her and gave a smirk.

 

“Then why would you ask such a question, priestess?”

 

“Sometimes it's nice to hear it,” she said lightly after thinking about it; though this comment was more referring to her `relationship' with InuYasha than with Naraku. She had always known InuYasha cared. At least he had once he had gotten to know her. He protected her and at times spoke to her in a softer tone. But more often than not he was gruff, abrupt and reserved.

 

Kagome understood why the half demon was the way he was, but had always wanted something more from him. She had always wished that just once he could tell her how he truly felt. Then there was Kikyo. It always hurt when he showed such raw pain and emotion over Kikyo. Kagome had accepted him for who he was. She hadn't cared that he was half demon, Kikyo had. Kikyo had wanted him to change and yet it was Kikyo that still held his heart.

 

Suddenly she felt so much older, more mature. So much had changed over the past weeks. The idea of sitting around talking with her school friends about boys, clothes and school seemed childish.

 

“I need you,” Kagome's minds stopped as soon as those words met her ears.

 

“What?” She couldn't help sounding stunned. Had Naraku just said that he needed her? She was sure she had misheard him.

 

Naraku bristled slightly at the sound in her voice. It was not in his nature to admit weakness to another. Yet, he did need her and not merely in his bed. He looked at her, studied her intently. Such a lovely young woman should not become tangled up within his life. Yet, he needed her. His body craved hers while the rest of him desired more. The way she spoke to him as though he were more than a monster. The concern she had shown him when he was injured, as though he deserved more than a retched death.

 

“I need you, Kagome,” she was staring at him now. His voice was quiet, yet she heard the words clearly. She let them sink in all the while her heart was pounding. Not only had Naraku begun to care but it sent a flush through her to realize that she had done the same. She didn't hate him, she didn't even dislike him and she didn't feel nearly as guilty about it as she probably should have.

 

She looked away not sure what to say. Everything logical told her that just being here beside him was wrong, a horrible betrayal of so many people. Yet, her heart disagreed. Finally, she gave a sigh and moved closer to him so that she could feel his warmth through her own clothes. It was strangely comforting to her.

 

Naraku made no attempt to move, to touch her, merely sat silently. After a moment Kagome looked up at him. She could see the visible conflict in him and knew speaking even those simple words to her must have been difficult for someone like him. It suddenly felt good to be needed, to have someone that wanted her, Kagome, for who and what she was.

 

“Naraku…” honestly she didn't know what to say to him. When he looked down to see why she had spoken his name, she simply smiled warmly at him. Be it right or wrong, she wanted to be here with him. It felt safe.