InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Intrigue ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter Twenty-Three:

Intrigue

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“Is something the matter, InuYasha?” Kaede asked when the half demon burst into the hut. He had a frantic look about him and the old priestess could immediately tell something was wrong.

 

“Naraku has Kagome,” he said. Kaede quickly pulled herself up from the floor and took a hard look at him.

 

“Are ye sure, InuYasha?” She asked. He went silent, hanging his head slightly, still contemplating everything Kikyo had told him.

 

“Kikyo was there, she saw it,” he began. The old priestess watched him for a moment then sighed.

 

“There is more to it or ye wouldn't be here,” she said wisely.

 

“Kikyo…” he began, the name itself almost too much for him to handle at the moment. “Kikyo said she used an enchantment arrow on Kagome. That…it…affected her.”

 

“I see,” she said. “Sit, InuYasha.” The half demon prepared a retort then swallowed his pride and walked into the hut and sat when Kaede did.

 

“What's this enchantment arrow that Kikyo was talkin' about anyway?” He asked, getting directly to the point.

 

“When a priestess enchants an arrow, it cannot harm anyone that is pure,” she said. “Unlike an ordinary arrow, or even a sacred arrow, an enchanted arrow's damage depends upon the person or demon that it is used upon. Many priestess's use these when killing is not their desire, though someone truly evil would no doubt be killed immediately.”

 

“Why would Kikyo use it on Kagome?” He asked.

 

“I do not know, InuYasha. But a priestess, by nature, is pure until she chooses to be otherwise,” she answered, and then sighed. “I had suspected that Kagome had found someone in her own time, for awhile now.” The half demon bowed his head; taking in everything he'd been told.

 

“But Kagome would never…not with Naraku,” he said firmly.

 

“InuYasha, ye know better than anyone, what Naraku is capable of. A young girl such as Kagome would be easy to manipulate, especially if she was frightened.”

 

“You're wrong,” he said, unable to accept the thought. He trusted Kagome more than anyone else in the world.

 

“InuYasha, ye should-” Kaede's words were cut short when he stood abruptly.

 

“I'm going to find Kagome. I won't let Naraku hurt her like he did Kikyo,” he said firmly then ran from the hut.

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Kagome felt her sleep world dissolving and quickly became conscious of a soft, steady sound playing in her mind. After blinking back her confusion she realized she was still with Naraku. He hadn't returned her to her room, nor left her in the middle of the night like she had believed he would. At some point she must have grown cold, because she was cuddled closely into him, her head resting gently on his chest, allowing her to wake to the steady beat of his heart. 

 

The reality of what had happened was beginning to wash over her. Would this be her life now? Would she have to remain with Naraku, sleep in his bed, and never see her friends and family again? She knew that her friends could never forgive her now. The first time she had been with him, she had been willing but he had manipulated and seduced her. It may have taken time and cost her their friendships, but she believed they would have eventually forgiven her. Even returning to him and saving his life, could have been due to her nature as a priestess and as a caring person. But this was different. Everything that had happened had been her choice. 

 

Then she began to think about returning to them. The idea of traveling with them, for the sole purpose of finding and killing Naraku, troubled her. She didn't think it would be possible to harden her self enough to dislike him, let alone hate him, how could she possibly set out to kill him? She wasn't foolish enough to believe that her friends would ever show him mercy, nor would he accept it. A soft sigh unintentionally escaped her lips as she thought about her predicament.

 

Naraku stiffened slightly when he heard her sigh. He had awoken when the first light began to pour into the room and was surprised to find Kagome lying with him contentedly. He was still unsure why she had allowed him to touch her and even more confused about her comfort and ease around him. He had witnessed enough of her and her comrades to know that she was not a person to offer such an intimacy easily.

 

“Oh,” she said and looked up at him, just realizing that he was awake. She quickly sat up and pulled her robe tightly around herself. He could tell that she still wasn't used to being undressed or vulnerable around him and that thought actually pleased him. Females that easily gave into men and lost their shame held no dignity in his eyes.

 

“I should go take a bath,” she said nervously. She couldn't help but feel a little ill at ease around him at times, especially after what she had not only done, but initiated. He watched her intently and then sat up, not taking his eyes off of her. Something about her weakened him and he wanted to understand what it was and why. When he said nothing, she looked away and then glanced at him again.

 

“How's your back?” She asked. He glanced over his shoulder and then smirked slightly. She blushed a little and then realized he couldn't really see it himself so she moved behind him and pulled his hair aside.

 

“It's gone,” she said. “I'm glad I didn't hurt you. I don't really get to use my powers often.” He remained silent for a moment and then spoke, not turning to look at her.

 

“Why have you not tried to kill me, Kagome?” She sat silently behind him, not sure how she should answer that question.

 

“I don't want to kill you,” she said finally. Killing wasn't in her nature, though she had always understood the importance of gaining jewel shards and protecting innocent people from demons that would harm them.

 

“Why is that?” He asked. Again she wasn't sure how to answer or why he was asking these questions to begin with.

 

“Why haven't you tried to kill me?” She responded. A smirk slid across his face.

 

“I believe I have,” he replied. She nodded slightly at the true statement, though she knew he hadn't attempted to harm her in quite some time which said a lot in itself.

 

“I don't hurt people that I care for,” she said before really thinking over the words. The truth in them nearly left her numb. At some point she had started to care. She didn't like seeing him alone and upset, though he never let anyone know. The pain she could feel when he relived Onigumo's memories troubled her and the way the mark had left him at unrest with himself made her own heart ache for him. Naraku had done many things she could never condone or agree with, but there was a tragic past and a story of his own that she couldn't ignore now that she was a part of it.

 

Naraku sat in complete silence. Never had anyone cared for him nor could he recall Onigumo's life holding value to any person or demon. As he sat there he realized that eventually, her comrades would come for her and there was little he could do to save himself now.

 

“I will return you to your well,” he said quietly. She moved around and looked at him again, not sure why he had changed his mind. She did want to be able to go home to see her family but she also loved being in the feudal era. Even with all that had happened and the fact that she likely wouldn't see her friends again, Kagome couldn't picture going back to her own time and never returning. And what surprised her the most was that the idea of never seeing him again left her saddened.

 

“I would like to go home,” she said and then stood up. “But I still want to come back here. I broke the Shikon Jewel and I'm going to help find the shards.”

 

“You will not be able to travel with InuYasha,” he said darkly. She put her hands on her hips defiantly. `Some times he's as thick headed as InuYasha is.'

 

“I know that,” she said sarcastically. “I'll travel with you.” Naraku couldn't help but grin and stand. Her defiant demeanor vanished when he moved towards her silently.

 

“You intend to come back?” He asked in a quiet voice once he was standing near her. She looked up at him and then nodded while he watched her.

 

“You intrigue me, Kagome,” he said while watching her intently. The words caused her to blush and look away from him. He smirked to himself at her reaction and then looked towards the shoji door.

 

“I believe you were about to bathe?” She looked back at him and then nodded, trying to regain her composure.

 

“Uh…yeah, I was,” she said. Naraku watched her stand there and then raised an eyebrow when she didn't move. The look made Kagome blush even darker red and quickly grab her things and head out the door. Every feeling in her body was confusing. At times she wanted to stand up to him, be defiant, and the next minute she would feel like she had butterflies in her stomach or just feel as though she would melt under his gaze. And then there were the odd times when he seemed vulnerable. The way she felt his turmoil was almost like experiencing it for her self. Maybe the connection she had to the feudal era and to the Shikon Jewel had nothing to do with InuYasha, but to Naraku and the past lives they had both lived.

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Miroku looked at Sango worriedly as they scanned the area from the sky. Kikyo had simply turned and left after InuYasha took off for the village. Something was wrong; there was no doubt in his mind. The half demon rarely showed such panic, even when things appeared bleak and hopeless during a battle.

 

“Is that…?” Sango said while squinting to get a better look at the cloud of dust in the distance. Miroku looked in the direction Sango was speaking of and then nodded.

 

“It appears to be Kouga,” he replied.

 

“Do you think he has Kagome?” Sango questioned. The monk shook his head solemnly.

 

“I doubt it. If InuYasha believed Kouga was involved he would have become enraged, not concerned,” Miroku said wisely. He'd spent enough time around the half demon to know that Kouga only managed to get under his skin and provoke anger. And as troublesome as the wolf could be at times, he wouldn't harm Kagome, something they were all aware of.

 

Kirara gracefully lowered herself to the ground, in the path the wolf was moving in, and allowed her passengers to climb down. Less than a moment later the monk and demon slayer were greeted by an agitated Kouga. He looked from one to the other then to the large fire cat.

 

“Where's Kagome?” He asked impatiently. The force at which he asked left both stunned for a moment.

 

“We had hoped to ask you the same question,” Miroku replied mildly. Kouga growled deeply then sniffed the air.

 

“Where's InuYasha?” He asked. The very fact he had used the half demon's name in place of his usual insult, further fueled the concern of both Miroku and Sango.

 

“InuYasha is-” Sango began then was cut short by the half demon's voice.

 

“Right here,” he finished as he came into the clearing near the group. “If you know somethin' about Kagome, you'd better say so now.”

 

Both stared each other down for a moment then Kouga scoffed.

“So the witch was tellin' the truth? You let Naraku take her?” Miroku and Sango looked at Kouga in confusion then to InuYasha.

 

“What do you know about it?” The half demon asked dangerously. How in the world Kouga and Kikyo could both know what had happened, while InuYasha had been clueless was beyond him.

 

“Kagura,” Kouga said, barely able to say the name without growling. “Told me that she nearly killed him and that Kagome…saved the bastard.” InuYasha's heart began to pound harder in his chest.

 

`Kagome would never save Naraku,' he coached himself mentally. “And you believed her?” He asked sarcastically. Kagura was part of Naraku and not exactly known for her honestly or trustworthy qualities.

 

“I believe what I saw,” Kouga replied. “The witch is as good as human and practically begging for death. And I don't exactly see Kagome here, either.”

 

“InuYasha, what did Kikyo say to you?” Sango asked, now very concerned for her friend's well being. InuYasha looked to his friends then hung his head, still trying to deny what was apparently a reality.

 

“She said that Naraku took Kagome,” he said. Kouga was about to begin a tirade when Miroku stepped between the two men.

 

“Bickering will get us nowhere. Right now our only concern is Kagome's safety,” he interjected. Both Kouga and InuYasha looked at him then held back their arguments. Sango nodded in agreement then got onto Kirara again.

 

“We should go,” she said.

`Go where, Sango?” InuYasha asked bitterly. “We haven't been able to find Naraku all the time, what makes you think we'll find him now.” Kouga growled lowly and then spoke up.

 

“We're going to my den,” he replied. “We might not be able to find him, but Kagura can.” Without waiting for them to reply he took off at full speed. Quickly, Miroku got onto Kirara and looked at InuYasha.

 

“For now we must put petty differences aside, InuYasha, Kagome's life depends upon it,” he said. InuYasha nodded and then took off chasing after Kouga, not willing to let his dislike of him put Kagome's life in jeopardy. Kirara took to the skies following them towards the wolf den and hopefully one step close to Kagome.

 

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Hebiakui held up the small shard of the Shikon Jewel and then grinned to himself. It had taken very little effort to slay the entire group of vicious tiger demons that had possessed it. Their bodies were now littered about the ground, drenched in blood and poisonous venom. The ones that hadn't been killed instantly had the pleasure of feeling his now potent venom work its way through their bodies, leaving them paralyzed and in excruciating pain.

His jewel was nearly complete and it wouldn't take long before he had the remaining shards. Kagura had helped him more than she knew. He was aware of the shards that the wolf demon, Kouga, possessed but also the of the shards that the young priestess held as well. It would not take him long to find and kill the both of them and have the entire Shikon Jewel in his possession.

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A/N: Sorry for the length between updates. With the holidays, more scans and my chemotherapy my life's just been a bit busy. This chapter seemed a little cluttered to me, but it was another of those `bridge' chapters that needed to be in here. Thanks for reading! :)