The wide castle window disappeared, Kagome gasping as Naraku gathered her to him and launched them both through the empty frame. Higher and higher they climbed through the tumultuous violet sky, landing at last atop the tallest tower of the castle. Trembling, Kagome fell to her knees as Naraku released her.

In the courtyard far below, she could see her friends, fighting for their lives against that terrible draconic youkai Naraku had summoned from the Void. But Sesshoumaru was not among them.

Behind her, Naraku gave a short laugh. “It seems your noble lord has forsaken you–and your allies.”

Kagome shook her head. “You can’t fool me, Naraku–I know Sesshoumaru.” The corner of her mouth rose as she turned and met his simmering gaze. “It’s so obvious how much you fear and envy him, it’s sad. He’s everything you’re not–everything you know you’ll never be. Even if you were to get your hands on the completed Jewel–even if you were to use it to turn yourself into a full-fledged demon, you would never be his equal. You’ll always just be a miserable, mashed-up–”

A pale hand struck out, Kagome’s ears ringing as her face snapped hard to the side.

“–waste of a man,” she spat bloodily at him in conclusion.

Naraku smiled chillingly as he crouched down beside her, his steely fingers digging into her shoulder. Kagome flinched as far away from him as she could.

“Your friends are starting to look bored, Kagome–why don’t I make things more interesting for them?”

At his words, the barrier around the castle briefly fell–a host of gargantuan demons descending upon her beleaguered allies. Kagome pitched herself forward in dismay, the hand at her shoulder dragging her forcibly back.

“How long will it take, I wonder, for the last of their strength to give out?” Naraku’s smooth voice glided over her cheek, the Shikon no Tama a dark glowing pearl at the edge of her vision. “Your anguish will taint the Jewel most beautifully–even more so, when Magatsuhi crushes Sesshoumaru and returns to me with his shard.”

Kagome’s spine stiffened as his cool lips pressed to her temple. “What was it you said…that I could never be him, was that it?” Sharp-tipped fingers guided her face back to his–his crimson eyes bleeding to a brilliant gold as his hair straightened and silvered. “Even now, I can become Sesshoumaru whenever I choose. I can wear his face, I can assume his form…”

Red slashes stood out on Naraku’s wrist as he pulled her flush against him. His voice lowered silkily as Kagome whimpered, yet it was unmistakably Sesshoumaru’s.

Claw tips bit into her wounded back. “I can even make his same demands upon you…Kagome.”

“S-stop it!” she cried, wrenching at the arm barred across her front. “Please!”

“Begging me already,” Naraku chuckled in his own voice once again. “So much for your bravery. You are nothing more than a frightened young girl. And when the one you love lies dead and the Jewel returns to me in full, you will be my slave for all of time.”

Powerless to stop him, Kagome shoved futilely at his chest as he turned her to him and forced his mouth down upon hers.

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi