At What Price

SUMMARY: “Ka- gomeeeeeeeee” whispered the cruel voice. From the shadows a form came together smiling nefariously at the unconscious woman.

Author's Note: Yeah, its a little short but I believe it's a good one (chapter). I still don't own Inuyasha ect. Enjoy. THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED.

CHAPTER 20: ATTACKING BEAUTY
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After arriving home, Kagome decided to go shopping after spending hours at the bridal boutique. Reason being, was that she had nothing to wear for later on in the even when Sesshoumaru came by. Kagome had already raided her closet and didn’t find a thing to wear. She had to, all but beg Sango to go home and leave her alone. Kagome wanted some peace and solitude, for a few hours before having to see her so called fiancée.

She browsed the clothing stores, searching for the perfect outfit. Two hours and six stores later, Kagome found what she wanted. She only lived less then one mile away from a locate shopping center, and figured it wouldn’t take her to long to get back home before Sesshoumaru arrived.

Red eyes gleamed in delight as he saw her, she walking down the street with a load of bags in her hands. ‘Beautiful.’ Kagome's natural beauty was attacking his every thought. Lust was filling him with a twisted desire, but in an overwhelming need to hurt her grew even stronger. Naraku watched the sway of her narrow hips as she walked down the side walk. She was very alluring, and she didn’t know it. He stalked behind her quietly cloaked in the shadows of the coming afternoon.

Kagome couldn’t shake the feeling someone was watching her. The evil aura would not leave her no matter how she tried to maneuver through the crowd. It pulled at her sensed causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. The evil aura was coming from behind her as if it was stalking her. Suddenly, an overwhelming anxiety washed over her. Ever cell in her body screamed at her, ‘Don't look!’ But, another said, ‘Face this.’

Naraku saw her turn ever so slightly, glancing over her shoulder with fear in her wide eyes. That only fueled his sadistic desire to torment her even more. A glimmer of light caught his crimson eye, that’s when he saw the ring on her left hand, and the unmistakable scent of a Inu-taiyoukai coming off her lightly. Naraku halted for a moment before he whispered her name in the air. ‘That bitch!’ he thought. ‘She will pay dearly for her meddaling. The puzzle pieces began to fit together and Naraku now knew that Kagome was somehow responsible for his failed take over attempt.

Kagome heard it. Her name rolled to her ears like an eerie song, but it wasn’t like a sweet caress. It was more like mocking hatred that slapped her hard in the face. The feeling coming over her, was like her spirit was being locked down in captivity. Adrenaline was pumping into her blood stream, readying her for her flight, not fight response. Kagome felt that even the mere thought of engaging in a scuffle would lead to her defeat, and something else more dreadful. She gripped the bags to her chest as she took off in a full sprint.

‘Damn, why did I let the limo driver go! I should have kept him for the entire day.’ Kagome was cursing herself for her rash decision making when evil laughter followed closely behind as she raced down the dim street.

Naraku gave chase when he saw her run. He inhaled her fear mixed with innocence, and it made him crazy. “Where do you think you are going?” Naraku questioned. Her aroma of fear was arousing, and her delicious terror was very erotic. Naraku's body was tingling with sadistic desire.

Kagome knew there was an ally way just a few yards away that was a short cut. It would lead to her apartment and hopefully to her safety. ‘I have to make it,’ Kagome screamed to herself! A burning sensation in her lungs now seemed to spread to her limbs with a vengeance. The malicious voice seemed to surround her like it was encircling her. The evil aura trapping her with in the confines of the blackened ally way.

Kagome didn’t see the hole in side walk, so when the tip of her high heel caught it, at just the right angle Kagome felt herself pitch forward. She dropped the shopping bags in her arms to cover her face before she made contact with the cement. But, it was too late. Kagome’s head made contact with the ground making a sickening thud, knocking her unconscious. Blood slowly seeped from her head wound onto the pavement.

“Ka- gomeeeeeeeee” whispered the cruel voice from the shadows, as a form came together smiling nefariously at the unconscious woman.
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Sesshoumaru was beyond annoyed. He was infuriated. ‘This Sesshoumaru doesn’t like to be kept waiting. I will have to explain the rules of the business deal in finer detail,’ he thought fuming. Sesshoumaru knocked on Kagome’s apartment door, and there was still no response much to his annoyance. He then used one of his long nails to pick the lock on the door to let himself in.

“Kagome!” he hissed upon entry. He sniffed the air in her apartment to sense if she was there. ‘No, not a thing, she hasn’t been here for sometime,’ he thought. Sesshoumaru could tell because of how weak her scent had been within the contained area. He turned on heal, and left her apartment slamming to the door so hard it almost came off its hinges. Sesshoumaru made it down the stairs when a faint mixture of blood floating on the wind came to his nose. Only one name came to his mind, ‘Kagome.’ Then other scent, intermixed with the blood itself assaulted his nose, one that was so familiar it made him see red.
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Somewhere deep within her unconscious state, Kagome heard a howl so guttural that it made her cringe in fear. However, a calming thought came to her. It was name, she thought, that would never make her think or feel comforted. ‘Sesshoumaru,’ his name echoed in her dream state. Kagome knew she wasn't alone.

The wind picked up in an ungodly speed within the small confines of the ally way. His now red eyes looked into the darkness, and sense the vile aura within the shadows, looming over the woman on the ground.

‘Leave her,’ he commanded into the darkness. He could see the movement perfectly. The shadowy figure laughed at him, and continued to move hauntingly over the lifeless woman. His fiancée. This things defiance would cost him dearly. Touch what is mine and die.

Naraku wasn’t ready for the swift attack, and it nearly cost him his life. Sesshoumaru's poisoned claws punctured a large hole in his chest cavity. Almost at his black heart. He retreated with the remaining life force he had, before Sesshoumaru could finish him off. Naraku’s word rang out in a silent threat. I will have her. Sooner or later.

Naraku’s only response was Sesshoumaru’s deep throat growl saying, “Never!”