InuYasha Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Fan Fiction ❯ The Gunslingers ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

“Oh, and Danali . . . no more drinking human blood until the journey is over,” the raven-haired woman stated.

The small group watched as the Merciful Goddess slowly turned around and vanished from their sight. Danali sighed then shook her head, striding over to the slumbering hanyou. She immediately slung the silver-haired man over her shoulder, relieving the neko-youkai of her burden and ignoring the shocked looks of her new traveling companions. Eventually, they shook of their befuddlement and ran to catch up with her.

“What did she mean, the kind nightmares are made of?” Kagome demanded. “What is going on around here and who are these other people? And how can you lift Inuyasha up like that?!”

“Oh, forgive me,” the vampiress smiled, turning to face them. “I forgot that introductions are in order.”

Quickly, she introduced everyone and herself then spun around to continue on her way. She snapped her fingers and the torches, candles, and chandeliers lit up, brightening their way. Soon, they reached an elaborately decorated room, where several beds and futons were made.

“Listen to me and listen to me carefully,” Danali began as she lay Inuyasha down on a rather large and fluffy bed. “We do not have a lot of time for me to teach you everything that you need to know before we set out in the morning. You'll have to learn as we go.”

“Where are we going, Miss Danali?” Kenshin inquired, his blue eyes gazing at her.

“And what is it that we need to learn?” Miroku added.

“We are going to a place called Sadaiko,” she replied, her strides taking her to a large cabinet. Quickly, she opened it up and pulled out the weapons that they were going to need. “Most of you will have to learn how to use these.”

“Guns,” Kenshin stated flatly.

“I'm afraid so, Kenshin,” Danali nodded. “They're the only weapons that will work on the enemy that we face. Unless they're human, of course.”

“And just where is Sadaiko?” Sango asked. “I've never heard of it.”

“That's because Sadaiko isn't on this plane of existence. We have to travel to the Temple of Eternal Night. There is the portal to the Desert of No Return. That's where the true journey begins. Rest up. When Inuyasha awakens, your training begins. Ladies on one side of the room, gentlemen on the other.”

Having said what she felt she needed to, Danali headed for the door. A strong hand grasping her elbow caused her to halt and she turned her head to see Hakkai next to her, his face in its usual cheerful yet somehow melancholic smile.
“Yes, Hakkai?”

“Forgive me, Danali, but I couldn't help but hear the Merciful Goddess tell you not to drink human blood from this point on,” he stated. “I couldn't help but be curious as I know very little about vampires or the undead. . . Is that how you sustain yourself?”

“For the most part, yeah,” she nodded. “However, she never said anything about youkai or hanyou blood so . . .” At the alarmed glances from Inuyasha's companions, Danali chuckled. “Don't worry. On our way to the Temple of Eternal Night, we will be picking up someone who has already told me that I may feed off of him, should I feel myself weakening. Fortunately for me, youkai and hanyou blood is more sustaining than human blood.”

“That's terrible!” Kagome exclaimed, her eyes wide in horror. “Why would anyone do that?”

“You obviously have never been rejected the way this person and I have been, Kagome. Sleep. The road ahead is dangerous, even for one brave as yourself.”

Hakkai's grip on her arm loosened then let go entirely. He still maintained his cheerful smile as he bowed to her.

“Again, forgive my curiosity. I meant no offense.”

“None taken, Hakkai. It's something I've come to expect when people learn what I truly am. Unfortunately, when that happens, most do not live to see another day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to see to Taika and Shei.”

Danali bowed before her guests then exited the room. Someone would not be returning from their journey. She felt it. And somehow, she felt that person would be her.

* * *

 

“So she's a beautiful female vampire that sucks other people's blood,” Goyjo stated, smirking. “Damn, she can suck my blood anytime!”

Hakkai smiled and shook his head at his friend's amorous behaviour. Didn't matter if the girl was human, youkai, or, in this case, the undead, if she was pretty and didn't attack them, Goyjo immediately hit on them. It was in his nature, after all. The hanyou was a womanizer.

“How can you say that?” the one called Kagome practically shrieked. Hakaru buried his head in the crook of Hakkai's neck, causing the human-turned-youkai to pet him reassuringly. “She could probably kill us in our sleep and we not even know it! She's a vampire! We can't trust her.”

“I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice,” Kenshin commented, sitting down on an empty futon. “Only Miss Danali knows how we got here and where we have to go. Plus she was told that she couldn't.”
“She definitely doesn't seem like the type to go back on her word,” Hakkai mused.

“She probably has someone coming along just to be her food source, figuring that none of us would willing allow her to feed off us,” Sanzo added.

“That someone would have to know what she is,” the other monk, Miroku, frowned. “I don't think telling people she's a vampire would be a good way for her to survive.”

“She did say that most of those who have found out have perished,” Hakkai nodded.

“Why would she need human blood to sustain herself, though?” the other girl, Sango, inquired. “I must admit, I'm more familiar with youkai feeding and mating habits. I've never heard of vampires.”

“Vampires are undead,” Sanzo told her. “They are humans have forsaken and cursed the Gods, condemning themselves to an eternal life of living off the blood of others and becoming the biggest of heretics. Most of them develop God complexes, usually imitating the God they've cursed. Very rarely does one become an unwilling vampire. I've never heard of Danali but I can sense a strong aura about her. She's lived this way for a very long time and it's only increased her strength.”

“So, in other words, she may look human,” Miroku began.

“But she has the strength of a dozen youkai,” Sango finished.

“She'd give Sesshomaru a run for his money, that's how strong she is,” Kagome stated. “One of them would die in the battle but not without inflicting serious damage on the other. She's strong. I don't trust her. And whoever is agreeing to be her food source needs to have his head examined.”

 

“I don't think we have much of a choice, Kagome,” Sango stated. “Without her, we may not be able to go back home.”

 

* * *

 

“I believe in you. I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you, to live, to breathe, you're taking over me . . .”

Danali closed her eyes as the last chords of the song played out. She had just finished checking over the supplies list with Taika. Now she had to check with Shei on their transportation.

'The sooner we get going, the better,' she thought as she strode down the hallways, her booted feet barely making a sound as she went. 'I'm starting to feel it, the change that is coming. The blade is finally going to drop. I just hope everyone is going to be up to the task at hand.'

The next half was spent talking with her two familiars, and packing more gear. Shei had found a pair of golden dragons to carry them as far as the Desert of No Return. After that, they were on their own.

'Can't be helped,' she told herself. 'We'd be foolish to try and press the issue with them, especially with humans tagging along. Thankfully, they're not demanding that we give them the humans for food.'

As she walked back to the sleeping chamber where her newfound traveling companions were, her mind wandered to the silver-haired hanyou she'd carried.

“Hold on to me, love. You know I can't stay long. All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid, oh . . .”

It had been a long time since she'd seen Inuyasha. The hanyou had been more than devastated and destroyed when she had found him for the first time. Someone had toyed with his affections then left him in the dust, to live out a lonely existence without the comfort and knowledge that someone waited for him in the afterlife. That, more than anything, had angered the vampiress.

'Still does, actually. But after this . . . I may never meet Inuyasha again . . . At least not in the flesh . . . I just hope it wasn't me who broke his heart . . . I don't think I'd be able to bear that in the next life.'

“Can you hear me? Can you feel me in your arms? Holding my last breath. Safe inside myself . . . Are all my thoughts of you? Sweet raptured life, it ends here tonight . . .”

Danali paused outside the door as she listened to the quiet conversation on the other side. No doubts the kitsune, the neko youkai, and Inuyasha had detected her scent, but she still wanted to wait a moment. Her hand rested above the door knob. Everything was being explained the inu hanyou, who seemed more than irritated by the situation at hand. Danali smiled.

'At least I know what he was like before he was left to die. But the time for explanations are over. Now is the time for action.'

Her hand gripped the knob and turned it. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room and to the imminent explosion inside.