InuYasha Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Fan Fiction ❯ The Gunslingers ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Sango blinked, her entire core going cold at Kouga's words. He was . . . going to kill Danali?

“What?” she whispered. “Why?”

“It's the arrangement that we made when she approached me about heading for Sadaiko,” he murmured, averting his gaze. “It's very possible that she could lose control and attack someone. She's been very good about who she's been feeding off, always has been. But Sadaiko . . . she says it'll bring out the worst in her, make the bloodlust unbearable.”

“How long have you known Danali?”

“Around three hundred years.”

“That's a long time,” Sango commented. “Are you sure you're going to be able to do that?”

“I don't have a choice. It's either her or countless of innocent lives. She's made the choice. And, once it comes right down to it, it's her. But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone else. Please, Sango?”

The taijiya hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Hai. I promise.”

* * *

“Okay, we're away from the group. What is it this time?” Sanzo growled. “Why such an early camp time? And I don't want to hear some lame excuse about the creatures that prowl around the temple. There's something else there. I can sense it.”

“So can I. There's something contained within that temple,” Kenshin nodded with a pensive frown. Inuyasha gazed in the direction of the temple, his eyes holding a far-away look.

“I can smell them,” the hanyou murmured. “And not just the creatures, either. There's another there. Someone like you, Danali.”

“Good,” Danali nodded. “Your powers are starting manifest. A little sooner than expected but that's quite all right.” She grinned. “As for why we're setting up camp . . . The creatures that protect the temple are part of the reason. They're out mostly at night and have no qualms about eating a youkai or a human. But that's all our companions need to know.”

“What's in that temple, Danali?”

“Other than the gate to Sadaiko?” Her grin grew wider, a hint of her fangs peeking out.

The three men stared at her.

“My creator.”

* * *

“I wish I knew what they were talking about,” Kagome grumbled as she watched the small group from a distance.

“I'm sure that if we were meant to know, Kagome, they'd be over here,” Miroku assured her. “We need to trust in Danali. She is our guide, after all.”

“You're just saying that because she's another pretty face,” the young girl snorted, folding her arms. The monk sighed.

“It isn't like that, Kagome,” he stated. “I'm sure that if Danali wanted us dead, we would be dead. Of that I have no doubts.”

“What makes you so sure? Vampires are said to be charmers,” the miko whispered.

“But they also drink blood, right?” Miroku inquired. “She was told not to feed off us or any other human. And I've yet to see her feed. Now, I don't know about you, but if someone were to be drinking my blood, I'm sure that I'd know about it, one way or another.”

“I don't know . . .”

“Trust me, Kagome. Danali has not been feeding off anyone. We can trust her.”

“Yeah . . . I guess you're right,” she finally sighed. Then she turned her gaze to the rest of the traveling group. Goyjo was picking on Goku, Hakkai had Hakkaru on his shoulder and was feeding him a few pieces of scraps, Kouga and Sango were talking amongst themselves, and Shippou and Kirara were napping. Danali's followers, Taika and Shei, were unlocking several black cases. Both men spoke but she couldn't understand the language. With another sigh, she leaned back to gaze at the sky above.

'One more night and then we'll be in Sadaiko. I can't wait for this to be over. That way we can go back to the way things are supposed to be and finish collecting the jewel shards.'

Her eyes started to droop then sleep claimed her.

* * *

 

“Your creator?” Inuyasha blinked.

 

“Hai,” she nodded. “My creator. He's the guardian of the temple.”

“A vampire guarding a temple?” Sanzo raised an eyebrow at that.

 

“Strange, isn't it?” Danali grinned. “But, yes, a vampire is guarding the temple. This particular temple, at least. He has been for some time. Don't be surprised if you see Kouga's fur standing on end when we get there.”

 

“Why? They have a beef with each other?” Inuyasha smirked as Danali waved Taika and Shei over.

 

“You could say that . . . especially since a vampire can control a wolf at any given moment.”

 

“What?!”

 

“Did you not know? Vampires can control wolves. But that is neither here nor there. I have one more thing to give you. Taika. Shei. Set the cases down right there . . .”

* * *

“They're coming.”

“Send for the others.”

“As you command, my master.”

* * *

“Thank you, Taika. Shei.”

When the two males left, Danali knelt next to the black cases they had brought. Each case held a variety of guns, the weapons she'd been training everyone with.

“Are those to be our actual weapons?” Sanzo asked. “Not what we've been using so far?”

 

“You could say that . . .”

“More guns?” Kenshin raised an eyebrow.

“They're to supplement what you're already carrying,” Danali told them. “And more ammo. So far you've been playing with dummy shots. Once we cross over to Sadaiko, training and playtime are over. It's live . . . or die. The question will be . . . which will you choose?”

* * *

“This is it, Merciful Goddess. Once they pass through the Temple, there is no going back.”

“Then let the fight to survive begin.”