InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen ❯ Harder to Breathe ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters.

November 2003

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The human population is quickly multiplying. Everywhere you turn, there are couples mating, adding to the pathetic race. But they do not know that they are what we look forward to every night, what we feed on, what we live on…

*~*

Kagome's hands shook uncontrollably. She knew that going without blood for three days was bad for her. She hated the stuff but then, couldn't live without it. Opening up her fridge, she grabbed a glass container and gulped down the crimson liquid. The shaking ceased immediately and a rush swept through her body. It happened every time, this satisfaction, this natural high that sometimes left her lightheaded and aching for more. It filled her body, feeding every fiber of her thirsting being.

"Kagome?"

"Yeah Sango?"

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Doing fine as always." Kagome replied as she plopped beside her best friend.

"Good. You know you shouldn't deprive your body. It's not healthy." Sango chided, scooting over and linking arms with Kagome.

"I hate that stuff Sango. You know that."

"Yes I do know that but still, even I don't go for three days without it and I hate blood just as much as you do."

"Fine. I'll just shoot for two days then." They both laughed but everything went quiet again.

A warm draft entered through the open window, making the black lace curtains dance around. The white moon was bright tonight. Perfect for a stroll.

"Care to take a walk with me?" Kagome asked.

"Naw, I'm expecting Miroku at midnight."

"Suit yourself then. I'll be back in a little while." Kagome threw on a pair of sweat pants over her pajama shorts and a pair of sneakers. Since it was a warm night, she decided to just stick with her tank top and quickly tied her straitened ebony hair into a ponytail.

"Don't be naughty you two!" Kagome shouted as Miroku's familiar aura entered the living room.

"Who? Us?" He innocently feigned.

"I'll be home in a little bit." The door shut gently behind her.

*~*

How long had it been since she first changed? Ah, yes…three long centuries…of living but not living. Within those centuries she had experienced much, gained but also lost much. She didn't like to dwell on her past, seeing as how it was abundant with tragedies and mistakes. However, she felt that it had only made her stronger but at the same time, less trusting and stubborn.

Kagome walked through the park, knowing that she wasn't alone. The sounds of humans and vampires mating in the night greeted her ears. It was just like every other night. It was all the same. A couple more people would be added to the undead population tonight.

"Little girls shouldn't walk alone at night."

Kagome stopped and stared at the man that materialized in front of her. She stepped to the side and began to walk past him.

"Not so fast! I'm not done with you yet." He violently grabbed her wrist and pulled but she twisted out of his grasp easily.

"Don't be stupid." Kagome blandly stated.

"Or what? You gonna hurt me?" He mocked.

'Must be a new one.' She thought.

He charged in an attempt to grab her. Kagome easily dodged, blue magic came and went and within seconds, he lay on the ground unconscious. It was just a harmless stun, nothing that would kill.

She picked up her walking again and followed the path back home. All she wanted was peace and a little bit of solitude to herself. Was that too much to ask?

Apparently it was.

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Kagome looked out of her tinted window onto the street below her. Humans walked without a care down the pavement as cars flew by. They had no idea what lived among them, what fed upon them. 'Stupid humans…I envy you.'

They were able to live so freely. They were able to have families and be happy. All these joys were denied her. They were taken away in an instant. And she hated herself for letting them be taken.

Self-loathing never made her better, it only helped to increase the amount of frustration and hate towards everyone and everything. She really needed to stop. Either that or take some therapy sessions.

She sighed and closed her eyes. Living was the hardest part. Knowing that she was already dead took her even further away. The constant thirsts tore at her from every corner and waves of dizziness and profuse shaking attacked her if she neglected to satisfy them.

The killings that took place just for this red substance of life pained her. She had been one of those who went out on the hunt once. But not anymore. Kagome had grown to a point where she couldn't take it any longer. It wasn't the taste of blood, by all means, it was wonderful, but it was what it stood for. Killing another so that you may live. But the ironic part of it was that you weren't really killing them, just giving them eternal life, if of course, you chose to do so. One could always just drink them dry, leaving an empty shell behind. It all depended on the vampire she guessed.

So she settled for having a friend smuggle out blood from the hospital for her. She wouldn't settle for anything but human blood. That was the compromise she made with herself.

Sensing a migraine on the horizon, Kagome walked to the bathroom and stripped herself of her pajamas. Turning the shower on, she let it run. She stared into the mirror, seeing nothing but knowing what was there, a woman with ebony tresses and deep blue eyes. She would be forever stuck in this twenty three year old body (not that she minded or anything). Kagome stepped into the shower and let the sensation of hot water tickling her skin take over.

Due to the lack of giggles and moans, Kagome presumed that Miroku and Sango were asleep. She smiled at the thought. She had known these two for almost a century now. Having met them at a nightclub, they quickly became friends. The night they had shared their first kiss was the night they had been attacked and changed. But it wasn't such a bad thing, they had told her. At least now they could live for eternity together, without fear of ever dying and leaving the other alone.

Next month, November, they would be moving in with each other. 'It's about time.' She thought. They deserved the happiness.

In a pair of loose fitting pants and a tank top she grabbed her katana and went to her training room.

Sweat trickled down her face as she sparred with a demon she had summoned from the depths of her mind. It lunged forward but Kagome dodged and brought her katana around in a merciless swing and cut it in half from behind. It lay there, severed. Holding out her arm, it quickly evaporated and vanished into the palm of her hand.

"I know you're near…I can feel it."

Kagome swung around, katana poised to kill. What in the seven fucking hells-?

Her eyes searched around wildly but no one was there. Her magic went out in wispy tendrils to search for any foreign aura. None.

"I will find. You can not hide forever."

Sharp pain suddenly stung the side of her neck. She touched it and instantly knew what it was.

Kagome gazed at her hand and the blood that stained it.

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"Two shots of tequila mixed with red." Miroku beseeched as he sat at one of the seats located at the bar, closely followed by Sango in a skintight passion pink mini dress.

"As usual." Kagome smiled at the pair and served up the shots.

"Blood always tastes better with some alcohol." He said satisfied after he gulped down both glasses.

Kagome had worked at this night club for a good year and a half. It was simply called Scarlet. Scarlet being a pseudonym for blood since this was a place, among many, where vampires lured their victims to.

Stupid humans. They never seemed to learn.

The club was unusually busy tonight she noted. The music thumped in her ears as lights of blue, purple and white illuminated her one second and left her in the dark the next.

"Hey babe! Two margaritas with a drop of red!" A man yelled from her left.

"I gotta get back to work sweeties." she grabbed two glasses and hurried away.

"Leon, I'm running out." Kagome shouted among all the noise.

He threw three blood red bottles at her and she caught it expertly, setting it down on the counter. Her hands moved deftly as she served the drinks.

"Jack Daniels!"

"Beer!"

"Cocktail!"

"Lime over here!"

"Salt!"

"Strait up red!"

Her ears picked up every word and she served with perfection. She noticed three couples, out of the corner of her eyes, in the dark corners and the flow of a dark liquid trailing down the women's necks. Longing laced with spite pricked her in a most uncomfortable way. She shook her head, determined not to think of such things. 'I gave that up a long time ago.'

The dance floor was packed, humans and vampires much too close together. She wouldn't be surprised if someone was having sex in there. You really wouldn't be able to tell. She laughed at herself for thinking that. But really, you wouldn't.

Kagome couldn't resist having her body sway to the upbeat music as she worked. Her curled hair lightly swung from side to side as her hips moved to the rhythm.

"You look delicious tonight." Kouga's vice seeped into her ear. She felt his hand latch onto her butt and she quickly slapped it away.

"Hands off."

"But Kagome, you look so sexy." He whined. His hand then furtively slipped inside her thin short pastel green yukata she wore over a white tank and jeans to caress her right breast.

Kagome's eyes flashed a dangerous hue of red and he instantly tore away.

"Try that again and you won't be able to walk for the rest of your life." She patted his groin and smiled sweetly.

"You're late Kouga." Leon said.

"Sorry! I know! I know!"

"One more time and I'm kicking you out the door."

Receiving a death glare from the owner, Kouga quickly got to work but not without downing a shot of blood filled tequila first. He had discovered that it loosened his nerves a little.

Kagome had been working with him for half a year and he never seemed to understand the concept of "hands off". But she knew he was a good guy, this good guy was just somewhere beneath that thick skull of his.

Her senses rapidly came to life, telling her that there was a powerful aura nearby but it went just as quickly as it had come. 'Strange' she thought. Just as a precaution she shielded her own from any wondering person, vampire or not.

But Kagome didn't notice the three people appear within the club.

Sudden shouts pierced the thick air and in moments, everything turned into chaos.

Kagome watched as everyone with panic-stricken faces ran to the door and pushed themselves out. Shots traveled and hit their targets, rupturing vital organs.

"Leon!" She caught the eyes of the club owner and his wife Nina, but just as they were opening the door, two bullets that had missed their intended targets ripped through two new ones. Blood shed itself onto the wooden door before they crumpled to the club floor.

Kagome suddenly felt heavy, felt her shoulders slack and sadness spread through her. Someone abruptly grabbed her from behind, "Kikyo, it's been a long time." She felt a tongue travel up the side of her face. Sending an elbow into his stomach, she turned around and watched him heave for air. Kagome seized the front of his shirt, eyes flashing red, "Who started this?"

"Y-you're not K-Kikyo."

"Answer my question." She seethed.

"Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru attacked us." He answered in haste, sweat now drenching his forehead.

Kagome let go of his collar and jumped over the counter. She evaded a sword attack and heard it clash against the glass counter, making it shatter into a glittery dust.

"You will die Kikyo!"

She disregarded him, pushing the question of just who this Kikyo person was to the back of mind. Her katana appeared in her hand as her indigo eyes searched for Sango and Miroku. Seeing no sign of them, she hoped they had managed to get out safely.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha waited for his half brother at the double doors, a look of impatience decorating his features. They had come here to settle some matters and settle they did.

Kagome's head shot up towards a man with silver hair as she heard one of the names that that idiot of a man had told her.

"Go."

Inuyasha nodded and bolted out.

"It was you! You did this!" Kagome accused, anger flaring, dangerously intense as she approached him.

He said nothing, just turned around and walked away. But he stopped when he felt the tip of her katana prod his back.

"Don't you dare leave without giving me answers." Her tone was venomous, deadly to the very core.

Sesshoumaru turned around and slowly stalked towards her, completely oblivious to the point of the blade now aimed at his heart. He vanished before she had time to react and suddenly reappeared behind her.

"You are in no position to demand answers." He whispered into her ear, fierce but surprisingly gentle. He grasped her hair and threw her back into the wall. He grabbed her by the neck before she could fall to the club floor. She tasted her own blood as it trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"Bastard." She spat, glaring at him, refusing to look away from his intense golden gaze, even though she was finding it hard to breathe. A mischievous glint rapidly flew across his eyes and before she could take a quick breath he vanished. Kagome landed on her feet and quickly ran out the doors and for the briefest of moments, a bone-chilling shiver shot up her spine. Her head snapped up and she caught the glimpse of black hair, closely followed by silver. She jumped up to the club roof but they were already gone, their shadowy figures jumping from building to building. And in the pit of her stomach, she knew whom the black hair belonged to but she refused to believe it.

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They had gone there to end an annoyance. It was more of a night club brawl if you will. Kyo and his followers were caught unaware, which made everything swift and strait to the point. There were bound to be some accidents, some innocent victims but it didn't matter. This was a world where only the strongest survived. Weaklings would not be tolerated, especially if you were a vampire.

With parents that were full-blooded vampires, Sesshoumaru didn't have a problem with being weak. He was feared among the undead, bowed to by them. He could have any woman, goodness knows they were practically throwing themselves at his feet, begging him to fuck them. Some were enticing little morsels and he found himself sampling at times but he didn't indulge. Not as much as his half-brother.

He was also a full vampire, same father but different mother. Unfortunately for him, he had pledged to his father as he lay dying from a wound in his heart that he would take care of Inuyasha, watch over him until he became a man. That was a century ago.

Though he and Inuyasha had never been close or really cared for each other, Sesshoumaru often found himself occasionally (very occasionally) checking up on the nuisance. But lately, his half-brother had been managing on his own, though it was long time overdue. Kikyo, the woman that Inuyasha claimed to have fallen in love with was what he, Sesshoumaru, thought was the cause of the change.

Inuyasha had told him that they met on a moonlit night. (Why he had listened, he had no idea.) The instant they saw each other, destiny had pulled them together and would not tighten its grasps. And as his younger brother talked about this, Sesshoumaru knew, by the glazed eyes and emotion filled tone that he indeed had fallen in love.

Foolish boy.

Sesshoumaru walked down the hall of the mansion. The walls were adorned with original paintings and lighted by candles. And as he made his way to the study to join his cohort, a thought slowly eased its way into his head.

Her eyes were alluring to say the least. Her defiance and unwillingness to submit to his clearly overwhelming power was most intriguing. Never before had that happened to him, to this Sesshoumaru. He was irked by it yet he found it strangely fascinating. That this female vampire, (yes vampire as he could tell by her aura when it flared surprisingly powerful) that was below him and should be groveling at his feet offering herself to him had called him a bastard, was most unexpected but delightful.

He rubbed his temples in disgust at thinking such thoughts. Though his intrigue was sparked, he willed himself to forget about this unworthy female. There were plenty more out there anyway. Reaching his destination, he grabbed the doorknob and turned, walking into the dimly lit room.

"We did good tonight Sesshoumaru."

"It would've been much faster if I had gone in by myself Naraku."

"Stop being such an egotistical bastard."

The ends of Sesshoumaru's mouth slowly curled up. "It's what I do best."

He met Naraku two centuries ago. In some ways, Sesshoumaru owed this man his life, having been saved a couple times by him. Also a full-blooded vampire, Naraku was one of the most powerful, next to him of course. They were friends, albeit not best friends but friends nonetheless. He wasn't the only egotistical bastard.

"I don't think anyone else is going to be a nuisance to us for a while. After what happened tonight, no one will dare. Our territory will remain untouched." Naraku paced in front of the window, occasionally glancing outside.

"You look on edge. Haven't had your daily fuck I assume?" Sesshoumaru inquired, an elegant brow lifted and a smirk across his deadly lips.

Naraku glared at him and continued pacing. "I could feel her. I know she was close." His hand balled into a fist and within moments, the window shattered beneath his touch.

"I will find you Kagome."

*~*

A/N: Ah yes, the new and improved and edited!! I like this much more then the first. I combined chapters 1 through 3 cause they were rather short. I hope you all enjoy this seeing as how I'm rather happy how this turned out.

I'd also like to give a tremendous thanks to those who stuck with this and kept telling me to continue and keep this up. You've all been a great inspiration and after thinking it over, I decided not to can this fic. So thanks again for all your continuous support and encouragement.

D.D.