InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Midnight Blood ❯ Decent ( Chapter 13 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: ji-an 
Going down.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Horror / Fantasy / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.26.2013 | Pages: 4 | Words: 9.6K | Visits: 732 | Status: Completed
Going down.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Horror / Fantasy / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.26.2013 | Pages: 4 | Words: 9.6K | Visits: 732 | Status: Completed
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`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~
Kagome watched as Lilliana's finger glided over the row of books on the table. ''You've been looking for clues non stop for the past week. Do you really think that you'll find something in all these books?''
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Lilliana sighed as she tried half-heartedly to organize the jumbled mess on the table. ''I did find something.'' She arranged random books in a pile and pushed them toward the edge of the table. The study was a mess. Piles of books decorated the mahogany table in the middle of the room, and the few books remaining on the shelves were leaning together on one side.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''What was it?'' Kagome said as she came closer, eyeing the pages that Lilliana was flipping through with excitement.
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Lilliana pulled a torn page out of her pocket and smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper on the table. Kagome learned forward, and squinted. It was a page from one of Narek's medical textbooks. ''It's just talking about muscle contraction? I don't see what's so special about it.''
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''It's not what's written in the text that's important. Look at this.'' Lilliana pointed to the bottom of the page and Kagome's confused expression only became even more curious when she noticed letters she didn't recognize. ''It says, 'Not enough information on nightwalker anatomy and physiology.' I'm guessing Narek wrote it, because I doubt Chase and Xander know how to write in Armenian.''
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''How is that helpful?'' Kagome tapped Narek's note.
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''Well, if you think about it, nightwalkers never really examined their bodies because they didn't need to. We don't age like humans, we don't succumb to disease, we already know what our venom does to humans and nightwalkers, and we instinctively know when something is wrong. But we didn't know that our blood causes humans to mutate when they drink it or why our hearts are so special. What if there is more that our blood and venom can do that we don't know about? Maybe Narek was trying to find answers with human anatomy as a reference point, but wasn't able to draw any conclusions because he doesn't have any knowledge of nightwalker anatomy to compare to."
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ ''So basically, Narek doesn't know any more about our bodies then we do? Well, that's a great piece of news."
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‘‘Read between the lines, Kagome. It also means that Lucy hasn’t told him much about how our bodies work.’’
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‘‘So?’’
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‘‘Lucy knew what nightwalker venom does to humans when they eat it. She knows things about fourth generation nightwalkers that we don’t. Hell, she even knew that a fourth generation nightwalker could exist, something we all thought was impossible. So in the century that Narek has spent with her, doing her bidding, why hasn’t she told him any of this?’’
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‘‘We’ve already established that she’s hiding something. Where are you going with this?’’
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‘‘Does Narek really seem the type to follow orders Kagome? What’s to stop him from betraying Lucy should she withhold so many secrets from him? He broke off ties with our family, played double agent in the nightwalker war for ninety years, and now he’s run off somewhere and Lucy doesn’t know where he is.’’
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Kagome reflected on Lilliana’s logic for a moment. Narek did not seem like the type to be under someone else’s control, it was true, yet he stuck so close to Lucy. Kagome had seen him disobey her before. He kidnapped Lilliana even though Lucy had not given him the order, he manipulated Lucy into letting Kagome out of her sight, and he even used Kagome as bait to lure out their enemy. He even said himself that he had no interest in Lucy’s orders.
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‘‘Narek could have betrayed her by now.’’ Kagome said. ‘‘Yet he hasn’t. He’s only bent her rules. It’s clear that he’s not totally loyal to her. I bet Lucy has something he wants, which is why he hasn’t, I don’t know, gone Benedict Arnold on her yet? Okay, I get what you’re saying, Lilliana, but this,’’ she tapped the paper, ‘‘doesn’t tell us anything new.’’
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''Don't be so negative Kagome. Even though this note doesn't say much, it does give me a few leads. I'm willing to bet that Narek wrote more notes in his books. Maybe if I could find them, I can piece together what he knows.''
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''So you'll keep looking then.'' Kagome drummed her fingers on the table, looking at the books and the shelves with a tired expression.
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''I've looked through most of the books on the top shelves. But there is still half a shelf to go. I'm sure I'll find something.''
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Kagome glanced at the exit of the study. Biting her lip, she turned back to Lilliana and said, ''Need some help? I could use a distraction.''
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Lilliana nodded, leaning on a shelf, she was already absorbed in another book, flipping eagerly through the pages. Kagome turned toward the opposite self and went down on her hands and knees, and the first thing she did was sneeze.
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The books on the bottom self were dusty and tightly packed. Not only had Lilliana not touched a single one of them, but they hadn't been used in a while. Kagome pressed her palm against her face, grumbling. She reached for a few books, pulled them out, and dumped them on the table. She flipped through three medical textbooks. Nothing. She reached for another book, only to slam it closed once she was finished scanning it, trying to clear the surgical images from her mind. ''Ew.''
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''Did you find one of Xander's naughty magazines?'' Lilliana said.
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''I do hope you're just joking about that.''
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''I found a few and, besides being incredibly dull and vulgar, they didn't have anything useful in them either.''
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''You actually read through them!'' Kagome aimed an incredulous look at Lilliana, but the accused woman didn't even turn around to meet it.
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''I'm not leaving a single book in here unturned, no matter how silly it may be.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> Kagome reached for another book, hoping that it wasn't one of Xander's goodies. She still blushed whenever she thought about sex with Inuyasha, she didn't need to see anyone else doing it, nor did she understand what people got out of looking at something that was supposed to be private. Then again, she thought sullenly, it was likely she would never let Inuyasha share that privacy with her again. She doubted he would even want to, seeing that she was a liar after all. She shook her head and opened the next book, hoping that it would make her forget about him and the anger that he made her feel.
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A book on botany, a book about travel, a fantasy novel, an empty notebook, a psychology textbook. Kagome paused and stared at the title, ''Intimate Relationships: The Study of Love.''
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Shrugging, she opened to a random page and looked at the text.
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''Social exchange theory revolves around the idea that a relationship is similar to economic exchange. A main point about this theory is that it looks at the relationship in the present, not so much the past.''
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Kagome leaned away from the book for a moment, breathed in, and continued reading.
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''Independence theory, is a take on social exchange that emphasizes that people evaluate their relationship outcomes similarly to how they approach economic decisions.''
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''This books makes love sound like it’s made of boring stock market strategies.''
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''What are you talking about?'' Lilliana said.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''Just thought it would be interesting.'' She showed Lilliana the cover. ''I didn't study intimate relationships when I was studying psychology all those ten years. I didn't want to do any research that mostly involved correlations, so I glanced over it, and it was an elective anyway. Most of what I did was clinical or neuroscience, not so much behaviorism, so this book is new to me.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> Lilliana glanced at the book, raised a brow, but said nothing. She returned to her task, and Kagome felt an odd sense of embarrassment yet continued to read.
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''Rewards and Costs. In a relationship, couples want to maximize the rewards and minimize their costs. Rewards are any of the ways that the relationships may fulfill the needs and desires of each partner, and costs are any of the consequences of being in a relationship that prevent partners from fulfilling their needs and desires. If the costs in a relationship outweigh the rewards, then the relationship outcome will be a negative one.''
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Kagome closed the book. Leaning on the table, she looked down on at the cover art of a happy married couple and frowned. ''Stupid book.'' She swung her hand against the book's spine, sending it crashing down onto the floor. She was just about to reach for another book when she looked back down on the floor one more time. Several pages of the book had ripped out, lying folded pathetically under its weight. ''Oh, great.'' As she smoothed out the creases in the ripped pages on the table, Kagome paused, her hand stopping just before a small scribble in the middle of the page.
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Poking Lilliana on her shoulder, Kagome held up the page in front of her face. ''Can you read this?''
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Lilliana's eyes traced the writing at the top of the page, but instead of telling Kagome what was written, her brows came together in a contemplative way. ''Where did you get this?''
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''It fell out of the book I was just telling you about. So what does it say?''
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''It's just a note outlining what we already know about the humans who become monsters from nightwalker blood, but this sentence-''
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Lilliana read, '' 'A voice can be heard upon fighting the slaves. Voice is similar to the sound of the inner monster.' ''
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''Inner monster?''
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''I'm sure it's talking about the voice that you and I heard when we came into contact with those humans.''
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''I figured that, but what's this monster thing?''
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''I,'' Lilliana sighed. ''I don't know.'' She looked over the page once more. ''That's the only time it’s mentioned.''
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Kagome threw her hands in the air. ''This is all just a wild goose chase. Why would Narek, or Lucy for that matter, being as secretive as they are, keep notes lying around?''
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''Well, maybe it’s their way of collecting their thoughts.''
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''I bet you anything that they're purposely vague so that, even if we find them, we wouldn't understand a thing. This is a waste of time.''
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Lilliana folded the paper and put it in her pocket. ''So you say.'' She glared at Kagome.
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''What?''
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''Nothing.'' She turned away from her, and went back to staring at the bookcase.
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Kagome learned forward to say something to her, but Lilliana was already flipping through a new book. Shaking her head, Kagome went back to her task. It didn't take long for Kagome to begin to feel incredibly sorry for every librarian in existence as she plowed through books and books, finding nothing. The shelf she had speed-read through was full of holes where books should have been and had books piled up messily in the corners. She tip toed around books on the floor and to another bookcase, sighing. She would have complained about how tedious it all was if it weren't for the fact that she had nothing better to do. About to ask Lilliana if she had found anything, Kagome paused when she noticed Lilliana staring intently at a brown piece of paper.
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But it wasn't paper, Kagome noticed as she stood next to Lilliana. It was a photograph, one that was so old that the brown and white picture had faded to pink in some places. A wedding photograph. A beautiful blond woman with a demure, yet serious expression sat in a chair. She wore a wedding dress that covered everywhere but her face and hands, which were holding stems of wheat. Next to her stood a handsome young man.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ ''It's Narek and Anahit, his wife.'' Lilliana said suddenly.
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''Wow, he married young. She looks like she's sixteen.''
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''Of course. People got married really young back then. If you weren't married by the time you were twenty, you were considered an old maid.'' Lilliana turned the photograph over. There was nothing on the back.
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She looked at the photograph one more time, and Kagome thought she saw a flicker of remorse pass over her face when her lips bent downward a little. ''She really was beautiful.''
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Giving Lilliana a half smile, Kagome nudged her playfully in the ribs. ''Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?''
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''Jealousy? Don't make me laugh. I was still a child when they got married, and I had never met her. Besides,'' Lilliana closed her eyes, ''the man in this picture doesn't exist anymore, so I have no one to feel jealous over.''
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''Love sucks that way.''
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''Oh really? I've heard that it can be quite wonderful.'' Lilliana put the photograph between the pages of a book before putting it back on the bookshelf.
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''If you could go back and erase your feelings as a child so that you would never have felt that heartbreak, would you?''
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''Never.''
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Kagome blinked at the harsh tone of Lilliana's voice. ''Why?''
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''Those days with Narek in my childhood were some of the happiest days of my life. He was my first love as a child, and the Narek of my childhood was a wonderful person. It doesn't matter who he is now, those memories are still precious to me.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''Even though you know that the man you loved became a monster?''
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''That makes those memories even more precious, because I know that what was lost can never be returned to me. It hurts, but it's a part of me, and I'm not giving it up.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘If it were me, I’d choose to forget them.’’
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‘‘Hmm, yeah, I’m sure you would.’’
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‘‘Excuse me?’’
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‘‘Getting rid of memories that cause you pain in the present. If you had that choice, you would do it.’’
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‘‘What’s that supposed to mean?’’
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‘‘Nothing. Forget it.’’ She reached for another book on the shelf.
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‘‘Oh no, you don’t!’’ Kagome reached for Lilliana’s shoulder, twirling her around so that they were face to face. ‘‘If you have something to say to me, say it.’’
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Lilliana looked at her with half closed eyes, took a deep breath and said, ‘‘Fine. You asked for it.’’ She stepped in close to Kagome, looking straight into her eyes. ‘‘Rather then face your past, you choose to wallow in regret over it. ‘Woe is me, my life was taken.’ You had ten years of rebuilding your life as you saw fit. Be happy with that.''
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''I was happy about it. Till reality broke in. I wouldn't have a problem coming back, if it felt like I belonged. But now all these things are happening left and right and, not to mention, the man I thought I could make a life with decides to be an asshole.''
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''And still find time to moan about it.'' Lilliana scoffed. ''Move on, because now is really not the time to wallow in your self pity.’’
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‘‘Oh, you think you have the right to tell me to move on?’’ Kagome pressed her forehead hard against Lilliana’s. ‘‘Says the girl who pines after a ghost from her past. I saw the way you were looking at that picture. You still have feelings for that monster, and you’re still angry with him for what he’s done to you and your family over the years. Oh yeah, I’M the one who has a hard time letting things go.’’
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‘‘That is hardly the same Kagome. Unlike you, I had no plans for my future when I was human. Growing up in a time period where a woman’s only role in life was to marry and have children, I had no luxuries like you. And I did lose it all, my family, everyone I knew and loved, my life as a human, my virginity, when that Turkish soldier raped me, and then I’m thrown into a nightwalker war that lasted for nearly one hundred years, fighting for my life, barely having time to realize who I am, let alone feel pain for my past. I get my first ten years of peace after all that time and did I complain when hell started for me all over again?’’ She stepped closer to Kagome, poking her in the chest with each sentence. ‘‘Instead of whining about what you couldn’t have, or about everything that's happening to you now, why don’t you be grateful that you had a life with your family and friends, that you were given a second chance and didn’t have to wait nearly a century for it, and have a man who is willing to put himself through some terrible guilt for what he did to you, is willing to try to make things right, because I sure as hell don’t have the same thing.’’
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‘‘You think that just because you had a hard life, that means that I shouldn’t feel upset over what happened to me?’’ Kagome hissed, slapping Lilliana’s hand away. ‘‘You had nothing to lose, I lost everything, you still, apparently, have feelings for the man you knew you loved as a child, I don’t even know if I LIKE my mate anymore. So what’s worse? Me, who had my past taken away from me, and pining after a life I could have had or you, who had let go of your past but still holds onto something that will never happen? You know, for someone who supposedly hates Narek, you sure spend a lot of time talking about him, analyzing him, stripping down naked in front of him-’’
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‘‘That was to rattle Lucy into letting you out of the house!’’
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‘‘Which Narek took complete advantage of. Oh, and you tried to stop Sesshoumaru from killing him all those years ago.’’
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‘‘I was confused! My memories of childhood had just returned! And it’s not like I chased after him!’’
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‘‘Well if you really hate him and don’t secretly hope that the man you knew in childhood isn’t in there somewhere, why haven’t you killed him? You sure don’t try to put distance between you two, and you used him to intimidate Xander. Don’t try to tell me to move on from my problems with Inuyasha when it’s completely clear that you haven’t moved on from yours!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Lilliana stepped away from her , threw her hands up in front of her face and hissed out a breath from between her teeth. ‘‘You know what, Kagome? I am not in the mood to deal with someone so chil-’’ Suddenly, she looked confused. She blinked and looked around the room as though she suddenly remembered she was in there.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘What, out of retorts already?’’ Kagome said.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘No.’’ Lilliana whispered.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘I figured as much.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘No.’’ She passed Kagome and stood in front of the door that led to the living room. ‘‘Something’s coming.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Well isn’t that just convenient? You really think I’ll fall for that.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘We have to get out of here!’’ Lilliana began gasping, clawing and kicking the walls. ‘‘We have to leave, they’re coming after us.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Y-you’re serious?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The room shook as Lilliana threw her whole body against the wall, trying to break it, and yet, each time she did, she moved slower, her eyes became wetter and her screams became louder. ‘‘Damn spell! I can’t stay! They want me, I know it!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘H-hey!’’ She grabbed Lilliana around the waist and pulled her screaming and flailing body away from the wall. ‘‘Calm down! If this is some kind of ruse to freak me out, it’s not funny!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘NO! Let me go! If I don’t get out of here, that voice will find me! It’s coming!’’
`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~
It felt as though ten thousand pounds were attached to every muscle in his body. He felt so heavy, he couldn’t even move from where he was collapsed against the wall by the front door, even if he could feel slight waves of anxiety washing over him from the spell that kept him in place.
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‘‘I’d say you should give up, but, then again, I’m the last person you would listen to.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha turned his head so that he could glare at Chase. Xander peered at Inuyasha from over his playing cards, rolled his eyes and went back to staring at Chase who was dealing cards from across the coffee table. Ignoring them, and in no mood to talk, Inuyasha went back to staring at the door.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> He squinted at it, as though scrutinizing it would reveal some hidden mechanism that would help him understand this strange power. A nightwalker ability that mentally keeps people in place; it was impossible, unheard of. After throwing himself at the door for several minutes, he was still unable to believe such a thing would keep him in place, as well as believe that it was caused by such a diminutive nightwalker. From the little he’d seen of Lucy, he just knew that something wasn’t right with her. He never would have expected that she take the guise of a child, nor that she had that much power. The only other nightwalker that had ever been able to keep him in place, albeit for a short time, was Narek.
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Yet, Lucy’s powers weren’t the only things that didn’t sit right with him. There was something about her, something he had never felt from a nightwalker, neither natural nor human born, something about her face. It was as though she wore a mask made of flesh to hide her real face. There was more then he knew hidden in that tiny body, in that childish face, something horrifying.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
He clenched his teeth. To think that Kagome never suspected her, he thought. Even worse, to think that all this began happening because someone decided to feed humans their blood. Inuyasha growled. There were rules to keep out of the human world for a reason. This type of reckless behavior was bound to catch their attention, and it was never a good thing when humans knew about something supernatural.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Anything could go wrong from religious zealots advocating for the removal of these hell spawn, to politicians trying to keep the peace, but really doing nothing to calm the situation, to humans who are enthralled by the supernatural, throwing themselves in front of nightwalkers for sex and adventure. It wouldn’t end well. He’d seen it all seven hundred years ago. Humans would eventually learn how to harm them. Their science would catch and abuse nightwalkers, they would tie them up in the sunlight, using rope that was coated in nightwalker venom to keep them from escaping. The nightwalker world was dangerous enough. Add in humans that were as tenacious as roaches to the mix, and not only would they have a war with themselves, but with other nightwalker as well. That was why he and Sesshoumaru had worked to destroy all the human bases that knew about Nightwalkers all these ten years.
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The two humans from the past, Sango and Miroku, were found, and sworn into secrecy. They had told them all about where the nightwalker hunters were located, and what they knew. His family destroyed their bases, and the employees were either bribed or threatened to never seek out or speak of nightwalkers again. If there was some fool going around out there, ordering nightwalkers to feed their blood to humans, it could break up everything his family had taken a decade to hide.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> And Kagome had undermined all that work with her secrets. Had she been honest with him, he could have at least been aware that there was a nightwalker such knowledge. He would have gotten word about those slaves to the family sooner and they would have been able to deal with it, not to mention, been able to protect Kagome better had she not been so arrogant and believed that she was entitled to lie in order to fulfill her selfish wishes.
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He wanted to spit but was too tired to summon the energy. He had no idea that she could be so fickle. Was she completely incapable of forgiveness? He could have left her in the human world and let his enemies have their way. They would have killed her, and his problems would be solved. Yet, he decided to take responsibility. He risked his ass for her when she was human, again and again, to keep her human and protected, until he could send her home. And it wasn't like he forced her all the time to do things she didn't want to do. When she became a nightwalker, she made the choice to become his mate. He was ready to die so that she could at least have the chance of finding someone she really wished to be with, and as penance for dragging her into this world. Of course what happened to her was unfair, and he still hated himself for it, but did she ever reflect on what he gave up too?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
She was his mate. He could never have another. Her blood, body, and spirit was forever tied to his. How could she not at least try to trust in him?
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‘‘Full House.’’ Said Chase.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Fuck!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha turned his head just in time to see Xander throw his cards on the table. ‘‘How the shit do you keep doing that?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Simple,’’ Chase began shuffling the deck, ‘‘your poker face sucks.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The coffee table shook as Xander put his feet up, crossing his ankles. ‘‘Being stuck here with you, and two off limits women-Hey! Piss off!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha continued to glare and bare his fangs at Xander as he forced himself to stand.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘I’m not about to touch someone else’s mate. Even I have standards.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘And Lilliana?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Xander gave him the middle finger. ‘‘I don’t have a death wish, you prick, so why don’t you just go back to-’’
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The door to the study slammed hard against the hardwood, and, dust flew from the walls and along the floor as Kagome and Lilliana flew out of the room, and rolled along the floor in a tangled mess of limbs. Xander barley had time to say, ‘‘what the fuck’’ as the two women finally stopped, with Kagome sitting on top of Lilliana’s legs, pressing her face against the floor and holding her arms behind her back.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Kagome, what’s gotten into you?’’ Inuyasha yelled, reaching across the room in one jump.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Ladies? Should I be worried?’’ Chase said as he walked up to them.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Shut up and let me hold her down!Ó Kagome said between breaths. ‘‘She’s completely lost her mind!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Noo!’’ Lilliana screamed and kicked and cried. ‘‘Let me go, please! I can’t-mmf!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Kagome, stop!’’ He reached over to his mate, to try and pry her hand off Lilliana’s mouth, but then froze. His head began to pound as though a hammer was thumping from within his skull. His heart began to heave as though he had just finished running a three-day marathon, and his mind began to scream. He could barely stay standing, as his vision began to undulate, and images of Kagome holding down Lilliana while Chase and Xander tried to make sense of what she was saying, began to undulate and melt like a Salvador Dali painting, and that voice, that irritating and horrible voice, spoke.
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‘Ah, it’s coming. Soon you’ll be at the land where all true nightwalkers are born.’’
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The ground beneath him broke apart like shattering glass, the room around him shook, and he began to fall into darkness, his head pounding far before he hit something hard, his ears aching from the screams of two falling with him, the destruction around him, and the yells of the two that managed to escape, calling for them as they fell into hell.
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Author's Notes:
In case anyone is curious: social exchange theory is actually a real psychological theory for intimate relationships, and there is even a class on it. Tons of fun, the psychology and research of love, it makes writing about it interesting.
Also, I apologize again for any grammar or spelling mistakes I have missed. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. Hope to see you soon!
Jian.
*Author's Notes*
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Y o Ho! Long time no see, but writer's block is a pain, not to mention having a class that requires 500 words to be memorized at one time, taking up all my study time. But with summer here, I figured it was finally time to sit down and force the neurons to give me some ideas. So sorry this took so long.-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha, nor do I take credit for Romiko Takahashi's genius! {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{ }{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{ }{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
REVIEWER
@SPLENDIDGODDESS: This chapter is dedicated to you. You're awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to review! Also, you got your wish, in more ways then one! The road to healing has begun (I'm a poet). Also, thank you for your comment on last chapter's scene. I really do appreciate your wonderful reviews! Thanks again SO much. `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~
Part Thirteen: Decent
`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~Kagome watched as Lilliana's finger glided over the row of books on the table. ''You've been looking for clues non stop for the past week. Do you really think that you'll find something in all these books?''
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Lilliana sighed as she tried half-heartedly to organize the jumbled mess on the table. ''I did find something.'' She arranged random books in a pile and pushed them toward the edge of the table. The study was a mess. Piles of books decorated the mahogany table in the middle of the room, and the few books remaining on the shelves were leaning together on one side.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''What was it?'' Kagome said as she came closer, eyeing the pages that Lilliana was flipping through with excitement.
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Lilliana pulled a torn page out of her pocket and smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper on the table. Kagome learned forward, and squinted. It was a page from one of Narek's medical textbooks. ''It's just talking about muscle contraction? I don't see what's so special about it.''
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''It's not what's written in the text that's important. Look at this.'' Lilliana pointed to the bottom of the page and Kagome's confused expression only became even more curious when she noticed letters she didn't recognize. ''It says, 'Not enough information on nightwalker anatomy and physiology.' I'm guessing Narek wrote it, because I doubt Chase and Xander know how to write in Armenian.''
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''How is that helpful?'' Kagome tapped Narek's note.
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''Well, if you think about it, nightwalkers never really examined their bodies because they didn't need to. We don't age like humans, we don't succumb to disease, we already know what our venom does to humans and nightwalkers, and we instinctively know when something is wrong. But we didn't know that our blood causes humans to mutate when they drink it or why our hearts are so special. What if there is more that our blood and venom can do that we don't know about? Maybe Narek was trying to find answers with human anatomy as a reference point, but wasn't able to draw any conclusions because he doesn't have any knowledge of nightwalker anatomy to compare to."
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ ''So basically, Narek doesn't know any more about our bodies then we do? Well, that's a great piece of news."
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Read between the lines, Kagome. It also means that Lucy hasn’t told him much about how our bodies work.’’
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‘‘So?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Lucy knew what nightwalker venom does to humans when they eat it. She knows things about fourth generation nightwalkers that we don’t. Hell, she even knew that a fourth generation nightwalker could exist, something we all thought was impossible. So in the century that Narek has spent with her, doing her bidding, why hasn’t she told him any of this?’’
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‘‘We’ve already established that she’s hiding something. Where are you going with this?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Does Narek really seem the type to follow orders Kagome? What’s to stop him from betraying Lucy should she withhold so many secrets from him? He broke off ties with our family, played double agent in the nightwalker war for ninety years, and now he’s run off somewhere and Lucy doesn’t know where he is.’’
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Kagome reflected on Lilliana’s logic for a moment. Narek did not seem like the type to be under someone else’s control, it was true, yet he stuck so close to Lucy. Kagome had seen him disobey her before. He kidnapped Lilliana even though Lucy had not given him the order, he manipulated Lucy into letting Kagome out of her sight, and he even used Kagome as bait to lure out their enemy. He even said himself that he had no interest in Lucy’s orders.
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‘‘Narek could have betrayed her by now.’’ Kagome said. ‘‘Yet he hasn’t. He’s only bent her rules. It’s clear that he’s not totally loyal to her. I bet Lucy has something he wants, which is why he hasn’t, I don’t know, gone Benedict Arnold on her yet? Okay, I get what you’re saying, Lilliana, but this,’’ she tapped the paper, ‘‘doesn’t tell us anything new.’’
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''Don't be so negative Kagome. Even though this note doesn't say much, it does give me a few leads. I'm willing to bet that Narek wrote more notes in his books. Maybe if I could find them, I can piece together what he knows.''
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''So you'll keep looking then.'' Kagome drummed her fingers on the table, looking at the books and the shelves with a tired expression.
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''I've looked through most of the books on the top shelves. But there is still half a shelf to go. I'm sure I'll find something.''
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Kagome glanced at the exit of the study. Biting her lip, she turned back to Lilliana and said, ''Need some help? I could use a distraction.''
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Lilliana nodded, leaning on a shelf, she was already absorbed in another book, flipping eagerly through the pages. Kagome turned toward the opposite self and went down on her hands and knees, and the first thing she did was sneeze.
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The books on the bottom self were dusty and tightly packed. Not only had Lilliana not touched a single one of them, but they hadn't been used in a while. Kagome pressed her palm against her face, grumbling. She reached for a few books, pulled them out, and dumped them on the table. She flipped through three medical textbooks. Nothing. She reached for another book, only to slam it closed once she was finished scanning it, trying to clear the surgical images from her mind. ''Ew.''
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''Did you find one of Xander's naughty magazines?'' Lilliana said.
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''I do hope you're just joking about that.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
''I found a few and, besides being incredibly dull and vulgar, they didn't have anything useful in them either.''
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''You actually read through them!'' Kagome aimed an incredulous look at Lilliana, but the accused woman didn't even turn around to meet it.
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''I'm not leaving a single book in here unturned, no matter how silly it may be.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> Kagome reached for another book, hoping that it wasn't one of Xander's goodies. She still blushed whenever she thought about sex with Inuyasha, she didn't need to see anyone else doing it, nor did she understand what people got out of looking at something that was supposed to be private. Then again, she thought sullenly, it was likely she would never let Inuyasha share that privacy with her again. She doubted he would even want to, seeing that she was a liar after all. She shook her head and opened the next book, hoping that it would make her forget about him and the anger that he made her feel.
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A book on botany, a book about travel, a fantasy novel, an empty notebook, a psychology textbook. Kagome paused and stared at the title, ''Intimate Relationships: The Study of Love.''
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Shrugging, she opened to a random page and looked at the text.
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''Social exchange theory revolves around the idea that a relationship is similar to economic exchange. A main point about this theory is that it looks at the relationship in the present, not so much the past.''
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Kagome leaned away from the book for a moment, breathed in, and continued reading.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_
''Independence theory, is a take on social exchange that emphasizes that people evaluate their relationship outcomes similarly to how they approach economic decisions.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_
''This books makes love sound like it’s made of boring stock market strategies.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_
''What are you talking about?'' Lilliana said.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''Just thought it would be interesting.'' She showed Lilliana the cover. ''I didn't study intimate relationships when I was studying psychology all those ten years. I didn't want to do any research that mostly involved correlations, so I glanced over it, and it was an elective anyway. Most of what I did was clinical or neuroscience, not so much behaviorism, so this book is new to me.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> Lilliana glanced at the book, raised a brow, but said nothing. She returned to her task, and Kagome felt an odd sense of embarrassment yet continued to read.
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''Rewards and Costs. In a relationship, couples want to maximize the rewards and minimize their costs. Rewards are any of the ways that the relationships may fulfill the needs and desires of each partner, and costs are any of the consequences of being in a relationship that prevent partners from fulfilling their needs and desires. If the costs in a relationship outweigh the rewards, then the relationship outcome will be a negative one.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_
Kagome closed the book. Leaning on the table, she looked down on at the cover art of a happy married couple and frowned. ''Stupid book.'' She swung her hand against the book's spine, sending it crashing down onto the floor. She was just about to reach for another book when she looked back down on the floor one more time. Several pages of the book had ripped out, lying folded pathetically under its weight. ''Oh, great.'' As she smoothed out the creases in the ripped pages on the table, Kagome paused, her hand stopping just before a small scribble in the middle of the page.
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Poking Lilliana on her shoulder, Kagome held up the page in front of her face. ''Can you read this?''
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Lilliana's eyes traced the writing at the top of the page, but instead of telling Kagome what was written, her brows came together in a contemplative way. ''Where did you get this?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
''It fell out of the book I was just telling you about. So what does it say?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
''It's just a note outlining what we already know about the humans who become monsters from nightwalker blood, but this sentence-''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_
Lilliana read, '' 'A voice can be heard upon fighting the slaves. Voice is similar to the sound of the inner monster.' ''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
''Inner monster?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_
''I'm sure it's talking about the voice that you and I heard when we came into contact with those humans.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_
''I figured that, but what's this monster thing?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_
''I,'' Lilliana sighed. ''I don't know.'' She looked over the page once more. ''That's the only time it’s mentioned.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_
Kagome threw her hands in the air. ''This is all just a wild goose chase. Why would Narek, or Lucy for that matter, being as secretive as they are, keep notes lying around?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_
''Well, maybe it’s their way of collecting their thoughts.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_
''I bet you anything that they're purposely vague so that, even if we find them, we wouldn't understand a thing. This is a waste of time.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
Lilliana folded the paper and put it in her pocket. ''So you say.'' She glared at Kagome.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
''What?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_
''Nothing.'' She turned away from her, and went back to staring at the bookcase.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_
Kagome learned forward to say something to her, but Lilliana was already flipping through a new book. Shaking her head, Kagome went back to her task. It didn't take long for Kagome to begin to feel incredibly sorry for every librarian in existence as she plowed through books and books, finding nothing. The shelf she had speed-read through was full of holes where books should have been and had books piled up messily in the corners. She tip toed around books on the floor and to another bookcase, sighing. She would have complained about how tedious it all was if it weren't for the fact that she had nothing better to do. About to ask Lilliana if she had found anything, Kagome paused when she noticed Lilliana staring intently at a brown piece of paper.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
But it wasn't paper, Kagome noticed as she stood next to Lilliana. It was a photograph, one that was so old that the brown and white picture had faded to pink in some places. A wedding photograph. A beautiful blond woman with a demure, yet serious expression sat in a chair. She wore a wedding dress that covered everywhere but her face and hands, which were holding stems of wheat. Next to her stood a handsome young man.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ ''It's Narek and Anahit, his wife.'' Lilliana said suddenly.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_
''Wow, he married young. She looks like she's sixteen.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_
''Of course. People got married really young back then. If you weren't married by the time you were twenty, you were considered an old maid.'' Lilliana turned the photograph over. There was nothing on the back.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
She looked at the photograph one more time, and Kagome thought she saw a flicker of remorse pass over her face when her lips bent downward a little. ''She really was beautiful.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_
Giving Lilliana a half smile, Kagome nudged her playfully in the ribs. ''Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_
''Jealousy? Don't make me laugh. I was still a child when they got married, and I had never met her. Besides,'' Lilliana closed her eyes, ''the man in this picture doesn't exist anymore, so I have no one to feel jealous over.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
''Love sucks that way.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
''Oh really? I've heard that it can be quite wonderful.'' Lilliana put the photograph between the pages of a book before putting it back on the bookshelf.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_
''If you could go back and erase your feelings as a child so that you would never have felt that heartbreak, would you?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
''Never.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_
Kagome blinked at the harsh tone of Lilliana's voice. ''Why?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_
''Those days with Narek in my childhood were some of the happiest days of my life. He was my first love as a child, and the Narek of my childhood was a wonderful person. It doesn't matter who he is now, those memories are still precious to me.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ''Even though you know that the man you loved became a monster?''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_
''That makes those memories even more precious, because I know that what was lost can never be returned to me. It hurts, but it's a part of me, and I'm not giving it up.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘If it were me, I’d choose to forget them.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Hmm, yeah, I’m sure you would.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Excuse me?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Getting rid of memories that cause you pain in the present. If you had that choice, you would do it.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘What’s that supposed to mean?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Nothing. Forget it.’’ She reached for another book on the shelf.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Oh no, you don’t!’’ Kagome reached for Lilliana’s shoulder, twirling her around so that they were face to face. ‘‘If you have something to say to me, say it.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
Lilliana looked at her with half closed eyes, took a deep breath and said, ‘‘Fine. You asked for it.’’ She stepped in close to Kagome, looking straight into her eyes. ‘‘Rather then face your past, you choose to wallow in regret over it. ‘Woe is me, my life was taken.’ You had ten years of rebuilding your life as you saw fit. Be happy with that.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _
''I was happy about it. Till reality broke in. I wouldn't have a problem coming back, if it felt like I belonged. But now all these things are happening left and right and, not to mention, the man I thought I could make a life with decides to be an asshole.''
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_
''And still find time to moan about it.'' Lilliana scoffed. ''Move on, because now is really not the time to wallow in your self pity.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Oh, you think you have the right to tell me to move on?’’ Kagome pressed her forehead hard against Lilliana’s. ‘‘Says the girl who pines after a ghost from her past. I saw the way you were looking at that picture. You still have feelings for that monster, and you’re still angry with him for what he’s done to you and your family over the years. Oh yeah, I’M the one who has a hard time letting things go.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘That is hardly the same Kagome. Unlike you, I had no plans for my future when I was human. Growing up in a time period where a woman’s only role in life was to marry and have children, I had no luxuries like you. And I did lose it all, my family, everyone I knew and loved, my life as a human, my virginity, when that Turkish soldier raped me, and then I’m thrown into a nightwalker war that lasted for nearly one hundred years, fighting for my life, barely having time to realize who I am, let alone feel pain for my past. I get my first ten years of peace after all that time and did I complain when hell started for me all over again?’’ She stepped closer to Kagome, poking her in the chest with each sentence. ‘‘Instead of whining about what you couldn’t have, or about everything that's happening to you now, why don’t you be grateful that you had a life with your family and friends, that you were given a second chance and didn’t have to wait nearly a century for it, and have a man who is willing to put himself through some terrible guilt for what he did to you, is willing to try to make things right, because I sure as hell don’t have the same thing.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘You think that just because you had a hard life, that means that I shouldn’t feel upset over what happened to me?’’ Kagome hissed, slapping Lilliana’s hand away. ‘‘You had nothing to lose, I lost everything, you still, apparently, have feelings for the man you knew you loved as a child, I don’t even know if I LIKE my mate anymore. So what’s worse? Me, who had my past taken away from me, and pining after a life I could have had or you, who had let go of your past but still holds onto something that will never happen? You know, for someone who supposedly hates Narek, you sure spend a lot of time talking about him, analyzing him, stripping down naked in front of him-’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘That was to rattle Lucy into letting you out of the house!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Which Narek took complete advantage of. Oh, and you tried to stop Sesshoumaru from killing him all those years ago.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘I was confused! My memories of childhood had just returned! And it’s not like I chased after him!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Well if you really hate him and don’t secretly hope that the man you knew in childhood isn’t in there somewhere, why haven’t you killed him? You sure don’t try to put distance between you two, and you used him to intimidate Xander. Don’t try to tell me to move on from my problems with Inuyasha when it’s completely clear that you haven’t moved on from yours!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Lilliana stepped away from her , threw her hands up in front of her face and hissed out a breath from between her teeth. ‘‘You know what, Kagome? I am not in the mood to deal with someone so chil-’’ Suddenly, she looked confused. She blinked and looked around the room as though she suddenly remembered she was in there.
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‘‘What, out of retorts already?’’ Kagome said.
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‘‘No.’’ Lilliana whispered.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘I figured as much.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘No.’’ She passed Kagome and stood in front of the door that led to the living room. ‘‘Something’s coming.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Well isn’t that just convenient? You really think I’ll fall for that.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘We have to get out of here!’’ Lilliana began gasping, clawing and kicking the walls. ‘‘We have to leave, they’re coming after us.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Y-you’re serious?’’
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The room shook as Lilliana threw her whole body against the wall, trying to break it, and yet, each time she did, she moved slower, her eyes became wetter and her screams became louder. ‘‘Damn spell! I can’t stay! They want me, I know it!’’
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‘‘H-hey!’’ She grabbed Lilliana around the waist and pulled her screaming and flailing body away from the wall. ‘‘Calm down! If this is some kind of ruse to freak me out, it’s not funny!’’
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‘‘NO! Let me go! If I don’t get out of here, that voice will find me! It’s coming!’’
`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~ `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`~`~`~`~`~
It felt as though ten thousand pounds were attached to every muscle in his body. He felt so heavy, he couldn’t even move from where he was collapsed against the wall by the front door, even if he could feel slight waves of anxiety washing over him from the spell that kept him in place.
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‘‘I’d say you should give up, but, then again, I’m the last person you would listen to.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha turned his head so that he could glare at Chase. Xander peered at Inuyasha from over his playing cards, rolled his eyes and went back to staring at Chase who was dealing cards from across the coffee table. Ignoring them, and in no mood to talk, Inuyasha went back to staring at the door.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> He squinted at it, as though scrutinizing it would reveal some hidden mechanism that would help him understand this strange power. A nightwalker ability that mentally keeps people in place; it was impossible, unheard of. After throwing himself at the door for several minutes, he was still unable to believe such a thing would keep him in place, as well as believe that it was caused by such a diminutive nightwalker. From the little he’d seen of Lucy, he just knew that something wasn’t right with her. He never would have expected that she take the guise of a child, nor that she had that much power. The only other nightwalker that had ever been able to keep him in place, albeit for a short time, was Narek.
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Yet, Lucy’s powers weren’t the only things that didn’t sit right with him. There was something about her, something he had never felt from a nightwalker, neither natural nor human born, something about her face. It was as though she wore a mask made of flesh to hide her real face. There was more then he knew hidden in that tiny body, in that childish face, something horrifying.
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He clenched his teeth. To think that Kagome never suspected her, he thought. Even worse, to think that all this began happening because someone decided to feed humans their blood. Inuyasha growled. There were rules to keep out of the human world for a reason. This type of reckless behavior was bound to catch their attention, and it was never a good thing when humans knew about something supernatural.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Anything could go wrong from religious zealots advocating for the removal of these hell spawn, to politicians trying to keep the peace, but really doing nothing to calm the situation, to humans who are enthralled by the supernatural, throwing themselves in front of nightwalkers for sex and adventure. It wouldn’t end well. He’d seen it all seven hundred years ago. Humans would eventually learn how to harm them. Their science would catch and abuse nightwalkers, they would tie them up in the sunlight, using rope that was coated in nightwalker venom to keep them from escaping. The nightwalker world was dangerous enough. Add in humans that were as tenacious as roaches to the mix, and not only would they have a war with themselves, but with other nightwalker as well. That was why he and Sesshoumaru had worked to destroy all the human bases that knew about Nightwalkers all these ten years.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The two humans from the past, Sango and Miroku, were found, and sworn into secrecy. They had told them all about where the nightwalker hunters were located, and what they knew. His family destroyed their bases, and the employees were either bribed or threatened to never seek out or speak of nightwalkers again. If there was some fool going around out there, ordering nightwalkers to feed their blood to humans, it could break up everything his family had taken a decade to hide.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> And Kagome had undermined all that work with her secrets. Had she been honest with him, he could have at least been aware that there was a nightwalker such knowledge. He would have gotten word about those slaves to the family sooner and they would have been able to deal with it, not to mention, been able to protect Kagome better had she not been so arrogant and believed that she was entitled to lie in order to fulfill her selfish wishes.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
He wanted to spit but was too tired to summon the energy. He had no idea that she could be so fickle. Was she completely incapable of forgiveness? He could have left her in the human world and let his enemies have their way. They would have killed her, and his problems would be solved. Yet, he decided to take responsibility. He risked his ass for her when she was human, again and again, to keep her human and protected, until he could send her home. And it wasn't like he forced her all the time to do things she didn't want to do. When she became a nightwalker, she made the choice to become his mate. He was ready to die so that she could at least have the chance of finding someone she really wished to be with, and as penance for dragging her into this world. Of course what happened to her was unfair, and he still hated himself for it, but did she ever reflect on what he gave up too?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
She was his mate. He could never have another. Her blood, body, and spirit was forever tied to his. How could she not at least try to trust in him?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_
‘‘Full House.’’ Said Chase.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Fuck!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha turned his head just in time to see Xander throw his cards on the table. ‘‘How the shit do you keep doing that?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Simple,’’ Chase began shuffling the deck, ‘‘your poker face sucks.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The coffee table shook as Xander put his feet up, crossing his ankles. ‘‘Being stuck here with you, and two off limits women-Hey! Piss off!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_
Inuyasha continued to glare and bare his fangs at Xander as he forced himself to stand.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘I’m not about to touch someone else’s mate. Even I have standards.’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘And Lilliana?’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Xander gave him the middle finger. ‘‘I don’t have a death wish, you prick, so why don’t you just go back to-’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_
The door to the study slammed hard against the hardwood, and, dust flew from the walls and along the floor as Kagome and Lilliana flew out of the room, and rolled along the floor in a tangled mess of limbs. Xander barley had time to say, ‘‘what the fuck’’ as the two women finally stopped, with Kagome sitting on top of Lilliana’s legs, pressing her face against the floor and holding her arms behind her back.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Kagome, what’s gotten into you?’’ Inuyasha yelled, reaching across the room in one jump.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Ladies? Should I be worried?’’ Chase said as he walked up to them.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_< br> ‘‘Shut up and let me hold her down!Ó Kagome said between breaths. ‘‘She’s completely lost her mind!’’
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‘‘Noo!’’ Lilliana screamed and kicked and cried. ‘‘Let me go, please! I can’t-mmf!’’
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
‘‘Kagome, stop!’’ He reached over to his mate, to try and pry her hand off Lilliana’s mouth, but then froze. His head began to pound as though a hammer was thumping from within his skull. His heart began to heave as though he had just finished running a three-day marathon, and his mind began to scream. He could barely stay standing, as his vision began to undulate, and images of Kagome holding down Lilliana while Chase and Xander tried to make sense of what she was saying, began to undulate and melt like a Salvador Dali painting, and that voice, that irritating and horrible voice, spoke.
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‘Ah, it’s coming. Soon you’ll be at the land where all true nightwalkers are born.’’
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The ground beneath him broke apart like shattering glass, the room around him shook, and he began to fall into darkness, his head pounding far before he hit something hard, his ears aching from the screams of two falling with him, the destruction around him, and the yells of the two that managed to escape, calling for them as they fell into hell.
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Author's Notes:
In case anyone is curious: social exchange theory is actually a real psychological theory for intimate relationships, and there is even a class on it. Tons of fun, the psychology and research of love, it makes writing about it interesting.
Also, I apologize again for any grammar or spelling mistakes I have missed. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. Hope to see you soon!
Jian.